Do the current subclassifications of stage T3 adenocarcinoma of the prostate have clinical relevance?

Objectives: To compare the outcome of patients with T3a and T3c adenocarcinoma of the prostate and determine the utility of these substages as defined in the current American Joint Committee on Cancer and the International Union Against Cancer (AJCC/UICC) staging system.

Methods: An analysis was performed of patients with T3 (clinical) prostate cancer treated with definitive irradiation at the Fox Chase Cancer Center between 1986 and 1993. The series was composed of 66 patients with T3a tumors and 44 patients with T3c tumors.

Improved treatment planning for the Syed-Neblett template using endorectal-coil magnetic resonance and intraoperative (laparotomy/laparoscopy) guidance: a new integrated technique for hysterectomized women with vaginal tumors.

The Syed template (Alpha-Omega Services, Bellflower, CA) represents an advance in interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy; however, its appeal is diminished by inaccuracies in target definition secondary to suboptimal imaging of gynecologic tumors and the risk of viscus perforation during a "blind" procedure. Magnetic resonance (MR) scanning with an endorectal coil and computed tomography were studied as a possible tool to improve target definition and maximize treatment planning with Syed templates. Abdominopelvic contents could be visualized directly through a laparotomy incision or indirectly with a laparoscopic video display to allow further target definition and minimize complications associated with blind procedures after hysterectomy.

Recurrent ovarian cancer. Effective radiotherapeutic palliation after chemotherapy failure.

Background: Recurrent ovarian cancer after frontline chemotherapy is incurable; however, palliation of focal lesions often is needed to alleviate symptoms. Because published response rates to palliative irradiation (RT) among patients failing cisplatin-based chemotherapy are scarce, the authors attempted to define the palliative role of radiotherapy for symptomatic, localized ovarian cancer recurrences. Factors predicting a response to RT also were sought.

Technically accurate intracavitary insertions improve pelvic control and survival among patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

The purpose of this study was to document whether the technical qualities of a brachytherapy application impacts on the outcome of patients with locally advanced cervix cancer treated by definitive irradiation. A previous report from the patterns of care study demonstrated the importance of brachytherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervix cancer. Locally advanced disease was defined as FIGO stages Ib (if tumor diameter was < or = 4 cm), IIb (if disease was bilateral or involved the lateral aspect of either parametrium), and III.

Impact of improved irradiation technique, age, and lymph node sampling on the severe complication rate of surgically staged endometrial cancer patients: a multivariate analysis.

Purpose: Limited information is available regarding factors that predispose to complications following postoperative pelvic radiotherapy (RT) for endometrial cancer. To address this issue, patients with clinically staged I/II endometrial cancer who received postoperative RT following total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH/BSO) with or without lymph node sampling (LNS) were studied.

Patients And Methods: From 1960 through 1990, 235 patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium received postoperative RT after surgical staging.