Use of F-FDG PET/CT Imaging for Radiotherapy Target Volume Delineation after Induction Chemotherapy and for Prognosis of Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Induction chemotherapy (ICT) before definitive chemoradiation (CRT) gives high response rates in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN). However, pre-ICT gross tumor volume (GTV) for radiotherapy (RT) planning is still recommended. As F-FDG PET/CT has an advantage of biological tumor information comparing to standard imaging methods, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of F-FDG PET/CT-based post-ICT GTV delineation for RT planning in LA-SCCHN and to assess the prognostic value of PET parameters: maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG).

Oncologic treatment strategies and relative survival of patients with stage I-III rectal cancer - A EURECCA international comparison between the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland, Spain, and Lithuania.

Introduction: The aim of this EURECCA international comparison is to compare oncologic treatment strategies and relative survival of patients with stage I-III rectal cancer between European countries.

Material And Methods: Population-based national cohort data from the Netherlands (NL), Belgium (BE), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE), England (ENG), Ireland (IE), Spain (ES), and single-centre data from Lithuania (LT) were obtained. All operated patients with (y)pTNM stage I-III rectal cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 were included.

Retrospective analysis of the impact of anthracycline dose reduction and chemotherapy delays on the outcomes of early breast cancer molecular subtypes.

Background: The objective of study was to determine the effect of anthracycline dose reduction and chemotherapy delays on 5-year overall survival in patients with stage I-III breast cancer, to establish the impact of molecular subtypes on the anthracycline modification effects and to analyze reasons for such chemotherapy scheme modifications.

Methods: Medical records of patients with stage I-III breast cancer were reviewed. Inclusion criteria involved stage I- III breast carcinoma; radical surgery performed and 4 courses of AC regimen (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide), or at least 6 courses of FAC regimen (fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) completed; no neoadjuvant chemotherapy applied; no taxane group medications administered; medical records maintain comprehensive data on treatment and follow-up.

In vivo dose verification method in catheter based high dose rate brachytherapy.

In vivo dosimetry is a powerful tool for dose verification in radiotherapy. Its application in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is usually limited to the estimation of gross errors, due to inability of the dosimetry system/ method to record non-uniform dose distribution in steep dose gradient fields close to the radioactive source. In vivo dose verification in interstitial catheter based HDR brachytherapy is crucial since the treatment is performed inserting radioactive source at the certain positions within the catheters that are pre-implanted into the tumour.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer - A EURECCA international comparison between the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland, Belgium, and Lithuania.

Background: The aim of the present EURECCA international comparison is to compare adjuvant chemotherapy and relative survival of patients with stage II colon cancer between European countries.

Methods: Population-based national cohort data (2004-2009) from the Netherlands (NL), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE), England (ENG), Ireland (IE), and Belgium (BE) were obtained, as well as single-centre data from Lithuania. All surgically treated patients with stage II colon cancer were included.

Retrospective analysis of the impact of platinum dose reduction and chemotherapy delays on the outcomes of stage III ovarian cancer patients.

Background: Ovarian cancer is a common gynaecological malignancy still remaining a challenge to treat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of platinum dose reduction and chemotherapy delays on progression free survival and overall survival in patients with stage III ovarian cancer and to analyze reasons for such chemotherapy scheme modifications.

Methods: Medical records of patients with FIGO stage III ovarian cancer were reviewed.