International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Feb 2012
N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide plasma levels as a potential biomarker for cardiac damage after radiotherapy in patients with left-sided breast cancer.
Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery has been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Cardiac biomarkers may aid in identifying patients with radiation-mediated cardiac dysfunction. We evaluated the correlation between N-terminal pro-B–type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and troponin (TnI) and the dose of radiation to the heart in patients with left-sided breast cancer. ⋯ Patients with left-sided breast cancer show higher values of NT-pro BNP after RT when compared with non–RT-treated matched patients, increasing in correlation with high doses in small volumes of heart and ventricle. The findings of this study show that the most important parameters are not the mean doses but instead the small percentage of organ volumes (heart or ventricle) receiving high dose levels, supporting the notion that the heart behaves as a serial organ.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyStage-to-stage comparison of preoperative and postoperative chemoradiotherapy for T3 mid or distal rectal cancer.
To investigate, in a comparative analysis, the prognostic implications of postchemoradiotherapy (post-CRT) pathologic stage (ypStage) vs. postoperative pathologic stage (pStage) in rectal cancer. ⋯ Disease-free survival predicted by each ypStage was similar to that predicted by the respective pStage. Improved DFS with preoperative vs. postoperative CRT was associated with the ypStage 0-I group that showed a similarly favorable outcome to pStage I rectal cancer.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyRetrospective comparison of chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, with or without prior gliadel implantation (carmustine) after initial surgery in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.
Retrospective study of patients treated for high-grade glioma, with or without biodegradable carmustine wafers and according to the Stupp protocol. ⋯ In patients with high-grade gliomas, adding Gliadel before performing a Stupp protocol did not improve survival.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyMagnetic resonance imaging in postprostatectomy radiotherapy planning.
To investigate whether the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in prostate bed treatment planning could influence definition of the clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk. ⋯ The use of MRI in postprostatectomy radiotherapy planning resulted in a reduction of the CTV. The main differences were found in the superior part of the prostate bed. We believe T(2)w MRI enables more precise definition of prostate bed CTV than conventional planning CT.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Feb 2012
Phase I clinical trial assessing temozolomide and tamoxifen with concomitant radiotherapy for treatment of high-grade glioma.
The new standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme is concurrent radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide. The proliferation of high-grade gliomas might be partly dependent on protein kinase C-mediated pathways. Tamoxifen has been shown in vitro to inhibit protein kinase C through estrogen receptor-independent antineoplastic effects. This Phase I trial was designed to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of tamoxifen when given with temozolomide and concurrent RT to patients with high-grade gliomas. ⋯ The MTD of tamoxifen was 100 mg/m(2) when given concurrently with temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) and RT. Tamoxifen might have a role in the initial treatment of high-grade gliomas and should be studied in future Phase II trials building on the newly established platform of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.