International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2004
ReviewIntensity-modulated radiotherapy as primary treatment for prostate cancer: acute toxicity in 114 patients.
Dose escalation improves local control in prostate cancer. At Ghent University Hospital, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is used to increase the dose to the prostate and/or seminal vesicles. We report on acute toxicity in 114 patients who received IMRT for prostate cancer. ⋯ Anatomy-based IMRT to treat prostate cancer is incorporated into our daily routine without any problem. Acute toxicity is very low. Most of the recorded symptoms decrease over time, except for GI urgency and incontinence. The incorporation of additional symptoms makes the scoring more detailed.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jul 2004
ReviewTreatment of patients with cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators during radiotherapy.
To define the practical clinical guidelines that can be implemented by busy radiation oncology departments to minimize the risk of harm to patients with implanted cardiac pacemaker (ICP) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices during radiotherapy. ⋯ Precautions are necessary to minimize the risk to patients with ICP and ICD devices during radiotherapy. Practical management guidelines are presented that can be readily adopted by any busy clinical radiation oncology practice.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2004
ReviewSalvage radiotherapy for palpable, locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
A retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of salvage radiotherapy (RT) for clinically apparent, palpable prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). ⋯ Salvage prostate bed RT for clinically apparent locally recurrent prostate cancer after RP provides effective local tumor control with modest durable biochemical control. Patients irradiated with a better simulation technique were found to have a more favorable outcome. A consensus on a definition of biochemical disease-free survival after salvage RT is critical for meaningful comparison of the available data and to future progress in treating this disease process.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2004
ReviewEpidermal growth factor receptor and response of head-and-neck carcinoma to therapy.
To present an overview of the significance of erbB tyrosine kinase family members as prognostic-predictive factors and as targets of therapeutic intervention in patients with head-and-neck carcinomas (HNCs). ⋯ Members of the erbB receptor tyrosine kinase family, particularly EGFR, were found to be a strong biomarker for poor prognosis and HNC resistance to RT. The available data showed that EGFR antagonists given as single modality therapies yield rather limited antitumor activity. The results of trials testing the efficacy of combining EGFR antagonist with RT or chemotherapy will emerge within the next few years.