International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2017
Prospective Study of Serial Imaging Comparing Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Fluorothymidine PET During Radical Chemoradiation for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Reduction of Detectable Proliferation Associated With Worse Survival.
To investigate the associations between interim tumor responses on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and 18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) PET and patient outcomes, especially progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. ⋯ Stable uptake of 18F-FLT at week 2 was paradoxically associated with longer OS and PFS. This suggests that suppression of tumor cell proliferation may protect against radiation-induced tumor cell killing. Baseline FLT, FLTwk2, and FDGwk2 detected rapid distant and locoregional progression in 10 patients (17%), prompting changes in management.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2017
Development and Internal Validation of a Clinical Risk Score to Predict Pain Response After Palliative Radiation Therapy in Patients With Bone Metastases.
To investigate the relationship between patient and tumor characteristics and pain response in patients with metastatic bone disease, and construct and internally validate a clinical prediction model for pain response to guide individualized treatment decision making. ⋯ A prediction score for pain response after palliative radiation therapy was developed. The model performance was moderate, showing that prediction of pain response is difficult. New biomarkers and predictors may lead to improved identification of the large group of patients who are unlikely to respond and who may benefit from other or innovative treatment options.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2017
Burnout Evaluation of Radiation Residents Nationwide: Results of a Survey of United States Residents.
To assess rates of burnout among US radiation oncology residents and evaluate program/resident factors associated with burnout. ⋯ Approximately one-third of radiation oncology residents have high levels of burnout symptoms, consistent with previous oncology literature, but lower levels than those among physicians and residents of other specialties. Particularly concerning was that more than 1 in 20 felt "at the end of my rope" on a weekly basis or more. Targeted interventions to identify symptoms of burnout among radiation oncology residents may help to prevent the negative downstream consequences of this syndrome.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Oct 2017
Predicted Rate of Secondary Malignancies Following Adjuvant Proton Versus Photon Radiation Therapy for Thymoma.
Thymic malignancies are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum. The benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy for stage II disease remains controversial, and patients treated with adjuvant radiation therapy are at risk of late complications, including radiation-induced secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs), that may reduce the overall benefit of treatment. We assess the risk of predicted SMNs following adjuvant proton radiation therapy compared with photon radiation therapy after resection of stage II thymic malignancies to determine whether proton therapy improves the risk-benefit ratio. ⋯ Treatment with proton therapy can achieve comparable target coverage but significantly reduced doses to critical normal structures, which can lead to fewer predicted SMNs compared with IMRT. By decreasing expected late complications, proton therapy may improve the therapeutic ratio of adjuvant radiation therapy for patients with stage II thymic malignancies.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Oct 2017
Inhibition of Bcl-2/xl With ABT-263 Selectively Kills Senescent Type II Pneumocytes and Reverses Persistent Pulmonary Fibrosis Induced by Ionizing Radiation in Mice.
Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an irreversible and severe late effect of thoracic radiation therapy. The goal of this study was to determine whether clearance of senescent cells with ABT-263, a senolytic drug that can selectively kill senescent cells, can reverse PF. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that PF can be reversed by a senolytic drug such as ABT-263 after it becomes a progressive disease. Therefore, ABT-263 has the potential to be developed as a new treatment for PF.