International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2008
Grading-system-dependent volume effects for late radiation-induced rectal toxicity after curative radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
To assess the association between the dose distributions in the rectum and late Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (RTOG/EORTC), Late Effects of Normal Tissue SOMA, and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 graded rectal toxicity among patients with prostate cancer treated with RT. ⋯ Volume effects for late radiation-induced rectal toxicity are present, but their clinical significance depends on the grading system used. This should be taken into account in the interpretation of studies reporting on radiation-induced rectal toxicity.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2008
Multicenter StudyPatterns of practice of palliative radiotherapy in Africa, Part 1: Bone and brain metastases.
To provide data on the pattern of practice of palliative radiotherapy (RT) on the African continent. ⋯ Radiotherapy is a major component of treatment of cancer patients in African countries. There is consensus among few centers for treatment schedules for almost all sites regarding time and dose-fractionation characteristics of RT regimens used and/or indications for the use of RT in this setting.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2008
Multicenter StudyClinical and dosimetric predictors of late rectal syndrome after 3D-CRT for localized prostate cancer: preliminary results of a multicenter prospective study.
To assess the predictors of late rectal toxicity in a prospectively investigated group of patients treated at 70-80 Gy for prostate cancer (1.8-2 Gy fractions) with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. ⋯ The predictive value of the dose-volume histogram was confirmed for bleeding, consistent with previously suggested constraints (V50<55%, V60<40%, V70<25%, and V75<5%). A dose-volume histogram constraint for incontinence can be suggested (V40<65-70%). Previous abdominal/pelvic surgery correlated with all toxicity types; thus, a modified constraint for bleeding (V70<15%) can be suggested for patients with a history of abdominal/pelvis surgery, although further validation on a larger population with longer follow-up is needed.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2008
A phase I study of UFT/leucovorin, carboplatin, and paclitaxel in combination with external beam radiation therapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma.
Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) are used to treat patients with esophageal cancer. The optimal combination of chemotherapeutic agents with RT is not well established. We evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of a combination of UFT/leucovorin, carboplatin, and paclitaxel with RT in a Phase I study of patients with advanced esophageal cancer. ⋯ Maximum tolerated doses in this study were UFT/leucovorin, 200/30 mg twice daily on RT days; carboplatin, AUC 5, Weeks 1 and 4; and paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2 Weeks 1 and 4 when delivered with external RT. In this small study, this regimen appears active, but toxic.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2008
Locally advanced stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: impact of pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level and interruptions during radiotherapy.
Stage IV head and neck cancer patients carry a poor prognosis. Clear understanding of prognostic factors can help to optimize care for the individual patient. This study investigated 11 potential prognostic factors including pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level and interruptions during radiotherapy for overall survival (OS), metastases-free survival (MFS), and locoregional control (LC) after radiochemotherapy. ⋯ Significant predictors for outcome in Stage IV head and neck cancer were performance status, stage, surgery, pre-radiotherapy hemoglobin level, and interruptions during radiotherapy>1 week. It appears important to avoid anemia and radiotherapy interruptions to achieve the best treatment results.