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Byline: Erkan. Topkan, Ozan. Guler, Yurday. Ozdemir Purpose: To assess the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of young ([less-than or equal to]45 years) Stage IIIB nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [...]

Objective Radiation-induced trismus (RIT), one of the rare but serious side effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT), is difficult to predict with high accuracy. We aimed to examine whether the pretreatment pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) measures predict RIT in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) receiving C-CRT.Methods Data of patients with LA-NPC who underwent C-CRT and had maximum mouth openings (MMO) > 35 mm were reviewed. Any MMO of 35 mm or less after C-CRT was considered RIT. All PIV values were computed using the complete blood count test results: PIV = (Platelets × Monocytes × Neutrophils) ÷ Lymphocytes. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was employed to dissect a possible association between pre-treatment PIV readings and RIT status. Confounding variables were tested for their independent relationship with the RIT rates using logistic regression analysis.Results The research comprised 223 participants, and RIT was diagnosed in 46 (20.6%) at a median time from C-CRT to RIT of 10 months (range: 5–18 months). Pre-C-CRT PIV levels and RIT rates were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, with 830 being the optimal cutoff (area under the curve: 92.1%; sensitivity: 87.5%; specificity: 85.5%; Youden index: 0.730). RIT was significantly more prevalent in the PIV > 830 cohort than its PIV ≤ 830 counterpart (60.3% vs. 5%; hazard ratio 5.79; P< 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced T-stage (P= 0.004), masticatory apparatus dose V58Gy≥%32 (P= 0.003), and PIV > 830 (P< 0.001) were independently linked with significantly elevated rates of RIT.Conclusion The presence of elevated pre-C-CRT PIV is a unique biological marker that independently predicts increased RIT rates in LA-NPC undergoing C-CRT.

Background: To retrospectively assess the impact of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) on survival outcomes of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).Methods: This study incorporated 154 patients with LA-NPC who received exclusive cisplatinum-based CCRT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized for accessibility of pretreatment PNI cutoffs influencing survival results. The primary end point was the interaction between the overall survival (OS) and PNI values, while cancer-specific survival (CSS) locoregional progression-free survival (LR-PFS), distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS), and PFS were the secondary end points.Results: A rounded PNI cutoff value of 51 was identified in ROC curve analyses to exhibit significant link with CSS, OS, DMFS, and PFS outcomes, but not LR-PFS. Patients grouping per PNI value (≥51 [N = 95] vs <51 [N = 49]) revealed that PNI < 51 group had significantly shorter median CSS (P< .001), OS (P< .001), DMFS (P< .001), and PFS (P< .001) times than the PNI ≥ 51 group, and the multivariate results confirmed the PNI < 51 as an independent predictor of poor outcomes for each end point (P< .05 for each). The unfavorable impact of the low PNI was also continued at 10-year time point with survival rates of 77.9% versus 42.4%, 73.6% versus 33.9%, 57.9% versus 27.1%, and 52.6% versus 23.7% for CSS, OS, DMFS, and PFS, respectively. Additionally, we found that PNI < 51 was significantly associated with higher rates of weight loss >5% over past 6 months (49.2% versus 11.6%; P= .002) compared to PNI < 51 group.Conclusion: Low pre-CCRT PNI levels were independently associated with significantly reduced CSS, OS, DMFS, and PFS outcomes in patients with LA-NPC treated with definitive CCRT.

Background: To retrospectively investigate the influence of pretreatment anemia and hemoglobin levels on the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT).Methods: A total of 149 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received C-CRT were included. All patients had received 70 Gy to the primary tumor plus the involved lymph nodes, and 59.4 Gy and 54 Gy to the intermediate- and low-risk neck regions concurrent with 1–3 cycles of cisplatin. Patients were dichotomized into non-anemic and anemic (hemoglobin <12 g/dL (women) or <13 g/dL (men)) groups according to their pre-treatment hemoglobin measures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized for accessibility of a pre-treatment hemoglobin cut-off that impacts outcomes. Potential interactions between baseline anemia status and hemoglobin measures and overall survival, locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), and progression-free survival were assessed.Results: Anemia was evident in 36 patients (24.1%), which was related to significantly shorter overall survival (P=0.007), LRPFS (P<0.021), and progression-free survival (P=0.003) times; all three endpoints retained significance in multivariate analyses (P<0.05, for each). A baseline hemoglobin value of 11.0 g/dL exhibited significant association with outcomes in ROC curve analysis: hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL (N=26) was linked with shorter median overall survival (P<0.001), LRPFS (P=0.004), and progression-free survival (P<0.001) times, which also retained significance for all three endpoints in multivariate analyses and suggested a stronger prognostic worth for the hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL cut-off value than the anemia status.Conclusion: Pre-C-CRT hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL has a stronger prognostic worth than the anemia status with regard to LRPFS, progression-free survival, and overall survival for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Objectives:The objective of our study was to assess the prognostic significance of the Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value (PIV) before concurrent chemoradiation (C-CRT) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods:The medical records of LS-SCLC patients who underwent C-CRT and PCI between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. PIV values were calculated using the peripheral blood samples obtained within the past 7 days before the initiation of treatment: PIV = [neutrophils × platelets × monocytes] ÷ lymphocytes. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal pretreatment PIV cutoff values that can partition the study population into two groups with substantially distinct progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were determined. The relationship between PIV values and OS outcomes was the primary outcome measure. Results:Eighty-nine eligible patients were divided into two PIV groups at an optimal cutoff of 417 [Area under curve (AUC): 73.2%; sensitivity: 70.4%; specificity: 66.7%]: Group 1: PIV < 417 (N= 36) and Group 2: PIV ≥ 417 (N= 53). Comparative analyses revealed that patients with PIV < 417 had significantly longer OS (25.0 vs 14.0 months, p< .001) and PFS (18.0 vs 8.9 months, p= .004) compared to patients with PIV ≥ 417. The outcomes of the multivariate analysis have verified the independent significance of pretreatment PIV concerning PFS (p< .001) and OS (p< .001) outcomes. Conclusion:The findings of this retrospective study indicate that the pretreatment PIV is a reliable and independent prognostic biomarker for patients with LS-SCLC who were treated with C-CRT and PCI.

Aims and Background To investigate the objective utility of our clinical routine of reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold irradiation for left-sided breast cancer patients on reducing cardiac exposure.Methods and Study Design Free-breathing and reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold scans were evaluated for our 10 consecutive left-sided breast cancer patients treated with reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold. The study was based on the adjuvant dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions of 2 Gy/fraction. Both inverse and forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans were generated for each computed tomography dataset.Results Reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold plans with forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy significantly spared the heart and left anterior descending artery compared to generated free-breathing plans based on mean doses – free-breathing vs reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold, left ventricle (296.1 vs 94.5 cGy, P = 0.005), right ventricle (158.3 vs 59.2 cGy, P = 0.005), left anterior descending artery (171.1 vs 78.1 cGy, P = 0.005), and whole heart (173.9 vs 66 cGy, P = 0.005), heart V20 (2.2% vs 0%, P = 0.007) and heart V10 (4.2% vs 0.3%, P = 0.007) – whereas they revealed no additional burden on the ipsilateral lung. Reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold and free-breathing plans with inverse intensity-modulated radiotherapy provided similar organ at risk sparing by reducing the mean doses to the left ventricle, left anterior descending artery, heart, V10-V20 of the heart and right ventricle. However, forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy showed significant reduction in doses to the left ventricle, left anterior descending artery, heart, right ventricle, and contralateral breast (mean dose, 248.9 to 12.3 cGy, P = 0.005). The mean doses for free-breathing vs reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold of the proximal left anterior descending artery were 1.78 vs 1.08 Gy and of the distal left anterior descending artery were 8.11 vs 3.89 Gy, whereas mean distances to the 50 Gy isodose line of the proximal left anterior descending artery were 6.6 vs 3.3 cm and of the distal left anterior descending artery were 7.4 vs 4.1 cm, with forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Overall reduction in mean doses to proximal and distal left anterior descending artery with deep-inspiration breath-hold irradiation was 39% (P = 0.02) and 52% (P = 0.002), respectively.Conclusions We found a significant reduction of radiation exposure to the contralateral breast, left and right ventricles, as well as of proximal and especially distal left anterior descending artery with the deep-inspiration breath-hold technique with forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy planning.

To evaluate pathologically confirmed incidence of pseudoprogression and its impact on survival in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients treated with radiotherapy and concurrent temozolomide (TMZ), followed by 6 months of TMZ maintenance therapy.

We present an extremely rare case of Woringer-Kolopp disease with CD4+/CD8+ immunohistochemical features in a 27-year-old male patient, which involved the right gluteal region continuing down to the lower thigh. Although the lesions had been present for 15 years, the disease abruptly changed its indolent clinical behavior in the last 3 months and gained local aggressiveness without features of dissemination. The patient was successfully treated with 6 MeV electron-beam radiotherapy and the radiation portal was determined to be the gross lesion plus 1-cm margins around the lesion. Radiation therapy was administered with a hypofractionated dose schedule of 2.8 Gy per fraction in 13 fractions, 5 days a week, to a total of 36.4 Gy. No radiation-induced toxicity was reported during therapy. The patient's follow-up was ordinary with no recurrence after a follow-up period of 38 months and the cosmetic result was excellent.

A rare case of primary appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma is reported. The presenting signs and symptoms were suggestive of acute appendicitis. An appendectomy was performed resulting in a histological diagnosis of grade 2 mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. The patient was referred to our clinic where he underwent a complementary right hemicolectomy with lymph node dissection. Two of the 17 resected lymph nodes were tumor positive but there was no residual tumor in the hemicolectomy specimen. The patient was staged as T4N1M0and adjuvant multimodality treatment was planned because he was considered at high risk for local-regional recurrence and distant metastasis. Three cycles of capecitabine 1250 mg/m2on days 1–14 and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2on day 1, every 21 days (CAPOX) were administered, then a total dose of 50.4 Gy external-beam radiation therapy was deliveredtothe primarytumor region and 45 Gy to the lymphatics, and finally3 further cycles of the CAPOX regimen were administered. Multimodality treatment was well tolerated by the patient, who is still alive 25 months after the hemicolectomy procedure with no evidence of disease progression.

Background: This preliminary simulation study aimed to compare the dosimetric outcomes of carotid arteries (CAs) and pharyngeal constrictor muscle (PCM) in patients with T1N0M0 glottic carcinoma undergoing helical tomotherapy-intensity modulated radiotherapy (HT-IMRT) and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) plans.Methods: In addition to the clinical target volume (CTV) which was defined as the entire larynx, the CAs and PCM of 11 glottic carcinoma patients were delineated. The CTV was uniformly expanded 5 mm to create a planning target volume (PTV) relative to the PCM and at a distance of 2 mm from the CA. The dosimetric characteristics in HT-IMRT and lateral opposed fields-based 3D-CRT plans were analyzed.Results: Median D95%and V100%of PTV were significantly higher in HT-IMRT (p < 0.001) compared to 3D-CRT. The right/left CA dosimetric outcomes, including the mean doses (20.7/21.5 Gy versus 48.7/50.5 Gy), Dmax(53.6/52.0 Gy versus 67.4/67.7 Gy), V30(25.0/27.1% versus 77.6/80.3%), V40(8.0/7.9% versus 74.6/71.9%), and V50(2.0/1.2% versus 70.0/71.6%) were also significantly lower in HT-IMRT (p < 0.05), similar to the mean PCM doses (49.6 Gy versus 62.6 Gy for 3D-CRT;p < 0.001), respectively.Conclusions: Our present results demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneous sparing of the CAs and PCM in HT-IMRT- compared to 3D-CRT plans in glottic carcinoma patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy.

Background To compare computed tomography (CT) with co-registered positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) as the basis for delineating gross tumor volume (GTV) in unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma (LAPC).Methods Fourteen patients with unresectable LAPC had both CT and PET images acquired. For each patient, two three-dimensional conformal plans were made using the CT and PET-CT fusion data sets. We analyzed differences in treatment plans and doses of radiation to primary tumors and critical organs.Results Changes in GTV delineation were necessary in 5 patients based on PET-CT information. In these patients, the average increase in GTV was 29.7%, due to the incorporation of additional lymph node metastases and extension of the primary tumor beyond that defined by CT. For all patients, the GTVCT versus GTVPET-CT was 92.5 ± 32.3 cm3 versus 104.5 ± 32.6 cm3 (p = 0.009). Toxicity analysis revealed no clinically significant differences between two plans with regard to doses to critical organs.Conclusion Co-registration of PET and CT information in unresectable LAPC may improve the delineation of GTV and theoretically reduce the likelihood of geographic misses.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been demonstrated to reduce or delay the incidence of brain metastases (BM) in locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (LA-NSCLC) patients with various prognostic groups. With this current cohort we planned to evaluate the potential usefulness of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) specifically in recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) Group 1, which is the most favorable group of LA-NSCLC patients.