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Objectives To investigate the influence of pretreatment primary tumor or nodal photopenia (PP) on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT), an indicator of tumor ischemia, on survival results of nasopharyngeal cancers (NPCs) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Methods The pre-C-CRT FDG PET-CT scans of 104 patients with NPC (cT1-4 N0-3 M0) were retrospectively examined to determine the presence of PP (PP+). Our primary endpoint was the influence of PP+ on overall survival (OS), while the progression-free survival (PFS) and locoregional PFS (LRPFS) constituted the secondary endpoints. Results The PP+ was detected in 29 (27.9%): nine (8.7%), seven (6.7%), and 13 (12.5%) in the primary tumor alone, primary tumor plus neck nodes, and neck nodes alone, respectively. Because the PP+ cases were small by count per location, all comparative analyses were performed according to overall PP+/ PP– status instead of per detected site. At a median follow-up of 67.8 months (range, 9 to 130 months), the median survival times were not reached (NR) for the entire population, while 5-year OS, LRPFS, and PFS rates were 73.3%, 68.2%, and 63.4%, respectively. Comparatively the PP+ patients exhibited significantly poorer median OS (49.8 months vs. NR, P

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 D 95% and V 100% 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), D max (53.6/52.0 Gy versus 67.4/67.7 Gy), V 30 (25.0/27.1% versus 77.6/80.3%), V 40 (8.0/7.9% versus 74.6/71.9%), and V 50 (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.

Objectives. To evaluate the potential prognostic utility of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients who underwent postneurosurgical radiotherapy and concurrent plus adjuvant temozolomide. Methods. The retrospective data of GBM patients who underwent postneurosurgical radiotherapy and concurrent plus adjuvant temozolomide were analyzed. For each patient, SII was calculated using the platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte measures obtained on the first day of treatment: SII=platelets×neutrophils/lymphocytes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized for the evaluation of optimal cut-off values for SII those linked with the outcomes. Primary and secondary endpoints constituted the overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) per conveyance SII group. Results. A total of 167 patients were included. The ROC curve analysis identified the optimum SII cut-off at a rounded 565 value that significantly interacted with the PFS and OS and stratified patients into two groups: low-SII (SII

Objectives. We endeavored to retrospectively assess the prognostic merit of pretreatment systemic immune response index (SIRI) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients who underwent postoperative partial brain radiotherapy (RT) and concurrent plus adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ), namely, the Stupp protocol. Methods. The records of 181 newly diagnosed GBM patients who received the postoperative Stupp protocol were retrospectively analyzed. The SIRI value for each eligible patient was calculated by utilizing the platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte measures obtained on the first day of treatment: SIRI=Neutrophils×Monocytes/Lymphocytes. The ideal cutoff values for SIRI connected with the progression-free- (PFS) and overall survival (OS) results were methodically searched through using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Primary and secondary end-points constituted the potential OS and PFS distinctions among the SIRI groups, respectively. Results. The ROC curve analysis labeled the ideal SIRI cutoffs at 1.74 (Area under the curve (AUC): 74.9%; sensitivity: 74.2%; specificity: 71.4%) and 1.78 (AUC: 73.6%; sensitivity: 73.1%; specificity: 70.8%) for PFS and OS status, individually. The SIRI cutoff of 1.78 of the OS status was chosen as the common cutoff for the stratification of the study population (Group 1: SIRI≤1.78 (N=96) and SIRI>1.78 (N=85)) and further comparative PFS and OS analyses. Comparisons between the two SIRI cohorts manifested that the SIRI≤1.78 cohort had altogether significantly superior median PFS (16.2 versus 6.6 months; P1.78 counterparts. The results of multivariate Cox regression analyses ratified the independent and significant alliance between a low SIRI and longer PFS (P

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and responsible for 1.6 million deaths per year through world-wide. Surgical resection with negative margin combined with the adjuvant therapy [except for stage IA and IB (

Purpose: To investigate the impact of different cylinder positions on dosimetry of critical structures in patients with endometrial carcinoma undergoing three-dimensional image-based vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB). Material and methods: We delivered VCB at a dose of 4 Gy to a depth of 5 mm in the vaginal cuff of 15 patients using three different cylinder positions (neutral [N], parallel [P], and angled [A]) according to the longitudinal axis of the patient. We analyzed the dose-volume distribution and volumetric variability of the rectum and bladder. We converted the total doses to equivalent doses in 2 Gy (EQD 2 ) using a linear-quadratic model (a/b = 3 Gy). Results : The mean rectum volume for the N, P, and A positions was 68.2 ± 22.7 cc, 79.3 ± 33.7 cc, and 74.2 ± 29.6 cc, respectively. The mean rectum volume for the P position was significantly larger than that for the N position (p = 0.03). Relative to the N position, the A position resulted in a lower total EQD 2 in the highest irradiated 2 cc (D 2cc ; p = 0.001), 1 cc (D 1cc ; p = 0.004), and 0.1 cc (D 0.1cc ; p = 0.047) of the rectum. Similarly, the P position resulted in a lower EQD 2 in the D 2cc (p = 0.018) and D 1cc (p = 0.024) of the rectum relative to the N position. In the bladder, the P position resulted in a higher EQD 2 in the D 2cc relative to the N position (p = 0.02). There was no dosimetric difference between the P and A positions in either the rectum or the bladder. Conclusions : Vaginal cuff brachytherapy in the P and A positions is significantly superior to that in the N position in terms of rectum dosimetry. The bladder dose in the N position is considerably lower than that in the other positions.

Purpose: We aimed to retrospectively assess the incidence of vertebral compression fractures (VCF), examine clinicopathologic factors potentially associated with VCF, and evaluate treatment response in patients who received stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spine metastases (spMets). Methods and Materials: We identified 78 patients with 125 spMets at baseline and subsequent assessments. Patients received SBRT doses of 16 or 18 Gy. Patients with pre-existing VCF and co-existing local progression were excluded. Spine instability neoplastic score (SINS) was used for spMets categorization. Response to SBRT and VCF were assessed according to the Positron Emission tomography Response Criteria In Solid Tumors (PERCIST) and Genant scores, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to assess local control of disease and vertebral compression fracture-free survival (FFS). Results: We treated 103 cases with single spMets and 11 cases involving double spMets with SBRT. Progressive disease was reported in 3.2% and 8.2% of the cases in the first and last PET/CT reports, respectively. The distribution of treatment response in the remaining patients was: complete response in 30.6% of patients, partial response in 47.1% of patients, and stable disease in 22.3% of patients in the first PET/CT; complete response in 62.3% of patients, partial response in 16.7% of patients, and stable disease in 21% of patients at the last monitoring. Local failures were observed in 15 (12%) of cases. Median SINS was 5 (range: 1−13); majority of patients in our cohort (70.4%) were categorized as stable according to SINS, five (4%) patients had Grade 3 VCF at a median time of 16 months after SBRT (range: 2−22 months), and 60% of VCF occurred after an interval of at least 12 months after SBRT. No bisphosphonate usage was significantly associated with VCF (r = −0.204; p = 0.022). Median FFS was 21 months. Univariate analyses indicated that female gender (p 6 months of bisphosphonates use (p = 0.002), and the lowest vertebral body collapse score (p = 0.023) were associated with higher FFS. Female gender (p = 0.007), >6 months of bisphosphonates usage (p = 0.018), and the lowest vertebral body collapse score (p = 0.044) retained independent significance. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that spine SBRT with doses of 16–18 Gy promises good local control of disease with acceptable VCF rates. Lowest vertebral body collapse score, female gender, and >6 months of bisphosphonate use were significantly associated with longer FFS. Keywords: SBRT, Spine metastases, Vertebral compression fracture, Bisphosphonate, PET/CT

BackgroundTo investigate the detrimental effects of prolonged overall radiotherapy duration (ORTD) on survival outcomes of stage IIIB/C NSCLC patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT).MethodsThe study cohort consisted of 956 patients who underwent C-CRT for stage IIIB/C NSCLC. Primary endpoint was the association between the ORTD and overall survival (OS) with locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS) and PFS comprising the secondary endpoints. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized for accessibility of the cut-off that interacts with survival outcomes. Multivariate Cox model was utilized to identify the independent associates of survival outcomes.ResultsThe ROC curve analysis exhibited significance at 49 days of ORTD cut-off that dichotomized patients into ORTDConclusionsLonger ORTD beyond ≥50 days was associated with significantly poorer OS, LRPFS and PFS outcomes, where reduced locoregional control rates appeared to be the main causative.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada vertebra metastazlarında stereotaktik radyocerrahi (SRC) sonrası yanıt değerlendirmesinde pozitron emisyon tomografisinin (PET-BT) rolü araştırılmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Geriye dönük olarak 16 veya 18 Gy SRC uygulanmış hastalar incelenmiştir. Analizlere SRC öncesinde herhangi bir derecede vertebra kompresyon kırığı gelişmemiş, radyosensitif olarak bilinen küçük hücreli akciğer ve hematolojik kanserlerli olgular dışındaki tedavi öncesi ve sonrası PET-BT verileri olan hastalar dâhil edilmiştir. Tüm vertebra segmentleri stabilite açısından spinal instability neoplastic score ’e göre sınıflandırılmış ve yanıt değerlendirmesinde PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) kriterleri kullanılmıştır.Bulgular: Toplam 75 hasta 119 VS’e (101 tek, 9 çift) SRC uygulanmış olup büyük kısmını (%66,7) meme kanserli hastalar oluşturmaktadır. VS’lerin %70,6’sı SINS 0-6’ya uymaktadır. Lokal kontrol hastaların %87,4’nde sağlanmış olup 1 yıllık lokal nükssüz sağkalım oranı %92,5 olarak bulunmuştur. İlk yanıt değerlendirme PET-BT’si ortanca 3 ayda (aralık: 1-35 ay) çekilmiş olup sadece 4 (%3.3) VS’de progresyon raporlanırken diğer VS’lerde SRC’ye yanıt mevcuttur (%30.3 tam, %43.7 kısmi, %22.7 stabil). Son PET’de sadece 11 VS’de lokal nüks tespit edilirken ilk PET’de tam yanıt olan hiçbir VS’de nihai olarak lokal nüks gelişmemiştir. İlk PET’de tam yanıt olması son PET’de de yanıt olmasıyla ilişkili bulunmuştur.Sonuç: SRC sonrası yanıt değerlendirmesinde ilk PET-BT yanıtı gerek son kontrol durumunu göstermesi açısından gerekse alternatif tedavileri planlamak açısından değerli bulunmuştur.

Amaç: Retrospektif bu çalışmanın amacı cerrahi/biyopsi ile glioblastoma multiforme tanısı almış, kemoradyoterapi uygulanmış hastalarda uzatılmış temozolamid kullanımının genel ve progresyonsuz sağkalım etkisini araştırmak olarak belirlendi.Gereç ve Yöntem: Kliniğimize başvuran cerrahi/biyopsi ile glioblastoma multiforme tanısı almış 225 hastadan, temozolamid ile birlikte radyoterapi tedavisi uygulandıktan sonra, ≤6 ay ve >6 ay süreyle adjuvan temozolamid kemoterapisi uygulanmış 116 hastatedavi toleransı, genel ve progresyonsuz sağkalımları arasındaki farklar retrospektif olarak incelendi.Bulgular: Hastaların ortalama takip süresi 18 ay (2-125 ay) olarak belirlenirken, 65(%56) hasta halen hayattadır. Uzatılmış temozolamid (>6 ay) olan grupta genel sağkalım daha uzun tespit edilirken istatistiksel bir fark tek değişkenli analizde tespit edilememiştir sırasıyla 49.0 (≤6)vs 68.33 ay(>6). Ancak progresyonsuz sağkalım süresi uzatılmış temozolamid grubunda standart temozolamid alan gruba göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı oranda uzun saptanmıştır 14 (>6)vs 9 ay(≤6). Gruplar arasında anlamlı bir yan etki farklılığı görülmemiştir.Sonuç: Çalışmamızda glioblastoma multiforme tanısı almış hastalarda uzatılmış temozolamid kullanımı hastaların progresyonsuz sağkalım ve genel sağkalımlarının belirgin oranda artmasına neden olur.