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Radiation therapy (RT) is an essential component in the therapeutic treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer (LPCa). Besides its local effects, ionizing radiation has been linked to mechanisms leading to systemic immune activation. The present study explored the effect of RT on the T‑cell receptor variable β (TCR Vβ) chain repertoire of peripheral blood T cells in patients with LPCa. High‑throughput TCR Vβ sequencing was performed on 20 blood samples collected from patients with LPCa at baseline and 3 months post‑RT. The diversity index was altered, as were TCR Vβ clonal evenness and convergence before and post‑RT; however, these findings were not significant. Notably, marked changes in the frequencies among the top 10 TCR Vβ clonotypes were detected and some patients developed new clonotypes of high abundance. These data provided initial evidence that RT in patients with LPCa may induce systemic immune changes, which could be exploited by future therapies for improved clinical results.

Purpose. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has shown radiosensitizing properties in vitro. This paper reports the effects of radiotherapy and concomitant intravenous 5-FU radiosensitization in the treatment of advanced bone sarcomas.Subjects/methods. Four patients with large inoperable bone sarcomas (three chondrosarcomas and one fibrosarcoma) were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy and concomitant 5-FU bolus injection (300 mg m(-2)) before each fraction of radiotherapy. A radiation fraction of 5 Gy was given twice a week to a normalized total dose (alpha/beta=4 Gy) of 75 Gy.Results. The regimen was well tolerated, the main toxicity being grade I/II diarrhoea in two cases with pelvic irradiation. Treatment interruption for 1 week was necessary in two cases with pelvic disease but not in two patients treated for sarcoma of the extremities. A complete symptomatic relief was obtained in all cases immediately after the third to the fifth fraction and the median duration was 10 months. Computed tomography scan documented a partial response in 2/4 cases.Discussion. Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with potential lethal damage inhibitors for bone sarcomas requires further investigation.

Seventeen patients who had locally far-advanced breast cancer were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy (4-5 Gy/fraction, twice a week) and concomitant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU 300 mg/m2 intravenously, 1 hour before every radiotherapy fraction). Fourteen of the seventeen patients had disease that was not responding to chemotherapy. Early toxicity was low and none developed grade III/IV toxicity. Two of the seventeen patients showed moist skin desquamation and four of seventeen had grade II anemia. Of eight patients who survived longer than 12 months, symptomatic breast fibrosis was observed in one (12%), asymptomatic pericarditis in one (12%) and symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in one (12%). Plexopathy and arm edema grade II were observed in one patient and two patients, respectively. Quality of life substantially improved. Complete response was documented in five of the seventeen patients (29%), with pathologic confirmation in three. Seven of the seventeen (41%) patients were considered to be partial responders, four (23%) had a minimal response, and one (6%) progressed during treatment. Local progression-free survival (1-24 months) was achieved in 12 of 17 patients. Four of the seventeen (23%) patients are alive, with no evidence of disease (local or distant) 8 to 24 months after radiotherapy. Hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy with 5-FU is an effective, convenient, and well-tolerated regimen for far-advanced breast tumors.