OBJECTIVE To explore the possible relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in candidate genes encoding DNA damage recognition/repair/response and steroid metabolism proteins with respect to clinical radiation toxicity in a retrospective cohort of patients previously treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-DCRT) for prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN One hu...

AIM To assess target volume coverage during prostate image-guided radiotherapy based on bony anatomy alignment and to assess possibility of safety margin reduction. BACKGROUND Implementation of IGRT should influence safety margins. Utilization of cone-beam CT provides current 3D anatomic information directly in irradiation position. Such information enables reconstruction of the actual dose d...

3552 Background: Capecitabine has the potential to replace 5-FU as standard agent in combination with radiotherapy in rectal cancer. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor. Both agents are active in the treatment of colorectal cancer and have demonstrated radiosensitising properties. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of combini...

OBJECTIVES To compare late rectal toxicity (LRT) after definitive radiotherapy (DR) and salvage radiotherapy (SR) in prostate cancer using conventional (CONV) or three-dimensional conformal (3-D) techniques. METHODS The outcomes and clinical factors of 212 patients with Stage T1a-T4 prostate cancer were evaluated (separated into DR and SR groups). The median prescribed dose was 66, 74, 66, an...

OBJECTIVES Pharmacokinetic studies in animal models are important for assessing the prophylactic potential of antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention. This study sought to identify clinically relevant doses of the marketed integrase inhibitors raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir in macaques and investigate drug penetration and antiviral activity in mucosal secretions. METHODS Macaques ...

PURPOSE In order to know the effect of variation in position of applicators to the dose received by the tumor volume, critical organs such as rectum and bladder and the correlation of variation on the clinical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS 36 patients with histologically proven cervical cancer, undergoing intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) from October 2005 to December 2006 were the subjects ...

BACKGROUND To compare the dosimetric differences among fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), single-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (SA-VMAT) and double-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (DA-VMAT) plans in rectal cancer. METHOD Fifteen patients with rectal cancer previously treated with IMRT in our institution were selected for this study. For each patient, three p...

As regards, the selection of appropriate energy in radiotherapy tumors that are placed in non-homogen areas is important, so the aim of the present study is evaluating the effect of 6 and 15MV photon beam energies on dose distribution in 3D-CRT for lower esophageal and rectal cancers. 12 patients with lower esophageal cancer and 12 patients with rectal cancer respectively, with the prescription...

INTRODUCTION Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an area of active investigation for treatment of prostate cancer. In our phase I dose-escalation study, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached, and subsequently phase II study has been completed. The purpose of this article is to review our experiences of dose-escalated SBRT for localized prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS P...

Purpose Intra-vaginal packing is used to fix the applicator and displace organs at risk (OAR) during high-dose-rate intracavitary tandem and ovoid brachytherapy (HDR-ICB). We retain the speculum from applicator placement as a dual-function bladder and rectum retractor during treatment. Our objective is to review salient techniques for OAR displacement, share our packing technique, and determine...