BACKGROUND The mechanisms regulating tumor cell dissemination in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (SCCHN) are largely unresolved. We assessed the frequency of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), their association with clinicopathologic parameters and their kinetics during radiochemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Peripheral blood samples from 42 patients with loc...

AIMS AND BACKGROUND To evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of an original concurrent radiochemotherapy regimen in locally advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS Sixty-four patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma arising from a head and neck mucosal site were eligible. Simultaneous radiochemotherapy consisted of two courses of continuous infusional cisplatin (20 mg/m2/d, days 1-4...

Purpose. To compare the impact of prognostic factors of patients treated with definitive radio(chemo)therapy versus patients treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oro- and hypopharynx. Patients and Methods. 162 patients treated with definitive radiotherapy and 126 patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy were retrospectively analysed. The...

BACKGROUND To analyze the clinical course, treatment modalities, complications and outcome of patients suffering from localized embryonal bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma (BPRMS) treated on the CWS-96 trial. PROCEDURE There were 85 patients with BPRMS enrolled and 63 patients with embryonal non-metastatic BPRMS were analyzed. Fifty-six patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and response ...

Background The majority of rectal cancers are discovered in locally advanced forms (UICC stage II, III). Treatment consists of preoperative radiochemotherapy, followed by surgery 6-8 weeks later and finally by postoperative chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to find out if tumor regression affected long-term survival in patients with localy advanced rectal cancer, treated with neoadjuvant ...

BACKGROUND Mucositis and dermatitis are frequently encountered in patients treated with radiochemotherapy. Dead Sea products that contain minerals and other properties have proven effective in treating various skin diseases. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of Dead Sea products in reducing acute radiochemotherapy-induced side effects in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS In...

Helmholtz-Center DresdenRossendorf, PET Center, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Germany Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is an MR technique for assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) that does not require use of contrast agents which makes it a less invasive alternative to the 15O-H2O-PET measurement. The repeatability of ASL has been studied extensively but mainly in young healt...

There is an urgent need to improve reproducibility and translatability of preclinical data to fully exploit opportunities for molecular therapeutics involving radiation and radiochemotherapy. For in vitro research, the clonogenic assay remains the current state-of-the-art of preclinical assays, whereas newer moderate and high-throughput assays offer the potential for rapid initial screening. St...

PURPOSE After preoperative (radio)chemotherapy, histologic determinants for prognostication have changed. It is unclear which variables, including assessment of tumor regression, are the best indicators for local recurrence and survival. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A series of 201 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (cT3/T4, M0) presenting with an involved or at least threatened circumferent...

INTRODUCTION Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has the propensity to develop distant metastases at a high rate and with poor prognosis. The metastatic sites are usually multifocal and involve the bones, lungs, liver and distant lymph nodes. The management of metastatic disease is essenti- ally palliative and is based on radiochemotherapy. METHODS A 50-year old man with a huge hematoma in the liv...