AIMS New technology - specifically intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) - is now being applied to breast radiotherapy and a recent dosimetric analysis confirmed the advantages of IMRT over 'wedge-only' plans. Such application to everyday practice raises new issues and here we present the early experience of IMRT-based breast irradiation in a single centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS We present ...

The overall response rates and long-term survival of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) are still significantly inferior to the results achieved in similar subtypes of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is clearly necessary to investigate new therapeutic methods on PCNSL. We encountered three patients histologically documented PCNSL as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). They...

AIMS To obtain a better understanding of the changes in radiotherapeutic management of breast cancer patients in the more developed areas of China over the past decade. METHODS Four academic radiation therapy departments located on the Southeast Coast of China were selected for the study. The survey was conducted on female breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy in 1999 and 2006. The...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and it has a poor prognosis and few therapeutic options. Radiotherapy is one of the most effective forms of cancer treatment, and P53 protein is one of the key molecules determining how a cell responds to radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of iodine-131 in three...

Increasing evidence suggests that many types of cancers contain a population of cells that display stem cell properties. These cells are called cancer stem cells (CSCs). They are virtually resistant to radiation, and may contribute to treatment resistance and recurrence. Therefore, therapies specifically targeting CSCs will likely be needed for complete tumor eradication. In this article, we re...

This study compared the use of the internal mammary and thoracodorsal recipient vessels in a uniform group of patients who underwent delayed TRAM flap reconstruction after radiotherapy, focusing on usability rates and outcomes. The authors identified 123 delayed TRAM flap patients who had undergone postmastectomy radiotherapy from a prospective database (1990 to 2001). Recipient vessel unusabil...

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in the Western world. It affects mainly postmenopausal women. The aim of our study is to report the experience of the radiotherapy department of the National Oncology Institute (INO) in the treatment of endometrial cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 52 cases of endometrial cancer treated in the INO radiotherapy department between 2007-...

Pancreatic cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up S. Cascinu, M. Falconi, V. Valentini & S. Jelic On behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* Department of Medical Oncology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona; Department of Surgery and Gastroenterology, University of Verona, Verona; Department of Radiotherapy, Università Cattolica del Sacro...

Integrated Treatment Centre, 9/F, Kowloon Bay Health Centre, Kai Yan Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong A case of a 71-year-old Chinese man diagnosed to have Extramammary Paget's Disease (EMPD) was reported. He presented with a right-sided, recalcitrant groin ulcer. The diagnosis was made two years after first presentation. He was treated by radiotherapy alone and has no relapse since then...

BACKGROUND Intracranial vascular complications following radiosurgery are extremely rare. CASE DESCRIPTION We report a case of stenosis in the internal carotid artery 5 years after gamma knife radiosurgery for a recurrent pituitary adenoma. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed successfully with anatomical and functional improvement. CONCLUSION These results suggested the impo...