International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2005
Clitoral therapy device for treatment of sexual dysfunction in irradiated cervical cancer patients.
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of the clitoral therapy device (Eros Therapy) in alleviating sexual dysfunction in irradiated cervical cancer patients. ⋯ Our results from this pilot study suggest that the clitoral therapy device may alleviate sexual dysfunction in irradiated cervical cancer patients. A randomized, controlled trial is warranted to assess the full benefits of this approach.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2005
Clinical TrialConcomitant radiation therapy and paclitaxel for unresectable locally advanced breast cancer: results from two consecutive phase I/II trials.
The management of unresectable locally advanced breast cancer (ULABC) remains a major challenge because of the necessity both to treat local disease and to prevent distant disease. Two consecutive Phase I/II trials of concomitant chemotherapy and radiation (CRT) were performed to attempt to address both local and distant disease control in ULABC. This analysis focuses on rates of locoregional control and radiation-associated acute and late complications. ⋯ Concurrent WO/WO radiation therapy and paclitaxel +/- vinorelbine is effective locoregional therapy for ULABC with an acceptable toxicity profile. Further investigation of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in ULABC is warranted.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2005
Pretreatment anemia is correlated with the reduced effectiveness of radiation and concurrent chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer.
Pretreatment anemia is an adverse prognostic variable in squamous cell head-and-neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone. Tumor hypoxia is an adverse parameter for treatment with RT alone or with RT and concurrent chemotherapy (CCT). Tumor hypoxia is more prevalent in patients who present with pretreatment hemoglobin (Hgb) concentrations less than 13 g/dL. RT/CCT improves survival over RT alone in advanced HNC, and its use is becoming more widespread. This study was performed to evaluate whether pretreatment Hgb less than 13 g/dL was correlated with treatment outcome in patients with advanced HNC treated with a uniform regimen of RT/CCT. ⋯ Pretreatment Hgb less than 13 g/dL is correlated with adverse outcomes in advanced HNC patients treated with RT/CCT. Whether anemia actually causes poor outcomes remains unknown. The therapeutic effect of anemia correction is being evaluated in prospective trials.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2005
Dosimetric advantages of IMRT simultaneous integrated boost for high-risk prostate cancer.
A sequential two-phase process, initial and boost irradiation, is the common practice for the radiotherapy management of high-risk prostate cancer. In this work, we explore the feasibility of using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) simultaneous integrated boost (SIB), a single-phase process, to simultaneously deliver high dose to the prostate and lower dose to the pelvic nodes. In addition, we introduce the concept of voxel-equivalent dose for the comparison of treatment plans. ⋯ A new IMRT simultaneous integrated boost strategy that irradiates prostate via hypofractionation while irradiating pelvic nodes with the conventional fractionation is proposed for high-risk prostate cancer. Compared to the conventional two-phase treatment, the proposed SIB technique offers potential advantages, including better sparing of critical structures, more efficient delivery, shorter treatment duration, and better biologic effectiveness.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2005
Feasibility of dose escalation using intensity-modulated radiotherapy in posthysterectomy cervical carcinoma.
To evaluate retrospectively the utility of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in reducing the volume of normal tissues receiving radiation at varying dose levels when the female pelvis after hysterectomy is treated to doses of 50.4 Gy and 54 Gy. ⋯ Intensity-modulated RT may permit an increase in the radiation dose that can safely be delivered to the central pelvis and pelvic lymph nodes after hysterectomy. However, dose-volume calculations using individual CT scans do not account for internal organ motion. Detailed data concerning the relationships among radiation dose, treatment volume, and treatment effects are lacking, and prospective studies of pelvic IMRT are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this treatment.