International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPreoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: randomized trial comparing oral uracil and tegafur and oral leucovorin vs. intravenous 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.
To compare, in a randomized trial, 5-fluorouracil (FU) plus leucovorin (LV) (FU+LV) vs. oral uracil and tegafur (UFT) plus LV (UFT+LV) given concomitantly with preoperative irradiation in patients with cT3-4 or N+ rectal cancer. ⋯ Although this study lacked statistical power to exclude clinically significant differences between both groups, the outcome of patients treated with UFT+LV did not differ significantly from that of patients treated with FU+LV, and hematologic toxicity was significantly lower in the experimental arm.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparison of treatment tolerance and outcomes in patients with cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in a prospective randomized trial or with standard treatment.
To compare the treatment and outcomes of cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) in a multi-institutional trial or as standard care. ⋯ Even within a large comprehensive cancer center, the high rates of chemotherapy completion achieved on a multi-institutional trial can be difficult to reproduce in standard practice. Although C/F toxicity was greater in the standard care patients, their outcomes were similar to those of patients treated with C/F on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 90-01.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialProtection of salivary function by concomitant pilocarpine during radiotherapy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
To investigate the effect of concomitant administration of pilocarpine during radiotherapy for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) on postradiotherapy xerostomia. ⋯ Concomitant administration of pilocarpine during radiotherapy did not improve the PFCP or LENT SOMA and patient-rated xerostomia scores. In a subgroup of patients with a mean dose above 40 Gy, pilocarpine administration resulted in sparing of parotid gland function. Therefore, pilocarpine could be provided to patients in whom sufficient sparing of the parotid is not achievable.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2008
Siemens multileaf collimator characterization and quality assurance approaches for intensity-modulated radiotherapy.
Application of the multileaf collimator (MLC) has evolved from replacing blocks to create treatment fields to creating photon fluence modulation for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Multileaf collimator system performance requirements are far more stringent for such applications and will require increased performance for future applications, such as motion tracking. This article reviews Siemens MLC systems, including a technical description and dosimetric characteristics of 56-, 82-, and 160-leaf designs. ⋯ Measured values of X-ray transmission (intra-leaf, inter-leaf, and through abutting leaf pairs) and penumbra (leaf end, leaf tongue, leaf groove) are presented with an evaluation of their characterization by a treatment-planning system. The dosimetric impact of planning system model inadequacies is demonstrated for collimator scatter, dose profile values within 30 mm of the field edge, and the resultant effect demonstrated on clinical cases. Finally, a description of automated quality assurance delivery, analysis, and calibration protocols applicable for the specific vendor's system is provided.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2008
Multileaf collimator characteristics and reliability requirements for IMRT Elekta system.
Understanding the characteristics of a multileaf collimator (MLC) system, modeling MLC in a treatment planning system, and maintaining the mechanical accuracy of the linear accelerator gantry head system are important factors in the safe implementation of an intensity-modulated radiotherapy program. We review the characteristics of an Elekta MLC system, discuss the necessary MLC modeling parameters for a treatment planning system, and provide a novel method to establish an MLC leaf position quality assurance program. ⋯ The sensitivity of this test for determining the relative leaf positions was observed to be better than 0.1 mm. The Elekta MLC leaf position accuracy measured with this system has been better than 0.3 mm.