International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Aug 2004
Clinical Trial5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation in unresectable pancreatic carcinoma: Phase I-II dose-escalation study.
A Phase I-II dose-escalation study was performed to evaluate the possible impact of the dose on response, toxicity, pain relief, and outcome in patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. ⋯ In a Phase I-II study, the association of high RT doses with the incidence of severe toxicity in the treatment of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma was confirmed. Furthermore, this dose-escalation study did not document a clearcut correlation, using 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation, between the radiation dose and clinical outcome.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Aug 2004
Impact of mean rectal dose on late rectal bleeding after conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer: dose-volume effect.
To identify the clinical and dosimetric factors predictive of a greater risk of Grade 2 or worse late rectal bleeding in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in a prospective dose-escalation study. ⋯ The results of the present study provide clear evidence of a dose-volume effect and the importance of intermediate doses (60.0 Gy) on the risk of rectal bleeding at this prescription dose level. On the basis of these results, new constraints have been implemented in our institution to keep the risk of developing Grade 2 rectal bleeding reasonably low (rectal D(mean) 50.0 Gy and Vr(60) 42%).
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Aug 2004
A population-based study of the prevalence and influence of gifts to radiation oncologists from pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufacturers.
Hospital-based physicians are responsible for the purchase of expensive equipment. Little is known about the influence of gift giving on their behavior. We wanted to ascertain the prevalence of gift giving from the pharmaceutical industry and medical equipment manufacturers to radiation oncologists and determine whether or not the size of accepted gifts influences their opinions regarding gifts. ⋯ To our knowledge, this study represents the first large-scale population based study of a hospital-based specialty and gift giving. This study demonstrates that: (1) Gift giving in radiation oncology is endemic. (2) Although each physician is likely to consider himself or herself immune from being influenced by gift giving, he or she is suspicious that the "next person" is influenced. (3) There is a correlation between the willingness of individual physician to accept gifts of high value and their sympathy toward this practice.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Aug 2004
Clinical TrialCombined modality treatment in the management of high-risk prostate cancer.
The efficacy of a multimodality protocol using neoadjuvant and concomitant hormonal therapy, brachytherapy, and three-dimensional conformal external beam radiotherapy (RT) in high-risk prostate cancer was evaluated using biochemical outcomes and posttreatment biopsy results. ⋯ Trimodality therapy with androgen suppression, brachytherapy, and external beam RT for high-risk prostate cancer results in excellent biochemical and pathologically confirmed local control.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jul 2004
Combined chemotherapy and preoperative irradiation for locally advanced noninflammatory breast cancer: updated results in a series of 120 patients.
To evaluate our updated data concerning survival and locoregional control in a prospective study of locally advanced noninflammatory breast cancer (LABC) after primary chemotherapy (CT) followed by external preoperative irradiation (RT). ⋯ Despite the poor prognosis of patients with LABC resistant to primary anthracycline-based regimen, aggressive locoregional management using preoperative RT and mastectomy with axillary dissection offers a possibility of long-term survival with low local failure rate for patients without extensive nodal disease. On the other hand, the rate of local failure seems to be high in patients with clinical partial tumor response after induction CT and breast-conserving treatment combining preoperative RT and large wide excision.