International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 1999
Pulsed low dose rate brachytherapy for uterine cervix carcinoma.
To analyze the outcome and complication rates for patients treated with curative-intent pulsed low dose rate (PLDR) brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for uterine cervical carcinoma. ⋯ PLDR brachytherapy is a safe and effective brachytherapy method in the treatment of cervix carcinoma. It combines the physics benefits of dose optimization and the radiobiologic advantages of low dose rate brachytherapy. It eliminates radiation exposure to staff and visitors as well as the need for a source inventory. Although further follow-up will be required, it appears to provide outcome which compares favorably to other methods of brachytherapy delivery, and results in a low rate of complications.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 1999
Clinical TrialConcurrent twice-a-week docetaxel and radiotherapy: a dose escalation trial with immunological toxicity evaluation.
In vitro studies show that docetaxel (Taxotere) is potent radiosensitizer. In a previous study we observed a 27% complete response rate after radiotherapy and weekly docetaxel for non-small-cell lung cancer. In this dose escalation study we investigated the feasibility of a twice-a-week docetaxel regimen together with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for brain, chest, and pelvic tumors. ⋯ Docetaxel radiochemotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach for locally advanced cancer. The recommended dose of docetaxel for chest and pelvic cancer patients is 15 mg/m2 twice a week. Patients with brain tumors can be safely treated with higher doses of docetaxel (23 mg/m2 twice a week) without toxicity. The severe immunologic toxicity observed suggests that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and immunoglobulin administration may be important in the efficacy and tolerance of taxane-based radiochemotherapy. Randomized trials are required to assess whether the efficacy of docetaxel radiochemotherapy depends on the frequency of docetaxel administration during radiation treatment.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 1999
Modeling late effects in hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.
To investigate the effect of increasing fraction size on cell survival in late responding normal tissues. The hypothesis is that total dose can be reduced for constant tumor cell kill and there will be consequent advantage for some surrounding normal tissue cells. Also, the volume of normal tissue that can potentially be damaged by increasing fraction size is minimized by a high degree of dose conformation achievable in stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). ⋯ Hypofractionation may be biologically sound when a small volume of normal tissue is covered by high isodose levels. There is a calculated advantage in using larger fractions in terms of cell survival at low isodose levels.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Dec 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAnemia is associated with decreased survival and increased locoregional failure in patients with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma: a secondary analysis of RTOG 85-27.
The purpose of the present study is to investigate the strength of association between anemia and overall survival, locoregional failure, and late radiation therapy (RT) complications in a large prospective study of patients with advanced head and neck cancer treated with conventional radiotherapy with or without a hypoxic cell sensitizer. ⋯ Low Hgb levels are associated with a statistically significant reduction in survival and an increase in locoregional failure in this large prospective study of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Hgb level should be considered as a stratification variable in subsequent studies of head and neck cancer. Strategies to increase Hgb prior to RT in patients with head and neck cancer may lead to improved survival and loco-regional control.