Acta oncologica
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Comparative Study
Variation in radiation sensitivity and repair kinetics in different parts of the spinal cord.
The spinal cord, known for its strongly serial character and high sensitivity to radiation even when a small segment is irradiated, is one of the most critical organs at risk to be spared during radiation therapy. To compare the sensitivity of different parts of the spinal cord, data for radiation myelopathy have been used. ⋯ Large differences in radiation response between the cervical and thoracic region of spinal cord are thus observed: cervical myelopathy seems to be characterized by medium seriality, while thoracic spinal cord is characterized by a highly serial dose-response. The much steeper dose-response curve for cervical spinal cord myelopathy can be interpreted as a higher number of functional subunits consistent with a higher amount of white matter close to the brain.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Parent distress in childhood cancer: a comparative evaluation of posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression and anxiety.
The aim was to assess symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress (PTS; cognitive intrusions, avoidance, arousal) related to the child's illness, and generic distress (anxiety, depression) in parents of childhood cancer patients. Outcomes were compared to normative and relevant reference data, and analysed for their dependence on time passed since diagnosis. Swedish parents (266 mothers, 208 fathers) were recruited at two centres. ⋯ Clinically, attention should be paid to continuous parent support needs. Individual variation vis-à-vis distress vulnerability should be acknowledged, and presupposed gender differences avoided. When treatment situation asks the most of parents' collaboration, many are under pressure of severe stress.
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Multicenter Study
Results of concomitant chemoradiation for cervical cancer using high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy: study of JROSG (Japan Radiation Oncology Study Group).
The purpose of this study was to clarify outcome for concurrent chemoradiation (CT-RT) in locally advanced cervix cancer in Japan. This is a non-randomized retrospective analysis of 226 patients treated with definitive CT-RT or radiotherapy alone (RT alone) in nine institutions between 2001 and 2003. External irradiation consisted of whole pelvic irradiation and pelvic side wall boost irradiation, using a central shield during the latter half of the treatment with the anteroposterior parallel opposing technique. ⋯ Compared to RT alone, CT-RT caused significantly more acute and late complications. Thus, late complication (grade 3-4) free survival rate at 50 month was 69% for CT-RT and 86% for RT alone (p<0.01). The therapeutic window with concomitant radiochemotherapy and HDR brachytherapy may be narrow, necessitating a close control of dose volume parameters and adherence to systems for dose prescription.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of dose contribution to normal pelvic tissues among conventional, conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques in prostate cancer.
High-energy external radiotherapy has become one of the most common treatment in localized prostate cancer. We compared the difference of dose distribution, mainly at the 5-30 Gy dose level, in the irradiated pelvic volume among three modalities of radiotherapy for patients with prostate cancer: conventional, conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). We selected six patients with prostate cancer treated by conformal radiotherapy at the doses of 46 Gy to PTVN (prostate and seminal vesicles), and 70 Gy to PTV-T (prostate). ⋯ However, IMRT significantly reduced the irradiated volume of the rectum in the dose range of 5 to 40 Gy, also significantly reduced the irradiated volume of bladder and femoral heads, and obtained a similar or improved isodose distribution in the PTVs. In addition, the use of IMRT slightly increased the relative dose delivered to the body volume outside the pelvis, as estimated by the use of specific software. A long-term follow-up will be needed to evaluate potential late treatment complications related to the use of IMRT and the low or moderate irradiation dose level obtained in the pelvis and in the whole body.
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An inverse association either between depression or impaired functional status and quality of life (QoL) has been reported for cancer patients, but the independent effect of depression or depressive symptoms and of functional impairment on QoL is unclear. ⋯ Signs of major depression or depressive symptoms and impaired functional status contribute independently to poorer QoL in cancer patients prior to chemotherapy.