Why an Increasing Number of Unmatched Residency Positions in Radiation Oncology? A Survey of Fourth-Year Medical Students.

Purpose: The number of US fourth-year medical students applying to radiation oncology has decreased during the past few years. We conducted a survey of fourth-year medical students to examine factors that may be influencing the decision to pursue radiation oncology.

Methods And Materials: An anonymous online survey was sent to medical students at 9 participating US medical schools.

Pulmonary dose tolerance in hemithorax radiotherapy for Ewing sarcoma of the chest wall: Are we overestimating the risk of radiation pneumonitis?

Background: Children with chest wall Ewing sarcoma with malignant pulmonary effusion or pleural stranding require hemithorax radiation, often with plans that exceed lung constraints. We investigated disease control and pneumonitis in children requiring hemithorax radiation.

Procedure: Eleven children (median age 13 years) received hemithorax radiotherapy.

Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Retrospective Analysis of Recurrence and Survival in Women Treated for Breast Cancer at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Purpose: It is established that addition of systemic therapy to locoregional treatment for breast cancer improves survival. However, reliable data are lacking about the outcomes of such treatment in women with breast cancer in low middle-income countries. We compared the outcomes of treatment in patients who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or adjuvant chemotherapy and examined the factors associated with breast cancer recurrence and survival at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Proton radiotherapy for infant rhabdomyosarcoma: Rethinking young age as an adverse prognostic factor.

Background & Purpose: In infants with rhabdomyosarcoma, young age is considered an adverse prognostic factor and treatment is often attenuated to reduce side effects. Proton therapy may improve the therapeutic ratio in these patients. We report outcomes in infants with rhabdomyosarcoma treated with proton therapy.

Geographic Distribution of Radiation Oncologists in the United States.

Purpose: The geographic distribution of radiation oncologists determines access to care for patients and job opportunities for practicing physicians, yet available data on practicing radiation oncologists are outdated or use large geographic unit definitions precluding granular analysis. We present an updated county-level analysis of the American radiation oncology workforce.

Methods And Materials: We used the Area Health Resource File published by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.

Nonclinical Time in U.S. Radiation Oncology Residency Programs: Number of Months and Resident Opinion of Value.

Purpose: Data regarding the amount and use of nonclinical time (NCT) in radiation oncology residency programs are scarce. We surveyed every U.S.

Long-term Tumor Control With Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Hemangioma of a Vertebral Body.

Study Design: Retrospective outcomes review.

Objective: To analyze and report long-term outcomes in a cohort of patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for symptomatic hemangioma of a vertebral body.

Summary Of Background Data: Data are scarce on the rate of tumor control with long-term (>5 yr) follow-up after RT for symptomatic hemangioma of a vertebral body.

STING Promotes Homeostasis via Regulation of Cell Proliferation and Chromosomal Stability.

Given the integral role of stimulator of interferon genes (STING, ) in the innate immune response, its loss or impairment in cancer is thought to primarily affect antitumor immunity. Here we demonstrate a role for STING in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis through regulation of the cell cycle. Depletion of STING in human and murine cancer cells and tumors resulted in increased proliferation compared with wild-type controls.

Late toxicity after post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiation therapy: Evaluating normal-tissue sparing guidelines.

Purpose: Dose-volume histogram (DVH) toxicity relationships are poorly defined in men who receive radiation after radical prostatectomy (RP). We evaluated Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study 0534 and institutional intact normal-tissue sparing guidelines, as well as dose to bladder trigone, for ability to minimize late toxicity.

Methods And Materials: 164 men received intensity modulated radiation therapy (RT) to a median prostate bed dose of 66.

JAK2 Inhibitor SAR302503 Abrogates PD-L1 Expression and Targets Therapy-Resistant Non-small Cell Lung Cancers.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Approximately 85% of all lung cancers are non-small cell histology [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]. Modern treatment strategies for NSCLC target driver oncogenes and immune checkpoints.

Cancer therapies activate RIG-I-like receptor pathway through endogenous non-coding RNAs.

Emerging evidence indicates that ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy activate Type I interferon (IFN) signaling in tumor and host cells. However, the mechanism of induction is poorly understood. We identified a novel radioprotective role for the DEXH box RNA helicase LGP2 (DHX58) through its suppression of IR-induced cytotoxic IFN-beta [1].

RIG-I-like receptor LGP2 protects tumor cells from ionizing radiation.

An siRNA screen targeting 89 IFN stimulated genes in 14 different cancer cell lines pointed to the RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene I)-like receptor Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology 2 (LGP2) as playing a key role in conferring tumor cell survival following cytotoxic stress induced by ionizing radiation (IR). Studies on the role of LGP2 revealed the following: (i) Depletion of LGP2 in three cancer cell lines resulted in a significant increase in cell death following IR, (ii) ectopic expression of LGP2 in cells increased resistance to IR, and (iii) IR enhanced LGP2 expression in three cell lines tested. Studies designed to define the mechanism by which LGP2 acts point to its role in regulation of IFNβ.