Results of the IROCA international clinical audit in prostate cancer radiotherapy at six comprehensive cancer centres.

To assess adherence to standard clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of patients undergoing prostate cancer (PCa) radiotherapy in four European countries using clinical audits as part of the international IROCA project. Multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study of 240 randomly-selected patients treated for PCa (n = 40/centre) in the year 2015 at six European hospitals. Clinical indicators applicable to general and PCa-specific radiotherapy processes were evaluated.

Consensus statement from the Spanish Brachytherapy Group (GEB) on accelerated partial breast irradiation using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy.

Aim: To establish consensus guidelines for a safe clinical practice of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy (BT).

Background: APBI with interstitial multicatheter BT has proved to be effective in the treatment of early stage breast cancer. This paradigm shift in the approach to early breast cancer conservative treatment, along with the existing controversies on the clinical practice of APBI, prompted the Spanish Brachytherapy Group (GEB) of the Spanish Societies of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) and Medical Physics (SEFM) to address BT APBI in a consensus meeting.

Tumor Volumes in Choroidal Melanoma: Agreement Between Three-Dimensional Ultrasound and Two Mathematical Models.

Purpose: To determine the degree of agreement between 2 mathematical models and 3-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) in estimating choroidal melanoma tumor volumes.

Design: Reliability analysis.

Methods: Tumor measurements estimated by 2 mathematical models (designated Formula 1 and Formula 2) were compared to those obtained by 3DUS in 45 consecutive patients with primary choroidal melanoma to determine the percentage agreement between the models and 3DUS.

Impact of prostate catheter displacement in inverse planning--simulated annealing and geometric optimization.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare inverse planning-simulated annealing (IPSA) with geometric optimization (GO) in high-dose-rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy, to assess variations in dosimetric indices associated to catheter displacement.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively studied the dosimetric effect of catheter displacement in 20 patients treated with HDR prostate brachytherapy with salvage intention. The catheter loadings, with optimized dwell positions, from the first fraction were transferred to the catheter positions in the second fraction.

Development of a preclinical therapeutic model of human brain metastasis with chemoradiotherapy.

Currently, survival of breast cancer patients with brain metastasis ranges from 2 to 16 months. In experimental brain metastasis studies, only 10% of lesions with the highest permeability exhibited cytotoxic responses to paclitaxel or doxorubicin. Therefore, radiation is the most frequently used treatment, and sensitizing agents, which synergize with radiation, can improve the efficacy of the therapy.

Development and characterization of an isogenic cell line with a radioresistant phenotype.

Introduction: Radiation resistance is a major cause of death in cancer patients. Cancer cells react during radiotherapy by re-programming specific cell functions that may confer resistance to radiation. The understanding of this complex process is hindered due to the lack of appropriate study models.

Development and refinement of a technique using a medical radiation therapy facility to irradiate immunodeficient mice bearing xenografted human tumours.

The need for using immunodeficient mice for xenoimplantation of tumours is increasing in translational research in radiation oncology. However, adverse effects of radiation and infectious diseases may ruin the experimental work, in particular when appropriate facilities are not available. In this report, we describe a procedure to deliver fractionated radiotherapy to xenoimplanted tumours in immunodeficient mice using a medical linear accelerator, a method that was devised as an alternative to the lack of facilities devoted to radiation research.

Interobserver variability in target volume delineation in postoperative radiochemotherapy for gastric cancer. A pilot prospective study.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the interobserver variability (IV) between radiation oncologists (RO) in target volume delineation for postoperative gastric cancer (GC) radiotherapy planning.

Materials And Methods: Four physicians were asked to delimitate clinical target volume (CTV) on the same 3D CT images in 9 postoperative radiochemotherapy GC patients. Instructions were given to include tumour bed, remaining stomach, anastomosis, duodenal loop and local lymph nodes.

(125)I episcleral plaque brachytherapy in the treatment of choroidal melanoma: a single-institution experience in Spain.

Purpose: To analyze the results of episcleral plaque brachytherapy from the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain.

Materials And Methods: From September 1996 through December 2004, 120 patients with choroidal melanoma (median age, 59 years) were treated with iodine-125 seeds at our institution. Patients were classified according to the criteria developed by the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) group, as follows-COMS-I: 3 patients; COMS-II: 87 patients; COMS-III: 24 patients; and indeterminate COMS: 9 patients.

Impact of mean rectal dose on late rectal bleeding after conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer: dose-volume effect.

Purpose: 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.

Methods And Materials: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical records and dose-volume histograms of 107 patients with Stage T1c-T3 prostate cancer treated at our institution with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy who had a minimal follow-up of 1 year. Of the 107 patients, 21 were treated at dose level 1 (70.