Secondary Cancer Risk in Breast Cancer with and without Radiotherapy: The Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) Cohort Study.

Purpose: Radiotherapy is used to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence after surgery, but it is a potential cause of secondary cancer. We validated the risk of secondary cancer in primary breast cancer who received radiotherapy compared with those who did not from a matched cohort using a large-scale observational study of the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) data network.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective comparative cohort study using propensity score-matched cohorts was performed using two Observational Medical Outcome Partnership common data model databases, from tertiary general hospitals in South Korea.

Relationship of Immediate Breast Reconstruction and the Development of Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients With Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is often challenging to manage, and knowledge of how to prevent it is limited. There are several well-known risk factors, but recent studies have also suggested the potential association of immediate breast reconstruction with lower incidence, albeit with inconclusive results. Thus, we explored the impact of immediate breast reconstruction on lymphedema incidence in patients with breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT).

Blood Circulating Tumor DNA-based Genomic Profiling and Serial Analysis in Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer.

Background/aim: This study aimed to identify mutation profile similarities between tissue and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and to explore driver mutations as potential prognostic or predictive biomarkers or druggable targets in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Patients And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 18 patients with advanced BTC and analyzed next-generation sequencing data from 60 ctDNA samples using AlphaLiquid 100. This assay screens up to 118 genes for single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertion or deletions (INDELs), 27 genes for copy number alterations (CNAs), and 10 genes for fusions.

Concurrent Versus Sequential Adjuvant Capecitabine-Based Chemoradiation in Residual Triple-Negative Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant-Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Comparative Study.

Purpose: Given the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), adjuvant capecitabine has been the standard therapy for residual disease after preoperative systemic therapy (PST). However, the optimal sequence of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) and capecitabine remains unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent RT and capecitabine (RT+CAP) versus sequential RT followed by capecitabine (RT→CAP) in patients with residual TNBC after PST.

Impact of the ASTRO 2024 Guideline on Partial Breast Irradiation Eligibility in Breast Cancer Patients (KROG 24-01).

Purpose: The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has recently published new guidelines for the eligibility for partial breast irradiation (PBI). This study aims to evaluate the eligibility rates of PBI according to the ASTRO 2017 and 2024 guidelines.

Methods And Materials: Patients diagnosed with pTis-T2N0 breast cancer in 2019 from 3 tertiary medical centers were accrued.

Treatment Outcomes after Postoperative Radiotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study (KROG 17-05).

Background: We designed a multi-institutional retrospective study to investigate the previously unreported failure pattern, survivals, and prognostic factors after postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 699 patients with TNBC who underwent PORT at six institutions between 2008 and 2010. The median follow-up period was 94 months (range: 7-192 months).

Palliative Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Primary Tumors in Patients With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer remains a significant health concern for women, with a significant number of women facing unresectable, symptomatic, and advanced disease that severely affects their quality of life. Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is a well-established modality for managing such cases and alleviating symptoms. Recent advancements in systemic therapies and the resulting increase in long-term survival rates have not only heightened the need for retreatment in certain patients, but have also emphasized the importance of achieving durable local control.

Risk of radionecrosis in HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastasis receiving trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and brain stereotactic radiosurgery.

Objectives: To investigate the potential relationship between trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) treatment and radionecrosis induced by brain stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who were diagnosed with brain metastasis and received both SRS and HER2-targeted agents between 2012 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who received T-DM1 within 1 year (either before or after) of SRS were considered as 'T-DM1 exposure (+)'.

Quantifying radiation-induced breast fibrosis by shear-wave elastography in patients with breast cancer: A 12-months-follow-up data of a prospective study.

Purpose: To assess radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) using shear-wave elastography (SWE) in patients with breast cancer who received radiotherapy (RT) after breast conserving surgery.

Methods: Forty-one patients were enrolled in a prospective study before RT. SWE and B-mode ultrasonography were performed to measure elasticity.

Assessment of Eligibility and Utilization of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation in Korean Breast Cancer Patients (KROG 22-15).

Purpose: We investigated the proportions of patients eligible for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) among those with pT1-2N0 breast cancer, based on the criteria set by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO), the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS), and the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBS). Additionally, we analyzed the rate of APBI utilization among eligible patients.

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with pT1-2N0 breast cancer in 2019 were accrued in four tertiary medical centers in Korea.

Assessment of deep learning-based auto-contouring on interobserver consistency in target volume and organs-at-risk delineation for breast cancer: Implications for RTQA program in a multi-institutional study.

Purpose: To quantify interobserver variation (IOV) in target volume and organs-at-risk (OAR) contouring across 31 institutions in breast cancer cases and to explore the clinical utility of deep learning (DL)-based auto-contouring in reducing potential IOV.

Methods And Materials: In phase 1, two breast cancer cases were randomly selected and distributed to multiple institutions for contouring six clinical target volumes (CTVs) and eight OAR. In Phase 2, auto-contour sets were generated using a previously published DL Breast segmentation model and were made available for all participants.

Pro-inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19-related persistent olfactory dysfunction.

Introduction: While localized inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) olfactory dysfunction (OD), persistent COVID-19 OD remains poorly understood with limited therapeutics. Our prospective study evaluated olfactory cleft (OC) biomarkers as predictors of persistent OD in mucus sampling.

Methods: COVID-19 subjects with persistent OD >3 months confirmed by psychophysical olfaction tests were compared to COVID-19 subjects with no OD and those with no prior infection.

ZIF-8/Graphene Oxide Hybrid Membranes as Breathable and Protective Barriers against Chemical Warfare Agents.

Personal protective equipment against chemical warfare agents and other toxic chemicals must be protective, be breathable, and have a low thermal burden. Selectively permeable membranes are promising candidates for such equipment. In this study, a hybrid membrane consisting of a continuous and thin zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8 layer on an oxygen-rich small-flake graphene oxide layer was produced using a simple and scalable synthesis method.

Risk Factors for Distant Metastasis in Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer after Curative Resection (KROG 1814).

Purpose: Risk factors predicting distant metastasis (DM) in extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBDC) patients treated with curative resection were investigated.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 1,418 EHBDC patients undergoing curative resection between Jan 2000 and Dec 2015 from 14 institutions were reviewed. After resection, 924 patients (67.

Patterns of locoregional recurrences and suggestion of the clinical target volume in resected perihilar extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) in patients with perihilar extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (PEHC) treated with radical resection and to suggest the optimal target volume for elective nodal irradiation.

Methods: Medical records of PEHC patients who underwent radical resection between January 2000 and September 2021 at five institutions were reviewed. Patients who were confirmed with LRR in the follow-up imaging study were included.

A Survey of Practice Patterns for Clinical Nodal Staging Prior to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer.

Background: The importance of clinical staging in breast cancer has increased owing to the wide use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). This study aimed to investigate the current practice patterns regarding clinical nodal staging in breast cancer in real-world settings.

Materials And Methods: A web-based survey was administered to board-certified oncologists in Korea, including breast surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, from January to April 2022.

Patterns and Longitudinal Changes in the Practice of Breast Cancer Radiotherapy in Korea: Korean Radiation Oncology Group 22-01.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze contemporary practice patterns in breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) and assess longitudinal changes over five years in Korea.

Methods: In 2022, a nationwide survey was conducted among board-certified radiation oncologists. The survey consisted of 44 questions related to six domains: hypofractionated (HypoFx) whole breast RT, accelerated partial breast RT (APBI), regional nodal irradiation (RNI), RT for ductal carcinoma (DCIS), postmastectomy RT (PMRT), and tumor bed boost.