Elective Node Irradiation With Integrated Boost to the Prostate Using Helical IMRT-Clinical Outcome of the Prospective PLATIN-1 Trial.

This prospective, non-randomized phase II trial aimed to investigate the role of additional irradiation of the pelvic nodes for patients with prostate cancer and a high risk for nodal metastases using helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy with daily image guidance (IMRT/IGRT). Between 2009 and 2012, 40 men with treatment-naïve prostate cancer and a risk of lymph node involvement of more than 20% were enrolled in the PLATIN-1 trial. All patients received definitive, helical IMRT of the pelvic nodes (total dose of 51.

Consolidative mediastinal irradiation of malignant lymphoma using active scanning proton beams: clinical outcome and dosimetric comparison.

Purpose: Current research approaches in lymphoma focus on reduction of therapy-associated long-term side effects. Especially in mediastinal lymphoma, proton beam radiotherapy (PT) may be a promising approach for reducing the dose to organs at risk (OAR).

Patients: In total, 20 patients were irradiated with active scanning PT at Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) between September 2014 and February 2017.

Dosimetric comparison of advanced radiotherapy approaches using photon techniques and particle therapy in the postoperative management of thymoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare dosimetric differences related to target volume and organs-at-risk (OAR) using 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), TomoTherapy (Tomo), proton radiotherapy (PRT), and carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) as part of postoperative thymoma irradiation.

Material And Methods: This single-institutional analysis included 10 consecutive patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy between December 2013 and September 2016. CT-datasets and respective RT-structures were anonymized and plans for all investigated RT modalities (3DCRT, VMAT, Tomo, PRT, CIRT) were optimized for a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions.

3D-Printed masks as a new approach for immobilization in radiotherapy - a study of positioning accuracy.

We developed a new approach to produce individual immobilization devices for the head based on MRI data and 3D printing technologies. The purpose of this study was to determine positioning accuracy with healthy volunteers. 3D MRI data of the head were acquired for 8 volunteers.

Neoadjuvant versus definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer : Outcomes and patterns of failure.

Purpose: Randomized trials examining neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection (nCRT-S) and definitive CRT (dCRT) for esophageal cancer (EC) patients are hampered by use of nonstandard treatment paradigms. Outcomes of nCRT-S versus dCRT in a more common patient population are lacking. We investigated local control and survival, evaluated clinical factors associated with endpoints, and assessed patterns of failure between these cohorts.

Intensity-modulated versus 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in the definitive treatment of esophageal cancer: comparison of outcomes and acute toxicity.

Background: Though the vast majority of seminal trials for locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) utilized three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), the advanced and highly conformal technology known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can decrease doses to critical cardiopulmonary organs. To date, there have been no studies comparing both modalities as part of definitive chemoradiation (dCRT) for EC. Herein, we investigated local control and survival and evaluated clinical factors associated with these endpoints between cohorts.