Feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a respective study of 116 cases from a single institution.

Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma to identify the best method of treatment.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients with esophageal carcinoma aged 70 and older who received definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy entered the study. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and treatment- related toxicities were assessed.

Multimodality therapy is recommended for limited-stage combined small cell esophageal carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Limited-stage combined small cell esophageal carcinoma (LS-C-SCEC) is a rare, poorly understood, underdiagnosed disease, with components of both small cell esophageal cancer and non-small cell esophageal cancer. We investigated the optimal treatment strategy and prognostic factors in patients with LS-C-SCEC.

Patients And Methods: LS-C-SCEC patients included in the analysis (from our hospital and the literature) were treated between January 1966 and December 2013.

A missing geographic link in the distribution of the genus Echinotriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) with description of a new species from southern China.

Disjunct geographic distribution of a species or a group of species is the product of long-term interaction between organisms and the environment. Filling the distributional gap by discovery of a new population or a species has significant biogeographic implications, because it suggests a much wider past distribution and provides evidence for the route of range expansion/contraction. The salamandrid genus Echinotriton (commonly known as spiny salamanders, spiny newts, or crocodile newts) has two species that are restricted to two widely separated areas, one in eastern Zhejiang province, China and the other in the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan.

Experimental study on the regulation of erlotinib-induced radiosensitization with an anti-c-MET monoclonal antibody.

Purpose: Erlotinib is a novel therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. This study was performed to investigate the role of c-MET-PI3K-AKT pathway in the regulation of erlotinib-induced radiosensitization.

Methods: A973 lung adenocarcinoma cells treated with 6 Gy of radiation were incubated in the presence of erlotinib.

Targeting pyruvate kinase M2 contributes to radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic hallmark of cancer, is associated with radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a key regulator of glycolysis, is expressed exclusively in cancers. However, the impact of PKM2 silencing on the radiosensitivity of NSCLC has not been explored.

Dose-volume histogram predictors of chronic gastrointestinal complications after radical hysterectomy and postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy for early-stage cervical cancer.

Background: The small bowel is one of the critical organs involved in gastrointestinal complications in cervical cancer treated with postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy. Even with modest doses of radiation therapy (45-50Gy), the risk of severe injury from postoperative radiation therapy is between 5% and 15%. Up to now, a predictive model of acute GI complications of the small bowel has been established with the aid of Quantitative Analyses of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic.

Feasibility study of dual energy radiographic imaging for target localization in radiotherapy for lung tumors.

Purpose: Dual-energy (DE) radiographic imaging improves tissue discrimination by separating soft from hard tissues in the acquired images. This study was to establish a mathematic model of DE imaging based on intrinsic properties of tissues and quantitatively evaluate the feasibility of applying the DE imaging technique to tumor localization in radiotherapy.

Methods: We investigated the dependence of DE image quality on the radiological equivalent path length (EPL) of tissues with two phantoms using a stereoscopic x-ray imaging unit.

Pericytes: a double-edged sword in cancer therapy.

Pericytes, which envelope the vascular endothelium throughout the body, are often targeted to promote vascular normalization and restore normal function of blood vessels in cancer treatment. The goals of pericyte-targeted therapy tend to promote proper vascular normalization of the tumor. Tumor vascular normalization prevents metastasis, increases tumor oxygenation (making radiation more effective in killing tumor cells), optimizes Starling forces to increase delivery of cancer cell-directed therapies (e.

Serum lipid profiles, lipid ratios and Chronic Kidney Disease in a Chinese population.

Aim: To examine the association of serum lipids, lipid ratios with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in a Chinese population.

Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey in China. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.

Multi-scale and shape constrained localized region-based active contour segmentation of uterine fibroid ultrasound images in HIFU therapy.

Purpose: To overcome the severe intensity inhomogeneity and blurry boundaries in HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) ultrasound images, an accurate and efficient multi-scale and shape constrained localized region-based active contour model (MSLCV), was developed to accurately and efficiently segment the target region in HIFU ultrasound images of uterine fibroids.

Methods: We incorporated a new shape constraint into the localized region-based active contour, which constrained the active contour to obtain the desired, accurate segmentation, avoiding boundary leakage and excessive contraction. Localized region-based active contour modeling is suitable for ultrasound images, but it still cannot acquire satisfactory segmentation for HIFU ultrasound images of uterine fibroids.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy using the CyberKnife(®) system for patients with liver metastases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the treatment of patients with liver metastases. Between August 2006 and July 2011, patients with 1-4 liver metastases were enrolled and treated with SBRT using the CyberKnife(®) system at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. The metastases were from different primary tumors, with a maximum tumor diameter of less than 6 cm.

Preliminary analysis of the risk factors for radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with concurrent erlotinib and thoracic radiotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate radiation pneumonitis and its associated risk factors in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with concurrent erlotinib and thoracic radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We conducted an analysis of patients with nonoperable stage IIIA-IV non-small-cell lung cancer who were treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00973310).

Radiation pneumonitis in patients with non--small-cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib concurrent with thoracic radiotherapy.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib.

Methods: Patients with inoperable stages IIIA to IV non-small-cell lung cancer who were treated with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and erlotinib were analyzed. The incidence of radiation pneumonitis was evaluated using the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) 3.

Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes and skin cancer risk in European population: a meta-analysis.

There have been a few epidemiological studies reporting VDR polymorphisms including Fok1, Bsm1, Apa1 and Taq1 with skin cancer incidence and, therefore, risk. The results, however, are controversial, often due to smaller sample size. Concerning most of the studies were performed on Caucasian population, we conducted this comprehensive analysis to better understand roles of the polymorphisms in skin cancer development among Caucasian population.

Robotic stereotactic irradiation and reirradiation for spinal metastases: safety and efficacy assessment.

Background: Spine is the most common site of bone metastases in patients with cancer. Conventional external beam radiotherapy lacks precision to allow delivery of large fraction radiation but simultaneously limit the dose to spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CyberKnife(®) radiation therapy for spinal metastases.

Prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in resected lung adenocarcinomas.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and prognosis in patients with completely resected lung adenocarcinoma. A total of 131 patients were included in this study. EGFR mutation status in exons 18-21 of the tyrosine kinase-binding domain was detected using nested PCR amplification of individual exon.

Improved algorithm for gradient vector flow based active contour model using global and local information.

Active contour models are used to extract object boundary from digital image, but there is poor convergence for the targets with deep concavities. We proposed an improved approach based on existing gradient vector flow methods. Main contributions of this paper are a new algorithm to determine the false part of active contour with higher accuracy from the global force of gradient vector flow and a new algorithm to update the external force field together with the local information of magnetostatic force.

Comparative research on the efficacy of CyberKnife® and surgical excision for Stage I hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze and compare the outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with either surgical excision or CyberKnife® from September 2006 to August 2011.

Materials And Methods: Local control and toxicity were the primary endpoints, followed by local progression-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival as the secondary endpoints. Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors were the evaluation criteria for efficacy; Common Toxicity Criteria 3.

Phase II study of whole brain radiotherapy with or without erlotinib in patients with multiple brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma.

The aim of this paper is to explore the efficacy of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) versus WBRT concurrent with erlotinib in patients with multiple brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma. WBRT was administered at 30Gy/10f in both arms. In the combination arm, 150 mg erlotinib was given each day, starting the first day of radiotherapy and continuing for 1 month following the end of radiotherapy.

Research progress on the mechanisms of combined bevacizumab and radiotherapy.

Bevacizumab, one of the best-known patents of VEGF inhibitor, has demonstrated significant radiosensitive effects on various preclinical tumor models and clinical trials recently. The radiosensitive effects of this novel patent have achieved satisfactory efficacy through the following mechanisms: normalization of the tumor vasculature, overcoming resistance to radiation, inhibition of repopulation after radiation, and blockade of radiation-induced increased VEGF expression. The combination of bevacizumab with radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant tumors was an inevitable path for the further clinical development of bevacizumab and a very good opportunity for improving the curative effect of radiotherapy.

Sample training based wildfire segmentation by 2D histogram θ-division with minimum error.

A novel wildfire segmentation algorithm is proposed with the help of sample training based 2D histogram θ-division and minimum error. Based on minimum error principle and 2D color histogram, the θ-division methods were presented recently, but application of prior knowledge on them has not been explored. For the specific problem of wildfire segmentation, we collect sample images with manually labeled fire pixels.

A comparison between cyberknife and neurosurgery in solitary brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of cyberknife (CK) and neurosurgery (NS) in patients newly diagnosed as solitary brain metastasis (SBM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively analyzed 76 patients between 1990 and 2012 from our institution, including 38 patients performing CK and the other half performing NS. The observation end point was overall survival time (OS), local control of treated metastasis (LC) and intracranial control (IC).

The different radiosensitivity when combining erlotinib with radiation at different administration schedules might be related to activity variations in c-MET-PI3K-AKT signal transduction.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to investigate the efficacy and activity variation associated with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signal transduction when combining erlotinib with radiation, using different administration schedules.

Materials And Methods: Erlotinib was delivered to A973 cancer cells in the following three ways: (1) irradiation after administration, (2) irradiation upon administration, and, (3) irradiation before administration. The cell-survival rates were detected using colony-forming assays, while cell apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry.

The theoretical foundation and research progress for WBRT combined with erlotinib for the treatment of multiple brain metastases in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, and a theoretical basis exists for utilising whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) combined with erlotinib for the treatment for brain metastases in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. This therapeutic regimen has the potential to be a revolutionary treatment for which the most appropriate indication is lung adenocarcinoma. Currently, there is no difference in the treatment of brain metastasis, especially multiple brain metastases, in patients with lung adenocarcinoma of patients with other lung carcinomas.

Late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy (LCAHR) is used as a standard treatment option for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LAESCC) in China, but concerns remain regarding its efficacy and safety. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LCAHR. The comparisons examined were as follows: LCAHR versus conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CFR) and LCAHR plus chemotherapy (CT) versus LCAHR alone.