Personalized irradiation therapy for NMSC by rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy: a long-term retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to provide long-term clinical data about an innovative epidermal radioisotope therapy called Rhenium-SCT® (Skin Cancer Therapy) for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), based on the use of the non-sealed beta emitter rhenium-188. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 52 NMSC patients with a mean age of 71.7 years were treated with rhenium-188 skin cancer therapy between the years 2005 and 2014. An acryl matrix containing rhenium-188 was applied on a plastic foil covering the tumor. The treatment time for reaching a radiation dose of 50 Gy was calculated by a software program. Patients' characteristics and clinical follow-up data were collected and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Overall 55 lesions (32 BCC, 19 SCC, 2 M. Bowen and 2 extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD)) mainly in the head and neck region (72.3%) were treated. The average size of the irradiation area was 9.79 cm2 and the mean treatment time 46.35 min. All lesions showed a complete remission after a follow-up period between 3 and more than 12 months. No complications or other post-interventional problems were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Rhenium-SCT® is considered as an effective, rapid, safe, painless treatment mostly performed in a single therapeutic session, regardless of the shape complexity, anatomical site and number of lesions.

Superficial radiation therapy in peyronie's disease: An effective and well-tolerated therapy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction of superficial radiation therapy in the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD) in a retrospective analysis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 83 patients who underwent radiation therapy between 1999 and 2008 with 8 fractions of 4 Gy over a period of 6 months. With a mean follow-up time of 52 months, patients responded to a comprehensive questionnaire that covered patient characteristics, disease duration before radiation therapy, course of disease, treatment response, side effects, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 52 months, 78% of the treated patients reported that PD progression had stopped. Furthermore 47% of patients had a symptom regression. Only 7% of patients reported PD progression. The penile curvature was improved in 49% of patients, and plaque induration could be reduced in 42% of patients. Moreover, 71% of patients reported substantial pain relief, as measured by a visual analogue scale (1 = not satisfied; 10 = very satisfied). Treatment satisfaction was rated with a median of 8 in a visual analogue scale out of 10. Side effects included transient erythema in 38.6% of patients and 9.6% reported of transient or chronic dryness. No severe side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation therapy for PD in the disease's early stages proved to be a safe and well-tolerated method with good results in pain relief, especially in patients aged <62 years. No serious adverse events or malign transformations are expected using doses up to 32 Gy.

The high molecular weight dipeptidyl peptidase IV Pol d 3 is a major allergen of Polistes dominula venom.

Hymenoptera venom allergy can cause severe anaphylaxis in untreated patients. Polistes dominula is an important elicitor of venom allergy in Southern Europe as well as in the United States. Due to its increased spreading to more moderate climate zones, Polistes venom allergy is likely to gain importance also in these areas. So far, only few allergens of Polistes dominula venom were identified as basis for component-resolved diagnostics. Therefore, this study aimed to broaden the available panel of important Polistes venom allergens. The 100 kDa allergen Pol d 3 was identified by mass spectrometry and found to be a dipeptidyl peptidase IV. Recombinantly produced Pol d 3 exhibited sIgE-reactivity with approximately 66% of Polistes venom-sensitized patients. Moreover, its clinical relevance was supported by the potent activation of basophils from allergic patients. Cross-reactivity with the dipeptidyl peptidases IV from honeybee and yellow jacket venom suggests the presence of exclusive as well as conserved IgE epitopes. The obtained data suggest a pivotal role of Pol d 3 as sensitizing component of Polistes venom, thus supporting its status as a major allergen of clinical relevance. Therefore, Pol d 3 might become a key element for proper diagnosis of Polistes venom allergy.