Impact of Radiation Therapy on Biological Parameters in Cancer Patients: Sub-analysis from the RIT Prospective Epidemiological Study.

Scarce data investigate the impact of radiotherapy (RT) on biology markers. An analysis of ancillary study of RIT (Radiation Impact on Thromboembolic events) prospective trial was carried out. All patients with non-metastatic solid tumors and treated with radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy in curative and consenting to have blood samples were included. A significant decrease in white blood count, (i.e. lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and basophils) and platelet counts was observed after RT and maintained at 6 months. Whereas, eosinophils, D-dimers and hemoglobin levels were affected respectively 3 months and 6 months after RT initiation. Conversely, red cells count and CRP level were not affected by RT. This study is an advocacy to develop an understanding of basic immune system in relation with RT.

Venous thromboembolism and radiation therapy: The final radiation-induced thrombosis study analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic events frequently complicate the course of malignancy and represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. In contrast to chemotherapy and other systemic therapies, little is known about the impact of ionizing radiations on the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients. METHODS: In the present prospective study, we aimed to investigate the incidence, management, and outcome of VTE in newly diagnosed cancer patients who received curative radiotherapy. RESULTS: VTE was found in 8 patients, out of 401 patients at a median time of 80 days after radiotherapy initiation. The incidence rate of VTE at 6 months post-treatment was 2% (95% CI, 0.9-3.7), with 50% of cases occurring during the radiotherapy course and 50% of cases in patients who received or were receiving chemotherapy. As none of the patients harbored a personal history of VTE, no prophylactic measure was initiated during cancer therapy. Most patients received monotherapy with low-molecular-weight heparin and were still on surveillance at the end of the study. No specific clinical risk factor was identified that might systematically indicate the need of thromboprophylaxis in the context of curative radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although this pan-cancer descriptive study did not relate an increased risk of short-term thrombosis following ionizing radiation, it provides important insight as a basis for future studies with subcategories of cancer, in order to in fine guide further recommendations in frail patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02696447.

Assessing toxicities of curative radiotherapy combined with concomitant non anti-cancer drugs: A sub-analysis of the prospective epidemiological RIT trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Limited data are available about non-anticancer treatment (NACTs)/radiation combinations. MORSE 02-17 was the first study to report on the interaction resulting from such combinations in a heterogeneous population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe acute and late toxicities in a homogenous cohort of cancer patients receiving NACTs and undergoing radiation therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis of the RIT (Radiation Impact on Thromboembolic events) prospective trial was carried-out. Patients with non-metastatic solid tumors and treated with radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy in a curative intent between 2016 and 2019 were included. Data about NACTs and toxicities were then collected. RESULTS: Out of 382 patients, 293 were prescribed NACTs (76.7%) with a median number of 3.6 (range: 1-14) NACTs per patient. Among1006 NACTs, the most prescribed drugs were anti-hypertensive, in 153 patients (52.2%). In accordance with MORSE 02-17 data, four of the main side effects of radiotherapy were analysed: genitourinary, gastrointestinal, dermatitis/mucositis and fatigue. Regarding acute and late toxicities -whatever the grade- no statistical difference was found between NACTs classes and these toxicities. CONCLUSION: When we compared the rates of toxicities with literature data, NACTs did not seem to have a worsening effect. One could conclude that NACTs concomitantly given with RT do not influence toxicity outcome. We then advocate a development of new platform for toxicity profile investigation of drugs-RT combination.

Local treatment in the setting of de novo metastatic rectal cancer: reappraisal of prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was conducted to: (1) provide more modern data on real-life local management of metastatic rectal cancer; (2) compare therapeutic strategies; and (3) identify prognostic factors of local failure, overall survival and progression-free survival. METHODS: Data about efficacy and acute toxicity were collected. Patients were diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer between 2004 and 2015, and were treated at least with radiotherapy. Local failure, overall survival and progression-free survival were correlated with patient, tumour and treatment characteristics using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Data of 148 consecutive patients with metastatic rectal cancer were analysed. Median follow-up was 19 months. Median overall survival was 16 months. All patients received local radiotherapy, with a median equivalent 2 Gy per fraction dose of 47.7 Gy. Rectal surgery was performed in 97 patients (65.6%). The majority of patients (86/97, 88.7%) received pre-operative chemoradiation. In multivariate analysis, rectal surgery was found to be the only independent predictor of increased overall survival (24.6 vs 7.1 months, p <0.001). Of the patients undergoing surgical treatment, 22.8% presented with significant complications that required a delay of systemic treatment. Grade 3-4 acute radiation therapy-related toxicities were observed in 6.1% of patients, mainly gastrointestinal toxicities (5.4%). CONCLUSION: Rectal surgery was a key predictive factor of increased progression-free survival and overall survival in patients receiving at least local radiotherapy. In our series of real-life patients, local surgery and radiation seemed as well tolerated as reported in selected phase III non-metastatic rectal cancer patients. These data suggested that local management could be beneficial for metastatic rectal cancer patients.

[HPV: Carcinogenic implications and preventive measures]. / Le papillomavirus : implications carcinologiques et mesures préventives.

Human oncogenic papillomaviruses (HPV) have an increasingly prominent role in the genesis of many cancers. The oncogenic mechanisms associated with HPV are now better known and make it possible to explain the etiopathogenesis of the association. HPV status is now sought for certain cancers and conditions both prognosis and management of patients. Preventive antiviral vaccination has become a real public health issue and aims to effectively reduce the prevalence of cervical, anal and oropharynx cancer, HPV-associated. However, vaccination against HPV still lags behind. The purpose of this review is to redefine the involvement of HPV in several cancers as well as current therapeutic challenges of HPV-related cancers, notably in term of prevention.

Special Focus on Stage IV Cervical Cancer Patients: A Decade Experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and compare prognostic factors, management strategies, and outcomes of very locally advanced cervical cancer (CC) (i.e., stage IVA) and metastatic CC (i.e., stage IVB). METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted based on all consecutive patients treatedfor stage IV CC in a comprehensive cancer care centre between 2004 and 2017. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included. Performance status (PS) was ≥2 for 35.9%. Median age at diagnosis was 60.5. There were 24 stage IVA CC (35.3%) and 44 stage IVB CC (64.7%). Seventeen patients with stage IVB CC had only para-aortic lymph node metastases (38.6%), 13 had only distant metastases (29.5%), and 14 had both (31.8%). Patients with stage IVA CC experienced a radiotherapy with curative intent (n = 14, 58.3%) +/- concomitant chemotherapy, or a palliative treatment (n = 10, 41.7%). Twenty-three patients with stage IVB CC received a prior chemotherapy (52.3%), 11 a primary concomitant chemoradiation (25%), and 10 a palliative treatment (22.7%). The mean follow-up was 18.0 months. The 5-year overall survival was 5.1% for stage IVA (95% CI = 0.7-33.9), and 10.5% for stage IVB (95% CI = 3.7-29.7). In multivariate analysis, PS >1 was identified as a poor prognostic factor of disease-specific survival for stage IVA CC. PS >1 and pelvic lymph node involvement were identified as poor prognostic factors of overall survival and disease-specific survival for stage IVB CC. CONCLUSIONS: In daily clinical practice, outcomes of stages IV CC are poor. Treatment of advanced and metastatic CC remains challenging. New management strategies are needed, as well as efficient preventive strategies.

Efficacy and tolerance of thoracic radiotherapy in the oldest old patients: A case series.

BACKGROUND: There are only scarce data on the management of nonagenarians with lung cancer, and more particularly on the place of radiation therapy. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of radiotherapy (RT) in nonagenarians with thoracic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records from RT departments from four institutions were reviewed to identify patients 90 years old of age and older undergoing RT over the past decade for thoracic cancer and more particularly lung cancer. Tumors' characteristics as well as treatment specificities and its intent were examined. RESULTS: Thirteen patients receiving RT courses were identified, mean age 91.9 years. Treatment was given with curative and palliative intent in 15.4% and 84.6%, respectively. The median total prescribed dose was 30 Gy (4-70). The median number of fractions was equal to 10 (1-35). The median dose received for each fraction was 3 Gy (1.7-7). RT could not be completed in 2 patients (15.4%). At last follow-up, 11 patients (76.9%) were deceased, cancer being the cause of death for 90% of them. Most toxicities were grade 1 or 2. Two patients (15.4% of cases) have developed grade 2 toxicity during treatment. One patient (7.7% of cases) experienced an acute grade 3 toxicity. CONCLUSION: The study shows that RT for thoracic cancer is feasible in nonagenarians. Although the definitive benefit of RT could not be addressed here, hypofractionated therapy allowed a certain measure of control with acceptable side effects.

Is breast-conserving therapy adequate in BRCA 1/2 mutation carriers? The radiation oncologist's point of view.

Breast conserving therapy (BCT) is currently a recognized alternative to mastectomy for early BC patients. However, the therapeutic index of BCT was considered controversial for decades in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. The aim of the present review was to investigate the outcome of mutation carriers undergoing BCT regarding local and distant endpoints. A short review was performed from the point of view of the radiation oncologist. Only retrospective data were available regarding local outcome assessment. They generated conflicting results. In studies with limited follow-up, BCT did not increase the risk of local recurrence in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers versus non-carriers. Conversely, some studies with longer follow-up supported that local relapse was increased in mutation carriers. Yet, according to some publications, their long-term risk of ipsilateral recurrence post-BCT was not different from general population cohorts. Besides, overall and metastasis-free survivals were the same after BCT regardless of the BRCA1/2 mutation status. Similar survival rates were also reported when BCT and mastectomy were compared in mutation carriers. Regarding acute or late toxicity, normal rates were reported in BRCA mutation carriers after breast radiotherapy. The BRCA1/2 mutation does not seem to widely alter the therapeutic index (efficacy/toxicity ratio) of modern adjuvant breast irradiation. Although the long term equivalence of BCT/mastectomy on local control is still not clearly recognised, BCT can be considered an adequate option for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. This review highlights that BCT is a reasonable option for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers however litterature is controversial concerning long-term local outcome and results of a large prospective cohort are needed.

Safety assessment of anticancer drugs in association with radiotherapy in metastatic malignant melanoma: a real-life report : Radiation/systemic drug combo in metastatic melanoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety of the association of radiotherapy (RT) and systemic treatments for patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (mMM). METHODS: A retrospective analysis included consecutive patients treated with palliative RT, and at least one line of systemic therapy for mMM between 2001 and 2016. Treatments were defined as sequential or concomitant when RT and the systemic drug were administered, respectively, at more or less than five half-lives from each other. RESULTS: 92 patients were included. They had 110 palliative RT treatments. RT was delivered with a "conventional" chemotherapy (mainly fotemustine and/or dacarbazine) and a "modern" systemic therapy (BRAF inhibitors, association of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, immunotherapy), respectively, in 88 (80%) and 22 (20%) cases. Systemic treatments and RT were mainly concurrently performed (n = 61, 55.5%). Regarding acute grade ≥ 3 toxicity, no difference was reported between sequential and concomitant groups either in the whole cohort (p = 1) or in the subgroup of patients receiving "modern" systemic therapies (p = 1). Acute and late grade ≥ 3 toxicities only occurred with vemurafenib. BRAF inhibitors and RT produced more severe infield adverse events than other associations (p = 0.001) with two deaths. CONCLUSION: In our series, compared to sequential administration, concomitant association of systemic anticancer drugs and palliative RT did not increase toxicity in mMM patients. BRAF inhibitors and RT produced severe infield toxicities. Prospective studies are needed to better characterize the toxicity of each association.

Radiotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer: Current situation and upcoming strategies.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative) is viewed as an aggressive subgroup of breast cancer. Treating patients with TNBC remains clinically challenging. It's now well established than radiation therapy is able to improve locoregional control in breast cancer patients both after breast conserving surgery or mastectomy, with positive impact in high-risk patients for long-term survival. Biologic characterization of breast tumor different subtypes, in particular the heterogeneous subtype of TNBC could permit to adapt the treatment plan. In the present review, summarizing the molecular types, we describe clinical features and postoperative radiotherapy current situation for TNBC, and we provide new strategies and directions through an adapted radiation therapy.

Outcomes prediction in pre-operative radiotherapy locally advanced rectal cancer: leucocyte assessment as immune biomarker.

OBJECTIVE: Leukocytes are hypothesized to reflect the inflammatory tumor microenvironment. We aimed to validate their prognostic significance in a large cohort of patients treated with pre-operative radiation for locally advanced rectal cancer (RC). RESULTS: From 2004 to 2015, 257 RC patients with available biological data underwent a pre-operative radiotherapy, with a median age of 66 years. The median rectal EQD2 was 49.2Gy. Most of patients experienced concurrent chemotherapy (n = 245, 95.4%), mainly with 5-FU (83.3%). Clear surgical margins (i.e. complete resection) were achieved in 234 patients (91.1%). A complete (Mandard TRG1: n = 35, 13.6%) or almost complete pathological response (Mandard TRG2: n = 56, 21.8%) were achieved in 91 patients (35.4%). With a median follow-up of 46.1 months, 8 patients (3.1%) experienced local relapse, 38 (14.8%) experienced metastases and 45 (17.5%) died. Elevated pre-radiation neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR > 2.8) was identified as an independent predictive factor of increased local relapse, of decreased progression-free survival and overall survival in multivariate analysis. Elevated NLR was marginally associated with incomplete pathological response in multivariate analysis, suggesting a possible value as a biomarker of radio-sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-radiation NLR is a simple and robust biomarker for risk stratification in locally advanced RC patients undergoing pre-operative radiotherapy, and might select the subpopulation eligible to treatment intensification or to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical records from consecutive patients treated in a single institution between 2004 and 2015 with curative-intent radiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Classical prognosis factors of RC and peripheral immune markers based on lymphocytes and neutrophil counts were studied.

Biological aspects of chondrosarcoma: Leaps and hurdles.

Chondrosarcomas are characterized by their chemo- and radioresistance leading to a therapeutic surgical approach which remains the only available treatment with a 10-year survival between 30% and 80% depending on the grade. Non-surgical treatments are under investigation and rely on an accurate biological understanding of drug resistance mechanisms. Novel targeted therapy which represents a new relevant therapeutic approach will open new treatment options by targeting several pathways responsible for processes of proliferation and invasion. Survival pathways such as PI3K, AKT, mTOR and VEGF have been shown to be involved in proliferation of chondrosarcoma cells and antiapoptotic proteins may also play a relevant role. Other proteins such as p53 or COX2 have been identified as potential new targets. This review provides an insight into the biological substantial treatment challenges of CHS and focuses on improving our understanding of CH biology through an overview of major signaling pathways that could represent targets for new therapeutic approaches.

Evaluation of the quality of the reporting of phase II clinical trials in oncology: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current state of knowledge concerning the quality of reporting in phase II clinical trials in oncology and to describe the various methods published allowing this quality evaluation. METHODS: databases including MEDLINE and COCHRANE were searched. Reviews and meta-analyses analyzing the quality of the reporting of phase II trials in oncology were included. Descriptive analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS: Thirteen publications were retained. Only 2 publications adopted a systematic approach of evaluation of the quality of reporting by overall scores. The Key Methodological Score (KMS), proposed by Grellety et al., gathering 3 items, seemed adapted for such an evaluation. A score of 3/3 was found in 16.1% of the 156 phase II trials analysed by this score. The other reviews used a qualitative analysis to evaluate the reporting, via an analysis of a single criterion, generally the statistical plan of the study. This item was considered as having been correctly reported in less than 50% of the analysed articles. CONCLUSION: The quality of reporting in phase II trials in oncology is a field that has been investigated very little (13 publications). When it is studied, the estimated level of quality is not satisfactory, whatever the method employed. The use of an overall score of evaluation is a path which should be pursued, in order to get reliable results. It also seems necessary to propose strong recommendations, which would create a consensus for the methodology and the reporting of these studies.

Correction to: From IB2 to IIIB locally advanced cervical cancers: report of a ten-year experience.

In the original publication [1] one author name was spelled incorrect.

A retrospective survey of the last 3 months of life in patients carrying glioblastoma: Clinical treatments and profiles.

Glioblastoma is one of the most common types of primary brain tumor. In situations of local recurrence, physicians can suggest either specific palliative anticancer treatments (SPAT; surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) or best supportive care (BSC). The objective of the present study was to identify clinical factors that may have influenced the continuation or cessation of SPAT during the final 3 months of life in patients with glioblastoma. In the present retrospective single-center study, all records of patients treated for glioblastoma, who succumbed to the disease between June 2006 and February 2014, were assessed. All selected patients were divided into two groups, according to treatments received during the last 3 months of life: The SPAT and BSC groups. A total of 148 patients were included: 81 patients in the SPAT group (group A) and 67 patients in the BSC group (group B). A performance status equal to 0 was observed for 17.3% of patients in group A vs. 6% in group B. Following progression, chemotherapy was administered in 39.5% of cases in group A vs. 20.9% of cases in group B (P=0.0149). The mean number of lines of chemotherapy administered in group A was equal to 1.44±0.77 as compared with 1.06±0.67 in group B (P=0.0017). SPAT are utilized frequently among patients approaching mortality due to a glioblastoma. Certain factors, including the utilization of novel chemotherapy after the first progression or number of lines of chemotherapy previously administered, may have influenced physicians' decisions whether to continue with the SPAT or not.

From IB2 to IIIB locally advanced cervical cancers: report of a ten-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Despite screening campaigns, cervical cancers remain among the most prevalent malignancies and carry significant mortality, especially in developing countries. Most studies report outcomes of patients receiving the usual standard of care. It is possible that these selected patients may not correctly represent patients in a real-world setting, which may be a limitation in interpreting outcomes. This study was undertaken to identify prognostic factors, management strategies and outcomes of locally advanced cervical cancers (LACC) treated in daily clinical practice. METHODS: Medical files of all consecutive patients treated with curative intent for LACC in a French Cancer Care Center between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were identified. Performance status was ≥ 2 in 10.6%. Median age at diagnosis was 63.0. Based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification, tumours were classified as follows: 10.6% IB2, 22.3% IIA, 51.0% IIB, 4.3% IIIA and 11.7% IIIB. Pelvic lymph nodes were involved in 34.0% of cases. Radiotherapy was delivered for all patients. Radiotherapy technique was intensity modulated radiation therapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy in 39.4% of cases. A concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy was delivered in 68.1% of patients. Brachytherapy was performed in 77.7% of cases. The recommended standard care (concurrent chemoradiotherapy with at least five chemotherapy cycles during radiotherapy, followed by brachytherapy) was delivered in 43.6%. The median overall treatment time was 56 days. Complete tumour sterilisation was achieved in 55.2% of cases. Mean follow-up was 54.3 months. Local recurrence rate was 18.1%. Five-year overall survival was 61.9% (95% Confident Interval (CI) = 52.3-73.2) and five-year disease-specific survival was 68.5% (95% CI = 59.2-79.2). Poor performance status, lymph nodes metastasis and absence of concurrent chemotherapy were identified as poor prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Less than 50% of patients received the standard care. Because LACC patients and disease are heterogeneous, treatment tailoring appears to be common in current clinical practice. However, guidelines for tailoring management are not currently available. More data about real-world settings are required in order to to optimise clinical trials' aims and designs, and make them translatable in daily clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: retrospectively registered.

Cancer du rein et radiothérapie : radiorésistance et au-delà.

KIDNEY CANCER AND RADIOTHERAPY: RADIORESISTANCE AND BEYOND: Metastatic renal cancer has a poor prognosis because of the limited impact of usual treatment modalities, and notably radiotherapy. Renal cell carcinoma is traditionally considered to be radioresistant, and conventional radiotherapy fraction sizes of 1.8 to 2 Gy are thought to have little role in its management. Technological advances in radiation oncology have led to stereotactic approaches that overcome radio resistance mechanisms of renal cancer cells and could be successful. The technical ability of applying high dose per fraction, leads to a distinct biological response which is different from the one observed with conventional irradiation through high responses rates. The increased radiobiological effect is attributed to endothelial apoptosis triggered by high fractional dose. The combination of such radiotherapy regimens with targeted drugs paves the way for new therapeutic opportunities.

Radiothérapie et immunothérapie.

RADIATION THERAPY AND IMMUNOTHERAPY: Nowadays, it is known and recognized that the immune system has a central place in the mechanisms of oncogenesis and the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies. The demonstration of the immuno-stimulatory ability of radiation therapy opens the field to new applications for this therapy already widely used in oncology area. Indeed, radiotherapy is capable of initiating and / or increasing the immune-mediated anti-tumor response. The combination of this "old" therapy with the "new" therapies that are immunotherapies then makes perfect sense. Although the potentiating effect of this combination is based on an interesting and well-documented biological rationale in preclinical data, there are still few clinical data available. The multiplication of trials, and the arrival of phase III trials should give us more perspective on the effectiveness and safety of this association. However, the lack of consensus concerning the optimization of these "immuno-radiotherapies" (characteristics of the tumor, irradiation regimen and treatment plan) could prove deleterious for the results of ongoing studies.

Quality of reporting in oncology phase II trials: A 5-year assessment through systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Phase II clinical trials are a cornerstone of the development in experimental treatments They work as a "filter" for phase III trials confirmation. Surprisingly the attrition ratio in Phase III trials in oncology is significantly higher than in any other medical specialty. This suggests phase II trials in oncology fail to achieve their goal. Objective The present study aims at estimating the quality of reporting in published oncology phase II clinical trials. DATA SOURCES: A literature review was conducted among all phase II and phase II/III clinical trials published during a 5-year period (2010-2015). STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All articles electronically published by three randomly-selected oncology journals with Impact-Factors>4 were included: Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology and British Journal of Cancer. INTERVENTION: Quality of reporting was assessed using the Key Methodological Score. RESULTS: 557 articles were included. 315 trials were single-arm studies (56.6%), 193 (34.6%) were randomized and 49 (8.8%) were non-randomized multiple-arm studies. The Methodological Score was equal to 0 (lowest level), 1, 2, 3 (highest level) respectively for 22 (3.9%), 119 (21.4%), 270 (48.5%) and 146 (26.2%) articles. The primary end point is almost systematically reported (90.5%), while sample size calculation is missing in 66% of the articles. 3 variables were independently associated with reporting of a high standard: presence of statistical design (p-value <0.001), multicenter trial (p-value = 0.012), per-protocol analysis (p-value <0.001). LIMITATIONS: Screening was mainly performed by a sole author. The Key Methodological Score was based on only 3 items, making grey zones difficult to translate. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: This literature review highlights the existence of gaps concerning the quality of reporting. It therefore raised the question of the suitability of the methodology as well as the quality of these trials, reporting being incomplete in the corresponding articles.

Evaluation of the Cell Invasion and Migration Process: A Comparison of the Video Microscope-based Scratch Wound Assay and the Boyden Chamber Assay.

The invasion and migration abilities of tumor cells are main contributors to cancer progression and recurrence. Many studies have explored the migration and invasion abilities to understand how cancer cells disseminate, with the aim of developing new treatment strategies. Analysis of the cellular and molecular basis of these abilities has led to the characterization of cell mobility and the physicochemical properties of the cytoskeleton and cellular microenvironment. For many years, the Boyden chamber assay and the scratch wound assay have been the standard techniques to study cell invasion and migration. However, these two techniques have limitations. The Boyden chamber assay is difficult and time consuming, and the scratch wound assay has low reproducibility. Development of modern technologies, especially in microscopy, has increased the reproducibility of the scratch wound assay. Using powerful analysis systems, an "in-incubator" video microscope can be used to provide automatic and real-time analysis of cell migration and invasion. The aim of this paper is to report and compare the two assays used to study cell invasion and migration: the Boyden chamber assay and an optimized in vitro video microscope-based scratch wound assay.