Particle Beam Therapy and Surgery as Radical Treatments for Parotid Malignancies-A Single-Center Preliminary Case Study.

Background/Objectives: Particle beam therapy (PBT) was approved in April 2018 for head and neck malignancies and has since been introduced as a radical therapy for parotid malignancies. However, its prevalence and effectiveness in relation to surgical treatment have not been investigated. Methods: In this study, we evaluated 36 patients with parotid malignancy who underwent surgery (n = 26) or PBT (n = 10) and then analyzed the annual changes in the number of patients, survival rates, and clinical factors affecting prognosis. Results: Of the ten patients who opted for PBT, two and eight patients underwent PBT before and after 2018, respectively. There was a significant difference between these two groups of patients (p = 0.04). Of the ten patients who underwent PBT, five patients were recurrent cases; meanwhile, all twenty-six patients who underwent surgery were receiving initial treatment. Only one patient in each group had local recurrence after the treatment. Conclusions: The use of PBT as a radical therapy for parotid malignancies has been increasing since 2018, and patients with recurrent tumors tended to choose PBT. The outcome of the patients who underwent PBT did not seem to be inferior compared with those of the patients who underwent surgery. The histopathological type was a crucial issue in the outcomes of patients who underwent radical therapy for parotid malignancies.

Preliminary Investigation of the Efficacy and Indications of Proton Beam Therapy for Stage IV Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate proton beam therapy (PBT) for stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its metastases and define the criteria for eligibility. Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients who had a histopathological diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, had progressed to stage IV, and underwent PBT for both the primary and some metastatic lesions between 2017 and 2022. PBT was performed using the passive scattering technique. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (median age, 72 years; range, 55-85 years) were enrolled. All patients had stage IV pancreatic cancer at the initiation of PBT. The median duration from the date of stage IV diagnosis to the initiation of PBT was 5.8 (range, 0.4-13.5) months. Three patients had been diagnosed as having recurrent stage IV cancer at other institutions before their referral to our hospital because they had local recurrence and distant metastases after the resection of the primary tumor. Chemotherapy was as follows: pre-PBT, 0, 1, 2, and 3 lines in 4, 7, 4, and 1 patients, respectively; concurrent with PBT, 0 and 1 line in 11 and 5 patients, respectively; post-PBT, 0 and 1 line in 5 and 5 patients, respectively; and unknown, 6 patients. The median survival times (MSTs) from the date of stage IV diagnosis for the with or without non-irradiated active metastatic tumor were 11.4 and 20.1 months, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the performance status (PS) levels (p < 0.01), the carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 tumor marker levels (p < 0.01), active tumors not treated with irradiation (p = 0.02), and with or without post-PBT chemotherapy (p < 0.01) were statistically significant factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that the CA 19-9 tumor marker levels (p= 0.04), the number of metastatic lesions (p = 0.049), and with or without non-irradiated active metastatic tumors (p = 0.02) were significant factors. CONCLUSION: PBT is indicated when the number of metastases is limited to ≤ 4 lesions and all tumors can be irradiated within the smallest possible number of irradiation fields that can be performed within the patient's tolerable time, which is a subjective duration that depends on the patient's reaction during each session. It may be a viable treatment option for patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer.

Long-Term Control With Proton Beam Therapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer in the Right Perineum Following Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy: A Case Report.

Radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used for the treatment of prostate cancer, with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT) being the utilized modalities. This case report outlines the treatment course of a recurrent prostate cancer lesion in the right perineal musculature managed with proton therapy following IMRT. A 64-year-old Japanese man, diagnosed with prostate cancer and categorized as high risk according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, underwent six months of androgen deprivation therapy, which included bicalutamide and degarelix acetate. Six months after completing 78 Gy in 39 fractions of IMRT, the patient reported perineal to anal pain. Laboratory tests showed an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and pelvic MRI showed a mass lesion in the right perineal musculature. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer. Thereafter, the patient underwent eight cycles of systemic chemotherapy with docetaxel; however, his pain progressively worsened. Subsequently, the treatment was switched to 12 cycles of cabazitaxel, which led to gradual pain relief. The patient received PBT at 60 Gy relative biological effectiveness in 30 fractions for the recurrent lesion. Five years after PBT, pelvic MRI showed no mass lesions in the prostate or surrounding tissues. The PSA levels remained low, less than 0.008 ng/ml, and there were no apparent late complications.

Proton beam reirradiation for locally recurrent rectal cancer patients with prior pelvic irradiation.

The aim of the present study was to report the feasibility of proton beam reirradiation for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) with prior pelvic irradiation. The study population included patients who were treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) for LRRC between 2008 and December 2019 in our institution. Those who had a history of distant metastases of LRRC, with or without treatment, before reirradiation, were excluded. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and local control (LC) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Ten patients were included in the present study. The median follow-up period was 28.7 months, and the median total dose of prior radiotherapy (RT) was 50 Gy (range, 30 Gy-74.8 Gy). The median time from prior RT to reirradiation was 31.5 months (range, 8.1-96.6 months), and the median reirradiation dose was 72 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) (range, 56-77 Gy). The 1-year/2-year OS, PFS and LC rates were 100%/60.0%, 20.0%/10.0% and 70.0%/58.3%, respectively, with a median survival time of 26.0 months. Seven patients developed a Grade 1 acute radiation dermatitis, and no Grade ≥ 2 acute toxicity was recorded. Grade ≥ 3 late toxicity was recorded in only one patient, who had developed a colostomy due to radiation-related intestinal bleeding. Reirradiation using PBT for LRRC patients who had previously undergone pelvic irradiation was feasible. However, the indications for PBT reirradiation for LRRC patients need to be considered carefully due to the risk of severe late GI toxicity.

Tapia Syndrome and Severe Pain Induced by Occipital Bone Metastasis of Prostate Cancer.

Tapia syndrome is characterized by unilateral tongue paralysis, hoarseness, and dysphagia. It is often associated with issues in the lower cranial nerves and is rarely caused by malignant tumors. A 71-year-old Japanese male with prostate cancer and bone metastases experienced severe headaches, oral discomfort, dysphagia, and hoarseness for a month. Neurological examination revealed left-sided tongue atrophy and left vocal cord paralysis, suggesting problems with cranial nerves IX and XII. CT scans showed bone metastasis in the left occipital bone. Brain MRI showed no brain or meningeal metastasis, but neck MRI revealed a mass near the left hypoglossal canal. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 53.2 ng/mL. Based on these findings, we diagnosed him with occipital bone metastasis of prostate cancer with Tapia syndrome. We treated him with palliative radiation therapy (RT), delivering 30 Gy in 10 fractions over two weeks. We did not use drug treatment or chemotherapy due to side effects and the patient's preferences. After just one day of RT, his severe headache and oral discomfort significantly improved. By the end of the two-week treatment, his hoarseness had also improved, and he was able to eat. However, tongue atrophy had not improved three months after RT. We presented a unique case of palliative RT for occipital bone metastasis of prostate cancer with Tapia syndrome. Within two weeks, the patient's headache and dysphagia had greatly improved, although tongue atrophy remained partially unresolved after palliative RT.

Outcomes and Prognostic Factors for Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer Treated With Proton Beam Therapy.

Purpose: Our objective was to report the outcome and prognostic factors for patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) at our institution. Methods and Materials: The study included PBT-treated patients with LRRC between December 2008 and December 2019. Treatment response was stratified using an initial imaging test after PBT. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Each outcome's prognostic factors were verified using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Twenty-three patients were enrolled (median follow-up, 37.4 months). There were 11 patients with complete response (CR) or complete metabolic response (CMR), 8 with partial response or partial metabolic response, 2 with stable disease or stable metabolic response, and 2 with progressive disease or progressive metabolic disease. Three- and 5-year OS, PFS, and LC were 72.1% and 44.6%, 37.9% and 37.9%, and 55.0% and 47.2%, respectively, with 54.4 months' median survival time. The maximum standardized uptake value of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) before PBT (cutoff value, 10) showed significant differences in OS (P = .03), PFS (P = .027), and LC (P = .012). The patients who achieved CR or CMR after PBT had significantly better LC than those with non-CR or non-CMR (hazard ratio, 4.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-17.63; P = .021). Older patients (aged ≥65 years) had significantly higher LC and PFS rates. Patients with pain before PBT and larger tumors (≥30 mm) also had significantly lower PFS. Of 23 patients, 12 (52%) experienced further local recurrence after PBT. One patient developed grade 2 acute radiation dermatitis. Regarding late toxicity, grade 4 late gastrointestinal toxic effects were recorded in 3 patients, in 2 of whom reirradiation was associated with further local recurrence after PBT. Conclusions: The results showed that PBT may have potential to be a good treatment option for LRRC. 18F-FDG-PET/CT before and after PBT may be useful for assessing tumor response and predicting outcomes.

Effectiveness of proton beam therapy for liver oligometastatic recurrence in patients with postoperative esophagus cancer.

There are several reports of hepatic resection for postoperative hepatic metastatic recurrence of esophageal cancer. However, it is unclear whether surgery is the best local treatment for liver metastases. Thus, this study aimed to retrospectively analyze proton beam therapy (PBT) for postoperative liver metastatic recurrence of esophageal cancer without extrahepatic lesions and examine outcomes and adverse events. This single-center historical cohort study selected patients who underwent PBT at our proton therapy center between 2012 and 2018. The patients were selected based on the following criteria: primary esophagus carcinoma was resection and metachronous liver oligometastasis recurrence without extrahepatic tumors and no more than three liver metastases. This study included seven males with a median age of 66 (range, 58-78) years, and 15 lesions were included in the study. The median tumor size was 22.6 (7-55.3) mm. The most frequent dose was 72.6 Gy relative biological effect (RBE)/22 fractions (fr) for four lesions and 64 Gy (RBE)/8 fr for four lesions. The median survival time was 35.5 (13.2-119.4) months. The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 100%, 57.1% and 42.9%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 8.7 (1.2-44.1) months. The 1-, 2- and 3-year PFS rates were 28.6%. The 1-, 2- and 3-year local control (LC) rates were 100%. No grade ≥4 radiation-induced adverse events (AEs) were observed. We conclude that PBT can be considered an alternative to hepatic resection for recurrent liver metastases postoperative esophageal cancer.

Safety of hydrogel spacers for rectal wall protection in patients with prostate cancer: A retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and complications of hydrogel spacer implantation. METHODS: This single-center historical cohort study retrospectively analyzed cases of hydrogel spacer implantation between October 2018 and March 2022. The survey items were the rates of possible hydrogel injection implementation, the success rate of hydrogel implantation including asymmetry, higher position, rectal wall infiltration, subcapsular injection, and other adverse events, and width created by the spacer. To investigate the learning curve, 1, 2, and 3 points were assigned to adverse event grades G1, G2, and G3, respectively. Spacer effectiveness obstruction, such as asymmetry was assigned 3 points. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to assess statistically significant differences. RESULTS: The study included a total of 200 patients with a median (range) age of 70 (44-85) years. In 10 (5%) patients, hydrogel injection implementation was not possible. Of 190 patients who underwent hydrogel spacer placement, 168 (88%) received a satisfactory placement. The median (range) width of hydrogel spacers was 13.1 (4.4-18.7) mm. Spacer asymmetry, higher position, rectal wall infiltration, and prostate subcapsular infiltration occurred in 7 (3.7%), 5 (2.6%), 12 (6.3%), and 1 (0.5%) patients, respectively. G1 and G3 adverse events occurred in 13 (7%) and 4 (2%) patients, respectively. Practitioner #1 who performed the highest number of procedures had significantly (p = 0.04) lower total scores in group B. CONCLUSION: Spacer implantation yielded favorable outcomes with a high percentage of appropriate spacer implantation, and few major complications.

Clinical outcomes and factors involved in the local control of proton beam therapy for oligometastatic liver tumors in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are no existing reports on proton beam therapy (PBT) for local control (LC) of liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (LMCRC). We calculated the LC rate of PBT for LMCRC and explored the influence of each factor on the LC rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases in which PBT was performed at our center between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively selected from the database. Patients with LMCRC without extrahepatic lesions and no more than three liver metastases were included. Effectiveness was assessed based on LC, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) rates. Adverse events (AEs) are described. Factors that may be related to LC were also investigated. RESULTS: This study included 23 men and 18 women, with a median age of 66 (range 24-87) years. A total of 63 lesions were included in the study. The most frequent dose was 72.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness)/22 fractions. The median follow-up period was 27.6 months. The 3­year LC, OS, and PFS rates were 54.9%, 61.6%, and 16.7%, respectively. Our multivariate analysis identified the distance between the tumor and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a factor associated with LC (P = 0.02). No grade ≥ 3 AEs were observed. None of the patients experienced liver failure during the acute or late phase. CONCLUSION: Care must be taken with tumors that have reduced planning target volume coverage owing to organs at risk restrictions, especially in tumors near the GI tract.

Proton Beam Therapy for Lung Oligometastatic Recurrence in Patients With Esophageal Cancer.

Local treatment of oligometastatic esophagogastric cancer has been reported to improve overall survival (OS) compared to systemic therapy alone. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of proton beam therapy (PBT) for the treatment of lung oligometastatic recurrence in esophageal cancer patients. This single-center historical cohort study enrolled 11 patients who underwent PBT for lung oligometastasis from esophageal cancer between 2010 and 2019. The selection criteria were that the primary esophageal cancer was controlled and no more than three lung metastases without outside lung tumors were present. OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) rates and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. Factors that may be related to OS were also investigated. The median follow-up period was 27.8 months (8.8-141.3 months). The one-, two-, and three-year OS rates were 81.8%, 72.7%, and 51.9%, respectively (median OS time: 43.7 months); PFS rates were 45.5%, 27.3%, and 27.3%, respectively (median PFS time: 8.8 months); and LC rates were 92.3%, 72.7%, and 72.7%, respectively. The eighth edition of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification for esophageal cancer was the only significant OS-related factor (p = 0.0309). No grade ≥ 3 AEs were observed. Based on the low incidence of AEs and acceptable LC rate, PBT is a feasible option for the treatment of lung oligometastasis in esophageal cancer patients.

Proton Beam Therapy With Space-Making Surgery (Omental Plombage) for Oligorecurrent Liver Metastasis of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Proton beam therapy (PBT) with space-making surgery has been used recently; however, its effectiveness for recurrent esophageal cancer (EC) is unclear. We herein report an unusual case of successful PBT with space-making surgery (omental plombage) for recurrent liver metastasis after EC surgery. A 58-year-old Japanese man underwent proximal gastrectomy for esophagogastric (EG) junction cancer seven months before presentation to our hospital. Microscopic findings after the surgery showed that the tumor was adenocarcinoma of the EG junction (pT1N0M0, stage I). Seven months after the proximal gastrectomy, liver metastases in S6 and S8 were revealed by positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Initial PBT was performed for those two liver metastases, and complete response (CR) was obtained for both liver metastases. Recurrence of liver metastasis in S2 was found eight months after the first PBT, and CR was achieved by chemotherapy. However, new liver metastasis recurred in S2. Considering the effects of radiation exposure on the surrounding gastrointestinal organs, we performed space-making surgery to place the omentum around the liver metastasis. We were able to complete the second PBT for the liver metastasis with 72.6 Gy relative biological effectiveness in 22 fractions. After the second PBT, the patient survived for seven years without recurrence. PBT with space-making surgery (omental plombage) for recurrent liver metastasis after EC surgery is considered to be a therapeutic option.

Profile analysis of adverse events after boron neutron capture therapy for head and neck cancer: a sub-analysis of the JHN002 study.

The purpose of this study was to outline the course and profile of adverse events specific to boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for head and neck cancer. This was a sub-analysis of the phase II JHN002 trial. Patients received 400 mg/kg borofalan(10B), followed by neutron irradiation. The course of adverse events after BNCT was documented in the JHN002 Look Up study. Patients were grouped into face/front (FF), face/lateral (FL) and neck (N) beam groups according to the point of skin incidence of the epithermal neutron beam axis, and the profile of adverse events dependent on beam incidence position was examined. The courses of adverse events in eight recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (R-SCC) and 13 recurrent or locally advanced non-SCC cases were analyzed. Median interval to complete recovery was 23 days (interquartile range (IQR), 14-48 days) for oral mucositis, 40 days (IQR, 24-56 days) for dermatitis, 58 days (IQR, 53-80 days) for dysgeusia and 156 days (IQR, 82-163 days) for alopecia. In the FF beam group, parotitis (P = 0.007) was less frequent, while oral mucositis (P = 0.032), fatigue (P = 0.002), conjunctivitis (P = 0.001), epistaxis (P = 0.001) and abdominal discomfort (P = 0.029) tended to be more frequent than in the FL and N beam groups. Courses and irradiation site-specific profiles of adverse events in BNCT for head and neck cancer were identified. This profile may be useful for considering interventions to prevent exacerbation of treatment-related adverse events on BNCT.

Successful treatment with proton beam therapy for a solitary sternal metastasis of breast cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer infrequently metastasizes to the sternum as solitary metastasis. We experienced successful treatment with proton beam therapy for a case of sternal metastasis of breast cancer. This case demonstrates for the first time the role of proton therapy in the treatment of oligometastatic sternal metastasis with limited tolerance of normal tissue due to previous photon irradiation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old Japanese female presented with lumpiness in her left breast. The patient was diagnosed with breast cancer (cT1N0M0, cStage IA) and underwent partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. After the mastectomy, the patient received radiation therapy with 50 Gy in 25 fractions for initial irradiation of the left breast. After the initial irradiation of 50 Gy, the patient received 10 Gy in five fractions of a sequential boost for the tumor bed to a total dose of 60 Gy. Although the patient was administered tamoxifen after radiation therapy, solitary sternal metastasis occurred 6 months after radiation therapy. She refused chemotherapy and requested proton beam therapy for her sternal metastasis. The daily proton beam therapy fractions were 2.5 relative biological effectiveness, receiving a total dose of 70 Gy relative biological effectiveness. An acute side effect of grade 2 dermatitis according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. occurred during proton beam therapy, but there was no acute or late complication of more than grade 3. At 3 years after proton beam therapy, the patient remains in complete remission without surgery or chemotherapy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Proton beam therapy for solitary sternal metastasis of breast cancer is considered to be a therapeutic option.

Long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Radical esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has improved survival, but the rate of recurrence is high. Patients of recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. We herein report the achievement of long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after failure of chemotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus (cT2N0M0, stage IIA). He underwent two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, and esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy was performed. Microscopic findings after resection showed two lymph node metastases (ypT2N1M0, stage IIB). Five months after resection, a computed tomography scan revealed a solitary liver metastasis in the S4 area. He underwent three courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil; however, positron emission tomography revealed two lymph node metastases. Surgeons recommended second-line chemotherapy, but the patient refused chemotherapy and requested proton beam therapy. We performed proton beam therapy without chemotherapy for the liver metastasis and lymph node metastases, with total doses of 79.2 and 60 Gy relative biological effectiveness, respectively, according to the tumor location. An acute side effect of grade 1 dermatitis occurred after proton beam therapy, but there was no acute or late complication of more than grade 2. The patient remains in complete remission 5 years after treatment without surgery or chemotherapy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Proton beam therapy exerted a curative effect on oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. This is the first report on the achievement of long-term survival after definitive proton beam therapy for oligorecurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

A long-term survival case with proton beam therapy for advanced sphenoid sinus cancer with hypopituitarism.

Sphenoid sinus malignancies are rare diseases. Secondary hypopituitarism associated with sphenoid sinus malignancy is not well known. A 41-year-old male complained of right ptosis. Neurological findings revealed right oculomotor, trochlear and glossopharyngeal nerve palsy. Imaging diagnosis suggested a tumor that had spread bilaterally from the sphenoid sinus to the ethmoid sinus, nasopharynx and posterior pharyngeal space. Biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Based on these findings, a clinical diagnosis of SCC of the sphenoid sinus was made. Removal of the tumor without damaging nearby organs would have been difficult because the tumor extended to the bilateral optic nerves, optic chiasma and internal carotid artery, and surgeons, therefore, recommended proton beam therapy (PBT). Before PBT, the hypopituitarism occurred in the patient and we administered hydrocortisone and levothyroxine. During treating for hypopituitarism, we performed PBT with nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil. The daily PBT fractions were 2.2 relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for the tumor received total dose of 81.4 Gy RBE. The acute side effect of grade 2 dermatitis according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Occurred after PBT. The patient needs to take hydrocortisone and levothyroxine, but he remains in complete remission 8 years after treatment without surgery or chemotherapy. Visual function is gradually declining, but there is no evidence of severe radiation-induced optic neuropathy.

[A Case of Emergency Radiotherapy for Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis from Breast Cancer].

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis(ISCM)is rare. However, with advances in diagnostic imaging, the incidence of ISCM is increasing. We herein present a case of breast cancer metastasis in the lower thoracic spinal intramedullary area in a patient who was then successfully treated with emergency radiotherapy. A 56‒year‒old woman with breast cancer was admitted to our hospital due to rapidly progressing weakness in both legs and bladder and rectal disturbance. Spinal MRI revealed a gadolinium‒enhancing intramedullary lesion. The patient was treated with emergency radiotherapy and oral steroids. Although the prognosis of ISCM is extremely poor, emergency radiotherapy could be an effective treatment for ISCM to improve the patient's quality of life(QOL).

The effects of intensive oral care before surgery for gastric cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: Oral function management has been recognized as important strategy for preventing postoperative complications. In this historical cohort study, we focused on the patients who planed gastrectomy, and investigated the appropriate duration and frequency of preoperative oral care to prevent complications after surgery. METHODS: Patients who planed surgery for gastric cancer between 2012 and 2018 were enrolled. We defined intensive oral care (IOC) as initial intervention at least three weeks before surgery and follow-up intervention within a week before surgery. As the primary outcome, the incidence of postoperative infectious complications was compared between the IOC and non-intensive oral care groups. RESULTS: A total of 576 patients were enrolled, including 66 with IOC. The incidence of infectious complications was 2/66 (3.0%) in the IOC group and 64/510 (12.5%) in the non-intensive oral care group. After adjusting for confounding factors, patients with IOC exposure had a lower chance of developing postoperative infectious complications (odds ratio; 0.217, 0.051-0.927). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive oral care can help prevent postoperative infectious complications after gastrectomy. These findings suggest that appropriate preoperative oral care includes at least two interventions: three weeks or more before and within one week before surgery.

Boron neutron capture therapy using cyclotron-based epithermal neutron source and borofalan (10B) for recurrent or locally advanced head and neck cancer (JHN002): An open-label phase II trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) can be performed without reactors due to development of cyclotron-based epithermal neutron source (C-BENS), which is optimized for treatment for deeper-seated tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of cyclotron-based BNCT with borofalan (10B) for recurrent or locally advanced head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this open-label, phase II JHN002 trial of BNCT using C-BENS with borofalan (10B), patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (R-SCC) or with recurrent/locally advanced non-squamous cell carcinoma (R/LA-nSCC) of the head and neck were intravenously administered 400 mg/kg borofalan (10B), followed by neutron irradiation. The tumor dose was determined passively as the mucosal maximum dose of 12 Gy-Eq. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Post-trial observational JHN002 Look Up study was planned for evaluating locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS). RESULTS: Eight R-SCC and 13 R/LA-nSCC patients were enrolled. All R-SCC patients had prior radiotherapy with a median dose of 65.5 Gy (range, 59.4-76.0 Gy). The ORR for all patients was 71%, and complete response/partial response were 50%/25% in R-SCC and 8%/62% in R/LA-nSCC. The 2-year overall survival for R-SCC and R/LA-nSCC were 58% and 100%, respectively. The median LRPFS was 11.5 months for R-SCC. Frequently observed adverse events included alopecia (95%), hyperamylasemia (86%), and nausea (81%). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that BNCT using C-BENS with borofalan (10B) is a promising treatment option for patients with R-SCC or R/LA-nSCC of the head and neck.

The bacterial association with oral cavity and intra-abdominal abscess after gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative oral management has been reported to be effective for preventing postoperative infectious complications. In addition, severe periodontal disease was identified as the significant risk factor for complications after gastrointestinal surgery. We investigated the bacteriological association between the periodontal pocket, stomach mucosa and drainage fluid to determine whether oral bacteria directly cause intra-abdominal infection after gastrectomy. METHODS: Patients who were scheduled to undergo surgery for gastric cancer were prospectively enrolled. We evaluated the similarity of bacterial strains in periodontal pocket, stomach mucosa and fluid from drainage tube. Gingival crevicular fluid and dental plaque were collected from the periodontal pocket and cultured to detect bacteria. Specimens from the resected stomach were collected and used for bacterial culturing. Drainage fluid from the abdominal cavity was also cultured. RESULTS: All of 52 patients were enrolled. In the periodontal pocket, α-Streptococcus spp., Neisseria sp., and Prevotella sp. were mainly detected. Bacterial cultures in the stomach mucosa were positive in 26 cases. In 20 cases (76.9%), the detected strains were the same as those in the periodontal pocket. Six patients had the postoperative intra-abdominal infection after gastrectomy, and the same bacterial strains was detected in both of drainage fluid and periodontal pocket in two patients with severe periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: We found the bacteriological association that same strain detected in periodontal pocket, stomach and in intra-abdominal drainage fluid after gastrectomy in patients with periodontal disease.

Age as a decisive factor in general anaesthesia use in paediatric proton beam therapy.

Proton therapy for paediatric cancer patients is an effective treatment; however, young children have may have difficulties staying still during irradiation. This study investigated the indication of general anaesthesia in paediatric proton therapy. Background information and anaesthesia/treatment protocols were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of cancer patients under 15 years who underwent proton therapy at Southern TOHOKU General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan between April 2016 and December 2018. The anaesthesia and non-anaesthesia groups were compared to evaluate factors determining the need for general anaesthesia. Thirty-two patients who received 285 irradiations were analysed. The median age was 5 years old (range: 1-15), and 13 patients (40.6%) were female. Twelve (37.5%) patients received general anaesthesia. In the general anaesthesia group, airway management using a laryngeal mask was performed in 11 patients (91.6%). Patient age was significantly lower in the general anaesthesia group than in the non-anaesthetised group (p < 0.001). Considering all background factors, only age was strongly associated with anaesthesia in the univariate logistic regression model (odds ratio 0.55 [95% confidence interval 0.35-0.86]; P < 0.01). Thus, age is one of the most important factors determining the need for general anaesthesia during proton therapy in children.