Hyaluronic acid to manage radiotoxicities in gynecological cancer patients: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to map the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) in preventing and controlling radiotoxicity in women with gynecological cancer undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of eight electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, LIVIVO, and the Web of Science Core Collection. In addition, a grey literature search was performed using Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. A manual search was also identified additional references. The search was conducted on May 18, 2023. We included primary studies, reviews, and guidelines that discussed the use of HA to prevent and manage the toxicities resulting from gynecological radiotherapy. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included in this scoping review, published between 2009 and 2022. There was heterogeneity in the use of HA, particularly in the method of application (moisturizing gel, vaginal ovules, spacer gel, and bladder instillations). Furthermore, the radiotoxicities varied among studies, encompassing, among others, vaginal atrophy, dryness, dyspareunia, telangiectasis, adhesions, vaginal stenosis, bleeding, hematuria, and bladder issues. Most studies addressed the potential benefits of HA in managing the signs and symptoms resulting from radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: HA has been utilized in clinical practice, in various formulations, for managing signs and symptoms in patients with gynecological cancer undergoing radiotherapy. However, further studies are necessary to thoroughly investigate the most effective method of HA application and its effectiveness in managing radiotoxicity.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in head and neck cancer patients with radiation induced dysphagia-a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy  (HBOT) in patients with dysphagia after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. METHOD: A systematic search was conducted in the electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant studies until March 14, 2023. No restriction on language or publication date. The criteria for inclusion: patients with HNC who had received both radiation therapy and HBOT as 1) a preventive treatment against swallowing difficulties, 2) to preserve swallowing function, or 3) to promote swallowing difficulties. RESULTS: We identified 1396 records. After removal of 31 duplicates, 1365 records were accessible for title and abstract screening. This yielded 53 studies for full text assessment. Six studies met the eligibility criteria and were included for qualitative analysis. CONCLUSION: Evidence of HBOT benefits in patients with dysphagia after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer is inconsistent. Well-designed studies using validated outcome measures and long-term follow-up are warranted.

[Radiation protection in endoscopy]. / Protección radiológica en endoscopia.

Endoscopy has evolved from a purely diagnostic technique to a therapeutic procedure. This is possible in many cases thanks to the use of fluoroscopy, which entails exposure to ionizing radiation for both patients and the personnel involved. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which necessarily requires fluoroscopy, is classified by the Food and Drug Administration as an examination with a potential risk of triggering radiation induced injuries. This article reviews the biological effects of radiation, the types of radiological equipment used in ERCP, as well as the magnitudes and dosimetric units, to finally address the radio protection elements in the endoscopy room. The objective is to provide the reader with the information to be able to perform these procedures with the greatest radiological safety for both patients and occupationally exposed personnel.

Corticoides sistémicos en el tratamiento de la radiodermitis grave: una serie de casos / Systemic corticoids in the treatment of severe radiodermitis: a series of cases

Introducción: la radiodermitis es uno de los efectos secundarios más frecuentes de la radioterapia y afecta aproximadamente al 95% de los pacientes que la reciben. La radiodermitis aguda se presenta dentro de los 90 días posteriores al inicio del tratamiento, tiene un profundo impacto en la calidad de vida de los pacientes y puede ser la causa de la interrupción prematura de la radioterapia. Su tratamiento es complejo y el papel de los corticoides sistémicos en él aún no ha sido evaluado. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo de 6 pacientes mayores de 18 años con radiodermitis grave, tratados con corticoides sistémicos al no responder a la terapia tópica inicial. Hubo un seguimiento de 6 meses, entre el 1 de junio de 2019 y el 30 de mayo de 2020, en el Servicio de Dermatología de un hospital de alta complejidad. Resultados: se indicó tratamiento con corticoides sistémicos en dosis de meprednisona 40 mg/día o equivalentes, durante 5 días, con resolución completa del cuadro en un período máximo de 15 días. Discusión: en la bibliografía no hemos encontrado trabajos científicos que comuniquen o evalúen la utilidad de los corticoides sistémicos en la radiodermitis grave. Proponemos, entonces, demostrar su utilidad en esta patología. Conclusión: el objetivo de este trabajo es comunicar nuestra experiencia en pacientes con radiodermitis aguda grave, con gran repercusión en el estado general, que evolucionaron con una rápida resolución del cuadro y un adecuado manejo sintomático, mediante el uso de corticoides sistémicos. (AU)

Introduction: radiodermitis is one of the most frequent side effects of radiotherapy and affects approximately 95% of the patients who receive it. Acute radiodermitis occurs within 90 days after the start of treatment, has a profound impact on the quality of life of patients and may be the cause of premature discontinuation of radiotherapy. Its treatment is complex and the role of systemic corticosteroids in it has not yet been evaluated. Materials and methods: descriptive study of 6 patients older than 18 years with severe radiodermatitis, treated with systemic corticosteroids when they did not respond to initial topical therapy. With a 6-month follow-up, between June 1, 2019 and May 30, 2020 at the Dermatology Service of a high complexity hospital. Results: treatment with systemic corticosteroids was indicated at a dose of meprednisone 40 mg/day or equivalent, for 5 days, with complete resolution of the symptoms in a maximum period of 15 days. Discussion: in the literature, we have not found scientific papers that report or evaluate the usefulness of systemic corticosteroids in severe radiodermatitis. We propose to demonstrate their usefulness in this pathology. Conclusion: the objective of this work is to communicate our experience in patients with severe acute radiodermatitis, with great repercussions on the general state, who evolved with rapid resolution of the symptoms and adequate symptomatic management, with the use of systemic corticosteroids. (AU)

Glial cell response to constant low light exposure in rat retina.

To study the macroglia and microglia and the immune role in long-time light exposure in rat eyes, we performed glial cell characterization along the time-course of retinal degeneration induced by chronic exposure to low-intensity light. Animals were exposed to light for periods of 2, 4, 6, or 8 days, and the retinal glial response was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, western blot and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Retinal cells presented an increased expression of the macroglia marker GFAP, as well as increased mRNA levels of microglia markers Iba1 and CD68 after 6 days. Also, at this time-point, we found a higher number of Iba1-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer area; moreover, these cells showed the characteristic activated-microglia morphology. The expression levels of immune mediators TNF, IL-6, and chemokines CX3CR1 and CCL2 were also significantly increased after 6 days. All the events of glial activation occurred after 5-6 days of constant light exposure, when the number of photoreceptor cells has already decreased significantly. Herein, we demonstrated that glial and immune activation are secondary to neurodegeneration; in this scenario, our results suggest that photoreceptor death is an early event that occurs independently of glial-derived immune responses.

The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of radiation lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with 50-60% of patients requiring radiotherapy during the course of treatment. Patients' survival rate has increased significantly, with an inevitable increase in the number of patients experiencing side effects from cancer therapy. One such effect is late radiation injuries in which hyperbaric oxygen therapy appears as complementary treatment. With this work we intend to divulge the results of applying hyperbaric oxygen therapy among patients presenting radiation lesions in our Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients with radiation lesions treated at the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit assessed by the scale Late Effects of Normal Tissues-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytical (LENT-SOMA) before and after treatment, between October 2014 and September 2019 were included. Demographic characteristics, primary tumor site, subjective assessment of the LENT-SOMA scale before and after treatment were collected and a comparative analysis (Students t test) was done. RESULTS: 88 patients included: 33 with radiation cystitis, 20 with radiation proctitis, 13 with osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and 22 with radiation enteritis. In all groups, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.005) in the subjective parameter of the LENT-SOMA scale. DISCUSSION: Late radiation lesions have a major influence on patients' quality of life. In our study hyperbaric oxygen therapy presents as an effective therapy after the failure of conventional treatments. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective complementary therapy in the treatment of refractory radiation lesions.

Erosive esophagitis secondary to radiotherapy: Case report / Esofagitis erosiva secundaria a radioterapia: reporte de un caso

Abstract Introduction: Erosive esophagitis secondary to radiotherapy is an unusual complication in the oncological treatment of thoracic tumors. This pathological entity is associated with multiple complications, which is a clinical challenge for health workers unfamiliar with the clinical manifestations. Clinical case: A 64-year-old woman with a 3-day clinical picture of chest pain radiating to the epigastrium with 10/10 intensity. On physical examination, she was tachycardic, hypotensive, and with intense pain in the upper hemiabdomen region; she had no signs of peritoneal irritation on deep palpation. Paraclinical tests showed no signs of local or disseminated infection, but endoscopy of the digestive tract reported post-radiation esophagitis. Discussion: Erosive esophagitis after radiotherapy occurs in less than 1 % of cases, and clinical manifestations such as dysphagia, odynophagia, and abdominal pain are common. Initial symptomatic management is preserved, with supportive measures such as intravenous hydration and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In case of intolerance to the oral route, therapy with nutritional support is indicated via nasogastric tube or gastrostomy in the most severe cases.

Resumen Introducción: la esofagitis erosiva secundaria a la radioterapia es una complicación inusual del tratamiento oncológico de los tumores torácicos. Esta entidad patológica está asociada con múltiples complicaciones, lo que resulta un reto clínico para los profesionales en salud que están poco familiarizados con las manifestaciones clínicas. Caso clínico: mujer de 64 años con cuadro clínico de 3 días de dolor torácico irradiado al epigastrio con intensidad 10/10. En el examen físico se encontró taquicárdica, hipotensa, con dolor intenso en la región hemiabdominal superior; a la palpación profunda no tenía signos de irritación peritoneal. Los paraclínicos no mostraron signos de infección local o diseminada, pero la endoscopia de vías digestivas reportó esofagitis posirradiación. Discusión: la esofagitis erosiva posterior a la radioterapia se presenta en menos del 1 % de los casos, las manifestaciones clínicas como disfagia, odinofagia y dolor abdominal son frecuentes; el manejo sintomático inicial es conservado, con medidas de soporte como hidratación intravenosa e inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP). En caso de intolerancia a la vía oral se indica terapia con soporte nutricional por sonda nasogástrica o gastrostomía en los casos más graves.

Effectiveness and safety of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with low-energy X-rays (INTRABEAM®) for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI).

PURPOSE: To evaluate treatment outcomes in patients with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) treated with targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) administered as accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). METHODS: Between December 2014 and May 2019, 50 patients diagnosed with ESBC were treated with a 50 kilovoltage (kV) X-ray source with a single dose of 20 Gy using the Intrabeam® radiotherapy delivery system. All patients were followed prospectively to assess local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), radiation-induced toxicity, and cosmetic outcomes. We also evaluated the prognostic implications of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 53 months. Mean patient age was 70 years. The mean duration of radiation delivery was 22.25 min. Two patients developed a recurrence. One death was recorded. Elevated pretreatment NLR levels were a significant risk factor for mortality (p = 0.0026). The most common treatment-related toxicities were breast induration (30%) and seroma (18%). Five-year LC, DFS, CSS, and OS rates were 97.1%, 93.9%, 100%, and 94.4%, respectively. Cosmesis was excellent or good in most cases (94%). CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the effectiveness of a single dose of 20 Gy of IORT with the Intrabeam device as APBI. The toxicity profile was good with excellent cosmesis. These results provide further support for the clinical use of APBI in well-selected patients.

Radiotherapy-related toxicity for localized prostate cancer: meta-analysis comparing conventional or moderately hypofractionated vs. ultrahypofractionated protocols.

BACKGROUND: To compare toxicities in relation to standard radiation treatments [conventional fractionation RT (CRT) and moderate hypofractionated RT (MRT)] with ultrahypofractionated RT (URT) in the treatment of patients with localized PCa. METHODS: A searched was performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and LILACS to January 2020 for studies comparing URT to CRT and/or MRT in relation to genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in the treatment of patients with localized PCa. URT, MRT and CRT were defined as protocols delivering a daily dose of ≥5 Gy, 2.4-4.9 Gy, and <2.4 Gy per fractions regardless total dose, respectively. RESULTS: Eight studies with 2929 patients with localized PCa were included in the analysis. These eight studies did not find any difference between URT and MRT/CRT groups in relation to acute GU toxicity (21.0% × 23.8%, RD -0.04; 95% CI -0.13, 0.06; p = 0.46; I2 = 89%) and acute GI toxicity (4.9% × 6.9%, RD -0.03; 95% CI -0.07, 0.01; p = 0.21; I2 = 79%). Six studies did not find any difference between URT and MRT/CRT groups in relation to late GU toxicity (3.9% × 4.7%, RD -0.01; 95% CI -0.03, 0.00; p = 0.16; I2 = 19%) and late GI toxicity (2.1% × 3.5%, RD -0.01; 95% CI -0.03, 0.00; p = 0.05; I2 = 22%). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that acute GU/GI and late GU/GI toxicity are similar between URT and standard protocols. More studies with longer follow-ups directed to oncology outcomes are warranted before any recommendation on this topic.

Intraoperative irradiation in breast cancer: preliminary results in 80 patients as partial breast irradiation or anticipated boost prior to hypo-fractionated whole breast irradiation.

PURPOSE: To present the first results of intraoperative irradiation (IORT) in breast cancer with a low-energy photon system used as partial breast irradiation (PBI) or as an anticipated boost before whole breast hypo-fractionated irradiation (IORT + WBI), concerning tolerance, side effects, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients treated with an Intrabeam® system of 50 kV X-rays received a 20 Gy dose intraoperatively were included. Moderate daily hypofractionation of 2.7 Gy in 15 fractions up to 40.5 Gy was administered if high-risk factors were present. Acute post-operative toxicity, surgery complications, chronic toxicity, patient-reported cosmesis and Breast-Q questionnaire were performed at follow-up visits. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were treated as PBI and the remaining 49 as IORT + WBI. Only the IORT + WBI group presented acute toxicity, mainly mild acute dermatitis (11 patients) and one subacute mastitis. A total of 20 patients presented fibrosis (18 patients grade I, 2 patients grade II), 15 (30.5%) patients in the IORT + WBI group and 3 (9.6%) patients in the group of PBI. The cosmesis evaluation in 73 patients resulted poor, fair, good or excellent in 2, 7, 38 and 26 patients, respectively. In PBI group Breast-Q scored higher, especially in terms of their psychosocial well-being (78 vs 65) and satisfaction with radiation-induced toxicity (77 vs 72, respectively) compared to IORT + WBI group. CONCLUSION: IORT is a well-tolerated procedure with low toxicity, good cosmesis and favorable patient-reported outcomes mainly when administered as PBI.

Quantitative assessments of late radiation-induced skin and soft tissue toxicity and correlation with RTOG scales and biological equivalent dose in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Radiation-induced toxicity (RIT) is usually assessed by inspection and palpation. Due to their subjective and unquantitative nature, objective methods are required. This study aimed to determine whether a quantitative tool is able to assess RIT and establish an underlying BED-response relationship in breast cancer. METHODS: Patients following seven different breast radiation protocols were recruited to this study for RIT assessment with qualitative and quantitative examination. The biologically equivalent dose (BED) was used to directly compare different radiation regimens. RIT was subjectively evaluated by physicians using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) late toxicity scores. Simultaneously an objective multiprobe device was also used to quantitatively assess late RIT in terms of erythema, hyperpigmentation, elasticity and skin hydration. RESULTS: In 194 patients, in terms of the objective measurements, treated breasts showed higher erythema and hyperpigmentation and lower elasticity and hydration than untreated breasts (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.019, respectively). As the BED increased, Δerythema and Δpigmentation gradually increased as well (p = 0.006 and p = 0.002, respectively). Regarding the clinical assessment, the increase in BED resulted in a higher RTOG toxicity grade (p < 0.001). Quantitative assessments were consistent with RTOG scores. As the RTOG toxicity grade increased, the erythema and pigmentation values increased, and the elasticity index decreased (p < 0.001, p = 0.016, p = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The multiprobe device can be a sensitive and simple tool for research purpose and quantitatively assessing RIT in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. Physician-assessed toxicity scores and objective measurements revealed that the BED was positively associated with the severity of RIT.

Are intraoral stents effective in reducing oral toxicities caused by radiotherapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Intraoral stents have been provided to minimize acute and chronic toxicities induced by radiotherapy, including oral mucositis, salivary changes, trismus, radiation-related caries, and osteoradionecrosis. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to determine their effectiveness. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of intraoral stent use and determine whether these prosthetic devices can reduce radiation dosage to nontargeted oral tissues and adverse effects related to head and neck radiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two independent reviewers made a systematic search for articles published from January 2010 to March 2020 in 3 databases, supplemented by a manual search. Studies were included if they were clinical trials (randomized controlled trials, both prospective and retrospective), published in English, and evaluated radiation dose and oral adverse side effects (acute or chronic) induced by radiotherapy of participants with and without intraoral stents. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 201 studies; of which, 9 were included. A total of 251 participants were evaluated; of whom, 168 (77.3%) used intraoral stents and 57 (22.7%) were treated with radiotherapy without a prosthetic device. A statistically significant difference was found regarding the use of intraoral stents for preventing oral mucositis (P<.001), salivary changes (P=.003), and trismus (P<.02). A funnel plot showed asymmetry among the differences of means in all selected studies. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoral stents have a positive effect on preventing oral mucositis. Further clinical trials are needed to address the flaws identified in the present systematic review.

Expresión génica de mediadores moleculares para potencial terapia celular en el síndrome gastrointestinal inducido por radiación / Genetic expression of molecular mediators for potential cell therapy in radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome

Antecedentes: Las células madres intestinales generan las distintas estirpes celulares a dicho nivel. Estas se regulan por interacciones entre el epitelio y las células del nicho celular anexo. Estas se pueden ver dañadas en tratamientos con radiación, generando el síndrome gastrointestinal inducido por radiación. Se ha visto que células madre mesenquimales (MSC) y macrófagos de médula ósea (BMM) tienen propiedades de regeneración tisular. Objetivos: Evaluar la expresión génica de IL-4, Wnt6, VEGF y bFGF, a partir de cultivos celulares primarios independientes de MSC derivadas de tejido adiposo y BMM de ratones C57BL/6, por medio de PCR en tiempo real (qRT-PCR). Diseño experimental: A partir de un análisis in silico, se confeccionaron primers para evaluar la expresión génica de las moléculas propuestas, en los cultivos primarios por medio de qRT-PCR y electroforesis. Resultados y proyecciones: IL-4 y Wnt6 no son expresadas en las muestras de BMM y MSC. VEGF y bFGF son expresadas por diferentes células, dando expresión diferenciada. A futuro, se deben evaluar las mismas estirpes celulares en un ambiente inflamatorio y su efecto en la expresión génica, en especial VEGF y bFGF. Limitaciones: El número de moléculas en estudio es limitado y la expresión se evalúo solo a nivel genético.

Background: Intestinal stem cell generates diferents cellular types in their niche. They're regulated by interactions between epithelium and niche's cells, and can be damaged by medical radiation treatments causing radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. It has seen that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) d and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) have propierties of tissular regeneration. Objectives: Determinated genetic expression of IL-4, Wnt6, VEGF and bFGF, in primary cellular cultures of MSC derivated of adipose tissue and BMM of C57BL/6 mice, through real time PCR (qRT-PCR). Methods: By an in silico analysis, we created primers to evaluate the proposed molecules in the primary cellular cultives, with qRT-PCR and electrophoresis. Results and projections: IL-4 and Wnt6 were not expressed in the MSC and BMM samples. VEGF and bFGF were expressed by different cells, giving differential expression. In the future, the same samples should be analyzed in an inflammatory environment, especially VEGF and bFGF. Limitations: The number of molecules are limited and the expression of them is only in a genetic level.

A protective effect of morning radiotherapy on acute skin toxicity in patients with breast cancer: A prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT: The focus of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the risk factors of severe acute skin toxicity (grade ≥2) in 100 patients with breast cancer (BC) during radiotherapy (RT).The patients were evaluated weekly during RT and 3 months after treatment. The endpoint included the occurrence of skin toxicity grade ≥2, according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Survival analysis was conducted by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.In the multivariate analysis, RT in the afternoon (0-3 pm) (hazard ratios [HR] = 1.566, P = .042) was significantly associated with the early occurrence of skin toxicity, indicating a potential effect of chronotherapy related to this adverse event. In the univariate and multivariate analysis, skin phototype moderate brown (HR = 1.586, P = .042; HR = 1.706, P = .022, respectively) and dark brown or black (HR = 4.517, P < .001; HR = 5.336, P < 0.001, respectively) was significantly associated with the skin toxicity. Tangential field separation >21 cm (HR = 2.550, P = .009, HR = 2.923, P = .003), in women that were submitted to conservative surgery indicates indirectly that large breast size was also significantly associated with skin toxicity.Women with large breasts and dark brown or black skin should be followed more carefully during RT, which should be undergone in the morning, especially when submitted to conventional RT techniques, common in developing countries.

Multimodal assessment of acute cardiac toxicity induced by thoracic radiotherapy in cancer patients. Study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Today, cancer ranks as one of the leading causes of death. Despite the large number of novel available therapies, radiotherapy (RT) remains as the most effective non-surgical method to cure cancer patients. In fact, approximately 50% of all cancer patients receive some type of RT and among these 60% receive RT-treatment with a curative intent. However, as occurs with any other oncological therapy, RT treated patients may experience toxicity side effects that range from moderate to severe. Among these, cardiotoxicity represents a significant threat for premature death. Current methods evaluate cardiotoxic damage based on volumetric changes in the Left Ventricle Ejected Fraction (LVEF). Indeed, a 10% drop in LVEF is commonly used as indicator of cardiotoxicity. More recently, a number of novel techniques have been developed that significantly improve specificity and sensitivity of heart's volumetric changes and early detection of cardiotoxicity even in asymptomatic patients. Among these, the Strain by Speckle Tracking (SST) is a technique based on echocardiographic analysis that accurately evaluates myocardial deformation during the cardiac cycle (ventricular and atrial function). Studies also suggest that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a high-resolution technique that enables a better visualization of acute cardiac damage. METHODOLOGY: This protocol will evaluate changes in SST and MRI in cancer patients that received thoracic RT. Concomitantly, we will assess changes in serum biomarkers of cardiac damage in these patients, including: high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin-T (hscTnT), N-Terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NTproBNP) and Circulating Endothelial Cells (CECs), a marker of endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage. DISCUSSION: The presented protocol is to our knowledge the first to prospectively and with a multimodal approach, study serological and image biomarkers off early cardiac damage due to radiotherapy. With a practical clinical approach we will seek early changes that could potentially be in the future be linked to clinical mayor events with consequences for cancer survivors.

Proliferación vascular atípica mamaria inducida por radioterapia / Atypical vascular proliferation of the breast induced by radiation

La proliferación vasculara típica mamaria inducida por radioterapia es una proliferación angiomatoide que aparece sobre la piel previamente irradiada por el tratamiento conservador de un carcinomademama. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 58años que consultó por la aparición de múltiples pápulas purpúricas milimétricas en la mama derecha. Había recibido radioterapia y cuadrantectomía por un carcinoma intraductal 5años antes y estaba medicada con tamoxifeno. El análisis histópatológico e inmunohistoquímico informó: "Proliferación vascular atípica inducida por radiación, variedad atípica inducida por radiación, variedad linfática". Se adoptó una conducta expectante, con seguimiento estrecho.

Atypical vascular proliferation of the breast induced by radiation is an angiomatoid proliferation that appears on previously irradiated skin by the conservative treatament of a breast carcinoma. We present a 58-year-old female patient who consulted for multiple millimeter purpuric papules in the right breast. She received radiotherapy and quadrantectomy for an intraductal carcinoma 5 years before. She is currently on tomoxifen. The histopathology and immunohistochemistry reported atypical vascular proliferation induced by radiation, lymphatic variety. Watchuful waiting is adopted with close monitoring.

Radiosensitivity of radiotherapy patients: The effect of individual DNA repair capacity.

Individual radiosensitivity is a critical problem in radiotherapy because of the treatment restrictions it imposes. We have tested whether induction/repair of genomic lesions correlates with the acute cutaneous effects of radiotherapy. Peripheral blood samples of 56 healthy volunteers and 18 patients with breast cancer were studied. DNA damage and DNA repair capacity were assessed in vitro (alkaline comet assay). Patients without skin reaction did not show significant differences from healthy individuals, with respect to either initial or radiation-induced DNA damage. Similar DNA repair kinetics, fitting a decreasing exponential response, were observed in both groups, and there were no significant differences in residual genotoxic damage. In contrast, patients exhibiting acute side effects showed significantly lower DNA repair ability and significantly more residual damage, compared to patients without radiotoxicity. This approach may help to identify patients who are at greater risk of radiotherapy side effects. However, many other factors, such as dosimetry, irradiated volume, and lifestyle should also be considered in the evaluation of individual radiosensitivity.