Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for borderline pancreatic adenocarcinoma: report of two cases.

Pancreatic cancer remains as one of the most aggressive human neoplasms, with overall poor survival rates. Radical surgery of the primary lesion is the best option for treatment. Borderline resectable pancreatic tumors (BRPT), defined as partial involvement of peripancreatic vasculature, may benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. We report on the first two BRPT cases treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation at our institution. Preoperative CT and MRI demonstrated pancreatic tumors encasing the porto-mesenteric confluence suggestive of BRPT. Patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (gemcitabine/cisplatin), followed by radiochemotherapy. After treatment, follow-up images demonstrated tumor downsize, allowing for the tumors to be considered then as resectable. They underwent partial pancreatoduodenectomies (Whipple procedure). In case 1, histopathology revealed a complete, margin-free resection, whereas in case 2 there was a complete pathological response, with no evidence of residual tumor. According to the literature, our initial experience using neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on BRPT allowed us to downsize the tumor and, subsequently, to perform a curative surgery.

Tratamiento del cáncer de próstata con radioterapia por modulación de intensidad, primera experiencia en Chile / Intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, first experience in Chile

Background: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is an important step forward in cancer treatment. Aim: To report the first experience in Chile with IMRT for prostate cancer and compare the results obtained with different doses. Patients and Methods: From January 1997 through June 2008, 156 patients with a mean age of 70 years, were treated with radiotherapy and 121 with IMRT. Patients were staged according to American Commission on Cancer Staging. Their biochemical relapse risk was classified according to the MD Anderson classification. Patients were routinely checked during and after therapy to evaluate side effects and relapse. Results: Median follow up was 46 months (4-120). Overall five years survival was 85%. Biochemical relapse free five years survival for low, intermediate and high risk patients was 100, 82 and 70%, respectively. Biochemical relapse free survival for patients receiving radiotherapy doses over 76 Gy was 83%, compared to 30% for those receiving lower doses (p < 0.05). Urinary and gastrointestinal acute toxicity was low in 80% and 90% of patients respectively. Late toxicity developed in less than 3% of patients. Conclusions: IMRTforprostate cancer is readily available and safe in Chile. Biochemical disease free survival improved with higher doses with low toxicity rates.

[Intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, first experience in Chile]. / Tratamiento del cáncer de próstata con radioterapia por modulación de intensidad, primera experiencia en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is an important step forward in cancer treatment. AIM: To report the first experience in Chile with IMRT for prostate cancer and compare the results obtained with different doses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1997 through June 2008, 156 patients with a mean age of 70 years, were treated with radiotherapy and 121 with IMRT. Patients were staged according to American Commission on Cancer Staging. Their biochemical relapse risk was classified according to the MD Anderson classification. Patients were routinely checked during and after therapy to evaluate side effects and relapse. RESULTS: Median follow up was 46 months (4-120). Overall five years survival was 85%. Biochemical relapse free five years survival for low, intermediate and high risk patients was 100, 82 and 70%, respectively. Biochemical relapse free survival for patients receiving radiotherapy doses over 76 Gy was 83%, compared to 30% for those receiving lower doses (p < 0.05). Urinary and gastrointestinal acute toxicity was low in 80% and 90% of patients respectively. Late toxicity developed in less than 3% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT for prostate cancer is readily available and safe in Chile. Biochemical disease free survival improved with higher doses with low toxicity rates.

Multileaf field-in-field forward-planned intensity-modulated dose compensation for whole-breast irradiation is associated with reduced contralateral breast dose: a phantom model comparison.

PURPOSE: Static multileaf collimated field-in-field forward-planned intensity-modulated radiation treatment (FiF-IMRT) has been shown to improve dose homogeneity compared to conventional wedged fields. However, a direct comparison of the scattered dose to the contralateral breast resulting from wedged and FiF-IMRT plans remains to be documented. METHODS: The contralateral scattered breast dose was measured in a custom-designed anthropomorphic breast phantom in which 108 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were volumetrically placed every 1-2cm. The target phantom breast was treated to a dose of 50Gy using three dose compensation techniques: No medial wedge and a 30-degree lateral wedge (M0-L30), 15-degree lateral and medial wedges (M15-L15), and FiF-IMRT. TLD measurements were compared using analysis of variance. RESULTS: For FiF-IMRT, the mean doses to the medial and lateral quadrants of the contralateral breast were 112cGy (range 65-226cGy) and 40cGy (range 18-91 cGy), respectively. The contralateral breast doses with FiF-IMRT were on average 65% and 82% of the doses obtained with the M15-L15 and M0-L30 techniques, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to the M15-L15 technique, the maximum dose reduction obtained with FiF-IMRT was 115cGy (range 13-115cGy). CONCLUSIONS: The dose to the contralateral breast is significantly reduced with FiF-IMRT compared to wedge-compensated techniques. Although long-term follow-up is needed to establish the clinical relevance of this finding, these results, along with the previously reported improvement in ipsilateral dose homogeneity, support the use of FiF-IMRT if resources permit.