Prostate cancer presentation and management in the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: Although prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, its clinical presentation and management in the Middle East are not well-documented. This study aims to provide insights into the initial clinical presentation and management of prostate cancer in this region. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on seven institutional databases from six Middle Eastern countries, including Türkiye, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and Jordan, to identify patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021. Descriptive analysis was performed on the collected data to provide an overview of the demographic, clinical, and treatment variables. RESULTS: A total of 1,136 patients were identified with a median age of 70 (range, 50-84). Most patients (78%) received their prostate cancer diagnosis after presenting with symptoms, as opposed to routine PSA screening. At the time of diagnosis, 35% of men had clinical T3 or T4 disease, 54% with Stage IV disease and 50% with Gleason score ≥ 8. Regarding treatment, 20% of non-metastatic and 22% of metastatic patients received no treatment. CONCLUSION: Most men in this study sought prostate cancer evaluation due to symptoms and were subsequently diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, providing a foundation for future research aimed at understanding the underlying factors behind the observed trends and enabling informed interventions.

Effect of dose constraint on the thyroid gland during locoregional intensity-modulated radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

The aim of the present study was to compare radiation dose received by thyroid gland using different radiotherapy (RT) techniques with or without thyroid dose constraint (DC) for breast cancer patients. Computerized tomography (CT) image sets for 10 patients with breast cancer were selected. All patients were treated originally with opposite tangential field-in field (FinF) for the chest wall and anteroposterior fields for the ipsilateral supraclavicular field. The thyroid gland was not contoured on the CT images at the time of the original scheduled treatment. Four new treatment plans were created for each patient, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and helical tomotherapy (HT) plans with thyroid DC exclusion and inclusion (IMRTDC(-) , IMRTDC(+) , HTDC(-) , and HTDC(+) , respectively). Thyroid DCs were used to create acceptable dose limits to avoid hypothyroidism as follows: percentage of thyroid volume exceeding 30 Gy less than 50% (V30  < 50%) and mean dose of thyroid (TDmean ) ≤ 21 Gy. Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for TDmean and percentages of thyroid volume exceeding 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Gy (V10 , V20 , V30 , V40 , and V50 , respectively) were also analyzed. The Dmean of the FinF, IMRTDC(-) , HTDC(-) , IMRTDC(+) and HTDC(+) plans were 30.56 ± 5.38 Gy, 25.56 ± 6.66 Gy, 27.48 ± 4.16 Gy, 18.57 ± 2.14 Gy, and 17.34 ± 2.70 Gy, respectively. Median V30 values were 55%, 33%, 36%, 18%, and 17%, for FinF, IMRTDC(-) , HTDC(-) , IMRTDC(+) , and HTDC(+) , respectively. Differences between treatment plans with or without DC with respect to Dmean and V30 values were statistically significant (P < 0.05). When thyroid DC during breast cancer RT was applied to IMRT and HT, the TDmean and V30 values significantly decreased. Therefore, recognition of the thyroid as an organ at risk (OAR) and the use of DCs during IMRT and HT planning to minimize radiation dose and thyroid volume exposure are recommended.

Radiation Oncologists' Approach to Rectosigmoid Junction Tumors in Turkey: The Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Gastrointestinal Group Survey Study (TROD 02-007).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective was to determine the preferences and perspectives regarding preoperative evaluation and treatment strategies for rectosigmoid junction cancer among radiation oncologists using a questionnaire survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since defining the correct origin of the neoplasm is essential in tailoring the most appropriate treatment scheme in the rectosigmoid junction region, we surveyed Turkish radiation oncologists about clinical decisions in rectosigmoid junction cancer patients via a 20-point questionnaire. RESULTS: Based on responses from 130 radiation oncologists surveyed across the country, 119 (91.5%) used the anterior peritoneal reflection as the landmark, while 111 (85.4%) used the distance from the anal verge to the boundary between the rectum and sigmoid. This indicates that most of the participants decided to consider both pretreatment evaluation methods. Although distance at colonoscopy can be very variable, when the discrepancy was observed between these methods, 66 (50.8%) participants made the final decision according to the distance from the anal verge in our questionnaire. The conclusion from the questionnaire is that there is difficulty in interpreting magnetic resonance imaging findings, and there is a need for anatomic landmarks relevant to the limit between the rectum and sigmoid so that clinicians can confidently facilitate the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in the diagnosis and decision-making of rectosigmoid junction cancer among radiation oncologists in Turkey, according to our survey, because of several definitions of the rectosigmoid junction boundaries. Considerable attention is required to clarify whether the first preoperative treatment or surgery for rectosigmoid junction cancer.

Immobilization techniques' influence on treatment plan results in postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Purpose: To compare different immobilization devices used for chest wall and nodal irradiation in breast cancer dosimetrically. Materials and Methods: All patients with left-sided breast cancer received chest wall and lymphatic irradiation. Treatment plans were created for radiotherapy in single arm (SA) lift board, double arm (DA) lift board, and wing board (WB) positions. Dose-volum e histograms (DVH) were used for evaluation based on planning target volume (PTV) coverage and organs at risk (OARs). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed to identify the dose-volume differences among different immobilization techniques. Results: Clinically acceptable plans were generated with all immobilization boards. Significantly lower doses in the body except target volumes were found in the SA lift board group compared to other groups (P < 0.05). No relevant differences were observed among the plans according to the other dose parameters of target volumes and OARs. Conclusion: SA board is an immobilization device that can be used safely for three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in young left-sided breast cancer with an unfavorable anatomy as it significantly reduces low-dose exposure.

Evaluation of the Pelvic Floor of Women with Breast Cancer Using Tamoxifen by Transperineal 3D Ultrasonography.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anatomical changes in the pelvic floor of women with breast cancer using tamoxifen by transperineal 3D ultrasonography and their effect on the urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Methods: Ninety-four patients with breast cancer using TAM in the study group and ninety-five healthy women of the same age in the control group were included in this prospective cohort study. Female Sexual Function Index and Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form scales were applied to both groups. Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed at resting and Valsalva Maneuver with a convex (3-8 MHz) probe transperineally and the levator urethra gap and levator hiatus diameter were measured after 3-dimensional imaging. Independent t-tests were performed for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age and body mass index of the experimental group versus control groups were 46.3 ± 6.12 years versus 46.4 ± 5.23 years and 27.6 ± 4.34 kg/m2 versus 29.2 ± 6.45 kg/m2, respectively. LUG and LH values were found significantly higher for the experimental groups compared to control groups at 17.23 ± 2.53 mm versus 14.1 ± 2.23 mm and 21 ± 2.45 cm2 versus 18 ± 4.56 cm2, respectively. (p < 0.05). The FSFI score significantly decreased (12.49 ± 3.58 versus 20.89 ± 3.69) and the ICIQ-SF score increased (4.02 ± 0.34 versus 2.34 ± 0.45) in the experimental group in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the effects of TAM usage on pelvic floor can be detected by measuring the changes in the levator ani muscle using the transperineal 3D USG. With transperineal USG screening, pelvic floor changes can be early diagnosed and clinical measures can be taken before they become symptomatic.

Survival and prognostic factors in limited stage small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study from northeast Turkey.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The purposes of this retrospective study were to identify survival rates for limited stage small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) and analyze treatment outcomes and influencing factors on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted data from patients diagnosed with LD.SCLC between January 1998 and December 2012 at our institution. Dermographic information, treatment modalities, pretreatment clinical asessment, were recorded. Most of the patients. (88.4%) were treated with curative intent. The survival probabilties were asessed by Kaplan.Meier analysis. Cox regression was used to assess prognostic factors on overall survival and disease.free survival. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were examined as a LD-SCLC. The median age was 60 (range; 31-86). Median follow-up time was 9.4 (SE ± 20.5) months and the median overall survival was 13.9 months [95% cumulative incidence (CI): 10.1-17.6]. On multivariate analysis, concurrent chemotherapy [HZ: 2.7 (95% CI: (1.0-7.2)] (P = 0.037) and doses of radiation therapy (<50, ≥50) [HZ: 1.4 (95% CI: (1.0-2.2)] (P = 0.046) were statistically significant on overall survival. With regard to multivariate anlaysis age (<60, ≥60) [HZ: 2.2 (95% CI: (0.6-3.7)] (P = 0.011), doses of radiation therapy (<50, ≥50) [HZ: 2.7 (95% CI: (1.0-7.2)] (P = 0.046), precense of surgery [HZ: 15.3 (95% CI: (1.5-152)] (P = 0.020), prophilactic cranial radiation therapy (PCI) [HZ: 2.3 (95% CI: (1.1-4.5)] (P = 0.014), and presence of concurrent chemoradiotherapy [HZ: 3.0 (95% CI: (1.3-6.8)] (P = 0.008) were important variable affecting disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: For LD-SCLC patients concurrent chemoradiation therapy and 50. Gy and over doses radiation therapy provided improvement on overall and disease.free survival.

Long-term results of a concomitant boost radiotherapy technique for elderly patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy and toxicity of concomitant boost radiotherapy (CBRT) in elderly patients with invasive bladder cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Elderly patients (n=188; mean 75-year-old, range 70-91 years; 88.3% male/11.7% female) with T1-T4a bladder carcinoma were irradiated with CBRT. A total of 24 (12.8%) patients were diagnosed at stage T1, 117 (62.2%) were at stage T2, 28 (14.9%) at were stage T3a, 14 (7.4%) were stage T3b, and 5 (2.7%) were stage T4a. A dose of 45Gy in 1.8Gy fractions was administered to the whole pelvis 5 days/week over 5 weeks. A concomitant boost limited to the bladder tumor area plus margin or whole bladder of 22.5Gy in 1.5Gy fractions was administered from weeks 3×5. Thus, irradiation totalled 67.5Gy over 5 weeks. The interfraction interval was ≥6h/treatment day. We assessed prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 46.2 months (range 4.7-155.7 months). Median overall survival was 27 months (95% CI:21-33 months). In this study, 146 (77.7%) patients had complete response, 39 (20.7%) had residual disease and 4 (1.6%) had progressive disease. The mean 3-, 5- and 10-year OS rates were respectively 41.2% (S.E.±0.036), 29% (S.E.±0.034), and 13.8% (S.E.±0.031). Significant prognostic factors for OS and CSS, by multivariate analysis, were tumor T-stage and urothelial obstruction. CONCLUSION: This CBRT protocol provided excellent results with a high complete response rate and good tolerance. This approach may therefore be particularly appropriate for elderly patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Adjuvant radiotherapy in stage 1 seminoma: Evaluation of prognostic factors and results of survival.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and survival among patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for stage-1 seminoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 1997 and May 2013, 68 patients diagnosed with stage-1 seminoma were retrospectively evaluated. The median age was 39 (24-74) years. All patients received adjuvant RT after inguinal orchiectomy. Fifty-eight (85.3%) patients received paraaortic RT; 10 (14.7%) received dog-leg field RT. The median RT dose was 23.4 (23.4-30.6) Gy. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 77.5 (6.7-198.5) months. During the follow-up period, two patients developed distant metastasis, and none developed local recurrence. Two patients died from seminoma, and three died for other reasons. The 5, 10, and 15-year OS rates were 94.7%, 89.6%, and 89.6%, respectively. The 5, 10, and 15-year CSS rates were 98.5%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. The 5, 10, and 15-year PFS rate was 96.1%. The univariate analysis showed that only histological subtype was significant for OS. The 10-year survival rate was 100% among patients with seminoma histology, 90.8% among patients with a classic seminoma histology, and 50% among patients with an anaplastic seminoma histology (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that the anaplastic seminoma was a negative prognostic indicator for OS (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant RT resulted in excellent long-term survival and local control in patients with stage-1 seminoma after orchiectomy. During a short follow-up, secondary malignancy (SM) and late cardiovascular morbidity were not observed. Despite those results, concern of SM and late cardiovascular morbidity remains.

Prospective Randomized Comparison of the Effectiveness of Radiation Therapy and Local Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized trial of radiation therapy for plantar fasciitis and to compare radiation therapy with local steroid injections. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between March 2013 and April 2014, 128 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive radiation therapy (total dose of 6.0 Gy applied in 6 fractions of 1.0 Gy three times a week) or local corticosteroid injections a 1 ml injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone and 0.5 ml 1% lidocaine under the guidance of palpation. The results were measured using a visual analog scale, a modified von Pannewitz scale, and a 5-level function score. The fundamental phase of the study was 3 months, with a follow-up period of up to 6 months. RESULTS: The median follow-up period for all patients was 12.5 months (range, 6.5-18.6 months). For the radiation therapy patients, the median follow-up period was 13 months (range, 6.5-18.5 months), whereas in the palpation-guided (PG) steroid injection arm, it was 12.1 months (range, 6.5-18.6 months). After 3 months, results in the radiation therapy arm were significantly superior to those in the PG steroid injection arm (visual analog scale, P<.001; modified von Pannewitz scale, P<.001; 5-level function score, P<.001). Requirements for a second treatment did not significantly differ between the 2 groups, but the time interval for the second treatment was significantly shorter in the PG steroid injection group (P=.045). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the superior analgesic effect of radiation therapy compared to mean PG steroid injection on plantar fasciitis for at least 6 months after treatment.

Long-term outcomes in treatment of invasive bladder cancer with concomitant boost and accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy and toxicity of concomitant boost and accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy (CBAHRT) in patients with invasive bladder cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between October 1997 and September 2012, 334 patients with diagnoses of invasive bladder cancer were selected. These patients received CBAHRT as a bladder-conserving approach. The treatment consisted of a dose of 45 Gy/1.8 Gy to the whole pelvis with a daily concomitant boost of 1.5 Gy to the tumor. Total dose was 67.5 Gy in 5 weeks. A total of 32 patients (10.3%) had a diagnosis of stage T1, 202 (64.3%) were at stage T2, 46 (14.6%) were at stage T3a, 22 (7%) were at stage T3b, and 12 (3.8%) were at stage T4a. RESULTS: The follow-up period was 33.1 months (range, 4.3-223.3 months). Grade 3 late intestinal toxicity was observed in 9 patients (2.9%), whereas grade 3 late urinary toxicity was observed in 8 patients (2.5%). The median overall survival (OS) was 26.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.4-31.2). The 5-, 10, and 15-year OS rates were 32.1% (standard error [SE], ± 0.027), 17.9% (SE, ± 0.025) and 12.5% (SE, ± 0.028), respectively. The median cause-specific survival (CSS) was 42.1 months (95% CI: 28.7-55.5). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year CSS rates were 43.2% (SE, ± 0.03), 30.3% (SE, ± 0.03), and 28% (SE, ± 0.04), respectively. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 111.8 months (95% CI: 99.6-124). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year RFS rates were 61.9% (SE, ± 0.03), 57.6% (SE, ± 0.04), and 48.2% (SE, ± 0.07), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CBAHRT technique demonstrated acceptable toxicity and local control rates in patients with invasive bladder cancer, and this therapy facilitated bladder conservation. In selected patients, the CBAHRT technique is a practical alternative treatment option with acceptable 5-, 10-, and 15-year results in patients undergoing cystectomy as well as concurrent chemoradiation therapy.