Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Radiation Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to present the current radiation therapy status in recurrent ovarian cancer (OC) and explore potential solution to improve clinical outcomes in this setting of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed search was performed. An attempt was made to include all relevant studies. Pertinent references cited in selected articles were also considered. RESULTS: The role of radiation therapy in recurrent OC needs to be defined. This is the largest reported analysis of published data. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy is the mainstay of recurrent OC treatment but prognosis remains very poor, and novel therapies are required to be integrated into this consolidated treatment regimen. Radiation therapy represents a valid alternative approach, even if no clear guidelines are available concerning it.

Head and neck diffuse large B cell lymphomas (HN-DLBCL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients: long-term results in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era.

To report long-term outcomes and toxicity rates after chemotherapy (CHT) followed by radiotherapy (RT) in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients with head and neck diffuse large B cell lymphomas (HN-DLBCL). Clinical data concerning consecutive HIV patients treated for DLBCL located in head and neck region with CHT and RT were retrospectively reviewed. Systemic treatment consisted of combination CHT agents given with concomitant HAART and regimen was left to oncologists' discretion. Involved field RT was delivered at a total dose of 30-36 Gy (2 Gy per fraction). Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Toxicity was evaluated using National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Overall, 13 patients were included. There were no missing data. Eight patients had advanced disease (stage III-IV = 8; 61.5%). The most common primary tumor location was oral cavity (n = 7) with large mass at presentation. All patients completed the programmed treatment. Severe acute toxicity was observed in one patient, only. Overall, three patients had died and no treatment-related deaths occurred. After a median follow-up of 152 months, the 20-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 65.9 and 41.5%, respectively. Globally, there were no RT-related late complications. This data analysis suggested that CHT followed by RT can be safety proposed in the management of patients with HIV-related HN-DLBCL in the HAART era. Further investigations are necessary to validate our results.