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SBRT can be considered as local therapy in patients with lung metastases from CRC.

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the prevention of acute and late vaginal toxicities after high-dose-rate (HDR) vaginal brachytherapy (BT).Material and methodsBetween January 2011 and January 2015, we retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent extrafascial hysterectomy with or without lymphadenectomy and adjuvant HDR-vaginal BT +/– adjuvant chemotherapy. The total dose prescription was 21 Gy in 3 fractions (one fraction for week). Vaginal ovules containing 5 mg of HA were given for whole duration of vaginal BT and for the two following weeks. Acute and late toxicities were evaluated according to CTCAE vs 4.02.ResultsAccording to the revised FIGO 2009 classification, most tumors were in stage IA (30.9%) and in stage IB (57.9%). Thirty-three patients (26.2%) received adjuvant chemotherapy before vaginal BT. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and five-year overall survival (OS) were 88% and 93%, respectively. The most common grade 1-2 acute toxicities were vaginal inflammation (18 patients, 14.3%) and dyspareunia (7 patients, 5.5%). Two patients (1.6%) had more than one toxicity. Late toxicity occurred in 20 patients (15.9%). Grade 1-2 late toxicities were fibrosis (14 patients, 11.1%) and telangiectasias (7 patients, 5.5%). Six patients (4.8%) had more than one late toxicity. No grade 3 or higher acute or late toxicities were observed.ConclusionsThese results appear to suggest that the local therapy with HA is of clinical benefit for intermediate risk endometrial cancer patients who receive adjuvant HDR-vaginal BT after surgery. A randomized trial comparing HA treatment vs. no local treatment in this clinical setting is warranted to further evaluate the efficacy of HA in preventing vaginal BT-related vaginal toxicity.

Background. The impact of different patterns of glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence has not yet been fully established in patients suitable for a second surgery. Through the present observational study carried out at Pisa University Hospital, we aimed to examine the impact of different patterns of GBM failure on patients' survival and second surgery outcomes. Methods. Overall survival was assessed according to clinical characteristics, including pattern of recurrence, in a prospective cohort of recurrent GBM patients. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was applied to evaluate the differences between curves.Results. Contact with ventricles, a second surgery and meningeal spread had a statistically impact on patient survival after the diagnosis of GBM recurrence (P=0.032, P=0.019 and P<0.01, respectively).Patients with local recurrence had better survival than patients with non-local ones, 24.1 versus 18.2 months, respectively (P=0.015, HR=1.856 (1.130 -3.050). Considering the cohort as a whole, the second surgery conferred an advantage in recurrent survival respect to non-operated patients. However, this advantage was more evident in patients with local recurrence (P=0.002 with HR 0.212 (95% CI 0.081-0.552) and P=0.029 with HR=0.522 (95% CI 0.291-0.936), respectively).Conclusions. The local recurrence pattern could be a promising eld of interest for patients with recurrent GBM suitable for a second surgery.