Long-term exposure to radon has been determined to be the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. However, an in-depth study of this topic has not been explicitly carried out in Chiang Mai (Thailand). This paper presents the results of an indoor radon level measurement campaign in dwellings of Chiang Mai using total of 110 detectors (CR-39) during one year. The results show that the average radon levels varied from 35 to 219 Bq/m3, with an overall average of 57 Bq/m3. The finding also shows that the average value is higher than the global average value of 39 Bq/m3. In addition, to examine the cause of lung cancer development among people with risk of chronic exposure to radon during their lifetime, 35 non-smoker lung cancer patients and 33 healthy nonsmokers were analyzed for telomere length. As expected, telomere length was significantly shorter in lung cancer patients than in healthy nonsmokers. Among healthy nonsmokers, the telomere length was significantly shorter in a high radon group than in an unaffected low radon group. To the best of our knowledge, our research provides the first attempt in describing the shortened telomeres in areas with high levels of environmental radon that might be related to lung cancer development.

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Objective We evaluated the long-term outcomes and late toxicity of conventional fractionated (CF) and hypofractionated (HF) postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in terms of locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and late toxicity. Methods A cohort of 1640 of breast cancer patients receiving PMRT between January 2004 and December 2014 were enrolled. Nine hundred eighty patients were treated with HF-PMRT: 2.65 Gy/fraction to a total of 42.4–53 Gy and 660 patients were treated with CF-PMRT: 2 Gy/fraction to a total of 50–60 Gy. Results The median follow-up time was 71.8 months (range 41.5–115.9 months). No significant difference was found in the rates of 5-year LRRFS, DFS, and OS of HF-PMRT vs CF-PMRT; 96% vs. 94% (p = 0.373), 70% vs. 72% (p = 0.849), and 73% vs. 74% (p = 0.463), respectively. We identified a cohort of 937 eligible breast cancer patients who could receive late toxicities assessment. With a median follow-up time of this patient cohort of 106.3 months (range 76–134 months), there was a significant higher incidence of grade 2 or more late skin (4% vs 1%) and subcutaneous (7% vs 2%) toxicity in patients treated with HF-PMRT vs CF-PMRT. Patients who received additional radiation boost were significantly higher in the HF-PMRT group. Grade 2 or more late RTOG/EORTC lung toxicity was significant lesser in HF-PMRT vs CF-PMRT (9% vs 16%). Grade 1 brachial plexopathy was also significant lesser in HF-PMRT vs CF-PMRT (2% vs 8%). Heart toxicity and lymphedema were similar in both groups. Conclusions HF-PMRT is feasible to deliver with comparable long-term efficacy to CF-PMRT. HF-PMRT had higher grade 2 or more skin and subcutaneous toxicity but less lung and brachial plexus toxicity.

BackgroundTo report the results of combined chemoradiation (CCRT) with cisplatin versus carboplatin in locally advanced cervical carcinoma.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2013, 255 patients with stage IIB-IVA cervical carcinoma, according to FIGO staging were prospectively assigned to be treated with pelvic radiotherapy followed by brachytherapy given concurrently with cisplatin or carboplatin in the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. Treatment outcomes and toxicitiy were evaluated.ResultsTwo-hundred and thirteen patients could be evaluated. At a median follow-up time of 43 months (6–69 months), the 3-year local control, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival and overall survival rates were 93, 80.8, 85.0 and 87.3 %, respectively. No statistical difference in terms of local control, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival and overall survival rates between cisplatin and carboplatin treatments was observed in this study. Eighty-six percents of the patients in the carboplatin group could receive more than 4 cycles, while there were only 72 % in the cisplatin group who completed more than 4 cycles (p = 0. 02). In terms of acute toxicity, cisplatin caused significantly more anemia (p = 0.026), neutropenia (p = 0. 044) and nephrotoxicity (p = 0. 031) than carboplatin. No difference in late toxicity was observed in this study.ConclusionCarboplatin yielded comparable results to cisplatin in concurrent chemo-radiation for locally advanced cervical cancer. In addition, carboplatin was associated with a better compliance rate and was associated with less of anemia, neutropenia and nephrotoxicity.

PurposeA report of preliminary results and toxicity profiles using image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) combined with whole pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (WP-IMRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer.Material and methodsFifteen patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were enrolled into the study. WP-IMRT was used to treat the Clinical Target Volume (CTV) with a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions. Concurrent cisplatin (40 mg/m2) was prescribed during radiotherapy (RT) on weekly basis. IGBT using computed tomography was performed at the dose of 7 Gy × 4 fractions to the High-Risk Clinical Target Volume (HR-CTV).ResultsThe mean cumulative doses – in terms of equivalent dose of 2 Gy (EQD2) – of IGBT plus WP-IMRT to HR-CTV, bladder, rectum, and sigmoid colon were 88.3, 85.0, 68.2 and 73.6 Gy, respectively. In comparison with standard (point A prescription) dose-volume histograms, volume-based image-guided brachytherapy improved the cumulative doses for bladder of 67%, rectum of 47% and sigmoid of 46%. At the median follow-up time of 14 months, the local control, metastasis-free survival and overall survival rates were 93%, 100% and 93%, respectively. No grade 3-4 acute and late toxicities were observed.ConclusionThe combination of image-guided brachytherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy improved the dose distribution to tumor volumes and avoided overdose in OARs which could be converted in excellent local control and toxicity profiles.