The SBRT method is a promising treatment for LAPC. Local control rates, even compared to historical data from conventional radiotherapy, can be achieved with minimal toxicity. Resectability can also be achieved.

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Experimental studies suggest that angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ascites and progression of ovarian cancer. To evaluate the association of intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) with the conventional clinicopathologic features and to determine the capability of these factors in predicting responsiveness to platinum-based chemotherapy and overall survival ( 0 s ) we studied I I 2 ovarian carcinomas. o 1996 Wile/-Liss, hzc.

This study shows that VNB is an effective and well-tolerated agent in pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer. This drug does not seem to present cross-resistance with previous CMF or anthracycline regimens. Future clinical trials should be designed to prove whether the inclusion of VNB in combination chemotherapy regimens, or whether an enhancement of its dose-intensity using bone marrow growth factors, is able to improve further the efficacy of this drug in breast carcinoma.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a new treatment modality for prostate cancer. The current study evaluates CyberKnife SBRT and reports toxicity and early Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) kinetics. From June 2006 to August 2009, 45 low-and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients received Cyberknife SBRT of 35 Gy in five fractions with 95% minimum target coverage. Median follow-up was 20-months (range 6-42-months). Seventeen patients received androgen-deprivation therapy also. Acute complications were mild, short-lived and no greater than Grade 2 by RTOG scale. Late toxicities consisted of one patient (2.2%) experiencing Grade 2 rectal, one patient (2.2%) Grade 3 and four patients (8.8%) with Grade 1 urinary toxicity. PSA in all patients progressively declined from a mean 4.7 ng/ml baseline to 1.48 ng/ml at three months, to 0.68 ng/ml at 12 months and to 0, 35 ng/ml at 24 months. The 28 hormon-naive patients had the mean PSA value of 1.1 ng/ml at one year from a mean 6.65 ng/ml baseline. There was a significant PSA value reduction in 11 hormone therapy patients with low baseline PSA value (< or = 1 ng/ml) from 0.37 down 0.14 ng/ml (p value 0.0068) at one year. Moreover, 14 low risk patients gave better results of mean PSA value than 17 Intermediate risk patients 0.43 ng/ml vs. 0.93 ng/ml (p value 0.02) at one year. No patient had biochemical failure at last follow-up. Hypofractionated SBRT appears to have potential against prostate cancer. Low toxicity and encouraging biochemical control support its use in early-stage prostate cancer. Results encourage further follow-up and larger studies.

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Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of compressive elastosonography (“Strain Elastography”), integrated with the B-mode ultrasound examination, in supraspinatus tendinosis, using magnetic resonance imaging as the gold standard for diagnosis. We also verified the intra-observer reproducibility of this elastosonographic method. Materials and Methods: The supraspinatus tendons of 30 patients with shoulder pain and positive magnetic resonance imaging for tendinosis were examined with B-Mode ultrasound and compressive elastosonography in the absence of full-thickness tendon ruptures. At the same time, 30 control individuals, asymptomatic for shoulder pain and with a negative history of previous diseases affecting the rotator cuff, were examined with B-Mode ultrasound and compressive elastosonography. The MRI exam was used as a gold standard reference exam for the diagnosis of tendinosis. At the “Strain” elastosonography the images were evaluated qualitatively with the color elastogram and quantitatively with the percentages of deformation of the supraspinatus tendon (Strain T), of the deltoid muscle used as reference tissue (Strain R) and of the SR/ST ratio (Ratio). Results and Conclusions: The comparison between the group of individuals with tendinosis and the control group shows a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) for the Ratio values (SR/ST), respectively: 4.7 ± 0.14 vs 5.3 ± 0.19. The different Ratio values indicate that the supraspinatus tendon, when compared with the deltoid muscle, is softer in patients with tendinosis than in the control group. As indicated by the statistical analysis of the ROC curve, the Ratio value of 4.8 represents the best sensitivity and specificity data (70% and 61% respectively). Elastosonography can therefore provide added value, compared to the conventional ultrasound examination only, to confirm the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendinosis. The analysis showed a low variance of results, due to its excellent intra-observer reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.86). Future studies could aim to describe any changes in Stain T, Strain R and Ratio values in a cohort of individuals stratified by gender, age and BMI.