BACKGROUND. The authors investigated long‐term tumor control and toxicity outcomes after high‐dose, intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients who had clinically localized prostate cancer. METHODS. Between April 1996 and January 1998, 170 patients received 81 gray (Gy) using a 5‐field IMRT technique. Patients were classified according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network‐defined risk groups. Toxicity data were scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 3.0. Freedom from biochemical relapse, distant metastases, and cause‐specific survival outcomes were calculated. The median follow‐up was 99 months. RESULTS. The 10‐year actuarial prostate‐specific antigen relapse‐free survival rates were 81% for the low‐risk group, 78% for the intermediate‐risk group, and 62% for the high‐risk group; the 10‐year distant metastases–free rates were 100%, 94%, and 90%, respectively; and the 10‐year cause‐specific mortality rates were 0%, 3%, and 14%, respectively. The 10‐year likelihood of developing grade 2 and 3 late genitourinary toxicity was 11% and 5%, respectively; and the 10‐year likelihood of developing grade 2 and 3 late gastrointestinal toxicity was 2% and 1%, respectively. No grade 4 toxicities were observed. CONCLUSIONS. To the authors' knowledge, this report represents the longest followed cohort of patients who received high‐dose radiation levels of 81 Gy using IMRT for localized prostate cancer. The findings indicated that high‐dose IMRT is well tolerated and is associated with excellent long‐term tumor‐control outcomes in patients with localized prostate cancer Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.

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Significant, similar psychosexual and body image problems occur in patients treated for breast cancer with either mastectomy or BCT. Problems arise early in the course of the disease and therefore detection and treatment of these problems should be addressed during the patients' initial assessment and at the start of treatment. These findings are similar to those reported on similar groups of treated women in American and European populations.

were produced by sol-gel method and grown on single crystalline Si (100) substrate by spin coating approach. Structural properties and thermal behaviours of the films were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Systematic Steady-state photoluminescence and lifetime measurements in a series of yttrium niobium-tantalate with varying amounts of Eu 3+ were presented. The photoluminescence spectra of the films exhibited strong blue (380-400 nm) and red (614 nm) emissions upon ultraviolet excitation. Emission intensities were strongly dependent on the host lattice composition and film morphology. 1.5% Eu 3+ doped films exhibited the brightest luminescence and long lifetime extending to 1.22 ms when excited at 254 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt in the production of M′-YTO, M′-YTNO, and M′-YTNO:Eu 3+ films on single crystalline Si (100) substrate via sol-gel spin coating.

The purpose of this study is to assess patient, tumour and treatment related factors on quality of life (QoL) outcomes of patients who received definitive or postoperative radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy for head and neck (H&N) cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 110 H&N cancer patients were evaluated in follow-up visit and were asked to fill out the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C-30) and H&N Module (QLQ-H&N35). Patients were also graded for their late side effects using EORTC/RTOG scoring system. The QLQ C-30 and QLQ-H&N35 mean scores were compared using ANOVA analysis for these variables: age, gender, occupation, educational status, social security status, place of residence, tumour localization, clinical stage, comorbidity, Karnofsky performance score, treatment modality and side effects. Median follow-up was 29 (4-155) months. Tumour localization was significant factor affecting physical (P = 0.03), social (P = 0.01), cognitive (P = 0.002) functioning. Treatment modality had significant impact on the physical (P = 0.02) and cognitive scores (P = 0.008). Global QoL was affected significantly by disease stage (P = 0.01) and occupation (P = 0.01). The QLQ-H&N35 scores were found significantly higher in patients with moderate/severe late morbidity. Tumour localization and the treatment modality are the most important factors affecting the QoL of H&N cancer patients treated definitively.

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Purpose During head and neck cancer radiotherapy, oral mucositis is the most frequent early side effect. Systemic dermatan sulfate (DS) administration has been shown to significantly decrease oral mucosal radiation reactions during daily fractionated irradiation (IR) in an established mouse model. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the oral epithelial differentiation process, during IR alone and in combination with DS treatment in the same mouse model. Methods Fractionated IR 5 × 3 Gy/week was given to the snouts of mice over two weeks, either alone (IR) or in combination with daily DS treatment of 4 mg/kg (IR + DS). Groups of mice (n = 3) were sacrificed every second day over the course of 14 days in both experimental arms. Their tongue was excised and subjected to immunohistochemical processing. Results In the p16 analysis as a proliferation marker, the difference between IR alone and IR + DS in the germinal (proliferation) layer was not significant, not stimulating the proliferation process. For the p21 analysis as a differentiation marker on the functional (differentiation) layer, the difference between IR alone and IR + DS arms was significant, indicating that DS inhibited the differentiation process. In the cytokeratin (CK) analysis as the indicator of cellular skeletal integrity, the percentage of antibody-positive cells was above the normal level in both experimental arms and significantly superior in the IR + DS arm. Conclusion The mucosal protective activity of DS, instead of stimulating proliferation, is based on prevention of cell loss by a combination of effects leading to the inhibition of cellular differentiation and an increase in the expression of epithelial mechanical strength between intercellular mechanical junctions.

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