Therapeutic effects of simultaneous intraluminal irradiation and intraluminal hyperthermia on oesophageal carcinoma

Present and future technology for simultaneous superficial thermoradiotherapy of breast cancer

This paper reviews systems and techniques to deliver simultaneous thermoradiotherapy of breast cancer. It first covers the clinical implementation of simultaneous delivery of superficial (microwave or ultrasound) hyperthermia and external photon beam radiotherapy, first using a Cobalt-60 teletherapy unit and later medical linear accelerators. The parallel development and related studies of the Scanning Ultrasound Reflector Linear Arrays System (SURLAS), an advanced system specifically designed and developed for simultaneous thermoradiotherapy, follows. The performance characteristics of the SURLAS are reviewed and power limitation problems at high acoustic frequencies (>3 MHz) are discussed along with potential solutions. Next, the feasibility of simultaneous SURLAS hyperthermia and intensity modulated radiation therapy/image-guided radiotherapy (IMRT/IGRT) is established based on published and newly presented studies. Finally, based on the encouraging clinical results thus far, it is concluded that new trials employing the latest technologies are warranted along with further developments in treatment planning.

Interface processes between iron containing aluminosilicate systems and simulated body fluid enriched with protein

The behaviour of iron containing aluminosilicate samples in Kokubo's simulated body fluid (SBF) and in SBF enriched with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated. Crystalline samples of (80-x)SiO2 X 20Al2O3 X Fe2O3 system, with x = 5, 10 or 15 mol%, obtained by sol-gel method and heat treated at 1200 degrees C in air for 24 h. Data on electrical conductivity, calcium, phosphorous and potassium concentrations in simulated body fluids after samples soaking in static regime at 37 degrees C, for several periods up to 14 days, were used to estimate the dynamics of these cations on the interface of aluminosilicate samples with SBF, and with SBF containing BSA. The UV-visible and fluorescence spectra recorded from the simulated body fluids after immersion of the investigated aluminosilicate samples evidence changes function on immersion time and Fe2O3 content.

Multivariate analysis of treatment outcome in patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with definitive radiotherapy

To evaluate patient characteristics and treatment factors influencing outcome of patients treated with definitive radiotherapy, we performed retrospective analysis. From 1983 to 2000, 154 patients who were diagnosed as esophageal carcinoma without distant metastasis received definitive radiotherapy with (N = 90) or without (N = 64) systemic chemotherapy. One hundred forty-two males and 12 females were entered in the analysis. Thirty-four patients received an additional boost of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). The median patient age was 68 years (range: 46-86). Disease stage was distributed as stage I, II, III, and IV for 33, 42, 33, and 45 patients, respectively. External beam radiotherapy was prescribed with a median 63 Gy (range: 38-77.8 Gy). The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OAS) and local control (LC) rates were 40.8/18.4% and 48.6/28.9%, respectively. In uni-/multivariate analyses, significant prognostic factors of OAS proved to be advanced T stage, absence of ICBT, and age less than 65 years. As for LC, adverse prognostic factors of uni/multivariate analysis were advanced T stage and poor performance status. The pretreatment T stage showed the most powerful influence on both survival and LC. Combination use of ICBT is proven to refine treatment outcome, although eligible criteria should be decided by a prospective study.