Evolving Radiotherapy Techniques in Paediatric Oncology

Aims

Childhood cancer is rare and survival of childhood cancer has increased up to 80% at 5 years after diagnosis. Radiotherapy is an important element of the multimodal treatment concept. However, due to growing tissue, children are particularly sensitive to radiation-related side-effects and the induction of secondary malignancies. However, radiotherapy techniques have continuously progressed. In addition, modern treatment concepts have been improved in order to minimise long-term effects. Today, radiotherapy is used for various tumour types in childhood, such as sarcomas and tumours of the central nervous system.

One Week of Hospitalization Following Elective Hip Surgery Induces Substantial Muscle Atrophy in Older Patients

Objectives

Short successive periods of skeletal muscle disuse have been suggested to substantially contribute to the observed loss of skeletal muscle mass over the life span. Hospitalization of older individuals due to acute illness, injury, or major surgery generally results in a mean hospital stay of 5 to 7 days, during which the level of physical activity is strongly reduced. We hypothesized that hospitalization following elective total hip arthroplasty is accompanied by substantial leg muscle atrophy in older men and women.

Characteristics and risk factors of bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review of phase III trials

Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) is a common toxicity associated with the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), typically requiring dose reduction, delay, or cessation of treatment protocol. This systematic review aimed to investigate risk factors, trends, and variability associated with the development of BIPN. Searches were undertaken using Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additional studies were identified by investigating authors' bibliographic references cited by original and review articles. Articles that reported on neuropathy in phase III randomised control trials involving bortezomib in any treatment arm for the treatment of MM were included in this review. A total of 43 full text articles met criteria, which examined 23 phase III trials (N = 8218). Overall incidence of neuropathy ranged from 8.4% to 80.5% (median = 37.8%) and severe neuropathy (grade 3-4) ranged from 1% to 33.2% (median = 8%). Similar reports of neuropathy of any grade and severe neuropathy were observed between the newly diagnosed and relapsed cohort. Bortezomib regimens with reduced dose intensity were associated with reduced neuropathy incidence. Increased cumulative dosing levels, intravenous compared with subcutaneous administration and combination therapy with thalidomide were associated with higher rates of BIPN. This analysis revealed that BIPN is a significant toxicity. More sensitive measures are required to capture the incidence and severity of BIPN. Better understanding of risk factors and reversibility profiles will minimise the number of cancer survivors living with residual treatment side effects.     

Hypofractionation vs. conventional radiotherapy fractionation in the conservative treatment of T1 glottic cancer: a prospective cohort study

Definitive radiotherapy is an effective single-modality in T1 glottic cancer. Hypofractionated schemes could offer excellent results in a shorter treatment period. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and toxicity comparing conventional vs. hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment in T1N0M0-glottic cancer. Between Jan-1st, 2005 and August-1st, 2017, in a prospective cohort study, with 10-year follow-up, 138 patients were treated with conventional schedule 2 Gy/day, total dose 70 Gy/7 weeks (N = 71) or hypofractionated schedule 2, 2–2, 25 Gy/day, total dose 63, 8–63 Gy/5, 5 weeks (N = 67). Endpoints were clinical-response rate, local relapse-free survival (LRFS), laryngectomy-free survival (LFS), toxicity rates, relapse-free survival (RFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), second tumour-free survival (2TFS), and overall survival (OS). All patients showed a complete clinical response. No differences were found for LRFS (p = 0.869), LFS (p = 0.975), RFS (p = 0.767), MFS (p = 0.601), 2TFS (p = 0.293), or OS (p = 0.685). Acute toxicity for skin and mucosae was similar (p = 0.550 and p = 0.698). Acute laryngeal toxicity was higher in the hypofractionation group (p = 0.004), due to an increase in slight moderate grade. No differences in late laryngeal edema were found (p = 0.989). Radiotherapy offers high rate survival, local control, and larynx preservation after 5–10-year follow-up. A hypofractionation could be preferable, since it offers the same results as conventional with fewer treatment sessions.     

Use of the Fogg Behavior Model to Assess the Impact of a Social Marketing Campaign on Condom Use in Pakistan

The Fogg Behavior Model (FBM) is a new framework which posits that behavior happens when three factors – motivation, ability, and a prompt – occur in the same moment. The FBM categorizes people into four groups based on motivation and ability and posits that those with high motivation and high ability will adopt a behavior when prompted. Two rounds of panel survey data from 617 married men in urban Pakistan were used to test this hypothesis. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used for the analysis. The results show the relationships between ability, motivation, the prompt and condom use to be as hypothesized by the FBM. After adjustment for a range of variables including fertility desires, education, and household wealth, the odds of condom use among men with high motivation and high ability were 34 times higher than the odds of condom use among men with low motivation and low ability. Moreover, the association between the prompt and condom use operated through increased motivation and ability. The FBM has potential for use in the design and evaluation of behavior change interventions in developing countries.     

千金苇茎汤对香烟烟雾暴露模型大鼠肺组织Th17/Treg分化及其相关细胞因子表达的影响

目的:观察千金苇茎汤对香烟烟雾暴露模型大鼠肺组织辅助性T细胞17(Th17)/调节性T细胞(Treg)分化及其相关细胞因子表达的影响。方法:雄性大鼠60只,随机分为正常组,烟雾模型组,乙酰半胱氨酸组、千金苇茎汤高、中、低剂量组,共6组,每组10只。香烟烟雾造模30 d后,药物分别干预30 d,后处死各组大鼠并取组织;实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Realtime PCR)检测维甲酸相关孤儿受体(ROR-γt),叉头状/翼状螺旋转录因子3(Foxp3)mRNA表达,酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测肺组织白细胞介素-17(IL~(-1)7),IL-6,IL~(-1)0,转化生长因子-β_1(TGF-β_1)含量,苏木素-伊红(HE)染色切片观察肺组织病理,流式细胞术检测Treg(Foxp3~+CD25~+)比例,Th17(CD4~+IL~(-1)7~+)比例,Treg/Th17。结果:与正常组比较,模型组ROR-γt mRNA表达显著升高(P0.01);与模型组比较,千金苇茎汤高、中、低剂量组干预后都能够降低其表达(P0.05,P0.01);与正常组比较,模型组Foxp3 mRNA表达明显降低(P0.05),与模型组比较,千金苇茎汤中低剂量组干预后表达明显升高(P0.05)。与正常组比较,模型组IL~(-1)7,IL-6含量明显升高,IL~(-1)0,TGF-β1含量明显降低(P0.05,P0.01);与模型组比较,千金苇茎汤高、中、低剂量组干预后能够降低肺组织IL~(-1)7,IL-6含量,同时升高IL~(-1)0的含量(P0.05),与Real-time PCR检测的结果趋势一致。流式细胞术检测显示,千金苇茎汤中、低剂量组干预后Th17(CD4~+IL~(-1)7~+)比例降低,Treg/Th17增加(P0.05,P0.01)。结论:千金苇茎汤能调节Treg/Th17,使Th17/Treg达到平衡状态。     

Mailed fecal immunochemical test outreach for colorectal cancer screening: Summary of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–sponsored Summit

Uptake of colorectal cancer screening remains suboptimal. Mailed fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) offers promise for increasing screening rates, but optimal strategies for implementation have not been well synthesized. In June 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a meeting of subject matter experts and stakeholders to answer key questions regarding mailed FIT implementation in the United States. Points of agreement included: 1) primers, such as texts, telephone calls, and printed mailings before mailed FIT, appear to contribute to effectiveness; 2) invitation letters should be brief and easy to read, and the signatory should be tailored based on setting; 3) instructions for FIT completion should be simple and address challenges that may lead to failed laboratory processing, such as notation of collection date; 4) reminders delivered to initial noncompleters should be used to increase the FIT return rate; 5) data infrastructure should identify eligible patients and track each step in the outreach process, from primer delivery through abnormal FIT follow-up; 6) protocols and procedures such as navigation should be in place to promote colonoscopy after abnormal FIT; 7) a high-quality, 1-sample FIT should be used; 8) sustainability requires a program champion and organizational support for the work, including sufficient funding and external policies (such as quality reporting requirements) to drive commitment to program investment; and 9) the cost effectiveness of mailed FIT has been established. Participants concluded that mailed FIT is an effective and efficient strategy with great potential for increasing colorectal cancer screening in diverse health care settings if more widely implemented.