Dose-escalated simultaneous integrated-boost treatment of prostate cancer patients via helical tomotherapy

Purpose

The goal of this work was to assess the feasibility of moderately hypofractionated simultaneous integrated-boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) with helical tomotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer regarding acute side effects and dose–volume histogram data (DVH data).

Methods

Acute side effects and DVH data were evaluated of the first 40 intermediate risk prostate cancer patients treated with a definitive daily image-guided SIB-IMRT protocol via helical tomotherapy in our department. The planning target volume including the prostate and the base of the seminal vesicles with safety margins was treated with 70?Gy in 35 fractions. The boost volume containing the prostate and 3?mm safety margins (5?mm craniocaudal) was treated as SIB to a total dose of 76?Gy (2.17?Gy per fraction). Planning constraints for the anterior rectal wall were set in order not to exceed the dose of 76?Gy prescribed to the boost volume. Acute toxicity was evaluated prospectively using a modified CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) score.

Results

SIB-IMRT allowed good rectal sparing, although the full boost dose was permitted to the anterior rectal wall. Median rectum dose was 38?Gy in all patients and the median volumes receiving at least 65?Gy (V65), 70?Gy (V70), and 75?Gy (V75) were 13.5%, 9%, and 3%, respectively. No grade?4 toxicity was observed. Acute grade?3 toxicity was observed in 20% of patients involving nocturia only. Grade?2 acute intestinal and urological side effects occurred in 25% and 57.5%, respectively. No correlation was found between acute toxicity and the DVH data.

Conclusion

This institutional SIB-IMRT protocol using daily image guidance as a precondition for smaller safety margins allows dose escalation to the prostate without increasing acute toxicity.     

The role of immediate operative intervention in severely head-injured children with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3.

In an attempt to improve and expedite the care of head-injured children, data have been published recommending burr hole exploration in lieu of computed tomography for children with signs of brain stem compression or with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3. Exploratory burr holes revealed a high incidence of subdural hematomas, and removal of the hematomas improved survival. We are reporting 19 consecutive children with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 3. Coma score evaluation was confounded by intubation, sedation, pharmacological paralysis, and posttraumatic seizures. We found no radiographical or postmortem pathological evidence of intracranial hemorrhage, which would warrant operative intervention. A high incidence of multisystem injuries and high cervical spine injuries would have made early intervention both dangerous and inappropriate. Although there is a definite role for emergency trephination, routine exploratory burr holes for children with a Coma score of 3 is not justified.     

Safety and tolerability of pomalidomide‐based regimens (pomalidomide‐carfilzomib‐dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and severe renal dysfunction: a case series

Renal dysfunction negatively impacts outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Few treatment options are currently available for patients with MM and comorbid renal dysfunction, and as they are generally excluded from clinical trials, data on the use of immunomodulatory drugs in this population are scarce. In this paper, we describe a case series of five women with MM and severe renal dysfunction or dialysis dependency who were refractory to both bortezomib and either lenalidomide or thalidomide and were treated with full‐dose (4 mg) pomalidomide. As part of their treatment regimen, these patients also received carfilzomib and dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide. All five patients achieved at least a partial response to pomalidomide‐based therapy, which was relatively well tolerated. Our findings suggest that pomalidomide may represent a valuable and tolerable treatment option for MM patients with severe renal impairment. The fact that pomalidomide is extensively metabolized prior to urinary excretion may explain the improved tolerability of pomalidomide versus lenalidomide in such patients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HIV-1 infection in HIV-1 enzyme-linked immunoassay seronegative patients in Kinshasa, Zaire

Serum samples of 62 African patients who had clinical manifestations of HIV-1 infection but were seronegative for HIV-1 by ELISA (Organon) were subsequently further tested by another HIV-1 ELISA test (Wellcozyme), HIV-1 IgG Western blot, HIV-1 antigen detection and HIV-2 ELISA. Patients' lymphocytes were cultured for HIV-1 and 2. Because of limited quantities of serum available all tests were not performed on all samples. Seven (26%) of 27 sera of patients meeting the WHO clinical case definition of AIDS were Western-blot-positive. In contrast, of 35 patients' sera with possible HIV related disease, only one (3%) was Western blot positive (P = 0.02) and none of 75 sera from HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative blood donors (P less than 0.01) were Western blot positive. Of 30 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients tested with the HIV-1 ELISA Wellcozyme assay only one was seropositive (this patient's serum was also Western blot positive). Of 17 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients tested, HIV-1 antigen was found in 1 case (6%) (this patient's serum was Western blot negative). None of the 34 patients tested by HIV-2 serology was HIV-2 seropositive. HIV-1 was isolated by culture in 3 (21%) of 14 HIV-1 ELISA seronegative patients (sera of the 3 patients were Western blot negative). In total, 12 (19%) of 62 HIV-1 ELISA (Organon) seronegative patients were found to be positive for HIV, either by Western blot HIV antigen testing or viral culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)