In a nutshell This study assessed the safety and efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy plus capecitabine (Xeloda) before rectal surgery. Some background Locally advanced rectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the lining of the rectum or has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer are...
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In a nutshell This study aimed to evaluate the benefit associated with use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a form of high precision radiation therapy. Some background IMRT is a novel radiation therapy option for patients with prostate cancer that has not yet spread (localized). IMRT may offer lower rates of treatment-related...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the quality-of-life benefits for metastatic melanoma patients treated with dabrafenib compared to dacarbazine. Some background Metastatic melanoma is melanoma that has spread out to other parts of the body from the primary tumor site. Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and dacarbazine (DTIC) are drugs used to treat...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated whether fibrinogen could be used to determine cancer survival in prostate cancer. Some background Fibrinogen is a very important protein that clots blood inside the body. It has previously been used to determine the metastatic potential (likelihood that the cancer cells will spread) of lung cancers and...
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In a nutshell This study focused on the effectiveness of thoracic radiotherapy in treating extensive stage small-cell lung cancer. Some background Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast growing cancer that has a tendency to spread to other parts of the body like the brain, liver and bone. Often, SCLC has already spread to the brain even if...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study aimed to compare the standard of care and survival in patients diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Some background Non-metastatic prostate cancer is cancer that has not yet spread beyond the prostate. There are several ways to treat this disease including radical prostatectomy (RP: surgical removal...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the long-term results of escalating high dose radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. Some background In the treatment of localized prostate cancer (cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate), improved radiotherapy techniques such as conformal radiotherapy allow high treatment doses to be...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the use of different clinical factors in predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy among rectal cancer patients. Some background Neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer refers to treatments given before surgery, such as chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. Chemoradiation is...
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In a nutshell This study examined the effects of noninvasive image-guided breast brachytherapy using the Accuboost device. Some background Following surgery, high dose radiotherapy is often directed at the tumor bed to ensure the destruction of any remaining cancer cells and prevent cancer recurrence (often referred to as a...
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In a nutshell This review evaluated the safety and efficacy of focal salvage ablative therapy for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer recurrence (return of the cancer) after radiation therapy. Some background Radiation therapy (RT) is often used to treat early stage prostate cancer. However, after RT, the cancer may recur, locally...
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In a nutshell This study compared the outcomes of patients treated with laparoscopic (keyhole) or robotic surgery for mid-low rectal cancer after long-term chemo-radiotherapy treatment. Some background A long course of chemo-radiotherapy (a combination between cytotoxic drugs and radiotherapy) before surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether it is possible to predict side effects and prognosis following salvage cryotherapy in patients with prostate cancer. Some background Salvage therapy is a form of treatment given after a cancer does not respond or returns after a main treatment. More than 30% of prostate cancer patients develop a recurrence...
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