Gliosarcoma: a study of four cases

Gliosarcomas (GS) are highly malignant and rare tumors of the central nervous system with a poor prognosis. We report here on four patients with GS, the median survival for whom was 9.25 months. Prognosis of GS remains poor, and a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy) seems to be associated with slightly more prolonged survival times

Gliosarcoma: a study of four cases

Gliosarcomas (GS) are highly malignant and rare tumors of the central nervous system with a poor prognosis. We report here on four patients with GS, the median survival for whom was 9.25 months. Prognosis of GS remains poor, and a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, radiation therapy, and chemo therapy) seems to be associated with slightly more prolonged survival times

Melatonin prevents inflammation and oxidative stress caused by abdominopelvic and total body irradiation of rat small intestine

We investigated the day-night differences in intestinal oxidative-injury and the inflammatory response following total body (TB) or abdominopelvic (AP) irradiation, and the influence of melatonin administration on tissue injury induced by radiation. Rats (male Wistar, weighing 220-280 g) in the irradiated groups were exposed to a dose of 8 Gy to the TB or AP region in the morning (resting period - 1 h after light onset) or evening (activity span - 13 h after light onset). Vehicle or melatonin was administered immediately before, immediately after and 24 h after irradiation (10, 2.0 and 10 mg/kg, ip, respectively) to the irradiated rats. AP (P < 0.05) and TB (P < 0.05) irradiation applied in the morning caused a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. Melatonin treatment in the morning (P < 0.05) or evening (P < 0.05) decreased TBARS levels after TB irradiation. After AP irradiation, melatonin treatment only in the morning caused a significant decrease in TBARS levels (P < 0.05). Although we have confirmed the development of inflammation after radiotherapy by histological findings, neither AP nor TB irradiation caused any marked changes in myeloperoxidase activity in the morning or evening. Our results indicate that oxidative damage is more prominent in rats receiving TB and AP irradiation in the morning and melatonin appears to have beneficial effects on oxidative damage irrespective of the time of administration. Increased neutrophil accumulation indicates that melatonin administration exerts a protective effect on AP irradiation-induced tissue oxidative injury, especially in the morning

Patterns of care for lung cancer in radiation oncology departments of Turkey

Conference of the Spanish-Portuguese-and -Latin-American-Association -- OCT 09, 2006 -- Leipzig, GERMANYWOS: 000242719101273Spainsh Portuguese & Latin- Amer Asso

PATTERNS OF CARE FOR LUNG CANCER IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENTS OF TURKEY

25th Congress of the European-Society-for-Therapeutic-Radiology-and-Oncology -- OCT 08-12, 2006 -- Leipzig, GERMANYWOS: 000261214600037PubMed ID: 18707825Purpose: To determine the patterns of care for lung cancer in Turkish radiation oncology centers. Methods and Materials: Questionnaire forms from 21 of 24 (87.5%) centers that responded were evaluated. Results: The most frequent histology was non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (81%). The most common postoperative radiotherapy (RT) indications were close/(+) surgical margins (95%) and presence of pN2 disease (91%). The most common indications for postoperative chemotherapy (CHT) were ">= IB" disease (19%) and the presence of pN2 disease (19%). In Stage IIIA potentially resectable NSCLC, the most frequent treatment approach was neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CHRT) (57%). In Stage IIIA unresectable and Stage IIIB disease, the most frequent approach was definitive concomitant CHRT (91%). In limited SCLC, the most common treatment approach was concomitant CHRT with cisplatin+etoposide for cycles 1-3, completion of CHT to cycles 4-6, and finally prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with complete response (71%). Six cycles of cisplatin + etoposide CHT and palliative thoracic RT, when required, was the most commonly used treatment (81%) in extensive SCLC. Sixty-two percent of centers did not have endobronchial brachytherapy (EBB) facilities. Conclusion: There is great variation in diagnostic testing, treatment strategies, indications for postoperative RT and CHT, RT features, and EBB availability for LC cases. To establish standards, national guidelines should be prepared using a multidisciplinary approach. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc.European Soc Therapeut Radiol & Onco