Recall Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear …

This editorial explores Burris's examination, in this issue, of combined modality anticancer treatment and radiation recall

Current perspectives in the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy alone is adequate to treat both bulky local disease and the almost universal distant micrometastases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite improved overall and 2-year survival rates associated with combining the two treatment modalities, however, their potential for toxic interaction demands careful consideration. The specific toxicity profile of the chemotherapeutic agent used must be calculated and balanced with the radiotherapy dose, fractionation, volume, and timing with chemotherapy to give the patient the maximum benefit and the least amount of risk. Results of clinical trials indicate that fractionation of the radiation dose takes advantage of the fact that fractionation causes less damage to and allows for repair of normal tissue, whereas the tumor cells of SCLC are killed exponentially by even small radiation doses per fraction. Further evaluation of radiation volume is needed to answer questions on the risk-benefit ratio of normal lung exposure versus complete coverage of areas of potential metastasis, and to determine whether dose of volume is the more critical factor for lung toxicity. Finally, the timing of radiotherapy also must be studied further. Early radiotherapy offers the potential for killing small cells before they migrate, but attempts to compensate for such early exposure may lead to subtherapeutic doses of chemotherapy and, thus, to lower response rates.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30671/1/0000315.pd

The relative merits of altered fractionation in lung cancer with some emphasis in small cell lung cancer

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30944/1/0000615.pd

Thoracic radiation therapy: dosage and techniques

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27654/1/0000035.pd

Radiation therapy as an alternative to surgery in the management of intracranial juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a benign, vascular tumor which typically presents in adolescent males. Although surgical resection is usually recommended for the management of this tumor, external beam radiation therapy has also been advocated in the literature. We report three cases of large juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas with extensive intracranial extension primarily managed with external beam radiation therapy. Although there was not complete resolution of the tumors, there was significant alleviation of symptomatology with no serious side effects from the radiation therapy. Based on these cases, we feel that external beam radiation therapy in the management of extensive juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas with intracranial extension is warranted in certain select cases.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30399/1/0000019.pd

Treatment of Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American College of Chest Physicians Guideline

PURPOSE: The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) produced an evidence-based guideline on treatment of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Because of the relevance of this guideline to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) membership, ASCO reviewed the guideline, applying a set of procedures and policies used to critically examine guidelines developed by other organizations. METHODS: The ACCP guideline on the treatment of SCLC was reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists. An ASCO Endorsement Panel updated the literature search, reviewed the content, and considered additional recommendations. RESULTS: The ASCO Endorsement Panel determined that the recommendations from the ACCP guideline, published in 2013, are clear, thorough, and based on current scientific evidence. ASCO endorses the ACCP guideline on the treatment of SCLC, with the addition of qualifying statements. RECOMMENDATIONS: Surgery is indicated for selected stage I SCLC. Limited-stage disease should be treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with good performance status. Thoracic radiotherapy should be administered early in the course of treatment, preferably beginning with cycle one or two of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy should consist of four cycles of a platinum agent and etoposide. Extensive-stage disease should be treated primarily with chemotherapy consisting of a platinum agent plus etoposide or irinotecan. Prophylactic cranial irradiation prolongs survival in patients with limited-stage disease who achieve a complete or partial response to initial therapy and may do so in similarly responding patients with extensive-stage disease as well. Additional information is available at http://www.asco.org/endorsements/sclc and http://www.asco.org/guidelineswiki

Management of CNS metastases in small cell lung cancer: a consensus report

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27649/1/0000030.pd

Radiotherapy plus chemotherapy with or without surgical resection for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase III randomised controlled trial

Concurrent chemotherapy plus radiation therapy (chemoRT) is the standard treatment for stage IIIA(N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a common disease entity. Phase II studies demonstrated feasibility of resection after chemoRT with encouraging survival rates. This phase III trial compared both approaches

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe