PURPOSE: This study evaluated the pretreatment expression patterns of MDM2, p53, and pRb proteins to determine if the expression patterns could predict the outcome of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and aid in the decisions for the selection of treatment modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients that were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy for stage I~IVa esophageal squamous cell...

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to assess outcome and to determine the prognostic factors in patients with a desmoid tumor treated with postoperative radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with a desmoid tumor who were treated with postoperative radiotherapy between June 1984 and October 2005 were analyzed. There were 13 male and 14 female patients. The age of the patients...

PURPOSE: Heterotopic ossification is a well-known postoperative and post-traumatic complication of the elbow. We reviewed the treatment outcome for the use of low-dose radiation after surgical intervention of the elbow to prevent recurrence of heterotopic ossification (HO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with HO underwent surgical intervention and postoperative radiotherapy of the elbow. The median age of the patients was 29 years...

PURPOSE: To analyze retrospectively the outcome of postoperative radiation therapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy for curatively resected stage II pancreatic cancer with T3 or N1 disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2005, twenty-eight patients completed adjuvant radiation therapy at Ajou University Hospital. The patients had either pathologic T3 stage or N1 stage. The radiation target volume encompassed...

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to analyze the results of radiotherapy administered to patients with neck node metastases from an unknown primary cancer, with or without neck dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1986 to December 2005, 88 patients with neck node metastases from an unknown primary cancer were treated with curative intent. The age of the patients...

PURPOSE: To investigate the flavopiridol effect on radiation-induced apoptosis and expression of apoptosis- related genes of human laryngeal and lung cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A human laryngeal cancer cell line, AMC-HN3 and a human lung cancer cell line, NCI-H460, were used in the study. The cells were divided into four groups according to the type of treatment: 1) control groups;...

PURPOSE: We examined the effect of the dual EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, GW572016, on EGFR/HER2 receptor phosphorylation, inhibition of downstream signaling and radiosensitization in either an EGFR or HER2 overexpressing human breast cancer xenograft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established SCID mice xenografts from 4 human breast cancer cell line that overexpressed EGFR or HER 2 (SUM 102, SUM 149, SUM 185,...

PURPOSE: To study the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on oral mucositis induced by cisplatin and radiotherapy in a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four ICR mice were divided into three groups? the normal control group, the no rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin and radiation) and the rhEGF group (treatment with cisplatin, radiation and rhEGF). A model of...

PURPOSE: In order to enhance the quality of IMRT as employed in Korea, we developed a remote monitoring system. The feasibility of the system was evaluated by conducting a pilot study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The remote monitoring system consisted of a head and neck phantom and a user manual. The phantom contains a target and three OARs (organs at risk) that...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between radiation pneumonitis and dose-volume histogram parameters and to provide practical guidelines to prevent radiation pneumonitis following radiotherapy administered for breast cancer including internal mammary lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with early breast cancer who underwent a partial mastectomy were involved in this study. The entire breast, supraclavicular lymph nodes, and internal mammary lymph...

PURPOSE: Respiratory motion is a considerable inhibiting factor for precise treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery using the CyberKnife (CK). In this study, we developed a moving phantom to simulate three-dimensional breathing movement and investigated the distortion of dose profiles between the use of a moving phantom and a static phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The phantom consisted of four pieces of polyethylene; two...

Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is an uncommon aggressive synovial proliferative disorder of unknown etiology affecting the joint linings. Though a histologically benign inflammatory process, because of its aggressive growth with bone destruction or recurrence, it is frequently suggested to occur as a low malignant neoplasm. Optimal treatment is surgery, but the local recurrence rate after radical synovectomy for diffuse PVNS...