Questo lavoro è stato sostenuto da NIH NINDS concedere R01 NS074388 581 (CL Limoli), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Grant RS1-00413 (LLC) e una sovvenzione CIRM a Giove a sostegno della documentazione video. Vorremmo anche ringraziare Rudy Limburg e Edward Lau della University of California, Irvine Macchina Scienze Biologiche Shop per i loro consigli, supporto e superba capacità tecniche per la preparazione di tutti su misura materiali utilizzati per i test comportamentali.

<ol>
	<li>Abayomi, O. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pathogenesis+of+irradiation-induced+cognitive+dysfunction.">Pathogenesis of irradiation-induced cognitive dysfunction.</a> Acta. Oncol. 35, 659-663 (1996).</li><li>Anderson, V. A., Godber, T., Smibert, E., Weiskop, S., Ekert, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cognitive+and+academic+outcome+following+cranial+irradiation+and+chemotherapy+in+children:+a+longitudinal+study.">Cognitive and academic outcome following cranial irradiation and chemotherapy in children: a longitudinal study.</a> Br. J. Cancer. 82, 255-262 (2000).</li><li>Acharya, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rescue+of+radiation-induced+cognitive+impairment+through+cranial+transplantation+of+human+embryonic+stem+cells.">Rescue of radiation-induced cognitive impairment through cranial transplantation of human embryonic stem cells.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 106, 19150-19155 (2009).</li><li>Mumby, D. G., Gaskin, S., Glenn, M. J., Schramek, T. E., Lehmann, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hippocampal+damage+and+exploratory+preferences+in+rats:+memory+for+objects,+places,+and+contexts.">Hippocampal damage and exploratory preferences in rats: memory for objects, places, and contexts.</a> Learn. Mem. 9, 49-57 (2002).</li><li>Walf, A. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+the+elevated+plus+maze+as+an+assay+of+anxiety-related+behavior+in+rodents.">The use of the elevated plus maze as an assay of anxiety-related behavior in rodents.</a> Nat. Protoc. 2, 322-328 (2007).</li><li>Macleod, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+chemotherapy+impairs+contextual+but+not+cue-specific+fear+memory.">Cancer chemotherapy impairs contextual but not cue-specific fear memory.</a> Behav Brain Res. 181, 168-172 (2007).</li><li>Schafe, G. E., Nadel, N. V., Sullivan, G. M., Harris, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Memory+consolidation+for+contextual+and+auditory+fear+conditioning+is+dependent+on+protein+synthesis,+PKA,+and+MAP+kinase.">Memory consolidation for contextual and auditory fear conditioning is dependent on protein synthesis, PKA, and MAP kinase.</a> Learn. Mem. 6, 97-110 (1999).</li><li>Winocur, G., Wojtowicz, J. M., Sekeres, M., Snyder, J. S., Wang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibition+of+neurogenesis+interferes+with+hippocampus-dependent+memory+function.">Inhibition of neurogenesis interferes with hippocampus-dependent memory function.</a> Hippocampus. 16, 296-304 (2006).</li><li>Phillips, R. G., LeDoux, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+contribution+of+amygdala+and+hippocampus+to+cued+and+contextual+fear+conditioning.">Differential contribution of amygdala and hippocampus to cued and contextual fear conditioning.</a> Behav. Neurosci. 106, 274-285 (1992).</li><li>D'Hooge, R., De Deyn, P. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Applications+of+the+Morris+water+maze+in+the+study+of+learning+and+memory.">Applications of the Morris water maze in the study of learning and memory.</a> Brain. Res. Brain. Res. Rev. 36, 60-90 (2001).</li><li>Morris, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developments+of+a+water-maze+procedure+for+studying+spatial+learning+in+the+rat.">Developments of a water-maze procedure for studying spatial learning in the rat.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 11, 47-60 (1984).</li><li>Meyers, C. A., Brown, P. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+and+relevance+of+neurocognitive+assessment+in+clinical+trials+of+patients+with+CNS+tumors.">Role and relevance of neurocognitive assessment in clinical trials of patients with CNS tumors.</a> J. Clin. Oncol. 24, 1305-1309 (2006).</li><li>de Ruiter, M. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cerebral+hyporesponsiveness+and+cognitive+impairment+10+years+after+chemotherapy+for+breast+cancer.">Cerebral hyporesponsiveness and cognitive impairment 10 years after chemotherapy for breast cancer.</a> Hum. Brain. Mapp. , (2010).</li><li>Hess, D. C., Borlongan, C. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-based+therapy+in+ischemic+stroke.">Cell-based therapy in ischemic stroke.</a> Expert. Rev. Neurother. 8, 1193-1201 (2008).</li></ol>

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C&#39;è un urgente bisogno di strategie a lungo termine progettati per prevenire lo sviluppo di disfunzione cognitiva che sta diventando sempre più comune nei sopravvissuti al cancro 12,13. Terapie con cellule staminali potrebbe fornire i mezzi per ameliorating una serie di sequele tessuto normale del sistema nervoso centrale, in quanto forniscono la possibilità di sostituire le cellule perse o danneggiate da terapie antitumorali citotossici 14. Per accelerare la realizzazione di questi sforzi, abbiamo intrapreso una serie di prove di esperimenti principali che hanno confermato la capacità di hNSCs cranialmente innestati per ripristinare funzionalmente cognizione all&#39;interno del letto tessuto irradiato del sistema nervoso centrale 3. Fondamentale per questo sforzo è stata la capacità di condurre affidabile una serie di test cognitivi attentamente controllata in maniera riproducibile. Abbiamo queste procedure dettagliate critiche nel tentativo di accelerare il potenziale traslazione delle terapie con cellule staminali nella clinica. Ulteriori considerazioni che sonopossono avere un impatto significativo della qualità dei dati sono evidenziati di seguito. Cognitive test richiede attenzione ai dettagli e aderire a certe pratiche standard può aiutare a minimizzare gli artefatti che complicano l&#39;interpretazione dei risultati. L&#39;uso di sale dedicate test comportamentali separati da locali di permanenza degli animali e sperimentatori è preferibile. E &#39;anche prudente usare &quot;rumore bianco&quot; che blocca i rumori esterni nella struttura animale che gli animali possono distrarre dal compito a portata di mano. Per ridurre al minimo lo stress per gli animali destinati a test cognitivi, è importante per loro avere familiarità con gli sperimentatori che eseguirà test comportamentali prima della somministrazione compito. In generale, se il test femmine e maschi, si raccomanda di verificare prima le femmine tendono ad essere più ansiosi durante i test se spunti odore maschile rimangono nelle arene di prova. Quando si amministra una serie della batteria di compiti, è importante esporre gli animali a leacompiti ° stressante prima (come EPM, NPR) e la maggior parte compiti stressanti scorso (come FC, MWM).

quantifying cognitive decrements caused by cranial radiotherapy

Con l&#39;eccezione di sopravvivenza, deficit cognitivo dovuti alla gestione clinica del cancro è uno dei principali fattori dettare risultato terapeutico. Per molti pazienti affetti da SNC e non neoplasie del SNC, la radioterapia e la chemioterapia offrono migliori opzioni per il controllo delle malattie. Questi trattamenti tuttavia hanno un costo, e quasi tutti i sopravvissuti al cancro (~ 11 milioni nei soli Stati Uniti a partire dal 2006) comporta qualche rischio per lo sviluppo di disfunzioni cognitive, con i casi più gravi riscontrati in pazienti sottoposti a radioterapia craniale (~ 200.000 / anno ) per il controllo dei tumori cerebrali primari e metastatici 1. Particolarmente problematici sono i casi pediatrici, la cui sopravvivenza a lungo termine afflitta da marcati risultati cognitivi decrementi significativi oneri socio-economico 2. Ad oggi, non ci sono ancora soluzioni soddisfacenti al problema clinico significativo. Abbiamo affrontato questo serio problema di salute utilizzando staminali trapiantate ceLLS per combattere indotto dalle radiazioni declino cognitivo nei ratti atimici sottoposti a irradiazione cranica 3. Dettagli del irradiazione stereotassica e la coltura in vitro e il trapianto di cellule staminali neurali (hNSCs) si possono trovare nel nostro documento compagno (Acharya et al., Giove di riferimento). A seguito di irraggiamento e la chirurgia di trapianto, i ratti vengono poi valutati per cambiamenti cognitivi, la sopravvivenza delle cellule innestate e l&#39;espressione di specifici marcatori di differenziazione-1 e 4 mesi dopo l&#39;irradiazione. Per valutare criticamente il successo o il fallimento di ogni intervento potenziale progettato per migliorare indotto dalle radiazioni sequele cognitive, una rigorosa serie di compiti cognitivi quantitative devono essere eseguite. Per fare questo, sottoponiamo i nostri animali ad una serie di paradigmi test cognitivi compreso il riconoscimento romanzo luogo, labirinto ad acqua, elevata labirinto plus e condizionamento alla paura, al fine di quantificare l&#39;apprendimento dell&#39;ippocampo e non dell&#39;ippocampo e della memoria. Abbiamo dimostrato l&#39;utilità diquesti test per quantificare i tipi specifici di decrementi cognitivi negli animali irradiati, e li ha usati per dimostrare che gli animali innestati con hNSCs mostrano significativi miglioramenti nella funzione cognitiva 3. I benefici cognitivi derivati ​​da cellule staminali umane trapiantate suggeriscono che strategie simili un giorno potrebbe fornire tanto necessario il ricorso a cliniche sopravvissuti al cancro soffrono di disturbi cognitivi. Di conseguenza, abbiamo fornito una documentazione scritta e visiva dei passaggi critici adottati durante i nostri paradigmi di test cognitivi per facilitare la traduzione dei nostri promettenti risultati nella clinica.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy at JoVE.com

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Disturbi cognitivi derivanti dalla gestione radioterapeutico tumori cerebrali rappresenta una condizione clinica intrattabile che gli impatti negativamente la qualità della vita. La capacità di valutare criticamente gli interventi possibili per ameliorating indotto dalle radiazioni decrementa cognitiva dipende in ultima analisi la capacità di effettuare rigorose valutazioni quantitative della cognizione.

Quantificare Decrementa cognitivi causati da radioterapia craniale

With the exception of survival, cognitive impairment stemming from the clinical management of cancer is a major factor dictating therapeutic outcome. For ...

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12.5K Views.  University of California Irvine. Disturbi cognitivi derivanti dalla gestione radioterapeutico tumori cerebrali rappresenta una condizione clinica intrattabile che gli impatti negativamente la qualità della vita. La capacità di valutare criticamente gli interventi possibili per ameliorating indotto dalle radiazioni decrementa cognitiva dipende in ultima analisi la capacità di effettuare rigorose valutazioni quantitative della cognizione.

Video: Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Stem Cell Transplantation Strategies for the Restoration of Cognitive Dysfunction Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy often provides the only clinical recourse for those afflicted with primary or metastatic brain tumors. While beneficial, cranial irradiation can induce a progressive and debilitating decline in cognition that may, in part, be caused by the depletion of neural stem cells. Given the increased survival of patients diagnosed with brain cancer, quality of life in terms of cognitive health has become an increasing concern, especially in the absence of any satisfactory long-term treatments.
To address this serious health concern we have used stem cell replacement as a strategy to combat radiation-induced cognitive decline. Our model utilizes athymic nude rats subjected to cranial irradiation. The ionizing radiation is delivered as either whole brain or as a highly focused beam to the hippocampus via linear accelerator (LINAC) based stereotaxic radiosurgery. Two days following irradiation, human neural stem cells (hNSCs) were stereotaxically transplanted into the hippocampus. Rats were then assessed for changes in cognition, grafted cell survival and for the expression of differentiation-specific markers 1 and 4-months after irradiation. Our cognitive testing paradigms have demonstrated that animals engrafted with hNSCs exhibit significant improvements in cognitive function. Unbiased stereology reveals significant survival (10-40%) of the engrafted cells at 1 and 4-months after transplantation, dependent on the amount and type of cells grafted. Engrafted cells migrate extensively, differentiate along glial and neuronal lineages, and express a range of immature and mature phenotypic markers.
Our data demonstrate direct cognitive benefits derived from engrafted human stem cells, suggesting that this procedure may one day afford a promising strategy for the long-term functional restoration of cognition in individuals subjected to cranial radiotherapy. To promote the dissemination of the critical procedures necessary to replicate and extend our studies, we have provided written and visual documentation of several key steps in our experimental plan, with an emphasis on stereotaxic radiosurgey and transplantation.

Brain tumor patients routinely undergo cranial radiotherapy, and while beneficial, this treatment often results in debilitating cognitive dysfunction. This serious unresolved problem has at present, no clinical recourse, and has driven our efforts to devise stem cell based therapies for the recovery of radiation-induced cognitive decrements.

Strategie di trapianto di cellule staminali per il Restauro di disfunzione cognitiva causata da radioterapia craniale

Radiotherapy often provides the only clinical recourse for those afflicted with primary or metastatic brain tumors. While beneficial, cranial irradiation ...

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Combination Radiotherapy in an Orthotopic Mouse Brain Tumor Model

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common and aggressive adult primary brain tumors1. In recent years there has been substantial progress in the understanding of the mechanics of tumor invasion, and direct intracerebral inoculation of tumor provides the opportunity of observing the invasive process in a physiologically appropriate environment2. As far as human brain tumors are concerned, the orthotopic models currently available are established either by stereotaxic injection of cell suspensions or implantation of a solid piece of tumor through a complicated craniotomy procedure3. In our technique we harvest cells from tissue culture to create a cell suspension used to implant directly into the brain. The duration of the surgery is approximately 30 minutes, and as the mouse needs to be in a constant surgical plane, an injectable anesthetic is used. The mouse is placed in a stereotaxic jig made by Stoetling (figure 1). After the surgical area is cleaned and prepared, an incision is made; and the bregma is located to determine the location of the craniotomy. The location of the craniotomy is 2 mm to the right and 1 mm rostral to the bregma. The depth is 3 mm from the surface of the skull, and cells are injected at a rate of 2 &mu;l every 2 minutes. The skin is sutured with 5-0 PDS, and the mouse is allowed to wake up on a heating pad. From our experience, depending on the cell line, treatment can take place from 7-10 days after surgery. Drug delivery is dependent on the drug composition. For radiation treatment the mice are anesthetized, and put into a custom made jig. Lead covers the mouse's body and exposes only the brain of the mouse. The study of tumorigenesis and the evaluation of new therapies for GBM require accurate and reproducible brain tumor animal models. Thus we use this orthotopic brain model to study the interaction of the microenvironment of the brain and the tumor, to test the effectiveness of different therapeutic agents with and without radiation.

The purpose of this article is to describe the use of an orthotopic glioblastoma model for chemoradiation studies. This article will go though cell processing, implanting, and radiotherapy of the mouse using an intracranial model.

La radioterapia combinata in un modello di tumore ortotopico cervello di topo

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common and aggressive adult primary brain tumors1. In recent years there has been substantial progress in the ...

Imaging Glioma Initiation In Vivo Through a Polished and Reinforced Thin-skull Cranial Window

Glioma is the one of the most lethal forms of human cancer. The most effective glioma therapy to date-surgery followed by radiation treatment-offers patients only modest benefits, as most patients do not survive more than five years following diagnosis due to glioma relapse 1,2. The discovery of cancer stem cells in human brain tumors holds promise for having an enormous impact on the development of novel therapeutic strategies for glioma 3. Cancer stem cells are defined by their ability both to self-renew and to differentiate, and are thought to be the only cells in a tumor that have the capacity to initiate new tumors 4. Glioma relapse following radiation therapy is thought to arise from resistance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) to therapy 5-10. In vivo, GSCs are shown to reside in a perivascular niche that is important for maintaining their stem cell-like characteristics 11-14. Central to the organization of the GSC niche are vascular endothelial cells 12. Existing evidence suggests that GSCs and their interaction with the vascular endothelial cells are important for tumor development, and identify GSCs and their interaction with endothelial cells as important therapeutic targets for glioma. The presence of GSCs is determined experimentally by their capability to initiate new tumors upon orthotopic transplantation 15. This is typically achieved by injecting a specific number of GBM cells isolated from human tumors into the brains of severely immuno-deficient mice, or of mouse GBM cells into the brains of congenic host mice. Assays for tumor growth are then performed following sufficient time to allow GSCs among the injected GBM cells to give rise to new tumors-typically several weeks or months. Hence, existing assays do not allow examination of the important pathological process of tumor initiation from single GSCs in vivo. Consequently, essential insights into the specific roles of GSCs and their interaction with the vascular endothelial cells in the early stages of tumor initiation are lacking. Such insights are critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies for glioma, and will have great implications for preventing glioma relapse in patients. Here we have adapted the PoRTS cranial window procedure 16and in vivo two-photon microscopy to allow visualization of tumor initiation from injected GBM cells in the brain of a live mouse. Our technique will pave the way for future efforts to elucidate the key signaling mechanisms between GSCs and vascular endothelial cells during glioma initiation.

Imaging Glioma Initiation In Vivo Through a Polished and Reinforced Thin-skull Cranial Window

By combining a polished and reinforced thin-skull (PoRTS) cranial window and glioblastoma (GBM) cell injection, we can observe glioma initiation and growth from injected GBM cells in the brain of a live mouse longitudinally.

Imaging Glioma Iniziazione<em&gt; In Vivo</em&gt; Attraverso un lucido e sottile rinforzato cranio finestra craniale

Glioma is the one of the most lethal forms of human cancer. The most effective glioma therapy to date-surgery followed by radiation treatment-offers ...

Voluntary Breath-hold Technique for Reducing Heart Dose in Left Breast Radiotherapy

Breath-holding techniques reduce the amount of radiation received by cardiac structures during tangential-field left breast radiotherapy. With these techniques, patients hold their breath while radiotherapy is delivered, pushing the heart down and away from the radiotherapy field. Despite clear dosimetric benefits, these techniques are not yet in widespread use. One reason for this is that commercially available solutions require specialist equipment, necessitating not only significant capital investment, but often also incurring ongoing costs such as a need for daily disposable mouthpieces. The voluntary breath-hold technique described here does not require any additional specialist equipment. All breath-holding techniques require a surrogate to monitor breath-hold consistency and whether breath-hold is maintained. Voluntary breath-hold uses the distance moved by the anterior and lateral reference marks (tattoos) away from the treatment room lasers in breath-hold to monitor consistency at CT-planning and treatment setup. Light fields are then used to monitor breath-hold consistency prior to and during radiotherapy delivery.

The current priority in breast cancer radiotherapy is to reduce cardiac doses without compromising target tissue coverage. The voluntary breath-hold technique described here is a simple, inexpensive solution to this problem and capable of being instituted widely without the need for specialized equipment.

Volontariato Tecnica Breath-hold per la riduzione Cuore Dose in Radioterapia della mammella sinistra

Breath-holding techniques reduce the amount of radiation received by cardiac structures during tangential-field left breast radiotherapy. With these ...

State of the Art Cranial Ultrasound Imaging in Neonates

Cranial ultrasound (CUS) is a reputable tool for brain imaging in critically ill neonates. It is safe, relatively cheap and easy to use, even when a patient is unstable. In addition it is radiation-free and allows serial imaging. CUS possibilities have steadily expanded. However, in many neonatal intensive care units, these possibilities are not optimally used. We present a comprehensive approach for neonatal CUS, focusing on optimal settings, different probes, multiple acoustic windows and Doppler techniques. This approach is suited for both routine clinical practice and research purposes. In a live demonstration, we show how this technique is performed in the neonatal intensive care unit. Using optimal settings and probes allows for better imaging quality and improves the diagnostic value of CUS in experienced hands. Traditionally, images are obtained through the anterior fontanel. Use of supplemental acoustic windows (lambdoid, mastoid, and lateral fontanels) improves detection of brain injury. Adding Doppler studies allows screening of patency of large intracranial arteries and veins. Flow velocities and indices can be obtained. Doppler CUS offers the possibility of detecting cerebral sinovenous thrombosis at an early stage, creating a window for therapeutic intervention prior to thrombosis-induced tissue damage. Equipment, data storage and safety aspects are also addressed.

Cranial ultrasound (CUS) is a valuable tool for brain imaging in critically ill neonates. This video shows a comprehensive approach for neonatal (Doppler) CUS for both clinical and research purposes, including a bedside demonstration of the technique.

Stato dell&#39;arte cranica Ultrasound Imaging in neonati

Cranial ultrasound (CUS) is a reputable tool for brain imaging in critically ill neonates. It is safe, relatively cheap and easy to use, even when a ...

Treatment of Liver Metastases Using an Internal Target Volume Method for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

The prognosis of patients with metastatic cancers has improved in the past decades due to effective chemotherapy and oligometastatic surgery. For inoperable patients, local ablation therapies, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), can provide effective local tumor control with minimal toxicity. Because of its high precision and accuracy, SBRT delivers a higher radiation dose per fraction, is more effective, and targets smaller irradiation volumes than does conventional radiotherapy. In addition, steep dose gradients from target lesions to surrounding normal tissues are achieved using SBRT; thus, SBRT provides more effective tumor control and exhibits fewer side effects than conventional radiotherapy. The use of SBRT is prevalent for treating intracranial lesions (known as stereotactic radiosurgery); however, it is now also used for treating spinal and adrenal metastases. Because of advancements in image-guided assistance and respiratory motion management, several studies have investigated the use of SBRT for treating lung or liver tumors, which move as a patient breathes. The results of these studies have suggested that SBRT favorably controls tumors in the case of moving lesions.
Four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) with an abdominal compressor (AC) is clinically convenient for effective respiratory motion management. Because this method is noninvasive and allows free breathing, its use reduces complications. Furthermore, patients consider this method convenient. Moreover, it is considered more efficient than other methods of respiratory motion management by physicians and therapists. The use of 4D-CT with an AC for treating pulmonary lesions has also been widely investigated, and the technique is gaining acceptance for treating hepatic lesions. However, the protocols for using 4D-CT with an AC for treating hepatic lesions are different from those used for treating pulmonary lesions. In this article, we describe a new protocol for SBRT with 4D-CT and an AC for treating liver metastases.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) requires rigorous accuracy and precision for delivering high radiation doses per fraction to small treatment volumes to improve tumor control and simultaneously reduce toxicity. Herein, we present a noninvasive and clinically convenient respiratory motion management protocol for SBRT for liver metastases.

Trattamento delle metastasi del fegato usando un metodo di Volume bersaglio interno per la radioterapia stereotassica corpo

The prognosis of patients with metastatic cancers has improved in the past decades due to effective chemotherapy and oligometastatic surgery. For ...

Radiation Planning Assistant - A Streamlined, Fully Automated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning System

The Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) is a system developed for the fully automated creation of radiotherapy treatment plans, including volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for patients with head/neck cancer and 4-field box plans for patients with cervical cancer. It is a combination of specially developed in-house software that uses an application programming interface to communicate with a commercial radiotherapy treatment planning system. It also interfaces with a commercial secondary dose verification software. The necessary inputs to the system are a Treatment Plan Order, approved by the radiation oncologist, and a simulation computed tomography (CT) image, approved by the radiographer. The RPA then generates a complete radiotherapy treatment plan. For the cervical cancer treatment plans, no additional user intervention is necessary until the plan is complete. For head/neck treatment plans, after the normal tissue and some of the target structures are automatically delineated on the CT image, the radiation oncologist must review the contours, making edits if necessary. They also delineate the gross tumor volume. The RPA then completes the treatment planning process, creating a VMAT plan. Finally, the completed plan must be reviewed by qualified clinical staff.

Radiation therapy is a highly complex cancer treatment that requires multiple specialists to create a treatment plan and provide quality assurance (QA) prior to delivery to a patient. This protocol describes the use of a fully automated system, the Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA), to create high-quality radiation treatment plans.

Pianificazione Assistente - una struttura snella, radiazione completamente automatizzato sistema di pianificazione del trattamento di radioterapia

The Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) is a system developed for the fully automated creation of radiotherapy treatment plans, including volume-modulated ...

Miglioramento della radioterapia con l'assistente alla pianificazione delle radiazioni basato sul Web

Radiation Planning Assistant - A Web-based Tool to Support High-quality Radiotherapy in Clinics with Limited Resources

Access to radiotherapy worldwide is limited. The Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) is a fully automated, web-based tool that is being developed to offer fully automated radiotherapy treatment planning tools to clinics with limited resources. The goal is to help clinical teams scale their efforts, thus reaching more patients with cancer. The user connects to the RPA via a webpage, completes a Service Request (prescription and information about the radiotherapy targets), and uploads the patient&#39;s CT image set. The RPA offers two approaches to automated planning. In one-step planning, the system uses the Service Request and CT scan to automatically generate the necessary contours and treatment plan. In two-step planning, the user reviews and edits the automatically generated contours before the RPA continues to generate a volume-modulated arc therapy plan. The final plan is downloaded from the RPA website and imported into the user&#39;s local treatment planning system, where the dose is recalculated for the locally commissioned linac; if necessary, the plan is edited prior to approval for clinical use.

Autore in primo piano: Migliorare l'accesso alla radioterapia con l'assistente alla pianificazione delle radiazioni

This protocol describes a series of automated tools designed for high-quality radiotherapy autocontouring and autoplanning that are being packaged into a web-based service to maximize robustness and scalability while minimizing operational costs.

Radiation Planning Assistant - Uno strumento basato sul Web per supportare la radioterapia di alta qualità nelle cliniche con risorse limitate

Access to radiotherapy worldwide is limited. The Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) is a fully automated, web-based tool that is being developed to offer ...