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Background Local recurrences after breast conserving treatment are mainly close to the original tumor site, and as such shorter fractionation strategies focused on and nearest mammary gland, i.e. accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), have been developed. Stereotactic APBI has been attempted, although there is little experience using CyberKnife (CK) for early breast cancer. Methods This pilot study was designed to assess the feasibility of CK-APBI on 20 evaluable patients of 29 eligible, followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was acute/sub-acute toxicity; secondary endpoints were late toxicity and the cosmetic result. Results Mean pathological tumor size was 10.5 mm (±4.3, range 3–18), 8 of these patients were classified as LumA-like, 11 as LumB-like, and 1 as LumB-HER2-enriched. Using CK-APBI with Iris, the treatment time was approximately 60 min (range~ 35 to ~ 120). All patients received 30 Gy in five fractions delivered to the PTV. The median number of beams was 180 (IQR 107–213; range:56–325) with a median PTV isodose prescription of 86.0% (IQR 85.0–88.5; range:82–94). The median PTV was 88.1 cm3 (IQR 63.8–108.6; range:32.3–238.8). The median breast V100 and V50 was 0.6 (IQR 0.1–1.5; range:0–13) and 18.6 (IQR 13.1–21.7; range:7.5–37), respectively. The median PTV minimum dose was 26.2 Gy (IQR 24.7–27.6; range 22.3–29.3). Mild side effects were recorded during the period of observation. Cosmetic evaluations were performed by three observers from the start of radiotherapy up to 2 years. Patients’ evaluation progressively increase from 60% to 85% of excellent rating; this trend was similar to that of external observer. Conclusions These preliminary results showed the safe feasibility of CK-APBI in early breast cancer, with mild acute and late toxicity and very good cosmetic results. Trial registration The present study is registered at Clinicaltrial.gov ( NCT02896322 ). Retrospectively egistered August 4, 2016.

We evaluated whether (18)F-3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (FLT PET) can predict the final postoperative histopathological response in primary breast cancer after the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). In this prospective cohort study of 15 patients with locally advanced operable breast cancer, FLT PET evaluations were performed before NCT, after the first cycle of NCT, and at the end of NCT. All patients subsequently underwent surgery. Variables from FLT PET examinations were correlated with postoperative histopathological results. At baseline, median of maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) in the groups showing a complete pathological response (pCR) + residual cancer burden (RCB) I, RCB II or RCB III did not differ significantly for the primary tumour (5.0 vs. 2.9 vs. 8.9, p = 0.293) or for axillary nodes (7.9 vs. 1.6 vs. 7.0, p = 0.363), whereas the Spearman correlation between SUVmax and Ki67 proliferation rate index was significant (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Analysis of the relative percentage change of SUVmaxin the primary tumour (∆SUVTmax(t₁)) and axillary nodes (∆SUVNmax(t₁)) after the first NCT cycle showed that the power of ∆SUVTmax(t 1) to predict pCR + RCB I responses (AUC = 0.91, p < 0.001) was statistically significant, whereas ∆SUVNmax(t₁) had a moderate ability (AUC = 0.77, p = 0.119) to separate subjects with ΔSUVTmax(t₁) > -52.9 % into two groups: RCB III patients and a heterogeneous group that included RCB I and RCB II patients. A predictive score μ based on ΔSUVTmax(t₁) and ΔSUVNmax(t₁) parameters is proposed. The preliminary findings of the present study suggest the potential utility of FLT PET scans for early monitoring of response to NCT and to formulate a therapeutic strategy consistent with the estimated efficacy of NCT. However, these results in a small patient population need to be validated in a larger independent cohort.

Purpose: We evaluated whether super(18)F-3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothym idine positron emission tomography (FLT PET) can predict the final postoperative histopathological response in primary breast cancer after the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). Methods: In this prospective cohort study of 15 patients with locally advanced operable breast cancer, FLT PET evaluations were performed before NCT, after the first cycle of NCT, and at the end of NCT. All patients subsequently underwent surgery. Variables from FLT PET examinations were correlated with postoperative histopathological results. Results: At baseline, median of maximum standardized uptake values (SUV sub(max)) in the groups showing a complete pathological response (pCR) + residual cancer burden (RCB) I, RCB II or RCB III did not differ significantly for the primary tumour (5.0 vs. 2.9 vs. 8.9, p=0.293) or for axillary nodes (7.9 vs. 1.6 vs. 7.0, p=0.363), whereas the Spearman correlation between SUV sub(max) and Ki67 proliferation rate index was significant (r=0.69, p<0.001). Analysis of the relative percentage change of SUV sub(max)in the primary tumour ( Delta SUVT sub(max)(t sub(1))) and axillary nodes ( Delta SUVN sub(max)(t sub(1))) after the first NCT cycle showed that the power of Delta SUVT sub(max)(t sub(1)) to predict pCR + RCB I responses (AUC=0.91, p<0.001) was statistically significant, whereas Delta SUVN sub(max)(t sub(1)) had a moderate ability (AUC=0.77, p=0.119) to separate subjects with Delta SUVT sub(max)(t sub(1))>-52.9% into two groups: RCB III patients and a heterogeneous group that included RCB I and RCB II patients. A predictive score mu based on Delta SUVT sub(max)(t sub(1)) and Delta SUVN sub(max)(t sub(1)) parameters is proposed. Conclusion: The preliminary findings of the present study suggest the potential utility of FLT PET scans for early monitoring of response to NCT and to formulate a therapeutic strategy consistent with the estimated efficacy of NCT. However, these results in a small patient population need to be validated in a larger independent cohort.

We evaluated whether ^sup 18^F-3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (FLT PET) can predict the final postoperative histopathological response in primary breast cancer after the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). In this prospective cohort study of 15 patients with locally advanced operable breast cancer, FLT PET evaluations were performed before NCT, after the first cycle of NCT, and at the end of NCT. All patients subsequently underwent surgery. Variables from FLT PET examinations were correlated with postoperative histopathological results. At baseline, median of maximum standardized uptake values (SUV^sub max^) in the groups showing a complete pathological response (pCR) + residual cancer burden (RCB) I, RCB II or RCB III did not differ significantly for the primary tumour (5.0 vs. 2.9 vs. 8.9, p=0.293) or for axillary nodes (7.9 vs. 1.6 vs. 7.0, p=0.363), whereas the Spearman correlation between SUV^sub max^ and Ki67 proliferation rate index was significant (r=0.69, p<0.001). Analysis of the relative percentage change of SUV^sub max^in the primary tumour ([increment]SUVT^sub max^(t ^sub 1^)) and axillary nodes ([increment]SUVN^sub max^(t ^sub 1^)) after the first NCT cycle showed that the power of [increment]SUVT^sub max^(t ^sub 1^) to predict pCR + RCB I responses (AUC=0.91, p<0.001) was statistically significant, whereas [increment]SUVN^sub max^(t ^sub 1^) had a moderate ability (AUC=0.77, p=0.119) to separate subjects with [Delta]SUVT^sub max^(t ^sub 1^)>-52.9% into two groups: RCB III patients and a heterogeneous group that included RCB I and RCB II patients. A predictive score [mu] based on [Delta]SUVT^sub max^(t ^sub 1^) and [Delta]SUVN^sub max^(t ^sub 1^) parameters is proposed. The preliminary findings of the present study suggest the potential utility of FLT PET scans for early monitoring of response to NCT and to formulate a therapeutic strategy consistent with the estimated efficacy of NCT. However, these results in a small patient population need to be validated in a larger independent cohort.

Purpose We evaluated whether 18 F-3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine positron emission tomography (FLT PET) can predict the final postoperative histopathological response in primary breast cancer after the first cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). Methods In this prospective cohort study of 15 patients with locally advanced operable breast cancer, FLT PET evaluations were performed before NCT, after the first cycle of NCT, and at the end of NCT. All patients subsequently underwent surgery. Variables from FLT PET examinations were correlated with postoperative histopathological results. Results At baseline, median of maximum standardized uptake values (SUV max ) in the groups showing a complete pathological response (pCR) + residual cancer burden (RCB) I, RCB II or RCB III did not differ significantly for the primary tumour (5.0 vs. 2.9 vs. 8.9, p  = 0.293) or for axillary nodes (7.9 vs. 1.6 vs. 7.0, p  = 0.363), whereas the Spearman correlation between SUV max and Ki67 proliferation rate index was significant ( r  = 0.69, p  < 0.001). Analysis of the relative percentage change of SUV max in the primary tumour (∆SUVT max ( t 1 )) and axillary nodes (∆SUVN max ( t 1 )) after the first NCT cycle showed that the power of ∆SUVT max ( t 1 ) to predict pCR + RCB I responses (AUC = 0.91, p  < 0.001) was statistically significant, whereas ∆SUVN max ( t 1 ) had a moderate ability (AUC = 0.77, p  = 0.119) to separate subjects with ΔSUVT max ( t 1 ) > −52.9 % into two groups: RCB III patients and a heterogeneous group that included RCB I and RCB II patients. A predictive score μ based on ΔSUVT max ( t 1 ) and ΔSUVN max ( t 1 ) parameters is proposed. Conclusion The preliminary findings of the present study suggest the potential utility of FLT PET scans for early monitoring of response to NCT and to formulate a therapeutic strategy consistent with the estimated efficacy of NCT. However, these results in a small patient population need to be validated in a larger independent cohort.

The Antarctic plunderfishes Artedidraco lönnbergi and A. skottsbergi are small, bottom dwelling species inhabiting the continental shelf of the High Antarctic Zone. During cruise 97–9 of the US RV Nathaniel Palmer during the summer in the south-western Ross Sea, samples of both species were collected by means of bottom trawling. On the basis of macroscopic and histological analysis, we present the first data on the reproductive characteristics of these two plunderfishes, including gametogenesis, spawning period and absolute fecundity. Histologically, we found immature (stage I and II) and mature (stage V) females in both species, whereas developing females (stage III) were found only in A. skottsbergi. All examined male specimens of A. skottsbergi were in the final stage of spermatogenesis (stage III), whereas male A. lönnbergi were immature (stage I), mature (stage IV) and post-reproductive (stage V) individuals. In both species, spawning takes place in summer during December and January. Absolute fecundity was very low, with less than 100 and 200 oocytes in A. lönnbergi and A. skottsbergi, respectively. These data are compared with those reported in literature for other artedidraconids.