Radiotherapy is one of the treatments used to treat prostate cancer, and dose escalation to 74–78 Gy in conventional fractionation is the standard regimen. Currently, according to the hypothesis of low alpha/beta ratio in prostate cancer cells, using hypo-fractionation has been reported in many publications with promising results. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the implementation of a moderate hypo-fractionation regimen in high-risk prostate cancer in our division.

Between 2012 and 2017, 40 patients with high-risk, localised prostate cancer were treated by a moderate hypo-fractionation regimen (70 Gy at 2·5 Gy per fraction) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy. The data related to treatment outcomes and toxicities were evaluated.

The mean PSA at diagnosis was 86·2 ng/mL (95% CI 49·9–122·4). Thirty-eight patients received long-term hormonal therapy. Fifty-two percent had a Gleason score of 8–10, and 65% had an initial PSA >20 ng/mL. The mean doses (in EQD2) to the D50% of PTV, D2% of organs at risk (bladder, rectum and bowels) were 80, 78·3, 76·4, and 50·2 Gy, respectively. Two patients had biochemical recurrence during the follow-up period.

A moderate hypo-fractionation regimen (70 Gy at 2·5 Gy per fraction) is feasible. Our experience found that this regimen yields tolerable, acceptable toxicity profiles in high-risk, localised prostate cancer patients.

This study aims to clarify the influence of overall treatment time (OTT) on the efficiency of combined chemo-radiotherapy in cervical cancer.

This retrospective study enrolled 122 cervical cancer patients who had squamous cell carcinoma and had undergone definitive chemo-radiotherapy from 2009 to 2013. All patients received whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) with the dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions (with central shielding after 44 Gy) plus intracavitary brachytherapy with the dose of 28 Gy in four fractions. During WPRT, all patients received concurrent chemotherapy with weekly platinum-based regimen. The data of patient characteristics, OTT, treatment results and toxicities were collected and evaluated.

The mean follow-up time was 36 months. The mean age of patients was 52 years old; 68% of patients were stage IIB related to International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics staging. Pelvic control (PC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates did not differ significantly in the data-derived cut points of 55·8 and 53 days. No statistically significant difference in treatment results between the two groups of OTT<49 and OTT≥62 days was observed.

In our data-derived cut point, OTT did not influence to PC, DMFS, DFS and OS. The influence of OTT on treatment results may be found in longer periods.

This retrospective study aimed to report clinical outcomes of high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) and whole pelvic radiation therapy (WPRT) in intermediate- to high-risk localised prostate cancer and to gain a better understanding of how behavioural variability of patients from various ethnic origins affects clinical practice.

In total, 116 localised intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer patients who were treated during 2004–12 were enroled into the study. WPRT was delivered to the full pelvis (50 Gy per conventional fractionation) and two fractions (15 Gy per fraction) of high-dose rate brachytherapy were designed for all patients to the peripheral zone of McNeal. The reported results were biochemical control rate, toxicity profiles and behavioural variations of patients.

The median follow-up time was 51 months. The 4-year biochemical control rates, according to the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology was 93·1%. T stage was the prognostic factor for biochemical control. No significant differences in biochemical control could be identified across ethnic groups (p>0·05). Five patients developed grade 3–4 gastrointestinal toxicity. Prior knowledge was commonly found among Caucasian patients and urinary functions seemed to be more concerned among Caucasian and Middle East patients than those from other ethnic origins.

Clinical outcomes of intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer patients from various ethnic origins were comparable with that of the Caucasian-only population reported previously. A number of detected ethnic-related factors might be beneficial for treatment decision-making for patients with different cultural background and could be utilised to better personalise/optimise cancer care and aftercare.

To report of long-term results and toxicity profiles using image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) combined with whole pelvic radiation therapy (WPRT) for cervical carcinoma.

In total, 52 patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma were enrolled into the study. WPRT was used to treat the clinical target volume (CTV) with a dose of 45–50·4 Gy in 23–28 fractions. IGBT using computed tomography was performed at the dose of 6·5–7 Gy×4 fractions to the minimum dose covering 90% of target volume (D90) of high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV).

The mean cumulative dose in equivalent doses of 2 Gy for the D90 of HR-CTV, dose at 2% at refereed volume (D2cc) of bladder, D2cc of rectum and D2cc of sigmoid colon were 92·4, 87·9, 69·6, and 72 Gy, respectively. At the median follow-up time of 61 months, the 5-year local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates were 96·2, 75 and 84·6% respectively. Two patients (3·8%) developed grade 3–4 gastrointestinal and two patients (3·8%) developed grade 3–4 genitourinal toxicities.

The combination of WPRT plus IGBT showed very promising long-term results with excellent local control and toxicity profiles.