PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the peripheral doses resulting from volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques in cervical cancer radiotherapy.MethodsNine patients with cervical cancer had treatment planned with both VMAT and IMRT. A specially designed phantom was used for this study, with ion chambers placed at interest points approximating the position of the breast, thyroid, and lens. The peripheral doses at the phantom interest points were measured and compared between the VMAT and IMRT techniques.ResultsVMAT provides a potential dosimetric advantage compared with IMRT. The mean (± standard deviation) peripheral dose to the breast point for 1 fraction (2 Gy) during VMAT measured 5.13 ± 0.96 mGy, compared with 9.04 ± 1.50 mGy for IMRT. At the thyroid and lens interest points, the mean (± standard deviation) peripheral dose during VMAT was 2.19 ± 0.33 and 2.16 ± 0.28 mGy, compared with 7.07 ± 0.76 and 6.97 ± 0.91 mGy for IMRT, respectively. VMAT reduced the monitor units used by 28% and shortened the treatment delivery time by 54% compared with IMRT.ConclusionWhile the dosimetric results are similar for both techniques, VMAT results in a lower peripheral dose to the patient and reduces the monitor-unit usage and treatment delivery time compared with IMRT.

The aim of this study was to study the effects of hericium evimaccus alcohol extracts on the expression of gastrin 17 and PKM2, and cell apoptosis in rats with gastric cancer. We selected 75 healthy ACL female rats, 15 healthy group, 15 gastric cancer group, 15 capecitabine group (drug control), 15 low-dose group (20 mg/kg), and high-dose group (40 mg/kg) of 15 rats, 2–4 months old, with body weight of 210–225 g, at average (213.25±12.37) g. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the pathological tissue morphology of gastric mucosa. MTT measured proliferation of gastric mucosa tissue cells, while flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis. ELISA was used to detect the levels of motilin and gastrin, while Immunoblotting was used to detect the protein expression of PKM2, Caspase-3, PI3K, and AKT. The gastric mucosal tissue in the healthy group was normal, and cells were arranged in orderly and complete manner. The gastric mucosal tissues from rats in the gastric cancer group and low-dose group were infiltrated with inflammatory cells, which were arranged in disorderly manner. The infiltration of gastric mucosal cells in the high-dose group and capecitabine group were reduced, and their arrangement was more orderly. Compared with gastric cancer group, cell proliferation decreased and apoptosis increased in the low-dose group (P <0.05). Compared with low-dose group, the highdose group decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis (P <0.05). In comparison with high-dose group, the capecitabine group had increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis (P < 0.05). In comparison with healthy group, PKM2, Caspase-3, PI3K, and AKT increased, and levels of motilin and gastrin 17 decreased (P <0.05). In comparison with gastric cancer group, the PKM2, Caspase-3, PI3K, and AKT in the low-dose group decreased, and levels of motilin and gastrin 17 increased (P <0.05). In comparison with low-dose group, PKM2, Caspase-3, PI3K, and AKT in the high-dose group decreased, while levels of motilin and gastrin 17 increased (P <0.05). In comparison with high-dose group, KM2, Caspase-3, PI3K, and AKT in the capecitabine group increased, and levels of motilin and gastrin 17 decreased (P <0.05). The hericium evimaccus alcohol extract inhibited the expression of PKM2 protein by promoting the level of gastrin 17, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells and promoting apoptosis.