Context: Haematological toxicities are seen in rectal cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with capecitabine. Aims: To compare dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters and acute haematological toxicities using RapidArc with or without bone marrow constraints for rectal cancer patients receiving pelvic chemoradiation as part of curative treatment. Setting and designs: This is a prospective randomised controlled study including patients with rectal cancer initiated on chemoradiation. Patients were stratified into two arms, bone marrow sparing (BMS) arm and non-bone marrow sparing arm (NBMS). Materials and methods: DVH parameters and weekly toxicity data were collected. Grade 2 or more anaemia, leucopenia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia, any blood transfusions, colony-stimulating factor injection, platelet transfusions were considered as an event in acute haematological toxicity (HT). Statistical analysis: Independent t-test was used to compare quantitative parameters, and Mann–Whitney U-test was used for ordinal parameters between groups. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled. Bone marrow constraints were achieved without compromising the target coverage. There was a significant reduction in the bone marrow dose with BMS technique (p < 0·05). A 16·7% reduction in the HT (33·3% versus 50%) and a 21·9% reduction in the grade 2 or more anaemia (19% versus 40·9%) were noted in the BMS arm when compared to NBMS arm, though not statistically significant. However, in the preoperative setting, a significant reduction in grade 2/more anaemia (7·1% versus 41·1%, p = 0·035) was noticed in the BMS arm. Conclusions: Pelvic BMS radiotherapy may benefit patients receiving chemoradiation for locally advanced carcinoma rectum as part of curative treatment.

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Prostate cancer has become a big concern globally, with over one million cases diagnosed each year and over 300,000 fatalities, making it the sixth highest cause of cancer death in males. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is one of the most often used treatments for prostate cancer; thus, determining its safety and efficacy is critical. The study's goal was to evaluate the efficacy of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer patients. From 2013 to 2019, patients having radiation therapy and receiving ADT were studied in this single-center, retrospective, observational study in a tertiary care hospital in Southern Kerala with frequent follow-up for one year. Medical records were used to gain patient data for the analysis and then entered into a data collection form. The study enrolled a total of 140 participants. The results reveal that the mean of the initial PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) values obtained was 43.06 and after three months, the mean value of PSA was 6.16, after six months was 2.53, after one year was 2.21, and finally, after two years, the mean value of PSA was 0.49. The study shows a reduction in PSA values progression in the patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. Patients who took ADT had their PSA values were decreased in progression, and the benefit of ADT was shown to be best when treated earlier.

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