Glioblastoma is a rapidly evolving high-grade astrocytoma that is distinguished pathologically from lower grade gliomas by the presence of necrosis and microvascular hyperplasia. Necrotic areas are typically surrounded by hypercellular regions known as “pseudopalisades” originated by local tumor vessel occlusions that induce collective cellular migration events. This leads to the formation of waves of tumor cells actively migrating away from central hypoxia. We present a mathematical model that incorporates the interplay among two tumor cell phenotypes, a necrotic core and the oxygen distribution. Our simulations reveal the formation of a traveling wave of tumor cells that reproduces the observed histologic patterns of pseudopalisades. Additional simulations of the model equations show that preventing the collapse of tumor microvessels leads to slower glioma invasion, a fact that might be exploited for therapeutic purposes.

Functional imaging and its application to radiotherapy (RT) is a rapidly expanding field with new modalities and techniques constantly developing and evolving. As technologies improve, it will be important to pay attention to their implementation. This review describes the main achievements in the field of head and neck cancer (HNC) with particular remarks on the unsolved problems.

patients in concurrent group developed grade 2 or 3 pneumonitis at some point during crizotinib therapy. Time to onset of pneumonitis ranged from 14 days to 61 days in concurrent group. Imaging analysis was strongly consistent with lung parenchyma changes in the irradiated lung volume receiving a total dose of 15-38 Gy. Pulmonary toxicity was manageable; however, interruption of crizotinib therapy was not necessary. Three (37.5%) experienced development of a grade 2 pneumonitis in sequential group. Pneumonitis in irradiated lungs did not aggravate after crizotinib therapy in sequential group. Conclusion: In conclusion, this is, to our knowledge, the first report of lung toxicity after treatment with crizotinib and TRT. We observed a high incidence of pulmonary toxicity when crizotinib and concurrent TRT were administered in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. Careful consideration and monitoring for pneumonitis may be warranted in patients treated with crizotinib in concurrent with TRT. In addition, using other schedules (e.g., sequential as opposed to concurrent administration) may be safe and optimal strategies.

The clinical research developed in specialised centres and oncologic cooperative groups has permitted various scientific societies to collect recommendations used in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and incorporate them into clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Some studies have been conducted in diverse healthcare ambits to assess the influence of CPG. This revision of the medical literature analyses the impact that healthcare management -centralised or otherwise- and clinical practice in conformity with CPG have on the clinical outcome variables of STS. Eight CPG have been identified, as well as 12 conformity studies or audits. These conformity studies and audits demonstrate that the grade of adaptation of medical interventions with CPG, medical healthcare in reference centres and procedures of referrals to these centres, as well as the process of organising healthcare teams into Sarcoma Committees, have a significant influence on clinical outcome. We can conclude that excellent healthcare of STS implies the adaptation of healthcare practice to CPG, the existence of Reference Centres guided by Sarcoma Committees, and the observance of strict referral procedures within the Healthcare Area.

Over the past two decades radiation oncology has evolved into a high-technology, multi-disciplinary field of medicine which requires not only the command of highly complex modes of treatment but also the grouping together of skilled teams of medical professionals who are able to provide individualized assistance to the cancer patient. Supportive care in Radiation Oncology integrates key aspects of diagnosis and treatment with the objective of alleviating physical and psycho-social co-morbidities inherent in the disease, as well as the treatment of the cancer. This article addresses the impact of treatment on the individual and the issues facing health-provision professionals who provide clinical and supportive care. Future directions for clinical development are discussed.