William M. Mendenhall, MD

This review discusses the rationale, history, and current status of proton therapy for prostate cancer-and controversies regarding it.

Dr. Rich and colleagues present a compelling argument for the manipulation of temporal and spatial treatment parameters in chemoradiation programs. In essence, the authors address the shielding of normal tissues from the effects of cytotoxic agents. With respect to radiotherapy, this can be achieved via physical shielding by computer-generated dose algorithms using elaborate new planning technology (eg, intensity-modulated radiation therapy [IMRT]), chemical shielding with radioprotectants (eg, amifostine [Ethyol]), or temporal shielding by altered-fractionation schemes that exploit the differential alpha/beta ratios between tumor and normal tissue (eg, hyperfractionation).

Effective radiotherapy for patients with cancer should include maximal tumor cell killing with minimal injury to normal tissue. Radiation doses that can be delivered, without causing severe damage to surrounding normal

Dr. Rich presents a comprehensive overview of adjuvant therapy for advanced operable rectal cancer. He emphasizes the roles of infusional chemoradiation in both the adjuvant setting and as sole therapy. Unless otherwise specified, the following comments pertain to clinically resectable B2-C (T3, N0-N1) adenocarcinoma of the rectum.

Based on our experience and a review of the literature, we conclude that superficial, well- to moderately differentiated T1 cancers of the anal margin may be successfully treated with radiotherapy alone or local

The impact of neck stage (N stage) on local control after treatment for head and neck cancer is controversial. This article reviews the pertinent literature. Based on this review, the authors conclude that although N stage