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Log File-Based Dose Reconstruction To Moving Targets During Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Andrew S. Mcguffey

LSU Master's Theses

Purpose: To perform film-based verification of 4D dose reconstruction to moving targets during lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Introduction: Current patient-specific quality assurance measures to test deliverability of plans with dynamic intensity modulation involve delivering beams to static measurement device and comparing the planned dose to measurement. However, motion-induced dose errors are not detected with static measurement. Previous studies have investigated combining machine log data with respiratory tracking to determine moving-target dose. By combining machine log data with anatomic and density information at each breathing phase from 4D-CT, intrafraction anatomical deformation due to respiration may be accounted for. However, …

Effects Of Visit Frequency On Swallowing Function During Organ Preservation For Head And Neck Cancer, Mathew Blaine Vansant

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Chemoradiotherapy is not without risk of injury to the muscles and nerves associated with swallowing function. Current research supports the use of prophylactic behavioral swallowing exercise in the HNC population, however, wide variations in swallowing treatment methodologies exist and no optimal SLP-patient visit frequency has been established. In addition, poor patient adherence to swallowing exercise appears prevalent. The current study explored the impact of speech language pathologist (SLP)-patient contact time, adherence to prophylactic behavioral swallowing exercises, and explored effects of exercise intensity on immediate post-radiation swallowing outcomes. Groups included a high frequency group (5 weekly SLP-patient visits, n = 15), …

Optimization And Toxocologic Effects Of Cancer Immuno-Electrogene Therapy Using A Tumor-Targeted Interleukin-12 Gene Construct, Scott Douglas Reed

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation includes a comprehensive current review of reversible electroporation (EP) and other related physical gene transfection techniques; an overview of results of electrochemogene therapy (ECGT) used to treat naturally occurring spontaneous neoplasms in dogs; and the results of comprehensive, pre-clinical toxicology testing of electrogene therapy (EGT) of a tumor-targeted version of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in mice. Intralesional bleomycin (BLM) and feline interleukin-12 (fIL-12) DNA injection combined with trans-lesional EP resulted in complete cure of two recurrent oral squamous cell carcinomas and an acanthomatous ameloblastoma in a series of six cases of spontaneous neoplasia in pet dogs. The three remaining dogs, …

Identification Of A Tumor-Targeting-Peptide And Development Of A Tumor-Targeted-Cytokine Vector For Systemic Treatment Of Primary And Metastatic Malignancies, Jeffry Cutrera

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Advances in cancer therapies continue to be improved, yet cancer continues to be one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Harnessing the power of the body’s immune system to attack cancer is a promising strategy that can further improve therapies for neoplastic diseases. As part of this strategy, cytokines such as interleukin (IL) 2 and interferon á are currently accepted cancer treatments, and other cytokines such as IL12 and GM-CSF also show potential as new treatments. Clinical trials with these cytokines have shown less than acceptable therapeutic efficacy and toxicities, but tumor-targeting motifs can improve these effects. Both antibodies …