Tumor volume changes after stereotactic, hypofractionated and conventional radiotherapy in paragangliomas of head and neck.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is comparison the effectiveness of stereotactic, hypofractionated and conventional radiotherapy assessed by the tumor volume changes of paraganglioma located in the head and neck region concerning fractional and total doses. METHODS: We analyzed 76 patients after radiotherapy due to paraganglioma who were assigned to 3 groups considering fractional (≤2 Gy, 3-5.5 Gy, ≥6 Gy) and total (≤20 Gy, 21-40 Gy, >40 Gy) doses. The volumes of irradiated tumors were measured and compared based on diagnostic images performed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The mean tumor volume after the treatment with the lowest fractional dose (≤2 Gy) was decreased by 14.4 cm3. In patients treated with higher fractional doses (>2 Gy), the mean tumor volumes decreased by less than 1 cm3 for hypofractionated and stereotactic radiotherapy. 15.9 cm3 reduction of the mean tumor volume after the treatment with the highest RT total dose (>40 Gy) was stated. In patients treated with total doses ≤20 Gy and 21-40 Gy, the mean tumor volume was stable and reduced by 1.15 cm3, respectively. The analysis demonstrates a statistically significant (p < 0.05) treatment advantage in patients after the lowest fractional and highest total doses. CONCLUSION: The reduction of the tumor's volume was reported after conventional and unconventional radiotherapy. The most significant depletion of the paraganglioma volume was noted after a factional dose ≤2 Gy and a total dose >40 Gy.

Image-guided Hypofractionated Radiotherapy as an Alternative to Radical Prostatectomy in Localized Prostate Cancer in Elderly Patients with Low Life Expectancy.

INTRODUCTION: Radical prostatectomy is appropriate for any patient whose cancer appears clinically localised to prostate. However because of potential perioperative morbidity, radical prostatectomy is generally reserved for patients whose life expectancy is more than ten years. Moderate hypofractionation for localized prostate cancer is safe and effective. There is a growing body of evidence in support of extreme hypofractionation for localized prostate cancer. Hypofractionation for prostate cancer was originally carried out in the pursuit of efficiency and convenience, but has now attracted greatly renewed interest based upon a hypothesis that prostate cancers have a higher sensitivity to fraction size, reflected in a low α/ß ratio, then do late responding organs at risk such as the rectum or bladder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2020 we treated 112 patients of localised Prostate Cancer with Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT). They were in range of 75-85 years. They were of stage T1-T3, N0 or N1. There were significant comborbidities. ECOG performance status was 0-1. They were given 3 months of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) before starting IGRT. Patients were immobilised with casts and subject to CT simulation. CBCT was taken daily. Dose was 70 Gy @ 250 cGy per fraction at a frequency of 5 fractions per week. Complete blood counts were done weekly for assessment of haematological toxicity. Androgen Deprivation Therapy was continued post IGRT. RESULTS: All the patients were able to complete the treatment. Evaluation was done at one month, three month and six months post treatment. 104 out of 112 patients achieved complete response. Other 8 had near complete response. There were no acute grade 3-4 toxicities. Grade 1-2 toxicities like skin desquamation, diarrhoea, burning micturition were managed conservatively. Late toxicity was rectal bleeding seen after one year of completion of treatment and was managed with steroid enemas. 23 patients required argon plasma laser therapy. CONCLUSION: Image guided radiotherapy is well tolerated, easy to implement and an effective alternative to radical prostatectomy in elderly patients with comorbidities and low life expectancy.

Résumé Introduction:La prostatectomie radicale est appropriée pour tout patient dont le cancer apparaît cliniquement localisé à la prostate. Cependant, en raison de la morbidité périopératoire potentielle, la prostatectomie radicale est généralement réservée aux patients dont l'espérance de vie est supérieure à dix ans. L'hypofractionnement modéré pour le cancer localisé de la prostate est sûr et efficace. Il existe un ensemble croissant de preuves à l'appui de l'hypofractionnement extrême pour le cancer de la prostate localisé. L'hypofractionnement pour le cancer de la prostate a été initialement menée dans la poursuite de l'efficacité et de la commodité, mais a maintenant suscité un intérêt considérablement renouvelé en fonction d'une hypothèse selon laquelle les cancers de la prostate ont une sensibilité plus élevée à la taille des fraction Les organes répondants à risque tels que le rectum ou la vessie.Matériel et méthodes:De janvier 2017 à décembre 2020, nous avons traité 112 patients d'un cancer de la prostate localisé avec radiothérapie guidée par l'image (IGRT). Ils étaient de 75 à 85 ans. Ils étaient de stade T1-T3, N0 ou N1. Il y avait des comorbidités importantes. Le statut de performance ECOG était de 0-1. Ils ont reçu 3 mois de thérapie de privation des androgènes (ADT) avant de commencer l'IGRT. Les patients ont été immobilisés avec des moulages et soumis à une simulation CT. CBCT a été pris quotidiennement. La dose était de 70 Gy @ 250 cgy par fraction à une fréquence de 5 fractions par semaine. Les numéros sanguins complets ont été effectués chaque semaine pour évaluer la toxicité hématologique. La thérapie de privation des androgènes s'est poursuivie après l'IGRT.Résultats:Tous les patients ont pu terminer le traitement. L'évaluation a été effectuée à un mois, trois mois et six mois après le traitement. 104 sur 112 patients ont obtenu une réponse complète. Les 8 autres avaient une réponse presque complète. Il n'y avait pas de toxicités aiguës de grade 3-4. Toxicités de grade 1-2 comme la desquamation cutanée, la diarrhée, la miction brûlante ont été gérés de manière conservatrice. La toxicité tardive a été des saignements rectaux observés après un an d'achèvement du traitement et a été géré avec des lavements stéroïdes. 23 patients ont besoin d'un traitement au laser plasma d'argon.Conclusion:La radiothérapie guidée par l'image est bien tolérée, facile à mettre en œuvre et une alternative efficace à la prostatectomie radicale chez les patients âgés atteints de comorbidités et une faible espérance de vie.

Safe Hypofractionation Amid Diverse Technologies: Using Teamwork to Manage the Complexity.

Radiation oncology caregivers worldwide are dedicated to advancing cancer treatment with the ultimate goal of eradicating the disease. Recognizing the inherent complexity of cancer treatment using hypo-fractionation radiotherapy (HFRT), these caregivers are committed to exploring avenues for progress and providing personalized care to each patient. Strong teams and effective workflows are an essential component to implementing safe HFRT. Every patient presents unique challenges, and as a united team of clinical and administrative professionals, radiation oncology care teams strive to drive advancements and streamline complexities in their field, guided by continuous technological innovation.

ROCR: Modernizing Radiation Oncology Payment to Embrace Innovation and Better Care.

Data demonstrates that hypofractionation is increasingly utilized based on evidence-based guidelines. The outdated Medicare fee-for-service approach penalizes radiation oncology (RO) practices from adopting hypofractionation, even as many patients benefit. To address the flawed fee-for-service payment system, which rewards volume over value, ASTRO introduced the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value-Based Payment Program. ROCR shifts payment for RO services from fee-for-service to payment per patient or per episode. To address disparities, ROCR provides an evidence-based approach through the Health Equity Achievement in Radiation Therapy (HEART) initiative, providing transportation assistance payment for the underserved. Additionally, ROCR allows practices sufficient capital to maintain existing equipment and invest in new technology. This increases patient access to technological advancements allowing for more efficient, targeted, and personalized care with improved patient outcomes at a lower overall cost.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy plus PD-1 antibody and SOX chemotherapy as second-line therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer: a single-arm, phase II clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of concurrent hypofractionated radiotherapy plus anti-PD-1 antibody and SOX chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) after failure of first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with pathologically confirmed mPC who failed standard first-line chemotherapy were enrolled. The patients were treated with a regimen of hypofractionated radiotherapy, SOX chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors at our institution. We collected the patients' clinical information and outcome measurements. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was the primary endpoint of the study, followed by disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), median overall survival (mOS) and safety. Exploratory analyses included biomarkers related to the benefits. RESULTS: Between February 24, 2021, and August 30, 2023, twenty-five patients were enrolled in the study, and twenty-three patients who received at least one dose of the study agent had objective efficacy evaluation. The mPFS was 5.48 months, the mOS was 6.57 months, and the DCR and ORR were 69.5% and 30.4%, respectively. Among the seven patients who achieved a PR, the median duration of the response was 7.41 months. On-treatment decreased serum CA19-9 levels were associated with better overall survival. Besides, pretreatment inflammatory markers were associated with tumor response and survival. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically meaningful antitumor activity and favorable safety profiles were demonstrated after treatment with these combination therapies in patients with refractory mPC. On-treatment decreased serum CA19-9 levels and pretreatment inflammatory markers platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) might be biomarkers related to clinical benefits. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=130211 , identifier: ChiCTR2100049799, date of registration: 2021-08-09.

Postoperative complications of hypofractionated and conventional fractionated radiation therapy in patients with implant-based breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Post-mastectomy radiation therapy is an important component of adjuvant therapy for high-risk patients. However, radiation to reconstructed breasts can cause various complications. Recently, hypofractionated (HF) protocols have been adopted in several countries. Here, we aimed to assess the impact of HF protocols on implant-reconstructed breasts through a meta-analysis and systematic review of the currently available literature. METHODS: Records published until August 2023 were systematically searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases. Keywords included hypofractionation radiotherapy, mastectomy, and breast reconstruction. Studies that utilized HF and conventional fractionation (CF) after prosthetic reconstruction were selected. Due to the rarity of events in outcomes, Mantel-Haenszel's odds ratios were calculated using a fixed-effect model to compare the complication rates between HF and CF groups. For analysis with high heterogeneity, a random effect model was used. RESULTS: Seven articles with 924 implant reconstructions, in which 506 (54.8 %) underwent HF were included. HF patients received 43.8 Gy on average, while CF patients received 51.2 Gy. Mean follow-up ranged from 10.6 to 35 months. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. HF groups had a significantly lower risk of capsular contracture (OR 0.25, 95 % CI 0.11-0.55), major revision surgery (OR 0.19, 95 % CI 0.05-0.80), and wound dehiscence (OR 0.24, 95 % CI 0.07-0.78) compared to CF groups. The risks of other complications were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that HF protocols are associated with fewer complications than CF protocols in implant-reconstructed patients. These findings suggest that the application of HF PMRT in implant-reconstructed patients with breast cancer is plausible.

Two-fractionated stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy for patients with prostate cancer (SMART PRO trial): protocol for a confirmatory clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: In an MRI-guided linear accelerator (MR-LINAC) system, the planned doses for organs at risk and for tumours are assessed by MR imaging and re-contouring at every treatment. This allows treatment to be safer and more precise by ensuring that it is suitable for the state of the patient's organs on that day, as well as by allowing images to be acquired during radiation therapy to prevent radiation while organs are in motion.Here, we will conduct a confirmatory study of two-fractionated stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy for patients with localised prostate cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This will be a single-arm study to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ultra-hypofractionated radiation (26 Gy/2 Fr) using an MR-LINAC system in patients with very low-intermediate risk prostate cancer.The primary endpoint will be the incidence of grade ≥2 acute urinary tract adverse events occurring within 90 days of the start of radiation therapy.The sample size has been determined to be 58. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is performed in accordance with Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human Subjects, published by Japan's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the modified act on the Protection of Personal Information as well as the Declaration of Helsinki. This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of the National Cancer Center on 20 November 2021.The findings of this trial will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal and the key findings will be presented at an international scientific conference.Authorship will be ascribed in accordance with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000049746.

[Moderately hypofractionated dose escalation radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, ESHYPRO: Results of a retrospective single-centre series evaluating safety and efficacy]. / Escalade de dose en radiothérapie modérément hypofractionnée pour les cancers de la prostate localisés, ESHYPRO : résultats d'une série monocentrique rétrospective évaluant la toxicité et l'efficacité.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer among men and radiotherapy hypofractionation regimens have become standard treatments for the localized stages, but the absence of increased risk of acute and late genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicity of the dose escalation still must be demonstrated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population included all patients with localized prostatic adenocarcinoma treated at the institut Curie from February 2016 to March 2018 by external radiation delivered by a linear accelerator using an image-guided conformal intensity modulation technique at a total dose of 75Gy in 30 fractions of 2.5Gy in the planning target volume that included the prostate and the proximal seminal vesicles, and could be paired with a prophylactic lymph node radiotherapy at 46Gy in 23 fractions with simultaneous integrated boost. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients were included. Among them, 68.6% were unfavourable intermediate or (very) high risk. The median age and follow-up were 71.4years and 3.96years. One hundred and forty-nine patients received prophylactic lymph node radiotherapy (89.8%). One hundred and thirty-one patients received hormonotherapy (78.9%). Genito-urinary toxicity events of grades 2 or above during radiotherapy, at 6months, 1year and 5years were respectively 36.7%, 8.8%, 3.1% and 4.7%. Two patients had late grade 4 toxicity at 5years (1.6%). Grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicity events during radiotherapy, 6months, 1year and 5years were respectively 15.1%, 1.9%, 14.6% and 9.3%. Of these, eight patients had grade 3 toxicity (6.2%). There was no grade 4 toxicity. Analyses did not reveal any predictive factor for toxicity. The 5-year overall, progression-free, and specific survival rates were respectively 82.4%, 85.7%, and 93.3%. Serum prostate specific antigen concentration and cardiovascular risk factors were found to be predictive factors of deterioration in overall survival (P=0.0028 for both). CONCLUSION: External radiotherapy for localized prostatic cancer with our moderately hypofractionated dose escalation regimen is well tolerated. In the absence of increased late toxicity, the analysis of the modes of long-term relapses will be interesting to determine the benefit of this dose escalation on local and distant relapses.

Sequential Moderate Hypofractionated Boost in Breast Cancer Patients: A Monoinstitutional Analysis of Late Side Effects.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In breast cancer (BC) patients who have received breast-conserving surgery, moderate hypofractionation is standard of care for whole-breast irradiation (HF-WBI). On the other hand, the fractionation schedule for the boost is less well defined. A previous prospective study of our group aimed at evaluating acute and late cutaneous and subcutaneous side effects related to a sequential hypofractionated boost (HB) in patients who had received HF-WBI. The present study aimed at evaluating late side effects at a longer follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2014 to 2015, 219 BC patients received moderate HF-WBI (42.4 Gy in 16 fractions) at the Radiation Oncology Section of the University of Perugia. Patients with negative prognostic factors received a HB (2.65 Gy for 4 or 5 fractions). Late side effects were assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Univariate and multivariate analyses estimated predictive factors for late toxicity. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 8.6 years (range=6.7-9.6). One hundred and sixty-five patients were evaluable in the present analysis; HB was administered to 47.3% of them. Late cutaneous and subcutaneous side effects occurred in 26/165 patients (15.8%); and all were G1. In univariate analysis ≥10 excised lymph nodes and HB administration emerged as risk factors for late side effects (p=0.003 and p=0.041, respectively). In multivariate analysis only ≥10 excised lymph nodes were confirmed as a risk factor for side effects (OR=3.431; 95%CI=1.209-9.737). CONCLUSION: HB after HF-WBI was safe and well-tolerated, even at a long-term follow-up; consequently, it can be used in routine practice.

Efficacy and safety of adjuvant therapies in older patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world data.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient data available for older patients with breast cancer complicates decision-making regarding optimal treatment. A systematic review that uses real-world data is required for assessing the effectiveness and potential adverse effects of various therapies for this age group of patients. METHODS: Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched. We included clinical studies that evaluated various treatments for geriatric breast cancer, including adjuvant radiation therapy, hypofractionated radiation therapy (hypo-RT) and accelerated and partial breast irradiation (APBI), endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. RESULTS: A total of 71 studies were retrieved. Adjuvant radiation therapy significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared with no radiation [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54-0.67]. The pooled estimates of OS for hypo-RT and APBI demonstrated no inferiority compared with conventional radiation. Both endocrine treatment (HR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.92) and chemotherapy (HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.88) significantly increased OS compared with no treatment. Trastuzumab monotherapy significantly enhanced OS compared with no trastuzumab use (HR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07-0.73). CONCLUSION: Despite concerns about potential complications during treatment in older patients, proactive therapies significantly increase their survival rates. For patients who are frailer, hypo-RT and APBI offer survival rates comparable to traditional modalities. Additionally, targeted therapy as a monotherapy holds promise as a viable option for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who cannot undergo chemotherapy. Therefore, by conducting thorough general assessments and clinical evaluations, the side effects of postoperative treatments can be effectively managed.

Ultrahypofractionation in postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer: A single-institution retrospective cohort series.

BACKGROUND: The 'FAST-forward', study published in April 2020, demonstrated the effectiveness of an extremely hypofractionated radiotherapy schedule, delivering the total radiation dose in five sessions over the course of 1 week. We share our department's experience regarding patients treated with this regimen in real-world clinical settings, detailing outcomes related to short-term toxicity and efficacy. METHODS: A descriptive observational study was conducted on 160 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Between July 2020 and December 2021, patients underwent conservative surgery followed by a regimen of 26 Gy administered in five daily fractions. RESULTS: The median age was 64 years (range: 43-83), with 82 patients (51.3%) treated for left-sided breast cancer, 77 patients (48.1%) for right-sided breast cancer, and 1 instance (0.6%) of bilateral breast cancer. Of these, 66 patients had pT1c (41.3%), 70.6% were infiltrative ductal carcinomas, and 11.3% were ductal carcinoma in situ. Most tumours exhibited intermediate grade (41.9%), were hormone receptor positive (81.3%), had low Ki-67 (Ki-67 < 20%; 51.9%) and were Her 2 negative (85%). The majority of surgical margins were negative (99.4%). Among the patients, 72.5% received hormonotherapy, and 23.8% received chemotherapy. Additionally, 26 patients (16.3%) received an additional tumour boost following whole breast irradiation (WHBI) of 10 Gy administered in five sessions of 2 Gy over a week. The median planning target volume (PTV) was 899 cm3 (range: 110-2509 cm3). Early toxicity was primarily grade I radiodermatitis, affecting 117 patients (73.1%). During a median follow-up of 15 months (range: 3.9-28.77), only one patient experienced a local relapse, which required mastectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of this highly hypofractionated regimen in early-stage breast cancer appears feasible and demonstrates minimal early toxicity. However, a more extended follow-up duration would be required to evaluate long-term toxicity and efficacy accurately.

Whole-brain radiation therapy plus simultaneous integrated boost for brain metastases from breast cancers.

Background: The effect of whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) plus simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in brain metastasis from breast cancers has not been demonstrated. Method: In this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed consecutive breast cancer patients who developed brain metastasis and were treated with hypofractionated radiation therapy plus WBRT using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)-SIB approaches. We analyzed clinical outcomes, prognostic factors and patterns of treatment failure. Result: A total of 27 patients were eligible for analysis. Four (14.8%) patients achieved clinical complete response and 14 (51.9%) had partial response of brain lesions. The other nine patients were not evaluated for brain tumor response. The median brain progression-free survival was 8.60 (95% CI [6.43-13.33]) months and the median overall survival was 16.8 (95% CI [13.3-27.7]) months. Three patients had in-field failure, five had out-field failure and two had in-field and out-field failure. Conclusion: WBRT plus SIB led to improved tumor control and clinical outcome in breast cancer patients with brain metastasis.

Comparison between Reirradiation by Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Moderately Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Combination with Temozolomide for Treatment of Recurrent High Grade Glioma.

OBJECTIVE: High grade glioma (HGG) is considered a lethal disease with a high recurrence rate. There is no standard of care in recurrent HGG. Many treatment options are present, such as resurgery, systemic therapy, and re-irradiation. Re-irradiation seems to be a promising option. In this study, we aimed at comparing the efficacy and toxicity of two re-irradiation protocols. METHODS: Forty patients with recurrent HGG were randomized equally into two arms. Arm A received 30 Gy/10f/2w, and arm B received stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) 30 Gy/5f/1w. Concurrent temozolamide (TMZ) was given in both arms. Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated, and brain MRI was done after 2 months of radiotherapy and then every 2 months, with documented toxicity using the Common Terminology of Adverse Events version 5 (CTCAE). RESULTS: The median follow-up time after the re-irradiation course was 11 months (range 8-15 months). The median PFS after recurrence was 6.4 months (95% CI 5.3-7.4), the median OS after recurrence was 8.6 months (95% CI 7.5-8.7), and the median total OS form date of diagnosis was 18.5 months (95% CI 17.3-19.8) among the included patients. There was a statistically significant difference in PFS favoring arm B, with a median PFS of 7.3 versus 6.2 months in arm A, with p values of 0.004. There was no statistically significant difference in in median OS (9.3 months in arm B versus 8.4 months in arm A) with p values of 0.088. All patients tolerated their treatment well, and acute and subacute G1-G2 toxicity, consisting of headache, malaise, and nausea, were recorded during and shortly after the end of the re-irradiation course. CONCLUSION: Re-irradiation in recurrent HGG by both protocols is safe and effective, with a significant improvement in PFS in SBRT arm but no significant improvement in OS.

Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy: A Cross-sectional Survey Study of US Radiation Oncologists.

OBJECTIVES: For many malignancies, hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) is an accepted standard associated with decreased treatment time and costs. United States provider beliefs regarding HFRT likely impact its adoption but are poorly studied. We surveyed US-based radiation oncologists (ROs) to gauge HFRT utilization rates for prostate (PC), breast (BC), and rectal cancer (RC) and to characterize the beliefs governing these decisions. METHODS: From July to October 2021, an anonymized, online survey was electronically distributed to ROs actively practicing in the United States. Demographic and practice characteristic information was collected. Questions assessing rates of offering HFRT for PC, BC, and RC and perceived limitations towards using HFRT were administered. RESULTS: A total of 203 eligible respondents (72% male, 72% White, 53% nonacademic practice, 69% with 11+ years in practice) were identified. Approximately 50% offered stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early/favorable intermediate risk PC. Although >90% of ROs offered whole-breast HFRT for early-stage BC, only 33% offered accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI). Overall, 41% of ROs offered short-course neoadjuvant RT for RC. The primary reported barriers to HFRT utilization were lack of data, inexperience, and referring provider concerns. CONCLUSIONS: HFRT is safe, effective, and beneficial, yet underutilized-particularly prostate SBRT, APBI, and short-course RT for RC. Skills retraining and education of ROs and referring providers may increase utilization rates.

Hypofractionated proton and carbon ion beam radiotherapy for sacrococcygeal chordoma (ISAC): An open label, randomized, stratified, phase II trial.

INTRODUCTION: Sacrococcygeal chordomas have high recurrence rates and are challenging to treat. METHODS: In this phase II prospective, randomized, stratified trial, the safety and feasibility of hypofractionated ion radiation therapy were investigated. The primary focus was monitored through the incidence of Grade 3-5 NCI-CTC-AE toxicity. Secondary endpoints included local progression-free (LPFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: The study enrolled 82 patients with primary (87 %) and recurrent (13 %) inoperable or incompletely resected sacral chordomas from January 2013 to July 2022, divided equally into proton therapy (Arm A) and carbon ion beam therapy (Arm B) groups, each receiving a total dose of 64 Gy (RBE) in 16 fractions, 5-6 fractions per week. Overall 74 % of patients received no previous surgery and 66 % of tumors were confirmed by a brachyury staining. The mean and median Gross Tumor Volume at the time of treatment (GTV) was 407 ml and 185 ml, respectively. The median follow-up of the surviving patients was 44.7 months, and the 2-year and 4-year OS rates were 96 % and 81 %, respectively. Factors such as smaller GTV and younger age trended towards better OS. The LPFS after 2-year and 4-year was 84 % and 70 %, respectively. Male gender emerged as a significant predictor of LPFS. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups. We observed five grade 4 wound healing disorders (6 %). CONCLUSION: The initial response rates were promising; however local control was not sustained. More comparative research on fractionation schemes is essential to refine treatment approaches for inoperable sacral chordoma.

Breast cancer in a transgender man and hypofractionated radiotherapy: A case report and review of literature.

A 77-year-old transgender man (assigned female sex at birth, gender identity male, i.e. female-to-male) was referred for a palpable mass of the right chest wall. Biopsies revealed invasive lobular breast carcinoma. After discussion by a multidisciplinary tumour board meeting, the patient was treated with total mastectomy, adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. At 1.5-year follow-up, there was no sign of recurrence or long-term radiation side effects. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy in a transgender patient with breast cancer.