Image-guided moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: a multicentric retrospective study (IPOPROMISE).

BACKGROUND: Moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy is a treatment option for the cure of localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients based on the results of randomized prospective trials, but there is a clinical concern about the relatively short length of follow-up, and real-world results on outcome and toxicity based on cutting-edge techniques are lacking. The objective of this study is to present the long-term results of a large multicentric series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 1325 PCa patients treated with daily volumetric image-guided hypofractionated radiotherapy between 2007 and 2020 in 16 Centers. For survival endpoints, we used Kaplan-Meier survival curves and fitted univariate and multivariable Cox's proportional hazards regression models to study the association between the clinical variables and each survival type. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, 11 patients died from PCa. The 15-year values of cancer-specific survival (CSS) and biochemical relapse-free survival (b-RFS) were 98.5% (95%CI 97.3-99.6%) and 85.5% (95%CI 81.9-89.4%), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that baseline PSA, Gleason score, and the use of androgen deprivation therapy were significant variables for all the outcomes. Acute gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities of grade ≥ 2 were 7.0% and 16.98%, respectively. The 15-year late grade ≥ 2 GI and GU toxicities were 5% (95%CI 4-6%) and 6% (95%CI 4-8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Real-world long-term results of this multicentric study on cutting-edge techniques for the cure of localized PCa demonstrated an excellent biochemical-free survival rate of 85.5% at 15 years, and very low rates of ≥ G3 late GU and GI toxicity (1.6% and 0.9% respectively), strengthening the results of the available published trials.

Toxicity at 1 Year After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in 3 Fractions for Localized Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the toxicity profile of prostate cancer stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in 3 fractions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a prospective, multicenter phase 2 toxicity study enrolling patients with low to favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Before simulation, 3 to 4 fiducial markers along with a rectal spacer were placed. The target (prostate only) was prescribed 40 Gy, whereas the maximum dose to the urethra was limited to 33 Gy with the highest priority at planning; less stringent objectives were placed on the bladder, the filling of which was controlled via a Foley catheter. Treatment was delivered every other day. Toxicity was prospectively scored with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, and several patient-reported outcomes were collected. The maximum allowed prevalence rate of grade 2+ genitourinary (GU) toxicity at 1 year was set at 15%, and the study was sized accordingly. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and May 2019, 59 patients were enrolled by 3 participating institutions. Acute gastrointestinal toxicity was occasional and mild, whereas 11.9% of patients developed acute grade 2 GU toxicity and 1.7% developed acute grade 3 GU toxicity. No patient had persistent treatment-related grade 2+ GU toxicity at 12 months after SBRT; thus, the null hypothesis was rejected. We observed a clinically relevant worsening of both International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) scores at 12 months compared with baseline. Moreover, we found a strong association between all selected bladder dose/volume metrics at planning and ICIQ-SF worsening at 12 months, whereas for the IPSS, the correlation with bladder dose metrics was marginal. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that at 12 months after treatment, the toxicity profile of SBRT in 3 fractions is acceptable.

Long-Term Outcomes of Once-Daily Accelerated Partial-Breast Irradiation With Tomotherapy: Results of a Phase 2 Trial.

PURPOSE: We report long-term outcomes of phase 2 trial on patients with invasive breast cancer treated with accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) using tomotherapy after breast conservative surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From December 2010 to December 2018, we treated 338 women with APBI-tomotherapy: 38.5 Gy in 10 once-daily fractions. Patients selected were age ≥50 years old, with ≤3 cm in size unifocal tumor and at least 2 mm of clear margins. Disease outcomes were analyzed by clinicopathologic characteristics, molecular phenotypes, and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2017 updated consensus groupings. RESULTS: The median age was 65 years (range, 50-86). The invasive ductal (87.5%) and the luminal A-like molecular phenotype (70%) were the most common tumors. Overall 242 patients (71.6%) were considered "suitable" for enrollment in APBI according to the eligibility criteria of the ASTRO-2017 consensus statement. With a median follow-up of 76 months (range, 17-113), 2 patients (0.6%) had an invasive ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), and 2 patients (0.6%) had an axillary ipsilateral failure. The rate of local control in terms of free of IBTR was 99.4% and locoregional control (no recurrence in ipsilateral breast as well as in regional nodes) was 98.8%. Progression-free survival was 98.4% and 92% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Acute and late skin toxicity, graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, were 7.7% (G1) and 0.6% (G2) and 4.4% (G1) and 1.1% (G2), respectively. There were no grade 3/4 toxicities, however. Very few patients (2%) or physicians (2%) assessed cosmetic outcome as fair or poor at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This phase 2 trial on APBI-tomotherapy shows excellent long-term results. Once-daily fractionation schedule was well tolerated with a low rate of adverse events and worse cosmetic outcome. In this series, even among those deemed cautionary or unsuitable for APBI by ASTRO criteria, we demonstrated a low rate of IBTR.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor After Lung Transplant-A Rare and Aggressive Complication: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant diseases are well-known complications after lung transplantation (LT). Among these, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm with a not well-known and often aggressive biological behavior. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We hereby describe 2 cases of cystic fibrosis patients who underwent bilateral sequential LT (BSLT) complicated by IMT. RESULTS: A 26-year-old man presented a right endobronchial lesion 6 months after BSLT. Two consecutive fiber bronchoscopic biopsies showed granulation tissue. For the persistent lesion growth, the patient underwent a transthoracic biopsy showing histologic diagnosis of IMT. Therefore, he underwent to right pneumonectomy that was unfortunately complicated after 6 months with a late bronchopleural fistula and empyema with exitus 6 months later. A 31-year-old woman 1 year after BSLT presented with a left voluminous pleural-parenchymal lesion; the histologic examination after biopsy revealed an IMT. She underwent a removal of the lesion with a macroscopic R0 resection. Histologic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic examinations showed a strong overexpression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase requiring biological adjuvant therapies; however, the patient refused it. Four years later, she presented a recurrence treated with debulking procedure and adjuvant radiotherapy. At last follow-up, the patient was alive with stable disease and optimal graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Although IMT is a rare complication after lung transplant, to obtain a careful diagnosis, an early and aggressive treatment is mandatory.

Moderate Hypofractionation in High-Risk, Organ-Confined Prostate Cancer: Final Results of a Phase III Randomized Trial.

Purpose To report the final results on treatment outcomes of a randomized trial comparing conventional and hypofractionated radiotherapy in high-risk, organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa). Patients and Methods This single-institution, randomized clinical trial, conducted from January 2003 to December 2007, enrolled 168 patients with high-risk PCa who were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to conventional (80 Gy in 40 fractions in 8 weeks) or hypofractionated radiotherapy (62 Gy in 20 fractions in 5 weeks) to prostate and seminal vesicles. The primary outcome measure was late toxicity. Additional outcomes were freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF), prostate cancer-specific survival (PCaSS), and overall survival (OS), evaluated on an intention-to-treat basis. Results A total of 85 patients were assigned to conventional and 83 to hypofractionated radiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 9 years (interquartile range, 7.5 to 10.1 years), no differences was observed in physician-assessed late gastro intestinal and genitourinary toxicity greater than or equal to grade 2 ( P = .68 and .57, respectively) were found between the two arms. The 10-year FFBF rate was 72% in the hypofractionation group and 65% in the conventional fractionation group ( P = .148). Ten-year OS rates were 75% in the hypofractionation group and 64% in the conventional group, respectively ( P = .22). The same features for 10-year PCaSS were 95% and 88%, respectively ( P = .066). Hypofractionation, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score, and clinical tumor stage for FFBF, and hypofractionation and Gleason score for PCaSS were significant prognostic variables on the multivariate analysis. Conclusion Long-term findings showed that hypofractionated radiotherapy failed the intent of either reducing physician-assessed late toxicity or maintaining the same efficacy. A postrandomization analysis, however, revealed that hypofractionation was a significant prognostic factor for FFBF and PCaSS, when adjusted for clinical prognostic variables.

Macroscopic Hematuria After Conventional or Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy: Results From a Prospective Phase 3 Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the macroscopic hematuria rates within a single-institution randomized phase 3 trial comparing dose-escalated, conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) and moderately hypofractionated radiation therapy (MHRT) for localized prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with intermediate- to high-risk localized prostate cancer were treated with conformal RT and short-course androgen deprivation. Both the prostate and the entire seminal vesicles were treated to 80 Gy in 40 fractions over 8 weeks (CFRT) or 62 Gy in 20 fractions over 5 weeks (MHRT). The endpoint of the present study was the development of any episode or grade of macroscopic hematuria. The median follow-up period was 93 months (range 6-143). RESULTS: Macroscopic hematuria was reported by 25 of 168 patients (14.9%). The actuarial estimate of hematuria at 8 years was 17.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.7%-23.3%). The number of patients with hematuria was 6 and 19 in the CFRT and MHRT arms, respectively, for an actuarial 8-year estimate of 9.7% and 24.3%, respectively (hazard ratio 3.468, 95% CI 1.385-8.684; P=.008). Overall, 8 of 25 patients were found to have biopsy-proven urothelial carcinoma (3 in the CFRT arm and 5 in the MHRT arm; P=.27). Thus, the 8-year actuarial incidence of macroscopic hematuria (after censoring urothelial cancer-related episodes) was 4.1% and 18.2% after CFRT and MHRT, respectively (hazard ratio 4.961, 95% CI 1.426-17.263; P=.012). The results were confirmed by multivariate analysis after accounting for several patient-, treatment-, and tumor-related covariates. CONCLUSIONS: MHRT was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of macroscopic hematuria compared with CFRT.

Once Daily Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation: Preliminary Results with Helical Tomotherapy®.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is becoming an option for patients with low-risk breast cancer. The current practice is 38.5 Gy in 10 fractions b.i.d. over 5 days. This fractionation has a higher bioequivalent dose compared to the standard schedule. We report on preliminary results of once-daily APBI in patients treated with TomoTherapy®. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with unifocal-breast disease who underwent breast-conserving surgery were enrolled in the study. Treatment was administered with TomoTherapy, by contouring in accordance with the NSABP B-39/RTOG 0413 APBI protocol. Treatment schedule was 38.5 Gy in 10 once-daily fractions. EORTC Cosmetic Rating System was adopted for cosmetic outcome. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2013, 111 patients were treated. With a median follow-up of 34 months, no ipsilateral breast recurrence was observed. Very few patients (1-4%) assessed their cosmetic outcome as fair or poor during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Once-daily APBI with TomoTherapy yielded good cosmetic results without compromising local control efficacy.

Management of radiation therapy patients with cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker.

The increasing growth of population with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as Pacemaker (PM) and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICD), requires particular attention in management of patients needing radiation treatment. This paper updates and summarizes some recommendations from different international guidelines. Ionizing radiation and/or electromagnetic interferences could cause device failure. Current approaches to treatment in patients who have these devices vary among radiation oncology centres. We refer to the German Society of Radiation Oncology and Cardiology guidelines (ed. 2015); to the Society of Cardiology Australia and New Zealand Statement (ed. 2015); to the guidelines in force in the Netherlands (ed. 2012) and to the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology recommendations (ed. 2013) as reported in the guidelines for the treatment of breast cancer in patients with CIED. Although there is not a clear cut-off point, risk of device failure increases with increasing doses. Cumulative dose and pacing dependency have been combined to categorize patients into low-, medium- and high-risk groups. Measures to secure patient safety are described for each category. The use of energy ≤6MV is preferable and it's strongly recommended not to exceed a total dose of 2 Gy to the PM and 1 Gy for ICD. Given the dangers of device malfunction, radiation oncology departments should adopt all the measures designed to minimize the risk to patients. For this reason, a close collaboration between cardiologist, radiotherapist and physicist is necessary.

Dose escalation using ultra-high dose IMRT in intermediate risk prostate cancer without androgen deprivation therapy: preliminary results of toxicity and biochemical control.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the feasibility of dose escalation (86 Gy at 2 Gy/fraction) with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in intermediate-risk prostate cancer without androgen deprivation therapy. METHODS: Patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate, intermediate prognostic category, were enrolled in this study. Early and late toxicity were scored according to the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3.0. Treatment outcome was stated in terms of biochemical failure, biopsy result and clinical failure. RESULTS: 39 patients with a median follow-up of 71 months were analyzed. No patient experienced G3 or G4 acute gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) toxicity. G2 acute GI and GU toxicity were observed in 17 (44%) and 20 (51%) patients, respectively. Fourteen patients (36%) did not experience acute GI toxicity and 4 patients (10%) did not experience acute GU toxicity. G2 late GI bleeding occurred in 7 of 39 patients (18%). Both G3 and G4 late GI toxicity were seen only in one patient (2.5%). Two patients (5%) experienced G2 late GU toxicity, while G3 late GU toxicity occurred in 3 patients (8%). The 5-year actuarial freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) was 87%. Thirty-four patients (87%) did not show biochemical relapse. Seventeen patients (44%) underwent biopsy two year after radiotherapy; of these only two were non-negative and both did not show evidence of biochemical disease. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT treatment of patients with localized intermediate-risk prostate cancer at high dose levels without using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) seems to give good disease control. Nevertheless, future trials should aim at further decreasing toxicity by exploiting image guidance techniques and by reducing the dose delivered at the interface between organs at risk and prostate.

Updated results and patterns of failure in a randomized hypofractionation trial for high-risk prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To report long-term results and patterns of failure after conventional and hypofractionated radiation therapy in high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This randomized phase III trial compared conventional fractionation (80 Gy at 2 Gy per fraction in 8 weeks) vs hypofractionation (62 Gy at 3.1 Gy per fraction in 5 weeks) in combination with 9-month androgen deprivation therapy in 168 patients with high-risk prostate cancer. Freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF), freedom from local failure (FFLF), and freedom from distant failure (FFDF) were analyzed. RESULTS: In a median follow-up of 70 months, biochemical failure (BF) occurred in 35 of the 168 patients (21%) in the study. Among these 35 patients, local failure (LF) only was detected in 11 (31%), distant failure (DF) only in 16 (46%), and both LF and DF in 6 (17%). In 2 patients (6%) BF has not yet been clinically detected. The risk reduction by hypofractionation was significant in BF (10.3%) but not in LF and DF. We found that hypofractionation, with respect to conventional fractionation, determined only an insignificant increase in the actuarial FFBF but no difference in FFLF and FFDF, when considering the entire group of patients. However, an increase in the 5-year rates in all 3 endpoints-FFBF, FFLF, and FFDF-was observed in the subgroup of patients with a pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (iPSA) level of 20 ng/mL or less. On multivariate analysis, the type of fractionation, iPSA level, Gleason score of 4+3 or higher, and T stage of 2c or higher have been confirmed as independent prognostic factors for BF. High iPSA levels and Gleason score of 4+3 or higher were also significantly associated with an increased risk of DF, whereas T stage of 2c or higher was the only independent variable for LF. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the isoeffectiveness of the 2 fractionation schedules used in this study, although a benefit in favor of hypofractionation cannot be excluded in the subgroup of patients with an iPSA level of 20 ng/mL or less. The α/ß ratio might be more appropriately evaluated by FFLF than FFBF results, at least in high-risk disease.

Acute and late toxicity in a randomized trial of conventional versus hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the toxicity between hypofractionation vs. conventional fractionation schedules in patients with high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between January 2003 and December 2007, 168 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated (62 Gy in 20 fractions within 5 weeks, 4 fractions/wk) or conventionally fractionated (80 Gy in 40 fractions within 8 weeks) three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. All patients had undergone a 9-month course of total androgen deprivation, with radiotherapy starting 2 months after initiation of the total androgen deprivation. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 32 and 35 months in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation arms, respectively. For the patients developing acute toxicity, no difference between the two fractionation groups was found in either severity or duration of gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity. Also, no difference was found in the incidence and severity of late gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity between the two treatment schedules, with a 3-year rate of Grade 2 or greater toxicity of 17% and 16% for the hypofractionation arm and 14% and 11% for the conventional fractionation arm, respectively. A statistically significant correlation between acute and late gastrointestinal toxicity was found only in the conventional fractionation group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the hypofractionation regimen used in our study is safe, with only a slight, nonsignificant increase in tolerable and temporary acute toxicity compared with the conventional fractionation schedule. The severity and frequency of late complications was equivalent between the two treatment groups.

A prospective phase III randomized trial of hypofractionation versus conventional fractionation in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the toxicity and efficacy of hypofractionated (62 Gy/20 fractions/5 weeks, 4 fractions per week) vs. conventional fractionation radiotherapy (80 Gy/40 fractions/8 weeks) in patients with high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From January 2003 to December 2007, 168 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated or conventional fractionated schedules of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. All patients received a 9-month course of total androgen deprivation (TAD), and radiotherapy started 2 months thereafter. RESULTS: The median (range) follow-up was 32 (8-66) and 35 (7-64) months in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation arms, respectively. No difference was found for late toxicity between the two treatment groups, with 3-year Grade 2 rates of 17% and 16% for gastrointestinal and 14% and 11% for genitourinary in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation groups, respectively. The 3-year freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) rates were 87% and 79% in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation groups, respectively (p = 0.035). The 3-year FFBF rates in patients at a very high risk (i.e., pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (iPSA) >20 ng/mL, Gleason score >or=8, or T >or=2c), were 88% and 76% (p = 0.014) in the former and latter arm, respectively. The multivariate Cox analysis confirmed fractionation, iPSA, and Gleason score as significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that late toxicity is equivalent between the two treatment groups and that the hypofractionated schedule used in this trial is superior to the conventional fractionation in terms of FFBF.

Modeling of alpha/beta for late rectal toxicity from a randomized phase II study: conventional versus hypofractionated scheme for localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the use of hypo-fractionated treatment schemes for the prostate cancer has been encouraged due to the fact that alpha/beta ratio for prostate cancer should be low. However a major concern on the use of hypofractionation is the late rectal toxicity, it is important to be able to predict the risk of toxicity for alternative treatment schemes, with the best accuracy. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of rectum wall to changes in fractionation and to quantify the alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity METHODS: 162 patients with localized prostate cancer, treated with conformal radiotherapy, were enrolled in a phase II randomized trial. The patients were randomly assigned to 80 Gy in 40 fractions over 8 weeks (arm A) or 62 Gy in 20 fractions over 5 weeks (arm B). The median follow-up was 30 months. The late rectal toxicity was evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. It was assumed >or= Grade 2 (G2) toxicity incidence as primary end point. Fit of toxicity incidence by the Lyman-Burman-Kutcher (LKB) model was performed. RESULTS: The crude incidence of late rectal toxicity >or= G2 was 14% and 12% for the standard arm and the hypofractionated arm, respectively. The crude incidence of late rectal toxicity >or= G2 was 14.0% and 12.3% for the arm A and B, respectively. For the arm A, volumes receiving >or= 50 Gy (V50) and 70 Gy (V70) were 38.3 +/- 7.5% and 23.4 +/- 5.5%; for arm B, V38 and V54 were 40.9 +/- 6.8% and 24.5 +/- 4.4%. An alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity very close to 3 Gy was found. CONCLUSION: The >or= G2 late toxicities in both arms were comparable, indicating the feasibility of hypofractionated regimes in prostate cancer. An alpha/beta ratio for late rectal toxicity very close to 3 Gy was found.

Retrospective comparison of external beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy in high-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Because of the lack of conclusive and well-conducted randomized studies, the optimal therapy for prostate tumors remains controversial. The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the results of radical surgery vs. a conservative approach such as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus androgen deprivation therapy using an intent-to-treat analysis on two pretreatment defined, concurrently treated, high-risk patient populations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between January 2003 and December 2007, 162 patients with high-risk prostate cancer underwent an EBRT plus androgen deprivation therapy program at the RT department of our institute. In the same period, 122 patients with the same high-risk disease underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at the urologic department of our institute. Patients with adverse pathologic factors also underwent adjuvant EBRT with or without androgen deprivation therapy. The primary endpoint was freedom from biochemical failure. RESULTS: The two groups of high-risk patients were homogeneous in terms of freedom from biochemical failure on the basis of the clinical T stage, biopsy Gleason score, and initial prostate-specific antigen level. The median follow-up was 38.6 and 33.8 months in the EBRT and RP groups, respectively. The actuarial analysis of the freedom from biochemical failure showed a 3-year rate of 86.8% and 69.8% in the EBRT and RP group, respectively (p = .001). Multivariate analysis of the whole group revealed the initial prostate-specific antigen level and treatment type (EBRT vs. RP) as significant covariates. CONCLUSION: This retrospective intention-to-treat analysis showed a significantly better outcome after EBRT than after RP in patients with high-risk prostate cancer, although a well-conducted randomized comparison would be the best procedure to confirm these results.

Clinical and dosimetric predictors of acute toxicity after a 4-week hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy regimen for prostate cancer: results from a multicentric prospective trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate predictors for gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) acute toxicity after a short-course hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three institutions included 102 patients with T1-T3N0M0 prostate cancer in a Phase II study. Patients were treated with 56 Gy in 16 fractions over 4 weeks. Acute toxicity was scored weekly during treatment and 1 and 2 months after treatment using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria extended with additional symptoms and the International Prostate Symptom Index (IPSS). Correlation with a number of clinical and dosimetric parameters was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: No Grade 3 or 4 GI side effects were observed. Grades 1 and 2 rectal GI toxicity occurred in 36%, and 38%, respectively. Corresponding figures for Grades 1 and 2 GU toxicity were 42% and 39%, respectively. Grade 3 or higher GU toxicity was detected in 4% of patients. In multivariate analysis, percent rectal volumes higher than 8% receiving doses >/=53 Gy (V(53)) were statistically correlated to Grade 2 acute rectal reaction (p = 0.006). For GU morbidity, only the IPSS pretreatment score was independently associated (p = 0.0036) with an increase in GU acute effects. CONCLUSIONS: Acute GU and GI toxicity were comparable with other series. Our data show that increased incidence and intensity of acute toxicity is a transient effect related to shorter overall treatment time rather than a larger effect in biological equivalent dose with respect to a conventional fractionation regime.

Color Doppler quantitative measures to predict outcome of biopsies in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim was to correlate the color Doppler flow activity pre- and postradiotherapy, using transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and the 2 year positive biopsy rate after radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Analysis was carried out in 69 out of 160 patients who had undergone treatment with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) to prostate and seminal vesicles. Patients were randomized to receive 80 Gy in 40 fractions in 8 weeks (arm A) and 62 Gy in 20 fractions in 5 weeks, 4 fractions per week (arm B). Color Doppler flow activity (CDFA) was evaluated calculating the vascularization index (VI), defined as the ratio between the colored and total pixels in the whole and peripheral prostate, delineated by a radiation oncologist on CDUS images, using EcoVasc a home-made software. The difference between the 2 year post- and pre-3D-CRT maximum VI (VImax), named deltaVImax, was calculated in the whole and peripheral prostate for each patient. Then, deltaVImax and the detected 2 year biopsy outcome were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) technique. RESULTS: The VImax increased or decreased in patients with positive or negative biopsies, respectively, compared to the value before RT in both arms. The area under the ROC curve for deltaVImax in the whole and peripheral prostate is equal to 0.790 and 0.884, respectively. CONCLUSION: The AVImax index, comparing CDFA at 2 years compared to that before RT, allows the 2 year postradiotherapy positive biopsy rate to be predicted.

DVHs evaluation in brain metastases stereotactic radiotherapy treatment plans.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work is to report a retrospective study of radiobiological indicators based on Dose-Volume Histograms analysis obtained by stereotactic radiotherapy treatments. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-five patients for a total of sixty-seven brain metastases with a mean target volume of 8.49 cc were treated by Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (DCAT) and Intensity-Modulated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (IMRST). The Delivered prescription dose was chosen on the basis of tumor size and location so as to ensure a 100% isodose coverage to the target volume. RESULTS: The treatment plans reported a mean value of 10% and 2.19% for the inhomogeneity and conformal index, respectively. The F factor showed we overdosed sixty-three patients delivering an additional 7% dose more than calculated values. The radiobiological parameters: TCP and NTCP showed a complete tumor control limiting the organs at risk damage. CONCLUSION: One goal of stereotactic radiotherapy is to design a treatment plan in which the steep dose gradient achievable minimizes the amount of radiation delivered outside the tumor region. This technique allows to deliver a much larger dose to the target without exceeding the radiation-related tolerance of normal tissues and improving patients' quality of life.

Analysis of toxicity in patients with high risk prostate cancer treated with intensity-modulated pelvic radiation therapy and simultaneous integrated dose escalation to prostate area.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report the treatment-related morbidity in patients with prostate cancer treated with an optimized pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and simultaneous integrated dose escalation to prostate/prostate bed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2003 and May 2006, 55 patients with localized prostate cancer and >15% risk of lymph node involvement were treated with pelvic IMRT and simultaneous dose escalation to prostate area. Twenty-four patients received a radical radiation therapy program, and the remaining thirty-one patients received a postoperative irradiation as adjuvant treatment or after biochemical or macroscopic local/regional relapse. After a customized immobilization all patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT. On the CT slices CTV1 and CTV2 were delineated. CTV(1) included the prostate and seminal vesicles or prostate bed. CTV(2) consisted of CTV(1) plus pelvic nodes. CTV(1) and CTV(2) were then expanded by 0.5 and 1cm, respectively, to generate the planning target volumes. IMRT treatment plans were generated using commercial inverse planning software. Total doses of 66-80 Gy and 50-59 Gy in 33-40 fractions were prescribed to the prostate area and pelvis, respectively. The worst acute and late rectal, intestinal and GU toxicities during and after treatment were scored according to the EORTC/RTOG scales. RESULTS: The IMRT dose distribution provided excellent PTV coverage and satisfying sparing of all the organs at risk, with no patient experiencing >grade 2 acute or late toxicities. Patients without acute grade 2 intestinal, rectal, and GU toxicity were 91%, 71%, and 63%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 19 months (interquartile range of 9 to 28 months), late grade 2 toxicity was detected only for rectum, with an actuarial 2-year rate of freedom from G2 rectal bleeding of 92%. (CI 95% 0.83-0.99.) CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic IMRT and simultaneous dose escalation to prostate area is a well-tolerated technique in patients with prostate cancer requiring treatment of pelvic lymph nodes, and seems to be associated with a lower frequency and severity of side effects when compared with conventional techniques reported in other series.