A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Comparing Radiation Therapy Versus Radical Prostatectomy in Prostate Cancer.

The treatment landscape for localized and regional prostate cancer includes active surveillance, radiation therapy (RT), and radical prostatectomy (RP). Population-based studies comparing RP to radiation reveal conflicting results due to methodological flaws. This systematic review and pooled analysis of studies aim to compare cause-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and toxicity outcomes, comparing RP to RT in the management of prostate cancer. This systematic review search included the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries according to the PRISMA statement with the inception of each database up to June 24, 2023. Randomized phase 2 or 3 clinical trials that compared RP to RT in prostate cancer were included. The forest plot for the Odds ratio (OR) was plotted using the Mantel-Haenszel method, and the Z test was used to assess significance. A fixed effects model was used for meta-analysis. The search yielded seven completed randomized clinical trials and four ongoing trials. The majority of complete trials had low to intermediate-risk patient populations. OR for OS was 1.00 with 95% CI, 0.71-1.41 (P-value: 0.98), CSS OR was 0.99 with 95% CI, 0.45-2.18 (P-value 0.11), OR for DFS was 1.26 with 95% CI, 0.89-1.78 (P-value 0.19) when comparing RP to RT. The rate of distant metastatic disease was 2.3% in the RP versus 2.9% in the RT at 10 years. The rate of second malignant neoplasms was 4.5% in the RP compared to 4.2% in the RT arm at 10 years. RP caused more urinary symptoms, with a predominance of the need for urinary pads and a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction, and RT caused a higher incidence of bowel symptoms, such as blood in stools and fecal incontinence. This study provides evidence that the treatment-related outcomes are similar in patients with low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer when comparing RP to RT. Multidisciplinary treatment approaches and factoring patients' values and preferences should form the cornerstone of the ideal treatment option for each patient with localized prostate cancer. Patients with prostate cancer have an equal chance of being cancer-free and alive at 10 years with either RP or RT. In terms of side effects, RP causes more urine leakage and loss of erections, whereas RT tends to cause more bowel side effects, such as blood in stools and fecal leakage.

Microbiome and Abdominopelvic Radiotherapy Related Chronic Enteritis: A Microbiome-based Mechanistic Role of Probiotics and Antibiotics.

Chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain after radiotherapy continue to be a problem in cancer survivors. Gut microbiomes are essential for preventing intestinal inflammation, maintaining intestinal integrity, maintaining enterohepatic circulation, regulating bile acid metabolism, and absorption of nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins. Gut microbiome dysbiosis is expected to cause inflammation, bile acid malabsorption, malnutrition, and associated symptoms. Postradiotherapy, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phylum are significantly decreased while Fusobacteria and other unclassified bacteria are increased. Available evidence suggests harmful bacteria Veillonella, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Ruminococcus are sensitive to Metronidazole or Ciprofloxacin. Beneficial bacteria lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are relatively resistant to metronidazole. We hypothesize and provide an evidence-based review that short-course targeted antibiotics followed by specific probiotics may lead to alleviation of radiation enteritis.

Multidisciplinary Management and Radiotherapy Recommendations for Clinically and Pathologically Node-positive Bladder Cancer.

There are limited data regarding the optimal management of patients with pelvic node-positive, but non-metastatic, bladder cancer. Increasing data demonstrate that this is a distinct clinical entity with outcomes bridging between bladder-confined muscle-invasive bladder cancer and metastatic advanced bladder cancer. Guidelines and staging systems have formalized the need to incorporate the unique considerations of management of pelvic node-positive bladder cancer. However, there remains an absence of a definite standard of care. Treatment options include systemic therapy alone, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy, or bladder-preserving trimodality therapy. Furthermore, ongoing studies aim to determine the benefit of incorporating immunotherapy into these treatment paradigms. In this review article, we will discuss the key considerations for management of patients with pelvic node-positive bladder cancer.

Lymphocyte sparing normal tissue effects in the clinic (LymphoTEC): A systematic review of dose constraint considerations to mitigate radiation-related lymphopenia in the era of immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-related lymphopenia has been associated with suboptimal tumor control rates leading to inferior survival outcomes. To date, no standardized dose constraints are available to limit radiation dose to resident and circulating lymphocyte populations. We undertook this systemic review of the literature to provide a synopsis of the dosimetric predictors of radiation-related lymphopenia in solid malignancies. METHODOLOGY: A systematic literature review of PubMed (National Institutes of Health), Cochrane Central (Cochrane collaboration), and Google Scholar was conducted with the following keywords: "radiation", "lymphopenia", "cancer", "dosimetric predictors" with an inclusion deadline of May 31, 2022. Studies that met prespecified inclusion criteria were designated either Good, Fair, or Poor Quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment. The dosimetric parameters derived from Good Quality studies were tabulated as LymphoTEC dose constraints. Dosimetric parameters derived from Fair and Poor-quality studies were grouped as optional. RESULTS: An initial systematic search of the literature yielded 1,632 articles. After screening, a total of 48 studies met inclusion criteria and were divided into the following categories: central nervous system (CNS, 6), thoracic (11), gastrointestinal (26), gynecologic (2), head and neck, breast, and genitourinary (one each) cancers. Lung mean dose, heart mean dose, brain V25, spleen mean dose, estimated dose to immune cells, and bone marrow V10 were among the strongest predictors for severe lymphopenia related to radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Optimizing the delivery of radiation therapy to limit dose to lymphocyte-rich structures may curb the negative oncologic impact of lymphocyte depletion. The dose constraints described herein may be considered for prospective validation and future use in clinical trials to limit risk of radiation-related lymphopenia and possibly improve cancer-associated outcomes.

Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Analysis of Uncommon Variants of Glioblastoma: An Analysis of 196 Cases.

Objectives: Different variant of GBM has been reported viz. Epithelioid Glioblastoma (GBM-E), Rhabdoid GBM (GBM-R), Small cell GBM (GBM-SC), Giant cell GBM (GBM-GC), GBM with neuro ectodermal differentiation (GBM-PNET) with unknown behavior. Materials: We conducted a systematic review and individual patient data analysis of these rare GBM variants. We searched PubMed, google search, and Cochrane library for eligible studies till July 1st 2016 published in English language and collected data regarding age, sex, subtype and treatment received, Progression Free Survival (PFS), Overall Survival (OS). Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS) v16 software was used for all statistical analysis. Results: We retrieved data of 196 patients with rare GBM subtypes. Among these GBM-GC is commonest (51%), followed by GBM-R (19%), GBM-PNET (13%), GBM-SC (9%) and GBM-E (8%). Median age at diagnosis was 38, 40, 43.5, 69.5 and 18 years, respectively. Male: female ratio was 2:1 for GBM-E, and 1:3 for GBM-SC. Maximal safe resection followed by adjuvant local radiation was used for most of the patients. However, 6 patients with GBM-PNET, 3 each of GBM-E, GBM-SC received adjuvant craniospinal radiation. Out of 88 patients who received chemotherapy, 64 received Temozolomide alone or combination chemotherapy containing Temozolomide. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 9 and 16 months. In univariate analysis, patient with a Gross Total Resection had significantly better PFS and OS compared to those with a Sub Total Resection [23 vs. 13 months (p-0.01)]. Median OS for GBM PNET, GBM-GC, GBM-SC, GBM-R and GBM-E were 32, 18.3, 11, 12 and 7.7 months, respectively (P = 0.001). Interestingly, 31.3%, 37.8% of patients with GBM-E, GBM-R had CSF dissemination. Conclusion: Overall cohort of rarer GBM variant has equivalent survival compared to GBM not otherwise specified. However, epithelioid and Rhabdoid GBM has worst survival and one third shows CSF dissemination.

A Systematic Review of Radiation-Related Lymphopenia in Genito-urinary Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The impact of radiation-related lymphopenia on clinical outcomes has been reported in various solid malignancies such as high grade gliomas, head and neck cancers, thoracic malignancies and gastro-intestinal malignancies but its impact is not clearly known in the context of common genito-urinary (GU) malignancies. METHODOLOGY: To better understand the effect of radiation-associated lymphopenia in prostate and bladder cancer, we undertook this systematic review of clinical studies that have studied radiation-related lymphopenia in GU malignancies. A systematic methodology search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library resulted in 2125 abstracts. Ten studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria which included any prospective, retrospective study or cohort study of prostate, urinary bladder, kidney, ureter, urethra, penile cancer in humans, and radiation should be part of treatment and intent has to be in definitive or adjuvant settings. Finally the study should have data on radiation-related lymphopenia. RESULTS: Four studies reported on the cancer-specific outcomes related to the lymphopenia. The incidence of low lymphocyte counts were documented in all the studies. Three studies analyzed the factors associated with the Lymphocyte depletion. Pooled incidence of severe lymphopenia was 29.25% and mild to moderate lymphopenia was 60.75%. Bone marrow volume receiving 40 Gy was associated with the incidence of lymphopenia. CONCLUSION: One-third of the patients suffer from severe lymphopenia after radiation in prostate and bladder cancer. There are no clear data to support the correlation between severe lymphopenia and disease outcomes. Bone marrow dosimetry can affect the incidence and severity of lymphopenia. There is need of prospective datasets to identify the impact of radiation-related lymphopenia in GU malignancies focusing on long-term side effects, recurrence rates, and overall survival.

Laryngeal soft tissue sarcoma: Systematic review and individual patient data analysis of 300 cases.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal sarcoma is rare. We performed a systematic review and individual patient analysis to evaluate the patterns of care, prognostic factors, and role of radiotherapy in laryngeal soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: A systematic search on PubMed and Google scholar was done. An individual patient data analysis was done. RESULTS: Of the 300 cases of laryngeal sarcoma, 80% underwent surgery. 44% underwent larynx preservation surgery and 25% received radiotherapy with surgery. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 48 months and overall survival (OS) of 224 months for the entire cohort. Patients with large primary, cartilage invasion, and positive margins had numerically worse PFS. Cartilage invasion and primary tumor size >3 cm were the most common risk factors for adjuvant radiation therapy. Patients receiving radiotherapy were not associated with better survival. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal sarcoma associated with a good survival. Larynx preservation surgery is feasible in nearly half patients. Adjuvant radiotherapy may be warranted in patients poor prognostic factors.

Imaging predictors of treatment outcomes in rectal cancer: An overview.

The treatment protocols for rectal cancer continue to evolve, with increasing acceptance of a watch-and-wait policy for clinical complete responders to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. It still, however, remains unclear who is likely to achieve a pathological complete response, which unequivocally portends a very favorable overall prognosis. Evolution of modern imaging techniques has paved the way for potential prediction of treatment response based on baseline, on-treatment, early post-treatment and subsequent follow-up imaging alone. Independent of tumor grade and stage, tumor marker levels, tumor size, radiation dose and fractionation, chemotherapy regimen, and extent/type of surgery, imaging biomarkers like circumferential resection margin (CRM), extramural venous space invasion (EMVI), imaging-based tumor regression grade, perfusion/diffusion-based functional imaging parameters, and imaging-based metabolic response have the ability to predict the likelihood of local recurrence and/or distant metastases. Textural features of images can add a further dimension to the predictive power of imaging. Finally, integration of genomic data with imaging biomarkers can potentially discern molecular mechanisms associated with distinct radiographic attributes of tumors. In this review, we evaluate and summarize the evidence to date of each imaging modality as a biomarker and its contribution to personalized decision making in rectal cancer.

Pattern of care and impact of prognostic factors on the outcome of head and neck extramedullary plasmacytoma: a systematic review and individual patient data analysis of 315 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare localized plasma cell neoplasm. We intended to perform this review of the published literature to assess the demographic profile, pattern of care and survival outcomes. METHODS: Two authors independently searched PubMed, Google search and Cochrane library for eligible studies from 1950 till July 1, 2016, published in English language. RESULTS: Median age of the cohort was 57 years (range 11-85). Site-wise distributions were paranasal sinuses 22.3% (70), nasal cavity 17.5% (55), nasopharynx 10.8% (34). Median size of SEMP was 3 cm (range 0.3-12 cm). Treatment distribution was radiotherapy (RT) in 52% (164), surgery (S) 19% (60), chemotherapy (C) 5% (16), S + RT 23.49% (74),CRT 1.9% (6), S + C 0.6% (2), S + RT + C 0.95% (3).Radiation was used as a modality in 78.4%(247), surgery in 44.1%(139), chemotherapy in 4.8%(15). Median radiation dose used was 45 Gy with range 20-61 Gy. Median overall survival (OS) was 40 months (range 0.5-298). Median local progression-free survival was 36 months (range 0-298). Median myeloma relapse-free survival was 36 months (range 0.5-298). Five- and 10-year OS was 78.33 and 68.61%. Five-year cause-specific survival (CSS) and 10-year CSS was 90.15 and 83.31%. Five-year LPFS was 94.78%, and 10-year LPFS was 88.43%. Five-year myeloma progression-free survival was 84.46%, and 10-year myeloma PFS was 80.44%. The factors associated with risk of local relapse were site of disease (sinonasal), secretory EMP, type of treatment received (surgery + RT > RT alone > surgery on univariate analysis). Risk factors for myeloma relapse were coexisting diseases, site of disease (sinonasal), bony erosion, size of lesion > 5 cm and type of treatment received on univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that combined modality S + RT is superior compared to uni-modality in preventing local recurrence. Radiation dose of 45 Gy is optimal. Nodal irradiation has no impact on local recurrence.

Patterns of care and survival outcomes in patients with astroblastoma: an individual patient data analysis of 152 cases.

BACKGROUND: Astroblastoma (AB) is a rare tumor with significant dilemma regarding diagnostic criteria, behavior, and optimum treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, Google Search, and Cochrane Library for eligible studies with the following search words: astroblastoma, high-grade astroblastoma, and anaplastic astroblastoma till July 1, 2016, published in English language and collected data regarding age, sex, site of disease, pathological grade, treatment received, and survival. RESULTS: Data of 152 patients were retrieved from 63 publications. Median age was 16 years (range 0-71). Females were affected twice more frequently than male (70.3 vs. 29.7%). Tumors were most commonly located in the frontal (39%) followed by parietal lobe (26.7%). Fifty-two and 25% of the patients had headache and seizure at presentation, 76.3% of the patients underwent a gross total resection, 41 out of 89 had a high-grade tumor, and 56 patients received adjuvant radiation with a median dose of 54 Gy (range 20-72). Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 23 patients. Temozolomide was the most common drug used in 30% of the patients. A combination of cisplatin, etoposide with vincristine, or ifosfamide was used in 17%. Median follow-up duration was 37 months (range 1-238). Median progression-free survival and OS were 36 and 184 months, respectively. Patients with a higher-grade tumor had significantly worse OS with HR 5.260 and p = 0.001. Forty patients experienced local progression. Sixty-five percent patients underwent surgery while 50% underwent radiation as salvage. CONCLUSION: AB has two distinct grades with higher-grade tumors having significantly poor survival. Maximal safe surgery followed by adjuvant radiation and temozolomide should be advocated for these tumors.

Surviving Triple Trouble: Synchronous Breast and Cervical Cancer, HIV Infection and Myocardial Infarction.

Breast and cervical cancer are the two most common cancers in female. However, owing to the contrasting risk factors, synchronous breast and cervical cancer has very rarely been reported. However, noncommunicable disease like cardiovascular disease and different infections has tended to make situations complicated because of complex interaction. In recent years, such cases are being seen frequently and their management is challenging. We report such a case of synchronous breast and cervical cancer complicated by HIV infection and myocardial infarction. This highlights the importance of a wide spectrum of clinical knowledge and skill and interdisciplinary coordination.

Small cell carcinoma of the lung in a treated case of Myoepithelial carcinoma of the tongue--report of a rare case with illustrated review of the literature.

Myoepithelial carcinoma has rarely been reported in the oral cavity and oropharynx. We found only 6 cases of myoepithelioma of the tongue reported till date. Two cases had a benign myoepithelioma; four had epithelial-Myoepithelial carcinoma. The present case had malignant myoepithelioma, a distinct entity from other histologies.