Tolerance and efficacy of dose escalation using IMRT combined with chemotherapy for unresectable esophageal carcinoma: Long-term results of 51 patients.

PURPOSE: The optimal dose in esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiation (CRT) remains debated. We herein report on the dosimetric results, treatment-related toxicities and long-term outcomes of escalated dose up to 60Gy delivered with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients that received a definitive CRT>50Gy for an unresectable esophageal carcinoma between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively evaluated for this study. Methodology included data base search, delayed toxicity grading, statistical testing including frequency analysis and survival analysis. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were irradiated for a squamous cell carcinoma (86.3%) or an adenocarcinoma (13.7%). The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. Seven patients were simultaneously irradiated for another synchronous primary tumor. Forty-six patients (90.2%) received concurrent platin-based chemotherapy. The median prescribed doses were 60Gy (54-66) and 48Gy (44.8-56) delivered in 30 (27-35) fractions to the high and the low risks PTV respectively. The mean dose delivered to the lungs was 11.4Gy (IC 95%: 4.8-19.8), the median volumes receiving up to 20Gy (V20) and 30Gy (V30) were 13.5% (3.0-46.0) and 4.6% (0.7-19.8) respectively. The mean dose delivered to the heart was 13.9Gy (IC 95%:0.3-31.3) with a median V40 of 3.3% (0.0-25.0). One treatment-related death occurred within days after RT completion (neutropenic aplasia). After a median follow-up of 2.7 years (95% CI: 1.9-4.3), the 2-year overall survival, disease free survival and loco-regional control rates were 53.6%, 42.0% and 72.8% respectively. Delayed treatment related-toxicities ≤grade 3 occurred among 25 patients (62.5%) mostly esophageal stricture (79.2%). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated in this study that dose escalation using IMRT in combination with platin-based chemotherapy as a definitive treatment for esophageal carcinoma is safe and results in higher loco-regional and control survival when compared to previously reported data.

[Boost in proton for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A Curie Institute experience]. / Complément de dose de protons pour les cancers du nasopharynx localement évolués : une expérience de l'institut Curie.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the treatment outcome and toxicity for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a complementary dose with proton. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 1999 and September 2016, 17 patients have been treated for a stage III-IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the proton therapy centre of Curie Institute. Bilateral lymph node in the neck (I-V levels) received from 40 to 54Gy with photon beam. The primary tumor volume including microscopically extensions received a complementary dose with proton in order to reach the dose of 70 to 78Gy. All the patients received a concomitant chemotherapy. The end-points of the study were loco-regional control, survival, and treatment-related toxicity. RESULTS: Patients characteristics were: median age 49, 71 % male, 88% stage IVa, with a majority (82%) of T4N0M0. The median follow-up was 99 months. The 2-, 5- and 10-year actuarial locoregional free survival and overall survival were 94% and 88%, 86% and 74%, and 86% and 66%, respectively. The grade≥3 late adverse events were sphenoid bone radionecrosis (5.9%) and hearing loss (23.5%). CONCLUSION: This study showed that a complementary dose with proton seems to be a good option for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly for T4N0M0.

[Definitive or neo-adjuvant chemoradiation in esophageal carcinoma?] / Cancer de l'œsophage : radio-chimiothérapie exclusive ou préopératoire ?

Management of resectable esophageal carcinoma is based on a multimodal treatment associating neo-adjuvant chemoradiation before surgery. This therapeutic sequence allows a disease-free survival rate at 2 years around 45% but remains associated with a high post-operative morbidity. In case of definitive chemoradiotherapy, the dose delivered to the macroscopic disease is a controversial topic since decades and the prognosis of patients treated in this setting at the dose of 50Gy remains poor. This article proposes a review of the main published data and the ongoing studies related to the management of these patients.

[Radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma]. / Radiothérapie des cancers du nasopharynx.

Nasapharyngeal carcinoma is a rare disease. Oftenly, the diagnostic is made for advanced disease. Localized tumors, T1 or T2 NO observed a good prognosis and are locally controlled in more than 90 % of the cases by radiotherapy alone. The standard treatment of locally advanced disease is combined chemoradiation. A special vigilance of fast decrease of the volume of the pathological lymph nodes, sometimes associated to loss of weight might indicate an adaptive dosimetric revision. The treatment of recurrent disease is of great importance. Surgical indications are limited but should be discussed in multidisciplinary tumor board when possible. Surgical nodal sampling has to be proposed for nodal recurrence as well as reirradiation, which could be indicated according to the technical issues.

[An iris metastasis revealed a bronchopulmonary cancer]. / Métastase irienne révélatrice d'un cancer bronchopulmonaire.

We report the case of a 53-year-old patient referred by his ophthalmologist for a red, painful eye. On exam, he demonstrated findings of granulomatous uveitis with ocular hypertension (38 mm Hg) and a whitish, vascularized iris tumor with invasion of the irido-corneal angle. As our first hypothesis was an iris metastasis, a systemic work-up was carried out, which revealed moderately differentiated broncho-pulmonary carcinoma with multiple metastases (brain, cerebellum and adrenal). Emergency radio-chemotherapy was initiated, and the outcome was good, with rapid regression of the iris metastasis and good efficacy against the primary cancer. After one year of follow-up, the patient developed a metastasis at a new site, and his general condition deteriorated.

[Free flap reconstruction after oral and oropharyngeal advanced stage carcinoma surgery]. / Reconstruction par lambeau libre après chirurgie des cancers de la cavité buccale et de l'oropharynx de stade avancé.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the survival and locoregional recurrence in patients with advanced oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated by surgery with free flap reconstruction followed or not by radiochemotherapy. POPULATION AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 188 patients treated by surgery with microvascular reconstruction with or without postoperative radiochemotherapy for an advanced stage squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity and/or of the oropharynx. All patients underwent free flap reconstruction. The study parameters were survival and recurrence rates. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival, disease specific survival, and disease free survival rates were 54%, 65%, and 61% respectively. A high level of comorbidity was the only factor that influenced the survival rate. The overall recurrence rate was 34%. Only 9% of patients having recurred were treated successfully. The survival rate after locoregional recurrence and metastasis was 6% at 2 years. DISCUSSION: Surgery and postoperative radiochemotherapy allows for an acceptable survival rate for patients with advanced oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.