PTCOG Gastrointestinal Subcommittee Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Malignancies Consensus Statement.

Purpose: Radiotherapy delivery in the definitive management of lower gastrointestinal (LGI) tract malignancies is associated with substantial risk of acute and late gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary, dermatologic, and hematologic toxicities. Advanced radiation therapy techniques such as proton beam therapy (PBT) offer optimal dosimetric sparing of critical organs at risk, achieving a more favorable therapeutic ratio compared with photon therapy. Materials and Methods: The international Particle Therapy Cooperative Group GI Subcommittee conducted a systematic literature review, from which consensus recommendations were developed on the application of PBT for LGI malignancies. Results: Eleven recommendations on clinical indications for which PBT should be considered are presented with supporting literature, and each recommendation was assessed for level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Detailed technical guidelines pertaining to simulation, treatment planning and delivery, and image guidance are also provided. Conclusion: PBT may be of significant value in select patients with LGI malignancies. Additional clinical data are needed to further elucidate the potential benefits of PBT for patients with anal cancer and rectal cancer.

Implementation of the REFLECT Communication Curriculum for Clinical Oncology Graduate Medical Education.

Background: Communication and interpersonal skills are essential medical components of oncology patient care. Patients and families rely on physicians for treatment, expertise, guidance, hope, meaning, and compassion throughout a life-threatening illness. A provider's inability to empathize with patients is linked to physician-related fatigue and burnout. Because oncology training programs focus on teaching evidence-based medicine and clinical acumen, little time may be dedicated to professional development and acquisition of interactive skills. Traditional communication courses typically include two components: formal, knowledge-based learning skills, which are gained from didactic lectures, and role-playing, which usually occurs in small groups. We report the implementation of a novel longitudinal communication curriculum for trainees in Oncology. Materials and Methods: At a single-center institution, an innovative communication curriculum titled "REFLECT" (Respect, Empathy, Facilitate Effective Communication, Listen, Elicit Information, Compassion, and Teach Others) was implemented for radiation oncology residents and medical oncology fellows to improve and refine physician/patient interactions. All oncology specialty residents and fellows were eligible to participate in this communication curriculum. The curriculum emphasized a reflective process to guide trainees through challenging scenarios. Results: Since October 2018, this comprehensive course consisted of quarterly (four hour) workshops comprising assigned reading, knowledge assessments, didactic lectures, expert guest lecturers, standardized patient simulations, role-playing, patient/expert panels, coaching, reflective writing, and debriefing/feedback sessions. The curriculum provided longitudinal communication training integrated with the learners' daily physician/patient encounters rather than occasional isolated experiences. Fifteen workshops have been completed. Each focused on navigating challenging situations with patients, loved ones, or colleagues. Conclusions: Future directions of the curriculum will entail improving the communication skills of oncology trainees and gathering communication improvement data to assess the program's success formally.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction.

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction.

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

Sublobar Resection, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, and Percutaneous Ablation Provide Comparable Outcomes for Lung Metastasis-Directed Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged survival of patients with metastatic disease has furthered interest in metastasis-directed therapy (MDT). RESEARCH QUESTION: There is a paucity of data comparing lung MDT modalities. Do outcomes among sublobar resection (SLR), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and percutaneous ablation (PA) for lung metastases vary in terms of local control and survival? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing lung MDT at a single cancer center between January 2015 and December 2020 were reviewed. Overall survival, local progression, and toxicity outcomes were collected. Patient and lesion characteristics were used to generate multivariable models with propensity weighted analysis. RESULTS: Lung MDT courses (644 total: 243 SLR, 274 SBRT, 127 PA) delivered to 511 patients were included with a median follow-up of 22 months. There were 47 local progression events in 45 patients, and 159 patients died. Two-year overall survival and local progression were 80.3% and 63.3%, 83.8% and 9.6%, and 4.1% and 11.7% for SLR, SBRT, and PA, respectively. Lesion size per 1 cm was associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.24; P = .003) and LP (hazard ratio, 1.50; P < .001). There was no difference in overall survival by modality. Relative to SLR, there was no difference in risk of local progression with PA; however, SBRT was associated with a decreased risk (hazard ratio, 0.26; P = .023). Rates of severe toxicity were low (2.1%-2.6%) and not different among groups. INTERPRETATION: This study performs a propensity weighted analysis of SLR, SBRT, and PA and shows no impact of lung MDT modality on overall survival. Given excellent local control across MDT options, a multidisciplinary approach is beneficial for patient triage and longitudinal management.

Evaluating large language models on a highly-specialized topic, radiation oncology physics.

Purpose: We present the first study to investigate Large Language Models (LLMs) in answering radiation oncology physics questions. Because popular exams like AP Physics, LSAT, and GRE have large test-taker populations and ample test preparation resources in circulation, they may not allow for accurately assessing the true potential of LLMs. This paper proposes evaluating LLMs on a highly-specialized topic, radiation oncology physics, which may be more pertinent to scientific and medical communities in addition to being a valuable benchmark of LLMs. Methods: We developed an exam consisting of 100 radiation oncology physics questions based on our expertise. Four LLMs, ChatGPT (GPT-3.5), ChatGPT (GPT-4), Bard (LaMDA), and BLOOMZ, were evaluated against medical physicists and non-experts. The performance of ChatGPT (GPT-4) was further explored by being asked to explain first, then answer. The deductive reasoning capability of ChatGPT (GPT-4) was evaluated using a novel approach (substituting the correct answer with "None of the above choices is the correct answer."). A majority vote analysis was used to approximate how well each group could score when working together. Results: ChatGPT GPT-4 outperformed all other LLMs and medical physicists, on average, with improved accuracy when prompted to explain before answering. ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 and GPT-4) showed a high level of consistency in its answer choices across a number of trials, whether correct or incorrect, a characteristic that was not observed in the human test groups or Bard (LaMDA). In evaluating deductive reasoning ability, ChatGPT (GPT-4) demonstrated surprising accuracy, suggesting the potential presence of an emergent ability. Finally, although ChatGPT (GPT-4) performed well overall, its intrinsic properties did not allow for further improvement when scoring based on a majority vote across trials. In contrast, a team of medical physicists were able to greatly outperform ChatGPT (GPT-4) using a majority vote. Conclusion: This study suggests a great potential for LLMs to work alongside radiation oncology experts as highly knowledgeable assistants.

Attitudes and Perception of the REFLECT Communication Curriculum for Clinical Oncology Graduate Medical Education.

Communication and interpersonal skills are essential components of oncology patient care. The REFLECT (Respect, Empathy, Facilitate Effective Communication, Listen, Elicit Information, Compassion, and Teach Others) curriculum is a novel framework to improve and refine physician/patient interactions for oncology graduate medical trainees. We seek to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of the REFLECT communication curriculum among oncology trainees. Seven-question and 8-question Likert scale surveys (1 = not beneficial and 5 = beneficial) were distributed to resident/fellow participants and faculty mentors, respectively. Questions asked trainees and faculty about their perceptions of improvement in communication, handling of stressful situations, the value of the curriculum, and overall impression of the curriculum. Descriptive statistics determined the survey's baseline characteristics and response rates. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests were used to compare the distribution of continuous variables. Thirteen resident/fellow participants completed the participant survey. Six (43.6%) Radiation Oncology trainees and 7 (58.3%) Hematology/Oncology fellows completed the trainee survey. Eight (88.9%) Radiation Oncologists and 1 (11.1%) Medical Oncologist completed the observer survey. Faculty and trainees generally felt that the curriculum increased communication skills. Faculty responded more favorably to the program's impact on communication skills (median 5.0 vs. 4.0, p = 0.008). Faculty were more assertive about the curriculum's capabilities to improve a learner's ability to handle stressful situations (median 5.0 vs. 4.0, p = 0.003). Additionally, faculty had a more favorable overall impression of the REFLECT curriculum than the residents/fellows (median 5.0 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001). Radiation Oncology residents felt more strongly that the curriculum enhanced their ability to handle stressful topics, compared to Heme/Onc fellows (median 4.5 vs. 3.0, range 1-5, p = 0.379). Radiation Oncology trainees felt more consistently that the workshops improved their communication skills, compared to Heme/Onc fellows (median 4.5 vs. 3.5, range 1-5, p = 0.410). The overall impression between Rad Onc resident and Heme/Onc fellows was similar (median 4.0, p = 0.586). Conclusions: Overall, the REFLECT curriculum enhanced communication skills of trainees. Oncology trainees and faculty physicians feel that the curriculum was beneficial. As interactive skills and communication is critical to build positive interactions, further work is needed to improve the REFLECT curriculum.

Dosimetric comparison between proton beam therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, and 3D conformal therapy for soft tissue extremity sarcoma.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Proton beam therapy (PBT) may provide a dosimetric advantage in sparing soft tissue and bone for selected patients with extremity soft sarcoma (eSTS). We compared PBT with photons plans generated using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). MATERIALS/METHODS: Seventeen patients previously treated with pencil beam scanning PBT were included in this study. Of these patients, 14 treated with pre-operative 50 Gy in 25 fractions were analyzed. IMRT and 3D-CRT plans were created to compare against the original PBT plans. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) indices were evaluated amongst PBT, IMRT, and 3D plans. Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests were used to get the statistical significance. A p value smaller than .05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: For the clinical target volume (CTV), D2%, D95%, D98%, Dmin, Dmax, and V50Gy, were assessed. Dmin, D1%, Dmax, Dmean, V1Gy, V5Gy, and V50Gy were evaluated for the adjacent soft tissue. D1%, Dmax, Dmean, and V35-50% were evaluated for bone. All plans met CTV target coverage. The PBT plans delivered less dose to soft tissue and bone. The mean dose to the soft tissue was 2 Gy, 11 Gy, and 13 Gy for PBT, IMRT, and 3D, respectively (p < .001). The mean dose to adjacent bone was 15 Gy, 26 Gy, and 28 Gy for PBT, IMRT, and 3D, respectively (p = .022). CONCLUSION: PBT plans for selected patients with eSTS demonstrated improved sparing of circumferential soft tissue and adjacent bone compared to IMRT and 3D-CRT. Further evaluation will determine if this improved dosimetry correlates with reduced toxicity and improved quality of life.

Pragmatic, Prospective Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Carbon Ion Therapy, Surgery, and Proton Therapy for the Management of Pelvic Sarcomas (Soft Tissue/Bone) Involving the Bone: The PROSPER Study Rationale and Design.

Surgical treatment of pelvic sarcoma involving the bone is the standard of care but is associated with several sequelae and reduced functional quality of life (QOL). Treatment with photon and proton radiotherapy is associated with relapse. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) may reduce both relapse rates and treatment sequelae. The PROSPER study is a tricontinental, nonrandomized, prospective, three-arm, pragmatic trial evaluating treatments of pelvic sarcoma involving the bone. Patients aged at least 15 years are eligible for inclusion. Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of two or less, newly diagnosed disease, and histopathologic confirmation of pelvic chordoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma with bone involvement, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with bone involvement, or non-RMS soft tissue sarcoma with bone involvement. Treatment arms include (1) CIRT (n = 30) delivered in Europe and Asia, (2) surgical treatment with or without adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 30), and (3) proton therapy (n = 30). Arms two and three will be conducted at Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. The primary end point is to compare the 1-year change in functional QOL between CIRT and surgical treatment. Additional comparisons among the three arms will be made between treatment sequelae, local control, and other QOL measures.

Clinical Outcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery-Related Radiation Necrosis in Patients with Intracranial Metastasis from Melanoma.

Background: Radiation necrosis (RN) is a clinically relevant complication of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for intracranial metastasis (ICM) treatments. Radiation necrosis development is variable following SRS. It remains unclear if risk factors for and clinical outcomes following RN may be different for melanoma patients. We reviewed patients with ICM from metastatic melanoma to understand the potential impact of RN in this patient population. Methods: Patients who received SRS for ICM from melanoma at Mayo Clinic Arizona between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, radiation parameters, prior surgical and systemic treatments, and patient outcomes. Radiation necrosis was diagnosed by clinical evaluation including brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, in some cases, tissue evaluation. Results: Radiation necrosis was diagnosed in 7 (27%) of 26 patients at 1.6 to 38 months following initial SRS. Almost 92% of all patients received systemic therapy and 35% had surgical resection prior to SRS. Patients with RN trended toward having larger ICM and a prior history of surgical resection, although statistical significance was not reached. Among patients with resection, those who developed RN had a longer period between surgery and SRS start (mean 44 vs 33 days). Clinical improvement following treatment for RN was noted in 2 (29%) patients. Conclusions: Radiation necrosis is relatively common following SRS for treatment of ICM from metastatic melanoma and clinical outcomes are poor. Further studies aimed at mitigating RN development and identifying novel approaches for treatment are warranted.

Technical note: Comprehensive evaluations of gantry and couch rotation isocentricities for implementing proton stereotactic radiosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical accuracy should be verified before implementing a proton stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) program. Linear accelerator (Linac)-based SRS systems often use electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) to verify beam isocentricity. Because proton therapy systems do not have EPID, beam isocentricity tests of proton SRS may still rely on films, which are not efficient. PURPOSE: To validate that our proton SRS system meets mechanical precision requirements and to present an efficient method to evaluate the couch and gantry's rotational isocentricity for our proton SRS system. METHODS: A dedicated applicator to hold brass aperture for proton SRS system was designed. The mechanical precision of the system was tested using a metal ball and film for 11 combinations of gantry and couch angles. A more efficient quality assurance (QA) procedure was developed, which used a scintillator device to replace the film. The couch rotational isocentricity tests were performed using orthogonal kV x-rays with the couch rotated isocentrically to five positions (0°, 315°, 270°, 225°, and 180°). At each couch position, the distance between the metal ball in kV images and the imaging isocenter was measured. The gantry isocentricity tests were performed using a cone-shaped scintillator and proton beams at five gantry angles (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°), and the isocenter position and the distance of each beam path to the isocenter were obtained. Daily QA procedure was performed for 1 month to test the robustness and reproducibility of the procedure. RESULTS: The gantry and couch rotational isocentricity exhibited sub-mm precision, with most measurements within ±0.5 mm. The 1-month QA results showed that the procedure was robust and highly reproducible to within ±0.2 mm. The gantry isocentricity test using the cone-shaped scintillator was accurate and sensitive to variations of ±0.2 mm. The QA procedure was efficient enough to be completed within 30 min. The 1-month isocentricity position variations were within 0.5 mm, which demonstrating that the overall proton SRS system was stable and precise. CONCLUSION: The proton SRS Winston-Lutz QA procedure using a cone-shaped scintillator was efficient and robust. We were able to verify radiation delivery could be performed with sub-mm mechanical precision.

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone orthopedic implants in musculoskeletal and spinal tumors: imaging and clinical features.

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) orthopedic implants are gaining popularity in oncologic applications as they offer many potential advantages over traditional metallic implants. From an imaging perspective, this instrumentation allows for improved evaluation of adjacent anatomic structures during radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This results in improved postoperative surveillance imaging quality as well as easier visualization of anatomy for potential image-guided percutaneous interventions (e.g., pain palliation injections, or ablative procedures for local disease control). CFR-PEEK devices are also advantageous in radiation oncology treatment due to their decreased imaging artifact during treatment planning imaging and decreased dose perturbation during radiotherapy delivery. As manufacturing processes for CFR-PEEK materials continue to evolve and improve, potential orthopedic applications in the spine and appendicular skeleton increase. An understanding of the unique properties of CFR-PEEK devices and their impact on imaging is valuable to radiologists delivering care to orthopedic oncology patients in both the diagnostic and interventional settings. This multidisciplinary review aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the radiologic, surgical, and radiation oncology impact of these innovative devices.

Association of circulating markers with cognitive decline after radiation therapy for brain metastasis.

BACKGROUND: A recent phase III trial (NCT01372774) comparing use of stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS] versus whole-brain radiation therapy [WBRT] after surgical resection of a single brain metastasis revealed that declines in cognitive function were more common with WBRT than with SRS. A secondary endpoint in that trial, and the primary objective in this secondary analysis, was to identify baseline biomarkers associated with cognitive impairment after either form of radiotherapy for brain metastasis. Here we report our findings on APOE genotype and serum levels of associated proteins and their association with radiation-induced neurocognitive decline. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected samples from a completed randomized clinical trial, patients provided blood samples every 3 months that were tested by genotyping and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and results were analyzed in association with cognitive impairment. RESULTS: The APOE genotype was not associated with neurocognitive impairment at 3 months. However, low serum levels of ApoJ, ApoE, or ApoA protein (all P < .01) and higher amyloid beta (Aß 1-42) levels (P = .048) at baseline indicated a greater likelihood of neurocognitive decline at 3 months after SRS, whereas lower ApoJ levels were associated with decline after WBRT (P = .014). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with these pretreatment serum markers should be counseled about radiation-related neurocognitive decline.

Association of Long-term Outcomes With Stereotactic Radiosurgery vs Whole-Brain Radiotherapy for Resected Brain Metastasis: A Secondary Analysis of The N107C/CEC.3 (Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology/Canadian Cancer Trials Group) Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Long-term outcomes of radiotherapy are important in understanding the risks and benefits of therapies for patients with brain metastases. Objective: To determine how the use of postoperative whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is associated with quality of life (QOL), cognitive function, and intracranial tumor control in long-term survivors with 1 to 4 brain metastases. Design, Setting, and Participants: This secondary analysis of a randomized phase 3 clinical trial included 48 institutions in the US and Canada. Adult patients with 1 resected brain metastases but limited to those with 1 to 4 brain metastasis were eligible. Unresected metastases were treated with SRS. Long-term survivors were defined as evaluable patients who lived longer than 1 year from randomization. Patients were recruited between July 2011 and December 2015, and data were first analyzed in February 2017. For the present study, intracranial tumor control, cognitive deterioration, QOL, and cognitive outcomes were measured in evaluable patients who were alive at 12 months from randomization and reanalyzed in June 2017. Interventions: Stereotactic radiosurgery or WBRT. Main Outcomes and Measures: Intracranial tumor control, toxic effects, cognitive deterioration, and QOL. Results: Fifty-four patients (27 SRS arm, 27 WBRT arm; female to male ratio, 65% vs 35%) were included for analysis with a median follow-up of 23.8 months. Cognitive deterioration was less frequent with SRS (37%-60%) compared with WBRT (75%-91%) at all time points. More patients declined by 2 or more standard deviations (SDs) in 1 or more cognitive tests for WBRT compared with SRS at 3, 6, and 9 months (70% vs 22%, 46% vs 19%, and 50% vs 20%, respectively). A 2 SD decline in at least 2 cognitive tests was associated with worse 12-month QOL in emotional well-being, functional well-being, general, additional concerns, and total scores. Overall QOL and functional independence favored SRS alone for categorical change at all time points. Total intracranial control for SRS alone vs WBRT at 12 months was 40.7% vs 81.5% (difference, -40.7; 95% CI, -68.1% to -13.4%), respectively. Data were first analyzed in February 2017. Conclusions and Relevance: The use of SRS alone compared with WBRT resulted in less cognitive deterioration among long-term survivors. The association of late cognitive deterioration with WBRT was clinically meaningful. A significant decline in cognition (2 SD) was associated with overall QOL. However, intracranial tumor control was improved with WBRT. This study provides detailed insight into cognitive function over time in this patient population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01372774; ALLIANCE/CCTG: N107C/CEC.3 (Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology/Canadian Cancer Trials Group).

High-Dose Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Single-Institution Experience and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia (TN), with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (fSRS) allowing for a less invasive experience. A single-institutional series and systematic review of the literature were performed for cases of TN treated with fSRS. METHODS: Patients at our institution with TN that were treated with fSRS from the years 2012-2021 were included. Similarly, multiple databases were searched for studies regarding TN treated with fSRS where patient-level data was included from 2004-2020. Pain levels, via the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) scale, before and after treatment were analyzed. Pooled analysis was performed to compare treatment outcomes between studies using CyberKnife and LINAC modalities. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients at our institution were treated with LINAC fSRS (median treatment dose: 85 Gy). Most patients had TN refractory to previous procedural treatments. Eight (35%) patients had an excellent posttreatment response (BNI I-II), while 11 (48%) patients had a good result (BNI IIIa/b). Eight patients had recurrence of pain. A total of 30 articles were included in the systematic review, encompassing 1705 patients. At last follow-up, 63.1% (774/1227) of patients endorsed an excellent response, while 16.1% (197/1227) had a good response, and 22.5% (215/957) of patients had recurrence. Pain response, facial numbness rates, and pain recurrence rates were not significantly different between CyberKnife and LINAC modalities. CONCLUSIONS: Frameless SRS for TN appears to be an efficacious noninvasive option for patients with substantial comorbidities, who have failed other treatment methods, although it can be limited by higher recurrence rates.

Long-term experience with intraoperative electron radiation therapy boost in extremity sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: In patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma (eSTS), we describe outcomes of preoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), limb-sparing surgery (LSS), and intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT). METHODS: One hundred and eighteen patients with eSTS treated between October 17, 2002 and July 28, 2021 were identified. EBRT was delivered preoperatively followed by LSS and IOERT. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 24.9 months. The presentation was primary in 102 (94%) patients and recurrent in 6 (6%) patients. Tumor location was lower extremity in 82 (76%) patients and upper extremity in 26 (24%) patients. Stage distribution was as follows: 3 (3%) IA, 24 (22%) IB, 31 (29%) II, 24 (22%) IIIA, and 25 (23%) IIIB. Final surgical margins were negative in 96 (89%) patients. The 5-year local control, failure-free survival, and overall survival were 94%, 75%, and 64%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified age >50, lower extremity, and higher grade as significant negative prognostic factors for overall survival. Grade 3 fracture or osteoradionecrosis requiring surgical fixation, neuropathy, and lymphedema occurred in 7 (6%), 1 (1%), and 0 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents one of the largest series using preoperative EBRT, LSS, and IOERT for eSTS, with high local control and a low rate of late severe toxicity.

Early Experience Using Proton Beam Therapy for Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Multicenter Study.

Purpose: Proton beam therapy (PBT) may provide an advantage when planning well-selected patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma (eSTS), specifically for large, anatomically challenging cases. We analyzed our early experience with PBT on toxicity and outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed for eSTS treated between June 2016 and October 2020 with pencil beam scanning PBT at 2 institutions. Diagnostic, treatment, and toxicity characteristics were gathered from baseline to last follow-up or death. Wound complications were defined as secondary operations for wound repair (debridement, drainage, skin graft, and muscle flap) or nonoperative management requiring hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed with R software. Results: Twenty consecutive patients with a median age 51.5 years (range, 19-78 years) were included. Median follow-up was 13.7 months (range, 1.7-48.1 months). Tumor presentation was primary (n = 17) or recurrent after prior combined modality therapy (n = 3). Tumor location was either lower extremity (n = 16) or upper extremity (n = 4). Radiation was delivered preoperatively in most patients (n = 18). Median pretreatment tumor size was 7.9 cm (range, 1.3 -30.0 cm). The 1-year locoregional control was 100%. Four patients (20%) had developed metastatic disease by end of follow-up. Maximum toxicity for acute dermatitis was grade 2 in 8 patients (40%) and grade 3 in 3 patients (15%). After preoperative radiation and surgical resection, acute wound complications occurred in 6 patients (35%). Tumor size was larger in patients with acute wound complications compared with those without (medians 16 cm, range [12-30.0 cm] vs 6.3 cm, [1.3-14.4 cm], P = .003). Conclusion: PBT for well selected eSTS cases demonstrated excellent local control and similar acute wound complication rate comparable to historic controls. Long-term follow-up and further dosimetric analyses will provide further insight into potential advantages of PBT in this patient population.

Consensus Quality Measures and Dose Constraints for Rectal Cancer From the Veterans Affairs Radiation Oncology Quality Surveillance Program and American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Expert Panel.

PURPOSE: Ensuring high quality, evidence-based radiation therapy for patients with cancer is of the upmost importance. To address this need, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Radiation Oncology Program partnered with the American Society for Radiation Oncology and established the VA Radiation Oncology Quality Surveillance program. As part of this ongoing effort to provide the highest quality of care for patients with rectal cancer, a blue-ribbon panel comprised of rectal cancer experts was formed to develop clinical quality measures. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The Rectal Cancer Blue Ribbon panel developed quality, surveillance, and aspirational measures for (a) initial consultation and workup, (b) simulation, treatment planning, and treatment, and (c) follow-up. Twenty-two rectal cancer specific measures were developed (19 quality, 1 aspirational, and 2 surveillance). In addition, dose-volume histogram constraints for conventional and hypofractionated radiation therapy were created. CONCLUSIONS: The quality measures and dose-volume histogram for rectal cancer serves as a guideline to assess the quality of care for patients with rectal cancer receiving radiation therapy. These quality measures will be used for quality surveillance for veterans receiving care both inside and outside the VA system to improve the quality of care for these patients.