Overall survival and prognostic factors in Stage I lung adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent: A real-life 19-year cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Important differences in Stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are related to the delay in the diagnosis to the treatment, hospitals' specialised status, comorbidities, tumour stage and histological type. METHODS: A 19-year retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 681 patients with NSCLC in clinical-stage IA-IB. The variables analysed were gender, age, schooling, type of health care provider, type of treatment, period of 5-year treatment, the time between first attendance to diagnosis and the time between diagnosis and treatment, and hospital's specialised status. RESULTS: Patients who underwent radiotherapy alone had three times more risk of death than those who underwent surgery alone (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR] = 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.45-4.82; p <0.001). The independent risk of death factors was being treated in nonhigh complexity centres in oncology hospitals and having started the treatment more than 2 months after diagnosis (adjHR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.26-2.56; p <0.001) and (adjHR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.33-3.00; p <0.001), respectively. In addition, the patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2015 had a 40% lower risk of death when compared to those diagnosed between 2000 and 2005 (95% CI: 0.38-0.94; p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The overall survival in curative intent Stage-I lung cancer patients' treatment was associated with the 5-year diagnosis group, the delayed time between diagnosis and treatment and the hospital qualification.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy recommendations for localized prostate cancer in Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: Several prospective randomized trials have shown that hypofractionation has the same efficacy and safety as the conventional fractionation in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. There are many benefits of hypofractionation, including a more convenient schedule for the patients and better use of resources, which is especially important in low- and middle-income countries like Brasil. Based on these data, the Brazilian Society of Radiotherapy (Sociedade Brasileira de Radioterapia) organized this consensus to guide and support the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer in Brasil. METHODS: The relevant literature regarding moderate hypofractionation (mHypo) and ultra-hypofractionation (uHypo) was reviewed and discussed by a group of experts from public and private centers of different parts of Brasil. Several key questions concerning clinical indications, outcomes and technological requirements for hypofractionation were discussed and voted. For each question, consensus was reached if there was an agreement of at least 75% of the panel members. RESULTS: The recommendations are described in this article. CONCLUSION: This initiative will assist Brazilian radiation oncologists and medical physicists to safely treat localized prostate cancer patients with hypofractionation.

Consensus on Screening, Diagnosis, and Staging Tools for Prostate Cancer in Developing Countries: A Report From the First Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference for Developing Countries (PCCCDC).

PURPOSE: To generate and present the survey results on critical issues relevant to screening, diagnosis, and staging tools for prostate cancer (PCa) focused on developing countries. METHODS: A total of 36 of 300 questions concern the main areas of interest of this paper: (1) screening, (2) diagnosis, and (3) staging for various risk levels of PCa in developing countries. A panel of 99 international multidisciplinary cancer experts voted on these questions to create recommendations for screening, diagnosing, and staging tools for PCa in areas of limited resources discussed in this manuscript. RESULTS: The panel voted publicly but anonymously on the predefined questions. Each question was deemed consensus if 75% or more of the full panel had selected a particular answer. These answers are based on panelist opinion not a literature review or meta-analysis. For questions that refer to an area of limited resources, the recommendations consider cost-effectiveness and the possible therapies with easier and greater access. Each question had five to seven relevant answers including two nonanswers. The results were tabulated in real time. CONCLUSION: The voting results and recommendations presented in this document can be used by physicians to support the screening, diagnosis, and staging of PCa in areas of limited resources. Individual clinical decision making should be supported by available data; however, as guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and staging of PCa in developing countries have not been developed, this document will serve as a point of reference when confronted with this disease.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy recommendations for localized prostate cancer in Brasil

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Several prospective randomized trials have shown that hypofractionation has the same efficacy and safety as the conventional fractionation in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. There are many benefits of hypofractionation, including a more convenient schedule for the patients and better use of resources, which is especially important in low- and middle-income countries like Brasil. Based on these data, the Brazilian Society of Radiotherapy (Sociedade Brasileira de Radioterapia) organized this consensus to guide and support the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer in Brasil. METHODS: The relevant literature regarding moderate hypofractionation (mHypo) and ultra-hypofractionation (uHypo) was reviewed and discussed by a group of experts from public and private centers of different parts of Brasil. Several key questions concerning clinical indications, outcomes and technological requirements for hypofractionation were discussed and voted. For each question, consensus was reached if there was an agreement of at least 75% of the panel members. RESULTS: The recommendations are described in this article. CONCLUSION: This initiative will assist Brazilian radiation oncologists and medical physicists to safely treat localized prostate cancer patients with hypofractionation.

Recommendations for hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation

SUMMARY This recommendation consensus for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (RT) was organized by the Brazilian Society of Radiotherapy (SBRT) considering the optimal scenario for indication and safety in the technology applied. All controversies and contraindication matters (hypofractionated RT in patients who underwent chemotherapy [CT], hypofractionated RT in lymphatic drainage, hypofractionated RT after mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction, boost during surgery, hypofractionated RT in patients under 50 years old, hypofractionated RT in large breasts, hypofractionated RT in histology of carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) was discussed during a meeting in person, and a consensus was reached when there was an agreement of at least 75% among panel members. The grade for recommendation was also suggested according to the level of scientific evidence available, qualified as weak, medium, or strong. Thus, this consensus will aid Brazilian radiotherapy experts regarding indications and particularities of this technique as a viable and safe alternative for the national reality.

RESUMO Este consenso de recomendações para a radioterapia (RT) hipofracionada de toda a mama foi organizado pela Sociedade Brasileira de Radioterapia (SBRT) considerando o cenário ideal para indicação e segurança na tecnologia aplicada. Questões de controvérsias e contraindicações (RT hipofracionada em pacientes submetidas à quimioterapia [QT], RT hipofracionada nas drenagens linfáticas, RT hipofracionada após mastectomia com ou sem reconstrução imediata, a realização de reforço de dose em leito cirúrgico [ou boost], RT hipofracionada em pacientes com idade menor que 50 anos, RT hipofracionada em mamas volumosas, RT hipofracionada em histologia de carcinoma in situ [CDIS]) foram discutidas em encontro presencial, sendo o consenso atingido quando existisse concordância de pelo menos 75% dos panelistas. O grau de recomendação foi também sugerido de acordo com o nível de evidência científico disponível, qualificado entre fraco, médio ou forte. Assim, este consenso deverá servir para auxiliar os especialistas da radioterapia brasileira em relação às indicações e particularidades dessa técnica, como uma alternativa segura e viável para a realidade nacional.

Recommendations for hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation.

This recommendation consensus for hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (RT) was organized by the Brazilian Society of Radiotherapy (SBRT) considering the optimal scenario for indication and safety in the technology applied. All controversies and contraindication matters (hypofractionated RT in patients who underwent chemotherapy [CT], hypofractionated RT in lymphatic drainage, hypofractionated RT after mastectomy with or without immediate reconstruction, boost during surgery, hypofractionated RT in patients under 50 years old, hypofractionated RT in large breasts, hypofractionated RT in histology of carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) was discussed during a meeting in person, and a consensus was reached when there was an agreement of at least 75% among panel members. The grade for recommendation was also suggested according to the level of scientific evidence available, qualified as weak, medium, or strong. Thus, this consensus will aid Brazilian radiotherapy experts regarding indications and particularities of this technique as a viable and safe alternative for the national reality.

Radioterapia intraoperatória como protocolo de tratamento do câncer de mama inicial / Intraoperative radiotherapy as a protocol for the treatment of initial breast cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a experiência inicial de implementação e aplicação de radioterapia única e intraoperatória com feixe de elétrons em pacientes selecionadas com diagnóstico de câncer de mama em estágio inicial. Avaliar também a recorrência local e os eventos adversos (complicações locais). MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 50 pacientes com câncer de mama, pós-menopausadas, com tumores de <2,5cm e linfonodos axilares clinicamente não palpáveis, que se submeteram a uma ressecção segmentar e biópsia de linfonodo sentinela e técnica de radioterapia intraoperatória. Essas pacientes foram seguidas por um período médio de 52,1 meses. RESULTADOS: A idade média dos pacientes foi de 65,5 anos de idade. O diâmetro médio do tumor foi de 1,41cm 82% tinham tumores com receptor hormonal positivo e HER-2 negativo. A dose de radiação empregada foi de 21 Gy em todas as pacientes, com um tempo médio de irradiação intraoperatória de 8,97 minutos. O seguimento médio dessas pacientes foi de 52,1 meses. Foram evidenciados três casos com recorrência local durante esse período, sendo que nenhuma dessas pacientes tinha metástases à distância no momento do diagnóstico da recidiva. O diagnóstico patológico dessas três pacientes foi idêntico ao do tumor primário. Nesta casuística, não se registrou infecção pós-operatória ou formação de seroma. No entanto, em 35 pacientes (70%), foi observada uma fibrose local como sequela de pós-operatório. Esta, quando presente, diminuiu gradualmente e desapareceu completamente em um período médio de 18 meses. CONCLUSÃO: A radioterapia parcial é uma técnica viável e promissora, mas que deve ser indicada em casos selecionados, pelo menos até que tenhamos um maior tempo de seguimento que proporcione maior segurança para indicá-la em nossa rotina, como fazemos com a radioterapia convencional.

OBJECTIVE: To report on preliminary outcomes of single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer based on local recurrence rates and complications. METHODS: Fifty postmenopausal women with <2.5cm breast tumors and clinically normal axillary lymph nodes were submitted to quadrantectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy and intraoperative radiotherapy and studied. Mean follow-up time was 52.1 months. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 65.5 years; mean tumor diameter was 1.41cm 82% of nodules were hormonal receptor positive and HER-2 negative. All patients received a 21 Gy radiation dose for a mean time of 8.97 minutes. Distant metastases were not observed. Local recurrence was documented in three cases, with identical histological diagnosis as the primary tumors. Thirty-five (70%) patients had local fibrosis, with gradual improvement and complete resolution over 18 months. Postoperative infection and seroma formation were not observed. CONCLUSION: Partial radiotherapy is a potentially feasible and promising technique. Careful patient selection is recommended before a longer follow-up period has elapsed to confirm intraoperative radiotherapy safety and efficacy.

Intraoperative radiotherapy as a protocol for the treatment of initial breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To report on preliminary outcomes of single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer based on local recurrence rates and complications. METHODS: Fifty postmenopausal women with <2.5cm breast tumors and clinically normal axillary lymph nodes were submitted to quadrantectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy and intraoperative radiotherapy and studied. Mean follow-up time was 52.1 months. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 65.5 years; mean tumor diameter was 1.41cm 82% of nodules were hormonal receptor positive and HER-2 negative. All patients received a 21 Gy radiation dose for a mean time of 8.97 minutes. Distant metastases were not observed. Local recurrence was documented in three cases, with identical histological diagnosis as the primary tumors. Thirty-five (70%) patients had local fibrosis, with gradual improvement and complete resolution over 18 months. Postoperative infection and seroma formation were not observed. CONCLUSION: Partial radiotherapy is a potentially feasible and promising technique. Careful patient selection is recommended before a longer follow-up period has elapsed to confirm intraoperative radiotherapy safety and efficacy.

Validando o SIR: um melhor índice prognóstico para pacientes com metástases cerebraistratados com cirurgia estereotática / Validating the SIR: a better prognostic score index for patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery

Objetivo: Validar o SIR (score index for survival in patients with brain metastasis treated with stereotatic radiosurgery) [índice de escore paraavaliar a sobrevida de pacientes com metástases cerebrais tratadoscom radiocirurgia estereotática], uma classificação elaborada paramelhor prever o prognóstico de pacientes com metástases cerebraistratados com radiocirurgia, reavaliar a sobrevida dos pacientes e revisara literatura médica. Métodos: Foram analisados dados de 100 pacientes com metástases cerebrais tratados com radiocirurgia estereotática um uma única instituição, entre julho de 1993 e fevereiro de 2002. Os fatores prognósticos e índices estudados foram: idade, índice de desempenho de Karnofsky, estado da doença extracraniana, número de lesões cerebrais, volume da maior lesão, tipode tumor primário, tratado ou não tratado com radioterapia cerebral total,SIR e RPA (Recursive Partitioning Analysis – classificação por análiserecursiva fragmentada). As curvas atuariais de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier foram calculadas e comparadas. Os modelos Cox – completo e de eliminação retrógrada – foram utilizados para identificar os fatores prognósticos e índices, associados à sobrevida. Resultados: Ao analisar as curvas de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier, o índice de desempenho de Karnofsky, o estado da doença extracraniana, o volume da maior lesão cerebral, a RPA e o SIR mostraram correlação significativa com o prognóstico. Aplicando os modelos de Cox, observou-se significância para índice de desempenho de Karnofsky (p < 0,0001) e volume da maior lesão (p = 0,0182), assim como para o SIR e paraa RPA, quando testados individualmente (p < 0,0001 e p = 0,0002). Contudo, testando SIR e RPA conjuntamente, só o SIR alcançou significância estatística independente (p < 0,0001). Conclusão: Ao reavaliar nossa casuística, a classificação SIR mostrou maior precisão do que a RPA para prever o tempo de sobrevida de pacientes com metástases cerebrais tratados com radiocirurgia.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to validate the score index forsurvival in patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, using aclassification prepared to better evaluate the prognosis of patientswith brain metastasis submitted to stereotactic surgery, re-evaluatingsurvival of patients and reviewing the medical literature. Methods:Data from 100 patients with brain metastases treated with stereotacticradiosurgery at a single institution, between July 1993 and February2000, were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic factors andscores studied were age, Karnofsky performance status, extracranialdisease status, number of brain lesions, volume of the largest lesion,primary tumor type, treated or not with whole brain radiation therapy,SIR, and RPA. Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival curves for subsets werecalculated and compared by log-rank test. Complete and backwardelimination Cox models were utilized to identify the prognostic factorsand scores independently associated with survival. Results: Karnofskyperformance status, extracranial disease status, volume of the largestbrain lesion, RPA, and SIR were significantly correlated with prognosisin Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Applying Cox models, significancewas observed for KPS and volume of the largest lesion (p < 0.0001and p = 0.0182, respectively), as well as for SIR and RPA when testedindividually (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002, respectively). However, whentesting SIR and RPA together, only SIR reached independent statisticalsignificance (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: SIR classification demonstrateda better accuracy in predicting survival time than RPA. SIR was testedin other centers, showing superior accuracy and applicability than theRPA, thus validating this score.

Fatores prognósticos e tratamento de pacientes com metástases cerebrais / Prognostic factors and treatment of patients with brain metastasis

O desenvolvimento de metástases cerebrais é um evento muito freqüente no paciente com câncer, sendo a neoplasia maligna mais prevalente do sistema nervoso central (SNC).O tratamento médico destes pacientes inclui: 1) Medidas inespecíficas,tais como cuidados clínicos gerais (por exemplo, o uso de corticosteróide e drogas anticonvulsivantes, entre outros); 2) Medidas específicas gerais (que tratam todos os possíveis focos de doença no SNC, como radioterapia cerebral total e quimioterapia); e 3) Medidas específicas focais (que tratamsomente os focos macroscópicos da doença cerebral, como radiocirurgia estereotáxica e neurocirurgia). Embora o aparecimentode metástases cerebrais represente uma situação clínica dramaticamente negativa, a crença que associa o diagnóstico desta entidade com uma sentença de morte iminente deve ser revista, pois dependendo dos fatores prognósticos associados, certamente a sobrevida dos pacientes pode variar desde semanas até anos. Esta revisão tem foco de discussão na influência que a correta valorização de possíveis fatores prognósticos pode exercer na escolha adequada da terapia para pacientes com metástases cerebrais, no sentido de maximizar benefícios, em termos de qualidade e tempo de sobrevida. A observação dos fatores prognósticos na avaliação do tratamento de metástases cerebrais, certamente uma forma de estadiamento desta entidade,pode ser um importante aliado do paciente na busca de algo além da mera paliação de sua doença.

[Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer]. / Radioterapia em adenocarcinoma de pâncreas.

BACKGROUND: The pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease for which cure is only possible in less than 20% of the best cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy so far have improved symptoms with little, but significant, increase in survival rates. METHODS: Retrospective assessment of 40 patients admitted at Department of Radiation Oncology of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein between April 1993 and August 1999 was done. Radical surgery with tumor resection was previously performed in 25 and palliative procedures or nothing in 15. RESULTS: Overall actuarial median survival was 14.8 months; and actuarial survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 70% and 22.2% respectively. Actuarial median survival for the group of patients with resected tumor was 21.4 and for the group of patients with non-resected tumor was 16.1 months. Expected survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 76% and 32% for the former group and 60% and 0% for the latter. CONCLUSIONS: Results were similar to other published series. Better drugs and more frequent intraoperative radiotherapy are necessary.

Radioterapia em adenocarcinoma de pâncreas / Radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer

OBJETIVO: Avaliar retrospectivamente a sobrevida dos pacientes portadores de adenocarcinoma de pâncreas tratados no Serviço de Radioterapia do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, comparando os resultados com a literatura, e apresentando proposta de conduta. MÉTODOS: Entre abril de 1993 e agosto de 1999, 40 pacientes com adenocarcinoma de pâncreas foram admitidos para radioterapia neste Serviço. Destes, 25 haviam sido submetidos a procedimento cirúrgico radical com ressecçäo do tumor e em 15 o tumor näo havia sido ressecado (näo operados, biopsiados apenas ou submetidos a intervençöes cirúrgicas paliativas). RESULTADOS: A sobrevida actuarial mediana para toda amostra foi de 14,8 meses, sendo as probabilidades de sobrevida em 12 e 24 meses, 70 por cento e 22,2 por cento, respectivamente. A sobrevida actuarial mediana para o grupo de pacientes que tiveram o tumor ressecado foi de 21,4 meses e para o grupo de pacientes com tumor näo ressecado, 16,1 meses, sendo a probabilidade de sobreviver 12 e 24 meses de 76 por cento e 32 por cento no primeiro grupo e 60 por cento e 0 por cento no segundo (p=0,0156). CONCLUSÖES: Os nossos resultados säo semelhantes aos descritos na literatura médica atual. Há necessidade de introduzir novas drogas ativas para o tratamento destes tumores e a radioterapia intra-operatória tem que ser melhor explorada