Cisplatin- vs. oxaliplatin-based radiosensitizing chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a comparison of two preoperative radiochemotherapy regimens.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of two neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (N-RCT) regimens for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC). METHODS: The standard N-RCT regimen for ESCC at our institution between 2002 and 2011 was a total dose of 45 Gy (1.8-Gy fractions) with concomitant cisplatin (20 mg/m(2), days 1-5 and 29-33) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 225 mg/m(2), 24 h continuous infusion on days 1-33). During the same period, a phase I/II study comparing the standard ESCC N-RCT protocol with a regimen identical except for the replacement of cisplatin with weekly oxaliplatin (40-50 mg/m(2)) was performed at our center. The standard regimen was used to treat 40 patients; 37 received the oxaliplatin regimen. All patients subsequently underwent radical resection with reconstruction according to tumor location and two-field lymph node dissection. RESULTS: Median follow-up time from the start of N-RCT was 74 months (range 3-116 months). The two patient groups were comparable in terms of demographic and baseline tumor characteristics. R0 resection was achieved in 37/39 patients (95 %) in the cisplatin-based N-RCT group, compared to 24/37 (65 %) in the oxaliplatin-based group (p = 0.002). A pathological complete response (pCR) was seen in the resection specimens from 18/39 patients (46 %) in the cisplatin-based N-RCT group and in 8/37 (22 %) oxaliplatin-group patients. In the cisplatin group, 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 67 ± 8 % and 60 ± 8 %, respectively (median OS 103 months), compared to 38 ± 8 % and 32 ± 8 %, respectively, for the oxaliplatin group (median OS 17 months; hazard ratio, HR 0.452; 95 % confidence interval, CI 0.244-0.839; p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin-based N-RCT resulted in poorer outcomes in ESCC patients and should not routinely replace cisplatin-based N-RCT.

Advanced techniques in neoadjuvant radiotherapy allow dose escalation without increased dose to the organs at risk : Planning study in esophageal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to investigate the potential of advanced radiation techniques in dose escalation in the radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 15 locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC) patients were selected for the present study. For all 15 patients, we created a 3D conformal RT plan (3D-45) with 45 Gy in fractions of 1.8 Gy to the planning target volume (PTV1), which we usually use to employ in the neoadjuvant treatment of LAEC. Additionally, a 3D boost (as in the primary RT of LAEC) was calculated with 9 Gy in fractions of 1.8 Gy to the boost volume (PTV2) (Dmean) to a total dose of 54 Gy (3D-54 Gy), which we routinely use for the definitive treatment of LAEC. Three plans with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) were then calculated for each patient: sliding window intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT-SIB), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT-SIB), and helical tomotherapy (HT-SIB). For the SIB plans, the requirement was that 95 % of the PTV1 receive ≥ 100 % of the prescription dose (45 Gy in fractions of 1.8 Gy, D95) and the PTV2 was dose escalated to 52.5 Gy in fractions of 2.1 Gy (D95). RESULTS: The median PTV2 dose for 3D-45, 3D-54, HT-SIB, VMAT-SIB, and IMRT-SIB was 45, 55, 54, 56, and 55 Gy, respectively. Therefore, the dose to PTV2 in the SIB plans was comparable to the 3D-54 plan. The lung dose in the SIB plans was in the range of the standard 3D-45, which is applied for neoadjuvant radiotherapy. The mean lung dose for the same plans was 13, 15, 12, 12, and 13 Gy, respectively. The V5 lung volumes were 71, 74, 79, 75, and 73 %, respectively. The V20 lung volumes were 20, 25, 16, 18, and 19 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: New treatment planning techniques enable higher doses to be delivered for neoadjuvant radiotherapy of LAEC without a significant increase in the delivered dose to the organs at risk. Clinical investigations are warranted to study the clinical safety and feasibility of applying higher doses through advanced techniques in the neoadjuvant treatment of LAEC.

Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in the treatment of anal cancer: 20-year experience from a single institute.

PURPOSE: To report the efficacy and toxicity of radio(chemo)therapy (RCT) in the management of squamous cell anal carcinoma (SQ-AC) and to evaluate the prognostic factors influencing the outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive cohort of 138 patients with cT1-4, cN0-3, cM0 SQ-AC were treated with RCT between 1988 and 2011 at our department. Median follow-up time for surviving patients from the start of RCT was 98 months (range, 1-236 months). Patients were treated with a median radiation dose of 56 Gy (range, 4-61 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy was administered to 119 patients (86%). RESULTS: The survival rates at 2, 5, and 10 years were 88 ± 3, 82 ± 4, and 59 ± 6%, respectively, with a median overall survival (OS) of 167 months. The cumulative incidence for local recurrence at 2 and 5 years was 8 ± 2 and 11 ± 3%, respectively. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and colostomy-free survival (CFS) times were 132 and 135 months, respectively. In 19 patients (14%), a distant metastasis was diagnosed after a median time of 19 months. In the multivariate analysis, UICC (International Union Against Cancer) stage I-II, female gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1, and good/moderate histologic differentiation (G1-2) were significantly associated with a better OS, DFS, and CFS. Conformal radiotherapy planning techniques were significantly associated with a lower cumulative incidence of local recurrence (11 ± 3% vs. 38 ± 19% at 5 years, p = 0.006). A higher radiation dose beyond 54 Gy was not associated with an improvement in outcome, neither for smaller-(T1/T2) nor for larger tumors (T3/T4). CONCLUSION: RCT leads to excellent outcomes-especially in patients with stage I/II and G1/G2 tumors-with acceptable toxicity. The probable advantages of high-dose radiotherapy should be considered carefully against the risk of a higher rate of toxicity. Future studies are needed to investigate the role of a more intensified (systemic) treatment for patients with unfavorable prognostic factors such as T3/T4, N+, and/or poor cell differentiation.

Chronic adverse events and quality of life after radiochemotherapy in anal cancer patients. A single institution experience and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: To report on chronic adverse events (CAE) and quality of life (QOL) after radiochemotherapy (RCT) in patients with anal cancer (AC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 83 patients who had received RCT at our department between 1988 and 2011, 51 accepted the invitation to participate in this QOL study. CAE were evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v. 4.0 and QOL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) questionnaire. RESULTS: CAE could be evaluated in 49 patients. There was a tendency toward a higher rate of grade 3 CAE in female patients, i.e. 18 out of 37 (49 %) vs. 2 out of 12 (17 %) male patients (p = 0.089). The most common grade 3 CAE were dyspareunia and vaginal symptoms (itching, burning and dryness) in 35 and 22 % of female patients, respectively, followed by stool incontinence in 13 % of all patients (6 out of 49). Both FACT-C and CAE information were available for 42 patients, allowing evaluation of the impact of CAE on QOL. The median total FACT-C score was 110 (40-132) out of a possible maximum of 136. The absence of grade 3 CAE (115 vs. 94, p = 0.001); an interval of ≥ 67 months after the end of the treatment (111 vs. 107, p = 0.010), no stool incontinence vs. grade 3 stool incontinence (111 vs. 74, p = 0.009), higher education (114 vs. 107, p = 0.013) and no dyspareunia vs. grade 3 dyspareunia (116 vs. 93, p = 0.012) were significantly associated with a higher median FACT-C score. CONCLUSION: The majority of AC patients treated with RCT have acceptable overall QOL scores, which are comparable to those of the normal population. Patients with grade 3 CAE-particularly dyspareunia and fecal incontinence-have a poorer QOL compared to patients without CAE. In order to improve long-term QOL, future strategies might aim at a reduction in dose to the genitalia and more intensive patient support measures.

Salvage radiotherapy in patients with recurrent esophageal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The feasibility and effectiveness of radiotherapy in the management of recurrent esophageal carcinoma (REC) is reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive cohort of 54 patients with rcT1-4, rcN0-1, or cM0 recurrent esophageal carcinoma (69% squamous cell carcinoma, 31% adenocarcinoma) was treated between 1988 and 2010. The initial treatment for these patients was definitive radiochemotherapy, surgery alone, or neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy + surgical resection in 8 (15%), 33 (61%), and 13 (24%) patients, respectively. The median time to recurrence from initial treatment was 19 months (range 4-79 months). The site of the recurrence was anastomotic or local, nodal, or both in 63%, 30%, and 7% of patients, respectively. Salvage radio(chemo)therapy was carried out with a median dose of 45 Gy (range 30-68 Gy). RESULTS: Median follow-up time for surviving patients from the start of R(C)T was 38 months (range 10-105 months). Relief of symptoms was achieved in 19 of 28 symptomatic patients (68%). The median survival time was 12 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 7-17 months) and the median recurrence-free interval was 8 months (95% CI 4-12 months). The survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 55 ± 7%, 29 ± 6%, and 19 ± 5%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 44 ± 7%, 22 ± 6%, and 15 ± 5%, respectively. A radiation dose ≥ 45 Gy and conformal RT were associated with a better prognosis. CONCLUSION: RT is feasible and effective in the management of recurrent esophageal carcinoma, especially for relief of symptoms. Toxicity is in an acceptable range. The outcome of REC is poor; however, long-term survival of patients with recurrent esophageal carcinoma after radiochemotherapy might be possible, even with a previous history of radiotherapy in the initial treatment. If re-irradiation of esophageal carcinoma is contemplated, three-dimensional conformal techniques and a minimum total dose of 45 Gy are recommended.

Radio(chemo)therapy in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of cervical lymph nodes from an unknown primary site. A retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: The goal was to retrospectively review the outcome of patients with cervical lymph node metastases of squamuos cell carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUP) treated with radio(chemo)therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 65 patients with CUP N1-3, M0, treated between 1988 and 2009 were evaluated: 61 patients underwent surgical resection followed by postoperative radio(chemo)therapy, 4 patients received definitive radiochemotherapy. Radiotherapy of bilateral neck nodes + the parapharyngeal region (COMP-RT) was performed in 48 patients (80%) and a unilateral radiotherapy of lymph nodes (UL-RT) in 17 patients (20%). RESULTS: After a median follow-up time of 64 months (range 3-219 months), the estimated 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 71 ± 6% and 48 ± 7%, respectively. The recurrent free survival (RFS) rate at 2- and 5-years was 58 ± 6% and 48% ± 7%, respectively. Extracapsular spread, resection status (R0 vs. R1/R2), neck lymph node level (I-III vs. IV-V), and Karnofsky index (60-70 vs. 80-100) were significant prognostic factors for OS and RFS in the univariate analysis. Lower nodal stage (N1/N2a vs. N2b/N2c/N3) was significantly associated with a better OS. Resection status and involvement of lymph node level IV significantly affected the OS and RFS in the multivariate analysis. COMP-RT or concurrent chemotherapy was not associated with a better OS or RFS. CONCLUSION: An advantage of comprehensive radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy compared with unilateral radiotherapy of lymph nodes was not observed.

Radiotherapy in stage I-III follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Retrospective analysis of a series of 50 patients.

PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to analyze the response rate and outcome of patients with stage I-III follicular lymphoma (FL) treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 50 consecutive patients with stage I-III FL treated with RT alone at our department from 1988-2009 were analyzed. The median age was 60 years (range 32-80 years) with a median follow-up duration of 8 years (range 4-11 years). Clinical staging was performed according to the Ann Arbor system. Stage I: 30 patients (60%), stage II: 15 patients (30%), stage III: 5 patients (10%). Thirty-two patients (64%) presented with nodal disease, 14 patients (28%) presented with disease in extranodal sites, and 4 patients (8%) had nodal and extranodal involvement. The RT field encompassed only the involved Ann Arbor nodal regions (involved-field RT) in 26 patients (52%), mantle and whole abdominopelvic fields in 6 patients (12%), mantle field in 10 patients (20%), whole abdominopelvic fields in 5 patients (10%), and a so-called mini-mantle in 3 patients (6%). The total RT dose ranged from 26-56 Gy (median 40 Gy) in daily fractions of 1.2-2.5 Gy. RESULTS: Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were observed in 39 (76%) and 9 (20%) patients, respectively. Only 2 of 8 patients (25%) with tumor bulk > 5 cm reached CR, whereas 37 of 42 patients (88%) with a maximum lymphoma diameter < 5 cm achieved CR (p = 0.0001). The median overall survival (OS) and median event-free survival (EFS) were 18 years (CI 95% 10-26 years) and 7 years (6-8 years), respectively. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year OS were 96 ± 3%, 90 ± 5%, and 70 ± 9%, respectively. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year EFS were 90 ± 5%, 70 ± 7%, and 38 ± 9%, respectively. Fifteen patients developed a recurrence outside the radiation field (30%) and 4 patients developed an in-field recurrence (8%). All in-field recurrences were observed in regions without clinical (macroscopic) involvement, which were irradiated with a dose of ≤ 26 Gy. Pretreatment maximum lymphoma diameter < 5 cm (p = 0.039) and complete remission after RT (p = 0.021) were significantly associated with a better OS in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: RT is a curative option in the treatment of limited stage FL. If RT of microscopically uninvolved area is necessary, a reduction in the radiation dose should be carefully weighed against the risk of in-field recurrences.

Primary radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in non-metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of radio(chemo)therapy in the curative management of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We retrospectively analyzed 163 patients with T1-T4, N0-1, M0 ESCC who were treated between January 1988 and December 2006 at the Technische Universität München. One hundred sixty patients were inoperable due to a poor performance status, comorbidities or locally advanced unresectable disease. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was performed with (n= 146) or without (n= 17) systemic chemotherapy. Fifty-four patients received an additional boost with intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT). Surviving patients were followed for a median of 72 months (range 10-173 months). The estimated overall survival (OS) at 2 and 5 years was 27 ± 4% and 11 ± 3%, respectively. Loco-regional recurrence at the primary site was observed in 29% of patients (n= 47). The recurrence-free survival (RFS) at 2 and 5 years was 24 ± 3% and 9 ± 2%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, the ECOG performance status (P= 0.004), 3D conformal (vs conventional) radiotherapy (P= 0.031) and continuous standard fractionation (vs split-course radiotherapy, P= 0.048) were associated with a better OS. Simultaneous chemotherapy (P= 0.49) or IBT (P= 0.31) had no significant impact on survival. Outcome for patients with ESCC is poor. Despite the very unfavorable patient selection (poor performance status, high rate of comorbidities, and advanced disease), long-term survival with radio(chemo)therapy was achieved in about 10% of patients. The introduction of modern treatment techniques/modalities (3D conformal planning/ continuous standard fractionation) might be associated with better outcomes.

Multicenter, phase III trial comparing selenium supplementation with observation in gynecologic radiation oncology: follow-up analysis of the survival data 6 years after cessation of randomization.

PURPOSE: In 2010, we reported that selenium (Se) supplementation during radiation therapy (RT) is effective for increasing blood Se levels in Se-deficient cervical and uterine cancer patients, and reduced the number of episodes and severity of RT-induced diarrhea. In the current study, we examine whether of Se supplementation during adjuvant RT affects long-term survival of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Former patients were identified and questioned with respect to their health and well-being. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were randomized in the initial supplementation study, 39 of whom received Se (selenium group, SeG) and 42 of whom served as controls (control group, CG). When former patients were reidentified after a median follow-up of 70 months (range = 0-136), the actuarial 10-year disease-free survival rate in the SeG was 80.1% compared to 83.2% in the CG (P = .65), and the actuarial 10-year overall survival rate of patients in the SeG was 55.3% compared to 42.7% in the CG (P = .09). CONCLUSIONS: Our extended follow-up analysis demonstrates that Se supplementation had no influence on the effectiveness of the anticancer irradiation therapy and did not negatively affect patients' long-term survival. In view of its positive effects on RT-induced diarrhea, we consider Se supplementation to be a meaningful and beneficial adjuvant treatment in Se-deficient cervical and uterine cancer patients while undergoing pelvic radiation therapy.