Bone texture analysis using CT-simulation scans to individuate risk parameters for radiation-induced insufficiency fractures.

This study deals with the role of texture analysis as a predictive factor of radiation-induced insufficiency fractures in patients undergoing pelvic radiation. INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the texture analysis (TA) of computed tomography (CT) simulation scans as a predictive factor of insufficiency fractures (IFs) in patients with pelvic malignancies undergoing radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: We performed an analysis of patients undergoing pelvic RT from January 2010 to December 2014, 24 of whom had developed pelvic bone IFs. We analyzed CT-simulation images using ImageJ macro software and selected two regions of interest (ROIs), which are L5 body and the femoral head. TA parameters included mean (m), standard deviation (SD), skewness (sk), kurtosis (k), entropy (e), and uniformity (u). The IFs patients were compared (1:2 ratio) with controlled patients who had not developed IFs and matched for sex, age, menopausal status, type of tumor, use of chemotherapy, and RT dose. A reliability test of intra- and inter-reader ROI TA reproducibility with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regression) were applied for TA parameters observed both in the IFs and the controlled groups. RESULTS: Inter- and intra-reader ROI TA was highly reproducible (ICC > 0.90). Significant TA parameters on paired t test included L5 m (p = 0.001), SD (p = 0.002), k (p = 0.006), e (p = 0.004), and u (p = 0.015) and femoral head m (p < 0.001) and SD (p = 0.001), whereas on logistic regression analysis, L5 e (p = 0.003) and u (p = 0.010) and femoral head m (p = 0.027), SD (p = 0.015), and sex (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, bone CT TA could be correlated to the risk of radiation-induced IFs. Studies on a large patient series and methodological refinements are warranted.

Chemo-radiotherapeutic management of advanced head and neck cancer.

Stage III and IV head and neck cancer patients usually achieve poor therapeutic results after radiotherapy. The search for more effective treatment modalities is justified, provided that tolerance is not lower than that of the usual radiation therapy schedules. Chemotherapy has been shown to be effective, and cis-platinum and bleomycin based treatments are reported to result in objective remissions in a substantial proportion of cases. There is also experimental evidence of a radiosensitizing activity of cis-platinum. Thirty-five locally advanced head and neck cancer patients were given combined chemo-radiotherapeutic treatment consisting of a cis-platinum and bleomycin induction followed by a standard radiotherapy course integrated with weekly administrations of cis-platinum. Before radiotherapy, an overall 48.5% objective remission rate was achieved, that rose to 85.8% after completion of the entire treatment, with a 31.5% complete response rate. Incidence and severity of radiation mucositis seem not to be increased, and systemic toxicity is very low, with the adopted drug administration schedule. Overall results do not show any obvious superiority over those of radiotherapy alone.

Symptomatic recurrences of carcinoma of the rectum and sigmoid. The influence of radiotherapy on the quality of life.

One hundred forty-three patients irradiated for locoregional recurrences after curative surgery for cancer of the rectum and sigmoid were studied retrospectively. An analysis was made of the symptomatic response and survival in the total series and in three subgroups treated with different dose levels (40 Gy or lower, between 40 and 50 Gy, 50 Gy or higher). The symptom-free period was calculated as percent of the overall survival. Symptomatic control was obtained in 80.4 percent of the cases, and the crude patient survival rate was 17.5 percent at two years. No significant difference was found in the three subgroups treated with different dose levels. The cumulative time/patient asymptomatic periods in the total series and in the three subgroups were 31.5, 30.2, 31.8, and 31.9 percent respectively, of the survival period.

[Combined chemo-radiotherapy in non-operable cervico-facial neoplasms. Final results of an experience with non-selected patients]. / Integrazione chemio-radioterapica nelle neoplasie cervico-facciali inoperabili. Risultati definitivi di una esperienza su pazienti non selezionati.

The management of advanced inoperable head and neck cancer is often based on a combined chemo-radiotherapy approach. No definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of this combination can be drawn from clinical trials because these neoplasms are heterogeneous and treatment schedules vary. Many scientific trials test highly toxic combinations, whereas not only good results but also low toxicity are mandatory in the current practice. We report the results obtained in 90 consecutive patients affected with inoperable head and neck cancers in stages III-IV, or relapsed after surgery. Chemotherapy consisted of a cis-platinum/bleomycin induction phase, followed by weekly administrations of cis-platinum simultaneous with conventional irradiation. The objective remission rates, achieved at the end of the induction chemotherapy and the simultaneous chemo-radiotherapy phases, were respectively 55.5% and 84.5%. The tumor disappeared in 39% of cases, by the end of the whole treatment. With the Kaplan-Meier method, 3-year overall, progression-free and relapse-free survival rates were 21.20%, 22.25% and 38.75%, respectively. The overall survival rate, calculated with the "log-rank" test according to the stage and the site of the primary tumor, exhibited no significant differences. In contrast, significant differences (p < 0.05) were demonstrated, according to treatment intent (curative radical: 26%, vs palliative: 0%) and to the achievement of an objective response at the end of induction chemotherapy--i.e., 48% 3-year survival rate, vs 7% in chemotherapy resistant cancer patients. When limiting the analysis to 72 radically irradiated patients, however, the achievement of CR after induction chemotherapy lost its prognostic value. Toxicity was not substantially higher than with conventional irradiation. Our results are in agreement with literature data on this subject which, regarding survival, fail to prove such integrated treatments as ours better than irradiation alone. In contrast, the preliminary combination of chemotherapy and irradiation is clearly better for the patients waiting to receive radiation therapy, because tumor volume and related symptoms markedly decrease after induction chemotherapy. Currently the best survival rates (about 50% at 3 years) with chemo-radiotherapy are obtained, in this kind of cancer, by combining cis-platinum and continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil, simultaneous with irradiation. However, frequent and severe toxicity is reported. Should such a modality be adopted in the current practice, patients should be selected according to their medical conditions.

[Restaging brain computerized tomography after treatment of non-operable lung neoplasms]. / La tomografia computerizzata dell'encefalo nella ristadiazione dopo terapia delle neoplasie polmonari non suscettibili di trattamento chirurgico.

PURPOSE: To assess the role of CT brain scans as a routine restaging procedure after primary, aggressive, drug or radiation therapy of unresectable lung cancer. If early, asymptomatic brain metastases are detected and treated, survival could be improved relative to the patients showing brain involvement in a later CT scan performed during the follow-up, at the onset of neurological symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients affected with lung cancer, unresectable on account of histology (small-cell carcinoma) or advanced stage (III, IV) were submitted to chemo- and/or radiotherapy, after a clinical staging including brain CT, which was negative in all patients. Brain CT was also repeated at the end of therapy (restaging), in the absence of any neurological symptom. Further scans were obtained during the subsequent follow-up only when clinical symptoms occurred, suggesting metastases to the brain. Survival values were analyzed in the patients whose brain involvement was detected during restaging, vs those showing symptomatic brain metastases during the follow-up. RESULTS: Only 4 patients had asymptomatic metastases, diagnosed with the restaging brain CT scan. Their survival rate was significantly lower than that of the 20 patients whose brain involvement was shown by a follow-up CT scan, performed after the onset of neurological symptoms. However, death was rarely a consequence of brain metastases: primary or other metastatic sites were involved in the terminal events, in the greatest majority of these cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The sudden, asymptomatic brain involvement, detected at restaging CT scan after primary therapy for unresectable lung cancer, does not correlate with a better prognosis than symptomatic metastases, diagnosed later with a follow-up CT obtained performed for clinical suspicion. Therefore the use of restaging CT scan is not warranted, as a routine procedure, except for the clinical trials intended to define optimal treatment schedules.

[Effort to radically cure stage III and IV esophageal carcinoma with simultaneous radiotherapy and chemotherapy in standard clinical practice]. / L'intento di cura radicale del carcinoma esofageo al III e IV stadio con radioterapia e chemioterapia concomitanti nella pratica clinica comune.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy and concurrent irradiation, intended to cure, are presently standard treatments for non metastatic, unresectable oesophageal cancer. The results of the combined therapy are superior to those of radiotherapy alone, attaining 25-35% 2-year survival rates. However these results mainly refer to stage I and II tumours as most of the available literature has focussed on these groups. The aim of our report is to present our experience with Stage III and IV patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four Stage III and IV oesophageal cancer patients were referred to our Departments from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1996. Diagnosis was obtained through oesophagoscopy and biopsy, stage was assessed by physical examination, chest CT scan, bronchoscopy, barium X-ray examination, upper abdomen ultrasonography and bone nuclide scan. Thirty-four patients, with no signs of blood-born metastases and in satisfactory medical conditions (i.e. age not exceeding 70 years, weight loss not exceeding 10% of body weight, normal serum values of BUN and creatinine, no other severe disease), were submitted to concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. The case features were as follows: histology of squamous cell carcinoma in 32 cases, of adenocarcinoma in 2; tumour in the upper third of the oesophagus in 11 (32.5%), in the middle third in 18 (53%), in the lower third in 5 (14.5%); male/female ratio 29/5, age 48-68 years (mean 56), Karnofsky performance status of 60% or higher. On referral, 18 out of 34 (53%) had a weight loss more than 5% of body weight and 22 (64.5%) had dysphagia. Twenty-one had Stage III (61.75%) and 13 stage IV (38.25%) cancer, with metastasis limited to the supraclavicular or coeliac nodes, which could be included in the radiation volume. In all cases chemotherapy consisted of 5-Fluoruracil (administered in a continuous i.v. infusion, from day 1 to 5, with a 750-1.000 mg/n.sq daily dose) and Cisplatin (75-100 mg/n.sq on the first day, or 20 mg/n.sq for 5 consecutive daily doses, administered by i.v. bolus). Three to 5 cycles were administered, one every 21 days. Irradiation started with the first cycle of chemotherapy in 5 patients, with the second or third cycle in 29. At least two cycles of chemotherapy were administered during the course of radiation. Radiotherapy was performed with 4 to 18 MeV linear accelerator X-rays, or telecobalt, through opposite anterior and posterior treatment portals or more complex field arrangements. The doses were in the range of 44-66 Gy, with fractionation of 5x180-200 cGy weekly sessions. After treatment, periodic follow-up controls were carried out in all cases. Thorough restaging was performed only in selected cases, thus a systematic evaluation of objective responses was not possible. Data on improvement of swallowing were always available, however, and the early therapeutic results were analysed accordingly. Toxicity was recorded according to the WHO parameters. Two-year survival after conclusion of the treatment was calculated according to Kaplan and Maier. Survival was analysed (log-rank test) according to stage, Performance Status, oesophagectomy and body weight loss. RESULTS: After treatment, subjective symptomatic relief occurred in 17 of the 22 patients presenting dysphagia (77.5%). Acute toxicity (Grade III or IV WHO) of the treatment accounted for 47% of hematologic adverse effects, 40% of mucositis, 20.5% of vomiting or diarrhoea not responding to drug treatment. Treatment delays of more than one week, due to toxicity, occurred in 23.5%. Moreover, we observed 20.5% of mild cardiotoxicity and 6% of mild nephrotoxicity. No symptomatic lung fibrosis was observed. No death could be related to toxicity. Overall 2 year survival was 13%, with a median value of 10 months. Survival analysis, according to stage, showed 2 year values of 24% in Stage III and 0% in Stage IV (p=0.09). No significant difference was related to Performance Status and weight loss. Six patients showed a remarkable improvement in symptoms and general conditions after treatment, and were restaged with oesophagoscopy, thoracic CT scan and bronchoscopy, which evidenced resectable residual tumors, and they were then operated. Although histologic examination showed tumour in all the resected specimens, 2 patients survived more than two years (33.5% survival, median 14 months). Due to the small number of operated patients, no attempt was made to assess the significance of this result, in comparison with the other cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Many Stage III and IV patients, selected for an aggressive chemo-radiation approach on the grounds of satisfactory medical conditions, can obtain relief of dysphagia. Toxicity can be severe, but is rarely life-threatening. Some cases, without extrathoracic spread of the tumor can achieve long term survival (in our experience 24% 2-year survival in Stage III, in our experience which favourably compares with the results obtained by other authors). Whether surgery may improve the therapeutic results of chemo-radiotherapy in patients whose tumour has become resectable, is an issue that cannot be satisfactorily addressed on the basis of our experience, nor are the results from the available literature exhaustive to this regard.

[Radiotherapy of limited pulmonary microcytoma in current clinical practice]. / La radioterapia del microcitoma polmonare "limitato" nella pratica clinica corrente.

The use of thoracic irradiation in the treatment of "limited disease" small-cell lung cancer yields better local control and survival rates than chemotherapy alone, according to meta-analysis studies of randomized clinical trials. Outside experimental studies, however, the role radiotherapy can currently play in the management of this type of cancer is difficult to assess because treatment modalities and patient selection criteria differ greatly. We report on the treatment outcome obtained in the Radiotherapy Department of the University of Siena in a series of 86 patients with small-cell lung cancer consecutively referred, January 1986 to January 1992; after a thorough staging, 46 of them were diagnosed as having a "limited disease". A "sequential" chemo-radiotherapy combination was used: irradiation was delivered after the completion of the initial drug treatment. Twenty-four patients (52.5%) achieved a complete and 22 (47.5%) a partial objective remission after chemotherapy, with acceptable early toxicity rates and severity. Twenty-eight of them received irradiation according to the following selection criteria: objective remission after chemotherapy (19 of 24 complete responders, excluding those with initial pleural effusion or worsening medical status during chemotherapy) and initial large tumor bulk (9 of 22 patients in partial remission). The overall treatment outcome rate (median survival: 18 months, 2-year survival: 28%) is in agreement with that of similar previous studies; toxicity rates are also similar (2% of treatment-related deaths). Survival analysis, according to "performance status" score, chemotherapy schedule and the achievement of complete remission with the initial drug management, exhibited significant differences only relative to the latter parameter. Many recent clinical trials suggest that combined chemo-radiotherapy could improve these results: toxicity is however reported as heavy, with this approach. Some guidelines are here considered, which could make this combination reliable also for current clinical use.