Consensus recommendations in the management of Ewing sarcoma from the National Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Board.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant tumor of bone and soft tissue that most often occurs in adolescents and young adults. Despite an international coordinated approach, several nuances, discrepancies, and debates remain in defining the standard of care for treating ES. In this review, the authors leverage the expertise assembled by formation of the National Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Board, a multi-institution, multidisciplinary virtual tumor board that meets monthly to discuss complicated and challenging cases of ES. This report is focused on select topics that apply to the management of patients with newly diagnosed ES. The specific topics covered include indications for bone marrow aspirate and biopsy for initial evaluation compared with fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, the role of interval compressed chemotherapy in patients aged 18 years and older, the role of adding ifosfamide/etoposide to vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide for patients with metastatic disease, the data on and role of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation, maintenance therapy, and whole-lung irradiation. The data referenced are often limited to subgroup analyses and/or compiled from multiple sources. Although not intended to replace the clinical judgement of treating physicians, the guidelines are intended to provide clarity and recommendations for the upfront management of patients with ES. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Ewing sarcoma is a malignant tumor of bone and soft tissue that most often occurs in adolescents and young adults. For this review, the authors used the experience of the National Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Board, a multi-institution, multidisciplinary virtual tumor board that meets monthly to discuss complicated and challenging cases of Ewing sarcoma. Although not intended to replace the clinical judgement of treating physicians, the guidelines will focus on the development of consensus statements for the upfront management of patients with Ewing sarcoma.

Survival Outcomes of Advanced Thyroid Cancer Enriched in Brain Metastases Following Treatment With Small Molecule Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are targeted therapies increasingly used in advanced thyroid carcinomas. This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of thyroid cancer on SMI treatment, including in patients with brain metastases. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with thyroid carcinomas who received at least one SMI between 2008 and 2022 at a tertiary level, academic institution. SMI included lenvatinib, sorafenib, dabrafenib-trametinib, selpercatinib, and cabozantinib. Patients were grouped by the presence of brain metastasis. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests modeled the overall survival (OS), defined from detection of first metastasis. RESULTS: In total, 116 patients (49.1% female, median age 61.1 years [IQR, 51.1-71.0]) were included. Thyroid cancer subtypes were: 57 (49.6%) papillary, 23 (19.8%) anaplastic, 23 (19.8%) medullary, and 13 (11.2%) follicular. There were 18 (15.5%) patients with brain metastases, and 98 (84.5%) with visceral metastases. Age, sex, thyroid subtype, SMI, and time to recurrence were not different between cohorts. OS was shorter in the brain metastasis cohort (31.7 vs 42.2 months, P =.44) and was not different after excluding anaplastic thyroid cancer (29.1 vs 62.3 months, P =.21). In the case of papillary thyroid cancer, patients with brain metastases trended toward worse OS (22.0 vs 59.9 months, P =.13). Nonanaplastic histology, total thyroidectomy (OR, 40.0; P <.001), number of unique therapies (OR, 10.9; P =.047), and mutation-directed therapy (OR, 24.7; P =.003) were associated with improved OS. CONCLUSION: This single-institutional analysis reports survival outcomes of 116 patients with advanced thyroid cancer on targeted therapies, including 18 patients with brain metastases. Mutation-directed therapy for BRAFV600E mutations, RET mutations, RET fusions, and NTRK fusions had superior survival.

Modern Multidisciplinary Management of Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremity and Trunk.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremity and trunk are heterogeneous and rare tumors that require coordinated multidisciplinary management. Surgical resection remains the backbone of treatment for localized tumors, with the addition of radiotherapy to surgery to achieve high rates of local control. Despite this, overall survival is limited because of significant distant metastatic risk and a lack of efficacious systemic therapies. Clinical trials have produced conflicting results on the impact of systemic therapy in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings for patients with localized disease, leaving systemic treatment decisions largely guided by shared decision making and prognostic prediction tools such as nomograms. This article will review the foundational data as well as latest developments in surgical, radiotherapy, and systemic management supporting current practice guidelines for localized STS of the extremity and trunk.

Meta-Analysis of 5-Fraction Preoperative Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: Studies investigating preoperative 5-fraction radiation therapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are limited. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of this treatment paradigm. METHODS: This study-level meta-analysis was conducted using Bayesian methods. Statistical estimation for risk of outcome rates was conducted by posterior mean and 95% highest posterior density (HPD) intervals. Studies with 2-year local control (LC) and description of major wound complications (MWC) per the CAN-NCIC-SR2 study were included and served as the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included rates of acute and late toxicity. A total of 10 studies were identified and 7 met the inclusion criteria. Subgroup analyses were performed for ≥30 Gy vs <30 Gy. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients from 7 studies were included. Five studies used ≥30 Gy (n=144), and 2 studies <30 Gy (n=64). Median follow-up was 29 months (range: 21 to 57 mo). Primary tumor location was lower extremity in 68% and upper extremity in 22%. Most tumors were intermediate or high grade (95%, 160/169), and 50% (79/158) were >10 cm. The two-year LC for the entire cohort was 96.9%, and the rate of MWC was 30.6%. There was a trend toward improved LC with ≥ 30 Gy (95% HPD: 0.95 to 0.99 vs 0.84 to 0.99). There was no difference in MWC (95% HPD: 0.18 to 0.42 vs 0.17 to 0.55) or late toxicity between the groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 5-fraction RT for STS demonstrates excellent 2-year LC with MWC and toxicity similar to standard fractionation preoperative RT. Multi-institutional trials with a universal RT protocol are warranted.

Evaluating the impact of the degree of extranodal extension on outcomes in locally advanced oral cavity cancer.

BACKGROUND: Evaluate whether extranodal extension (ENE) extent impacts outcomes in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). METHODS: From an institutional database, patients with OCSCC and pathologic ENE who received adjuvant treatment were included. Surgical slides were reviewed to confirm ENE extent. Multivariable Cox regression was used to relate patient/treatment characteristics with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). ENE was analyzed as both a dichotomous and continuous variable. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were identified. Between major (>2 mm) versus minor ENE (≤2 mm), there was no significant difference in DFS (HR 1.18, 95%CI 0.72-1.92, p = 0.51) or OS (HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.70-1.96, p = 0.55). There was no significant association between ENE as a continuous variable and DFS (HR 0.97 per mm, 95%CI 0.87-1.4, p = 0.96) or OS (HR 0.96 per mm, 95%CI 0.83-1.11, p = 0.58). CONCLUSION: No significant relationship was seen between ENE extent and DFS or OS in individuals with OCSCC.

Five Fraction External Beam Partial Breast Irradiation: A User's Guide.

OBJECTIVE: Mature follow up from multiple randomized trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of external beam partial breast irradiation (PBI) for appropriately selected patients with early stage breast cancer. Despite this evidence, external beam PBI remains underutilized. In this user guide we outline patient selection, workflow, and address possible challenges to aid in implementation of evidence-based external beam PBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the current guidelines for PBI suitability, surgical considerations, treatment technique, simulation, contouring, and treatment planning, citing the latest published literature to support PBI utilization. RESULTS: Prospective data supports the use of 30 Gy in 5 fractions delivered with intensity modulated radiation therapy on a daily or every other day basis for a significant proportion of early stage breast cancer patients. The surgical cavity must be clearly visualized on treatment planning scan, recommend 3-5 weeks post-operatively, and the recommended clinical target volume expansion on the surgical cavity is 0.5-1.0 cm. A planning target volume expansion, based on motion management and image guidance, of 0.5-1.0 cm should be used. Organ at risk dose constraints of heart V3Gy ≤10% and contralateral breast Dmax ≤1 Gy are often achievable. CONCLUSIONS: Five fraction external beam PBI is a highly effective treatment with very limited toxicity for patients with early stage breast cancer following breast conserving surgery. Commonly utilized intensity modulated treatment planning techniques with plan delivery on standard linear accelerators results significant normal tissue sparing and makes implementation feasible at most radiation oncology centers.

Cancer Diagnoses and Use of Radiation Therapy Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness.

PURPOSE: Persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) have low rates of cancer screening and worse cancer mortality compared with persons not experiencing homelessness. Data regarding cancer diagnosis and treatment in PEH are limited. We investigated cancer prevalence and use of radiation therapy (RT) in PEH. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients presenting between January 1, 2014, and September 27, 2021, at a large metropolitan hospital system were assessed for homelessness via intake screening or chart search. PEH data were cross-referenced with the institution's cancer database to identify PEH with cancer diagnoses. Demographic, clinical, and treatment variables were abstracted. RESULTS: Of a total of 9654 (9250 evaluable) PEH with a median age of 42 years, 81 patients (0.88%) had at least 1 cancer diagnosis and 5 had multiple diagnoses, for a total of 87 PEH with at least 1 cancer diagnosis. The median age at diagnosis was 60 years. In total, 43% were female and 51% were Black, and 43% presented with advanced or metastatic disease. Lung (17%), prostate (15%), leukemia/lymphoma (13%), and head/neck (9%) were the most common diagnoses. In total, 17% of patients underwent surgery alone, 13% received chemotherapy alone, 14% received RT alone, and 6% received hormone therapy alone. A total of 8% of patients underwent no treatment, and 43% underwent multimodality therapy. In total, 58% of treated patients never achieved disease-free status. Of the 31 patients who received RT, 87% received external beam RT. Most patients (70%) received hypofractionated regimens. For patients who had multifraction treatment, the treatment completion rate was 85%, significantly lower than the departmental completion rate of 98% (P < .00001). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of PEH in a metropolitan setting, cancer diagnoses were uncommon and were frequently in advanced stages. Most patients underwent single-modality treatment or no treatment at all. Despite the use of hypofractionation, the RT completion rate was low, likely reflecting complex barriers to care. Further interventions to optimize cancer diagnosis and treatment in PEH are urgently needed.

Early outcomes of ultra-hypofractionated preoperative radiation therapy for soft tissue sarcoma followed by immediate surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in shorter courses of radiation therapy (RT) in the management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). We report our institutional experience for patients undergoing ultra-hypofractionated preoperative RT followed by immediate resection. METHODS: An IRB approved review of patients treated with preoperative 5 fraction, once daily RT followed by immediate resection (within 7 days) for STS of the extremity or trunk was conducted. The primary endpoints are major wound complications and local control (LC). Secondary endpoints include grade ≥ 2 toxicity, metastasis free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with a median age of 67 years (range 30-87) and median follow-up of 24.5 months (IQR 17.0-35.7) met eligibility criteria; 18/22 patients (81.8 %) had ≥ 1 year follow-up. Primary tumor location was lower extremity in 15 patients (68.2 %), upper extremity in 5 (22.7 %), and trunk in 2 (9.1 %). All patients received 30 Gy in 5 fractions. The median time to resection following RT was 1 day (range 0-5). The median time from biopsy to resection was 34 days (range 20-69). Local control was 100 %; in patients with localized disease, 2-year MFS and OS were 71.3 % and 76.9 %, respectively. Major wound complications occurred in 9 patients (40.9 %), with wound complications requiring reoperation occurring in 8 patients (36.4 %). Other acute and late grade ≥ 2 toxicities were seen in 0 and 4 patients (18.2 %), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultra-hypofractionated preoperative RT followed by immediate resection permits expedited completion of oncologic therapy with early results demonstrating excellent local control and acceptable toxicity. Prospective data with long-term follow-up is needed.

Comparison of real-world outcomes following immunotherapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with outcomes of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate outcomes of patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with immunotherapy (IO). METHODS: Among patients with R/M HNSCC treated with IO in this retrospective single-institution cohort, Cox regression was used to compare overall survival (OS) for those with platinum-refractory disease and those treated in the first-line setting with OS from KEYNOTE-040/048, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify predictors of OS. RESULTS: There was no significant OS difference for those treated in the platinum-refractory setting when compared to patients on KEYNOTE-040 (HR = 1.22, p = 0.27), nor for the first-line setting compared to KEYNOTE-048 (HR = 1.23, p = 0.19). ECOG-PS 1 (HR = 2.00, p = 0.02) and ECOG-PS 2 (HR = 3.13, p < 0.01) were associated with worse OS. Higher absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.93 per 100 cells/µL, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Real-world outcomes of IO in R/M HNSCC are similar to outcomes in randomized control trials, with performance status and ALC correlating with OS.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Sarcoma Pulmonary Metastases.

BACKGROUND: Lung metastases are the most common form of distant failure for patients diagnosed with sarcoma with metastasectomy considered for some patients with limited metastatic disease and good performance status. Alternatives to surgery such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can be considered, though data are limited. We present outcomes after SBRT for sarcoma lung metastases. METHODS: Fifty sarcoma patients with 109 lung metastases were treated with SBRT between 2005 and 2021. Outcomes evaluated included local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and toxicity including lung pneumonitis/fibrosis, chest wall toxicity, dermatitis, brachial plexus, and esophageal toxicity. Systemic therapy receipt before and after SBRT was recorded. RESULTS: SBRT schedules were divided into 3 cohorts: 30 to 34 Gy/1fx (n=10 [20%]), 48 to 50 Gy/4 to 5fx (n=24[48%]), and 60 Gy/5fx (n=16[32%]). With a median follow-up of 19.5 months, 1/3-year LC rates were 96%/88% and 1/3-year OS 77%/50%, respectively. There was no differences between the 3 regimens in terms of LC, OS, or toxicity. Size >4 cm was a predictor of worse LC ( P =0.031) and worse OS ( P = 0.039) on univariate analysis. The primary pattern of failure was new metastases (64%) of which the majority were in the contralateral lung (52%). One-year chemotherapy-free survival was 85%. Overall, 76% of patients did not require chemotherapy initiation or change of chemotherapy regimen after lung SBRT. Toxicity was reported in 16% of patients overall, including 25%, 20%, and 14% in the 30 to 34 Gy/1fx, 48 to 50 Gy/4 to 5fx, and 60 Gy/5fx cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT outcomes for lung metastases from sarcoma demonstrate high rates of LC and are similar with different dose/fractionation regimens. Lung SBRT is associated with prolonged chemotherapy-free survival. Prospective validation of these results is warranted.

Margin Assessment Methods in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Recurrence: Tumor Bed vs Resection Specimen Sampling.

Importance: Positive margins and margin clearance are risk factors for recurrence in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), and these features are used to guide decisions regarding adjuvant radiation treatment. However, the prognostic value of intraoperative tumor bed vs resection specimen sampling is not well defined. Objective: To determine the prognostic implications of intraoperative margin assessment methods (tumor bed vs resection specimen sampling) with recurrence among patients who undergo surgical resection for OCSCC. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective study of patients who had undergone surgical resection of OCSCC between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021, at a tertiary-level academic institution. Patients were grouped by margin assessment method (tumor bed [defect] or resection specimen sampling). Of 223 patients with OCSCC, 109 patients had localized tumors (pT1-T2, cN0), 154 had advanced tumors, and 40 were included in both cohorts. Disease recurrence after surgery was estimated by the cumulative incidence method and compared between cohorts using hazard ratios (HRs). Data analyses were performed from January 5, 2023, to April 30, 2023. Main Outcome and Measures: Recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: The study population comprised 223 patients (mean [SD] age, 62.7 [12.0] years; 88 (39.5%) female and 200 [90.0%] White individuals) of whom 158 (70.9%) had defect-driven and 65 (29.1%) had specimen-driven margin sampling. Among the 109 patients with localized cancer, intraoperative positive margins were found in 5 of 67 (7.5%) vs 8 of 42 (19.0%) for defect- vs specimen-driven sampling, respectively. Final positive margins were 3.0% for defect- (2 of 67) and 2.4% for specimen-driven (1 of 42) margin assessment. Among the 154 patients with advanced cancer, intraoperative positive margins were found in 29 of 114 (25.4%) vs 13 of 40 (32.5%) for defect- and specimen-driven margins, respectively. Final positive margins were higher in the defect-driven group (9 of 114 [7.9%] vs 1 of 40 [2.5%]). When stratified by margin assessment method, the 3-year rates of local recurrence (9.7% vs 5.1%; HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.51-3.66), regional recurrence (11.0% vs 10.4%; HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.37-1.94), and distant recurrence (6.4% vs 5.0%; HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.36-3.35) were not different for defect- vs specimen-driven sampling cohorts, respectively. The 3-year rate of any recurrence was 18.9% in the defect- and 15.2% in the specimen-driven cohort (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.48-1.81). There were no differences in cumulative incidence of disease recurrence when comparing defect- vs specimen-driven cases. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this retrospective cohort study indicate that margin assessment methods using either defect- or specimen-driven sampling did not demonstrate a clear association with the risk of recurrence after OCSCC resection. Specimen-driven sampling may be associated with reduced surgical margin positivity rates, which often necessitate concurrent chemotherapy with adjuvant radiation therapy.

Association of Treatment Strategies and Tumor Characteristics With Overall Survival Among Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Institution 21-Year Experience.

Importance: Survival outcomes for anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), the most aggressive subtype of thyroid cancers, have remained poor. However, targeted therapies and immunotherapies present new opportunities for treatment of this disease. Evaluations of survival outcomes over time with new multimodal therapies are needed for optimizing treatment plans. Objective: To evaluate the association of treatment strategies and tumor characteristics with overall survival (OS) among patients with ATC. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective case series study evaluated the survival outcomes stratified by treatment strategies and tumor characteristics among patients with ATC treated at a tertiary level academic institution from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021. Demographic, tumor, treatment, and outcome characteristics were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test modeled OS by treatment type and tumor characteristics. Data were analyzed in May 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Overall survival (OS). Results: The study cohort comprised 97 patients with biopsy-proven ATC (median [range] age at diagnosis, 70 [38-93] years; 60 (62%) female and 85 [88%] White individuals; 59 [61%] never smokers). At ATC diagnosis, 18 (19%) patients had stage IVA, 19 (20%) had stage IVB, and 53 (55%) had stage IVC disease. BRAF status was assessed in 38 patients; 18 (47%) had BRAF-V600E variations and 20 (53%), BRAF wild type. Treatment during clinical course included surgery for 44 (45%) patients; chemotherapy, 41 (43%); definitive or adjuvant radiation therapy, 34 (RT; 35%); and targeted therapy, 28 (29%). Median OS for the total cohort was 6.5 (95% CI, 4.3-10.0) months. Inferior OS was found in patients who did not receive surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.35-3.34; reference, received surgery), chemotherapy (HR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.99-5.39; reference, received chemotherapy), and definitive or adjuvant RT (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.52-4.02; reference, received definitive/adjuvant RT). On multivariable analysis, age at diagnosis (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06), tumor stage IVC (HR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.35-5.18), and absence of definitive or adjuvant RT (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.01-3.59) were associated with worse OS. Conclusions and Relevance: This retrospective single-institution study found that lower tumor stage, younger age, and the ability to receive definitive or adjuvant RT were associated with improved OS in patients with ATC.

Integrating Prostate-specific Antigen Kinetics into Contemporary Predictive Nomograms of Salvage Radiotherapy After Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) is an established treatment for men with biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy (RP). There are several risk factors associated with adverse outcomes; however, the value of postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics is less clear in the ultrasensitive PSA era. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the impact of PSA kinetics on outcomes following SRT and generate nomograms to aid in identifying patients with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A multi-institutional analysis was conducted of 1005 patients with prostate cancer treated with SRT after RP, with a median follow-up of 5 years. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Variables examined include immediate postoperative PSA, postoperative PSA doubling time (DT), and pre-SRT PSA, in addition to previously identified predictive factors. Multivariable survival analyses were completed using Fine-Gray competing risk regression. Rates of biochemical failure (BF), distant metastasis (DM), and prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) were estimated by the cumulative incidence method. Nomograms were generated from multivariable competing risk regression with bootstrap cross-validation. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Factors associated with BF after SRT include PSA DT <6 mo, initial postoperative PSA ≥0.2 ng/ml, higher pre-SRT PSA, lack of androgen deprivation therapy, a higher Gleason score (GS), negative margins, seminal vesicle invasion, lack of pelvic nodal radiation, radiation total dose <66 Gy, a longer RP to SRT interval, and older age (p < 0.05 for each). Factors associated with DM include PSA DT <6 mo, pre-SRT PSA, a higher GS, and negative margins. Factors associated with PCSM include PSA DT not calculable or <6 mo and a higher GS. Nomograms were generated to estimate the risks of BF (concordance index [CI] 0.74), DM (CI 0.77), and PCSM (CI 0.77). Limitations include retrospective nature, broad treatment eras, institutional variations, and multiple methods available for the estimation of PSA DT. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative PSA kinetics, particularly pre-SRT PSA and PSA DT, are strongly associated with adverse oncologic outcomes following SRT and should be considered in management decisions. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report of men with prostate cancer who developed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after prostatectomy, we found that PSA levels after surgery and how quickly a PSA level doubles significantly impact the chance of prostate cancer recurrence after salvage radiation therapy. Based on this information, we created a tool to calculate a man's chance of cancer recurrence after salvage radiation therapy, and these estimations can be used to discuss whether additional treatment with radiation should be considered.

Nasopharyngeal cancer: Incidence and prognosis of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus association at a single North American institution.

BACKGROUND: The prognostication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) status in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is unclear. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed NPC from 2000 to 2019. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were included: 43 EBV+ , 12 HPV+ , 23 EBV- /HPV- , and 0 EBV+ /HPV+ . All p16+ tumors were also positive for HPV-CISH. Baseline characteristics were not different between groups except age, N-classification, and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) (p < 0.05). For EBV+ , HPV+ , and EBV- /HPV- respectively, 3-year overall survival (OS) was 89.9%, 69.8%, and 52.5% (p = 0.006). EBV- /HPV- status was significantly associated with worse OS but not freedom from progression (FFP) on univariate analysis, and did not remain a significant predictor of OS after adjusting for KPS, age, and group stage. CONCLUSIONS: EBV+ NPC tumors were seen in younger, healthier patients than HPV+ and EBV- tumors, and there were no cases of coinfection. The association of viral status with OS was insignificant after adjusting for KPS and age.

Limited Toxicity of Hypofractionated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hypofractionated radiation therapy is not commonly used in head and neck cancers (HNC) due to increased toxicity observed in historical cohorts. This study reviews our institutional experience using hypofractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy (H-IMRT) for HNC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 56 patients with HNC treated with H-IMRT with ≥50 Gy in 20 fractions was conducted. The primary outcomes were acute and late toxicity. RESULTS: Two-year locoregional control was 87% and median overall survival was 46 months. There were no acute or late grade 4 or 5 toxicities. Acute grade 2 and 3 toxicity was seen in 79% (N=44) and 25% (N=14), respectively. Late grade 2 toxicity was seen in 9% (N=5). No patients required the placement of a feeding tube or tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: H-IMRT for the definitive or post-operative treatment of HNC using ≥50 Gy in 20 fractions appears safe and well tolerated with modest toxicity.

American Brachytherapy Society radiation oncology alternative payment model task force: Quality measures and metrics for brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: Brachytherapy is an essential technique to deliver radiation therapy and is involved in the treatment of multiple disease sites as monotherapy or as an adjunct to external beam radiation therapy. With a growing focus on the cost and value of cancer treatments as well as new payment models, it is essential that standardized quality measures and metrics exist to allow for straightforward assessment of brachytherapy quality and for the development of clinically significant and relevant clinical data elements. We present the American Brachytherapy Society consensus statement on quality measures and metrics for brachytherapy as well as suggested clinical data elements. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Members of the American Brachytherapy Society with expertise in disease site specific brachytherapy created a consensus statement based on a literature review and clinical experience. RESULTS: Key quality measures (ex. workup, clinical indications), dosimetric metrics, and clinical data elements for brachytherapy were evaluated for each modality including breast cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, keratinocyte carcinoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and uveal melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus statement provides standardized quality measures and dosimetric quality metrics as well as clinical data elements for each disease site to allow for standardized assessments of brachytherapy quality. Moving forward, a similar paradigm can be considered for external beam radiation therapy as well, providing comprehensive radiation therapy quality measures, metrics, and clinical data elements that can be incorporated into new payment models.

Radiation Oncology Initial Certification Qualification Examinations: The Resident Experience in 2019.

PURPOSE: To characterize the resident experience preparing for the 2019 American Board of Radiology initial certification (IC) qualifying examinations in radiation oncology. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology distributed a survey to 360 radiation oncology residents from the 2019 and 2020 graduating classes covering topics pertinent to preparation for the medical physics (MP), radiation and cancer biology (RCB), and clinical radiation oncology (CRO) qualifying examinations. RESULTS: The response rate was 58% (n = 210). In the 12 weeks before the MP and RCB examinations, first-time examinees studied a median of 160 hours (interquartile range, 96 to 270). Residents reported a "moderate" or "significant" negative effect on research productivity (3 [2-4]), mental health (3 [2-4]), clinical development (3 [2-4]), and family life (3 [2-4]). Half of surveyed residents (52%, n = 110) used a protected research or elective block to study while an additional 21% (n = 45) used a median of 5 (3-20) vacation days. Residents overall "agreed" (4 [2-4]) that their program's physics course was "important" for their preparation but were "neutral" (3 [2-4]) regarding the value of their program's radiobiology course. Question-based educational resources were most frequently rated as "important" study resources. Respondents "strongly" endorsed the development of a consensus radiation oncology curriculum (5 [4-5]) and "agreed" (4 [3-4]) that consolidation of the MP, RCB, and CRO qualifying examinations into a single written examination would be preferred. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation oncology residents dedicate substantial time preparing for the IC examinations at the expense of training- and health-related outcomes. Residents report a wide range in quality of internal program didactic courses in physics and radiobiology, endorse development of a consensus radiation oncology curriculum, and prefer consolidation of the three qualifying examinations into a single written IC examination. We caution the high pass rates seen on the 2019 examinations do not obviate the need for ongoing improvement in radiation oncology graduate medical education and the board certification process.

#ThisIsBrachytherapy: Increasing awareness of brachytherapy.

PURPOSE: The use of brachytherapy continues to be a vital application of radiation oncology for various cancers. Despite this, there has been a decrease in the utilization of brachytherapy in many cancers. Social media in medicine facilitates engagement and advocacy. We launched a social media campaign to bring awareness of brachytherapy throughout the world with #ThisIsBrachytherapy hashtag on July 17, 2019. METHODS AND MATERIALS: #ThisIsBrachytherapy hashtag was registered with Symplur Healthcare Hashtag Project. We collected total tweet counts, retweet counts, impression counts, geolocation, top 10 influencers, associated hashtags, associated words, and word sentiment score. RESULTS: The campaign launched on July 17, 2019, had a total of 145 tweets on that day with 213,416 impressions. Twenty-seven accounts (45%) were identified as physicians. Top countries which tweeted, among those with information available, included the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Since July 17, 2019, there has been an increase in tweets using #ThisIsBrachytherapy, with 1990 total tweets with 1,999,248 impressions. Fifty-four percent (1030) of the tweets contained photos and 319 contained links. This was from 462 unique users. Word sentiment was overwhelmingly positive. Associated hashtags with #ThisIsBrachytherapy included most commonly #radonc, #brachytherapy, #brachy, #prostatecancer, and #pcsm. CONCLUSIONS: The #ThisIsBrachytherapy inaugural campaign was successful and has continued to grow throughout the months after the initiation. By continuing to advocate for brachytherapy through the social media campaign #ThisIsBrachytherapy, we can empower radiation oncologists, especially trainees, and patients to address underutilization.