Long-term outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and high dose rate brachytherapy as adjuvant therapy after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with 3D-planned pelvic radiation, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been shown to reduce acute toxicity in cervical cancer patients after radical hysterectomy. This study evaluated late toxicity and patterns of failure after post-operative pelvic IMRT interdigitated weekly with high dose rate brachytherapy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 53 cervical cancer patients treated between January 2006 and August 2019 with radical hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy, and post-operative IMRT and high dose rate brachytherapy. The decision to include chemotherapy was made by the treating gynecologic oncologist based on patient-specific criteria including positive pelvic lymph nodes, positive surgical margins, or positive parametrial invasion. The actuarial rates of genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity, vaginal cuff/regional nodal/distant failure, and overall survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 70 months (range 5.4-148) months and age at diagnosis was 47 (range 24-73) years. The 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) clinical stages were IB1 (n=19), IB2 (n=7), IIB (n=7), IIIC1 (n=19), and IIIC2 (n=1). Median radiation dose delivered in 160 cGy daily fractions was 5120 (range 4640-5120) cGy. Median brachytherapy dose prescribed to the vaginal surface delivered in six weekly fractions was 2400 (range 1200-4800) cGy. Concurrent chemotherapy was delivered in 35 (66%) patients. There were no acute grade >3 genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicities. Late grade >3 occurred in two (3.8%) patients, including a small bowel obstruction and a ureteral stricture. The 5-year actuarial rate for gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity was 1.9%. There were no vaginal cuff recurrences. The 5-year actuarial rates for regional nodal failure, distant failure outside the radiation field, any failure, and overall survival were 11%, 11%, 14%, and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative IMRT with high dose rate brachytherapy for patients with cervical cancer is associated with excellent outcomes and limited rates of radiation-related non-hematologic toxicity.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer refractory to chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate local control, survival outcomes, and toxicity after intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for recurrent chemorefractory ovarian cancer. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2014, 33 patients were treated with IMRT for recurrent ovarian cancer. Patients received a median of 3 chemotherapy regimens prior to IMRT (range, 1-12) with 11 (33%) undergoing concurrent therapy. Local control (LC), recurrence free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated via Kaplan-Meier method. Toxicity was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03. Impact of patient characteristics on outcomes was evaluated via Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Median follow up was 23.7 months. Forty-nine sites were treated to a median dose of 5040cGy (range, 4500-7000). Nine (18%) of the 49 sites had in-field failures. Two year actuarial LC, RFS, and OS were 82%, 11%, and 63%, respectively. Seventeen patients had both a pre and post-treatment FDG-PET/CT; 6 (35%) had a complete metabolic response while 11 (65%) had a partial metabolic response. Acute ≥ grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities occurred in 2 (6%) patients, late ≥ grade 3 GI toxicities occurred in 12 (36%), acute ≥ grade 3 hematological toxicities occurred in 5 (15%) and late ≥ grade 3 hematological toxicities occurred in 14 (42%). CONCLUSIONS: IMRT for recurrent chemorefractory ovarian cancer is associated with excellent local control and limited radiation related toxicity. Future studies will be required to determine which subpopulation will benefit most from IMRT and whether alternative techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy may be feasible.

ACR-ARS Practice Parameter for Communication: Radiation Oncology.

BACKGROUND: This practice parameter was revised collaboratively by the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the American Radium Society (ARS). Timely, accurate, and effective communications are critical to quality and safety in contemporary medical practices. Radiation oncology incorporates the science and technology of complex, integrated treatment delivery and the art of providing care to individual patients. Through written physical and/or electronic reports and direct communication, radiation oncologists convey their knowledge and evaluation regarding patient care, clinical workup, and treatment provided to others in the management of the patient. Applicable practice parameters need to be revised periodically regarding medical record documentation for professional and technical components of services delivered. METHODS: This practice parameter was developed and revised according to the process described under the heading "The Process for Developing ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards" on the ACR website ( https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Practice-Parameters-and-Technical-Standards ) by the Committee on Practice Parameters-Radiation Oncology of the ACR Commission on Radiation Oncology in collaboration with the ARS. Both societies have reviewed and approved the document. RESULTS: This practice parameter addresses radiation oncology communications in general, including (a) medical record, (b) electronic, and (c) doctor-patient communications, as well as specific documentation for radiation oncology reports such as (a) consultation, (b) clinical treatment management notes (including inpatient communication), (c) treatment (completion) summary, and (d) follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: The radiation oncologist's participation in the multidisciplinary management of patients is reflected in timely, medically appropriate, and informative communication with patients, caregivers, referring physician, and other members of the health care team. The ACR-ARS Practice Parameter for Communication: Radiation Oncology is an educational tool designed to assist practitioners in providing appropriate communication regarding radiation oncology care for patients.

Prognosis of South Asian Buccal Mucosa Cancer Patients in the United States: Association of Race with Overall Survival.

BACKGROUND: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the buccal mucosa and gingiva accounts for approximately 10% of oral and pharyngeal cancers diagnosed in the United States each year, with a disproportionally higher incidence in individuals of South Asian descent. However, little has been documented regarding trends pertaining to overall survival. Thus, this research serves to identify predictors of survival and determine if overall survival (OS) differs for South Asians compared to other races once they develop non-metastatic buccal mucosa or gingiva squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A population-based, cohort study of patients registered in the National Cancer Database® (NCDB) between the years 2004-2016 was performed. Kaplan-Meyer Survival Curves were executed to examine overall survival, while univariable (UVA) and multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed to determine the effect of multiple variables on OS. RESULTS: South Asians had longer median OS at 88.7 months, compared to 58.6 months and 38.3 months for Caucasians and African Americans respectively (p<0.001). In UVA, race was highly significant, but when the cohort was selected to include only those who had undergone surgical resection, no statistically significant difference remained. On MVA, lack of surgery, older age, higher grade, higher T and N stage, use of chemotherapy, higher comorbidity scores were associated with worse OS, but race was not significant. CONCLUSION: South Asians in the US with non-metastatic buccal mucosa or gingiva SCC have better OS compared to Caucasians or African Americans, likely due to younger age at diagnosis (median 59 vs. 71 and 62 years old) and more frequent surgical resection (75% vs. 72% and 64%). In MVA, South Asians have similar OS as Caucasians.

ACR-ARS Practice Parameter on Informed Consent Radiation Oncology.

OBJECTIVES: Consent is a communication process between the patient and a health care provider, in which both parties have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange information relevant to the patient's diagnosis and treatment. The process of informed consent is designed to protect a patient's autonomy in their medical decision-making in the context of an asymmetric relationship with the health care system. A proper consent process assures a patient's individual autonomy, reduces the opportunity for abusive conduct or conflicts of interest, and raises trust levels among participants. This document was developed as an educational tool to facilitate these goals. METHODS: This practice parameter was produced according to the process described under the heading "The Process for Developing ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards" on the ACR website ( https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Practice-Parameters-and-Technical-Standards ) by the Committee on Practice Parameters-Radiation Oncology of the ACR Commission on Radiation Oncology in collaboration with the ARS. Committee members were charged with reviewing the prior version of the informed consent practice parameter published in 2017 and recommending additions, modifications, or deletions. The committee met through remote access and subsequently through an online exchange to facilitate the development of the revised document. Focus was given on identifying new considerations and challenges with informed consent given the evolution of the practice of radiation oncology in part driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and other external factors. RESULTS: A review of the practice parameter published in 2017 confirmed the ongoing relevance of recommendations made at that time. In addition, the evolution of the practice of radiation oncology since the publication of the prior document resulted in the need for new topics to be addressed. These topics include remote consent either through telehealth or telephone and with the patient or their health care proxy. CONCLUSIONS: Informed consent is an essential process in the care of radiation oncology patients. This practice parameter serves as an educational tool designed to assist practitioners in optimizing this process for the benefit of all involved parties.

Evaluation of Biological Effective Dose in Gamma Knife Staged Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Large Brain Metastases.

Objective: Gamma knife (GK) staged stereotactic radiosurgery (Staged-SRS) has become an effective treatment option for large brain metastases (BMs); however, it has been challenging to evaluate the total dose because of tumor shrinkage between two staged sessions. This study aims to evaluate total biological effective dose (BED) in Staged-SRS, and to compare the BED with those in single-fraction SRS (SF-SRS) and hypo-fractionated SRS (HF-SRS). Methods: Patients treated with GK Staged-SRS at a single institution were retrospectively included. The dose delivered in two sessions of Staged-SRS was summed using the deformable image registration. Each patient was replanned for SF-SRS and HF-SRS. The total BEDs were computed using the linear-quadratic model. Tumor BED98% and brain V84Gy2, equivalent to V12Gy in SF-SRS, were compared between SF-SRS, HF-SRS, and Staged-SRS plans with the Wilcoxon test. Results: Twelve patients with 24 BMs treated with GK Staged-SRS were identified. We observed significant differences (p < 0.05) in tumor BED98% but comparable brain V84Gy2 (p = 0.677) between the Staged-SRS and SF-SRS plans. No dosimetric advantages of Staged-SRS over HF-SRS were observed. Tumor BED98% in the HF-SRS plans were significantly higher than those in the Staged-SRS plans (p < 0.05). Despite the larger PTVs, brain V84Gy2 in the HF-SRS plans remained lower (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We presented an approach to calculate the composite BEDs delivered to both tumor and normal brain tissue in Staged-SRS. Compared to SF-SRS, Staged-SRS delivers a higher dose to tumor but maintains a comparable dose to normal brain tissue. Our results did not show any dosimetric advantages of Staged-SRS over HF-SRS.

Differentiation of intracranial Rosai-Dorfman histiocytosis from meningioma using MR perfusion.

Intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease may be indistinguishable from meningioma. This distinction is essential, as they are treated very differently. We present two cases where perfusion imaging helped make this distinction, allowing one to be treated successfully without craniotomy. Perfusion imaging may be a powerful adjunct in cases where RDD mimics meningioma.

Clinical Evaluation of the Inverse Planning System Utilized in Gamma Knife Lightning.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to independently compare the performance of the inverse planning algorithm utilized in Gamma Knife (GK) Lightning Treatment Planning System (TPS) to manual forward planning, between experienced and inexperienced users, for different types of targets. Materials and Methods: Forty patients treated with GK stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for pituitary adenoma (PA), vestibular schwannoma (VS), post-operative brain metastases (pBM), and intact brain metastases (iBM) were randomly selected, ten for each site. Three inversely optimized plans were generated for each case by two experienced planners (OptExp1 and OptExp2) and a novice planner (OptNov) using GK Lightning TPS. For each treatment site, the Gradient Index (GI), the Paddick Conformity Index (PCI), the prescription percentage, the scaled beam-on time (sBOT), the number of shots used, and dosimetric metrics to OARs were compared first between the inversely optimized plans and the manually generated clinical plans, and then among the inversely optimized plans. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student's t-test and the ANOVA followed by the post-hoc Tukey tests. Results: The GI for the inversely optimized plans significantly outperformed the clinical plans for all sites. PCIs were similar between the inversely optimized and clinical plans for PA and VS, but were significantly improved in the inversely optimized plans for iBM and pBM. There were no significant differences in the sBOT between the inversely optimized and clinical plans, except for the PA cases. No significant differences were observed in dosimetric metrics, except for lower brain V12Gy and PTV D98% in the inversely optimized plans for iBM. There were no noticeable differences in plan qualities among the inversely optimized plans created by the novice and experienced planners. Conclusion: Inverse planning in GK Lightning TPS produces GK SRS plans at least equivalent in plan quality and similar in sBOT compared to manual forward planning in this independent validation study. The automatic workflow of inversed planning ensures a consistent plan quality regardless of a planner's experience.

Does active coaching reduce actual treatment duration for frameless Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery?

Purpose/Objectives: Frameless Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) has become an effective supplement to frame-based, which is however sensitive to patient's involuntary motions and prone to prolonged treatment duration. Such delays during treatment inevitably result in patient discomfort and the inability to complete intended treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether active coaching during frameless GKSRS can reduce actual treatment duration. Materials/Methods: Patients treated at a single institution with frameless GKSRS from 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively identified. Beginning in 2019, all patients treated with frameless GKSRS were actively coached to prevent treatment interruptions. Patient characteristics and treatment plans were compared between the cohorts of patients treated with and without active coaching. Linear regressions between the planned and actual treatment duration of treatment sessions were performed on either cohort. ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analyses with a p-value less than 0.05 considered as significant. Results: Of the total 43 patients and 105 treatment sessions identified, 27 patients underwent 51 treatment sessions of frameless GKSRS with active coaching. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics and treatment plans between the two cohorts. Patients treated with active coaching underwent significantly fewer CBCTs during treatment. The median planned and actual treatment durations were 31.4 and 51.7 min for the non-coached cohort, and 38.6 and 49.8 min for the coached cohort. The results of linear regressions showed that the actual treatment duration was 1.29 and 1.56 times longer with and without active coaching, respectively, which indicated a significant reduction in the actual treatment duration with active coaching. Conclusion: Our results suggest that active coaching was associated with significant reductions of actual treatment duration. This simple intervention can be clinically implemented to prevent unnecessary treatment interruptions, improve patient comfort and ensure completion of treatment as prescribed during frameless GKSRS.

Inflammatory bowel disease-associated malignancies and considerations for radiation impacting bowel: a scoping review.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), subdivided into Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is an auto-inflammatory gastrointestinal condition with an established increased risk of certain malignancies. Compared to sporadic cancers in the general population, IBD-associated malignancies present unique challenges to providing quality care. Radiation therapy (RT) targeting IBD-associated malignancies may directly impact inflamed bowel, with special considerations for the risk of toxicities. Historically, patients with IBD have been less likely to receive radiotherapy in proximity to bowel due to a poor understanding of the potential for acute and chronic toxicities and unclear treatment outcomes. We present a scoping review, to more fully assess IBD-associated malignancies and their treatment. As opposed to a systematic review, this approach allows us to analyze the broadest range of literature, including experimental and non-experimental research, and reflect on current guidelines and practices. Methods: Literature search: a systematic, scoping search of published literature was conducted using applicable PRISMA scoping review (ScR) guidelines. The literature search was conducted on PubMed and was searched systematically by screening all publications from January 1990 to June 2021. Citations from the included articles were also manually searched. Relevant National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were reviewed. Final query was December 2021 in editing. Articles were selected for full text reading if the abstract reported on malignancy in IBD or bowel toxicities. Results: The pelvic malignancies found in the IBD patient population, including colorectal carcinoma, anal carcinoma, lymphoma, small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA), and prostate cancer (PCa) are outlined in this scoping review. Additional cancers that have a contested relationship with IBD, including cervical, bladder, and upper GI cancers, are also explored. This review provides literature guided recommendations on the eligibility of patients with IBD to receive RT, management of IBD during and after treatment, and counseling for radiation-induced toxicities. Conclusions: After review of the literature, IBD should not be considered an absolute contraindication to radiation therapy, given the lack of evidence for increased toxicities, and the evolution of RT techniques which limit radiation dose to the bowel.

The Impact of Optic Nerve Movement on Intracranial Radiation Treatment.

Purpose: In radiotherapy, high radiation exposure to optic nerve (ON) can cause optic neuropathy or vision loss. In this study, we evaluated the pattern and extent of the ON movement using MRI, and investigated the potential dosimetric effect of this movement on radiotherapy. Methods: MRI was performed in multiple planes in 5 human subjects without optic pathway abnormalities to determine optic nerve motion in different scenarios. The subjects were requested to gaze toward five directions during MRI acquisitions, including neutral (straight forward), left/right (horizontal movement), and up/down (vertical movement). Subsequently, the measured displacement was applied to patients with peri-optic tumors to evaluate the potential dosimetric effect of this motion. Results: The motion of ON followed a nearly conical shape. By average, the anterior end of ONs moved with 10.8 ± 2.2 mm horizontally and 9.3 ± 0.8 mm vertically, while posterior end has negligible displacement. For patients who underwent stereotactic radiotherapy to a peri-optic tumors, the movement of ON in this measured range introduced non-negligible dosimetric effect. Conclusion: The range of motion of the anterior portions of the optic nerves is on the order of centimeters, which may need to be considered with extra attention during radiation therapy in treating peri-optic lesions.

Phase I Trial of Stereotactic MRI-Guided Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy (SMART) for the Treatment of Oligometastatic Ovarian Cancer.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic body radiation therapy is increasingly used to treat a variety of oligometastatic histologies, but few data exist for ovarian cancer. Ablative stereotactic body radiation therapy dosing is challenging in sites like the abdomen, pelvis, and central thorax due to proximity and motion of organs at risk. A novel radiation delivery method, stereotactic magnetic-resonance-guided online-adaptive radiation therapy (SMART), may improve the therapeutic index of stereotactic body radiation therapy through enhanced soft-tissue visualization, real-time nonionizing imaging, and ability to adapt to the anatomy-of-the-day, with the goal of producing systemic-therapy-free intervals. This phase I trial assessed feasibility, safety, and dosimetric advantage of SMART to treat ovarian oligometastases. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten patients with recurrent oligometastatic ovarian cancer underwent SMART for oligometastasis ablation. Initial plans prescribed 35 Gy/5 fractions with goal 95% planning target volume coverage by 95% of prescription, with dose escalation permitted, subject to strict organ-at-risk dose constraints. Daily adaptive planning was used to protect organs-at-risk and/or increase target dose. Feasibility (successful delivery of >80% of fractions in the first on-table attempt) and safety of this approach was evaluated, in addition to efficacy, survival metrics, quality-of-life, prospective timing and dosimetric outcomes. RESULTS: Ten women with seventeen ovarian oligometastases were treated with SMART, and 100% of treatment fractions were successfully delivered. Online adaptive plans were selected at time of treatment for 58% of fractions, due to initial plan violation of organs-at-risk constraints (84% of adapted fractions) or observed opportunity for planning target volume dose escalation (16% of adapted fractions), with a median on-table time of 64 minutes. A single Grade ≥3 acute (within 6 months of SMART) treatment-related toxicity (duodenal ulcer) was observed. Local control at 3 months was 94%; median progression-free survival was 10.9 months. Median Kaplan-Meier estimated systemic-therapy-free survival after radiation completion was 11.5 months, with concomitant quality-of-life improvements. CONCLUSIONS: SMART is feasible and safe for high-dose radiation therapy ablation of ovarian oligometastases of the abdomen, pelvis, and central thorax with minimal toxicity, high rates of local control, and prolonged systemic-therapy-free survival translating into improved quality-of-life.

Malignancies diagnosed before and after anal squamous cell carcinomas: A SEER registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Increased risk of a second primary malignancy (SPM) before or after diagnosis of anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) has been reported in a previous single-institution study. We hypothesize that patients diagnosed with ASCC are at increased risk for developing SPMs before or after the diagnosis of ASCC. The primary objective of this study was to identify the diagnoses of cancer most likely to occur as SPMs before or after ASCC. METHODS: This work employs the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program registry data to conduct a US-population-based study of patients diagnosed with ASCC between 1975 and 2016. In patients diagnosed with ASCC, we evaluated the risk of SPMs and the risk of developing ASCC as an SPM after another cancer using standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for all SPMs by calculating the ratio of observed events in the ASCC cohort compared to expected (O/E) events in a matched reference cohort of the general population. RESULTS: A total of 7,594 patients with primary ASCC were included. Patients with ASCC were at increased risk of the diagnosis of an SPM (SIR = 1.45), particularly cancers of the lung, vulva, oropharynx, or colon. Patients with ASCC had an increased rate of previous malignancy (SIR = 1.23), especially Kaposi sarcoma or vulvar cancer. Overall elevated incidence of SPMs was unrelated to prior radiation treatment. Radiation treatment was associated with increased risk for SPMs in the female genital system but appeared protective against prostate cancer as SPMs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support increased surveillance and screening for second malignancies in patients with these diagnoses, as patients with ASCC are often either survivors of a prior cancer diagnosis or are at increased risk of developing later malignancies.

Outcomes of patients with borderline resectable and resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant three-week course chemoradiotherapy using capecitabine-based versus gemcitabine-based concurrent chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can provide downstaging and improve margin negativity for borderline resectable and resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma [(B)RPC]. Little is known about the relative efficacy of capecitabine (CAPE)-based vs. gemcitabine (GEM)-based 3-week chemoradiation (3WCRT) with 36 Gy in 15 fractions. This study aimed to compare the odds of achieving surgical resection, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) of patients treated with 3WCRT with concurrent CAPE versus GEM. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, examining medical records from a single center for patients with (B)RPC treated with 3WCRT between 1/2009-12/2020. Odd ratios (OR) of achieving surgical resection were estimated using logistic regression for univariable and multivariable analyses. Median TTP (mTTP) and median OS (mOS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of progression and survival in univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-two (71%) patients were treated with CAPE, while 9 (29%) were treated with GEM. All patients in the GEM group were borderline resectable, vs. 18 (82%) patients in the CAPE group, P=0.30. Nineteen (86%) patients in the CAPE group were treated with neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX, vs. 4 (44%) patients in the GEM group, P=0.03. The CAPE group had higher odds of achieving surgical resection [OR =9.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-58.20]. Adjusting for covariates, the odds of achieving surgical resection were still statistically higher in the CAPE group vs. the GEM group (OR =25.34; 95% CI: 1.14-563.72). The CAPE group had superior mTTP compared to the GEM group (15.4 months, 95% CI: 4.9-71.1 vs. 4.0 months, 95% CI: 0.4-14.5; P=0.01), corresponding to a hazard ratio of 0.33 (95% CI: 0.14-0.81). Adjusting for covariates this effect persisted; the adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) for progression was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.08-0.77). Cox proportional hazards analysis also demonstrated that the CAPE group had superior OS compared to the GEM group in unadjusted (HR =0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.40) and adjusted models (HR =0.13, 95% CI: 0.03-0.52). CONCLUSIONS: For neoadjuvant 3WCRT, this hypothesis-generating study suggests concurrent CAPE may be a more effective radiosensitizer than GEM for patients with (B)RPC.

Clinical management of uveal melanoma: a comprehensive review with a treatment algorithm.

Uveal melanoma (UM), the most frequently occurring non-cutaneous melanoma and most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, arises from the melanocytes of the choroid in approximately 95% of cases. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is vital as primary tumor size is one of the key factors associated with survival. Despite recent advances in management, more than half of the patients develop metastatic disease which portends poor survival. Currently, treatment options for UM include local resection, enucleation, plaque brachytherapy, and/or particle beam radiotherapy (RT). Enucleation was initially the standard of care in the management of UM, but a shift towards eye-preserving therapeutic choices such as RT and local resection has been noted in recent decades. Plaque brachytherapy, a form of localized RT, is the most popular option and is now the preferred treatment modality for UM. In this review we discuss the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation and diagnosis of UM and place a special emphasis on therapeutic options. Furthermore, we review the current literature on UM management and propose a functional treatment algorithm for non-metastatic disease.

Management of symptomatic radiation necrosis after stereotactic radiosurgery and clinical factors for treatment response.

PURPOSE: Approximately 10% of patients who received brain stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) develop symptomatic radiation necrosis (RN). We sought to determine the effectiveness of treatment options for symptomatic RN, based on patient-reported outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 217 patients with 414 brain metastases treated with SRS from 2009 to 2018 at our institution. Symptomatic RN was determined by appearance on serial magnetic resonance images (MRIs), MR spectroscopy, requirement of therapy, and development of new neurological complaints without evidence of disease progression. Therapeutic interventions for symptomatic RN included corticosteroids, bevacizumab and/or surgical resection. Patient-reported therapeutic outcomes were graded as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and no response. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients experienced symptomatic RN after treatment of 50 separate lesions. The mean prescription dose was 22 Gy (range, 15 to 30 Gy) in 1 to 5 fractions (median, 1 fraction). Of the 12 patients managed with corticosteroids, 6 patients (50%) reported CR and 4 patients (33%) PR. Of the 6 patients managed with bevacizumab, 3 patients (50%) reported CR and 1 patient (18%) PR. Of the 8 patients treated with surgical resection, all reported CR (100%). Other than surgical resection, age ≥54 years (median, 54 years; range, 35 to 81 years) was associated with CR (odds ratio = 8.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-15.39; p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Corticosteroids and bevacizumab are commonly utilized treatment modalities with excellent response rate. Our results suggest that patient's age is associated with response rate and could help guide treatment decisions for unresectable symptomatic RN.

The Evolving Role of Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer and the Potential for Nonoperative Management.

Locally advanced rectal cancer has broadly been defined as T3, T4, or lymph node-positive disease. In the 1990s, adjuvant chemoradiation was considered the optimal management for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, the paradigm shifted when the German CAO/ARO/AIO-94 Rectal Cancer trial established neoadjuvant chemoradiation as the standard of care, based on reduced rates of toxicity and local recurrence, as well as higher rates of sphincter preservation compared with postoperative chemoradiation. Both short-course radiation and long-course chemoradiation are currently accepted methods for neoadjuvant treatment, with recent trials showing equivalence in outcomes. While surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment, there are data supporting the use of magnetic resonance imaging for risk stratification in rectal cancer and encouraging prospective data regarding nonoperative management. This review summarizes data on the evolution of treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer and discusses emerging evidence for nonoperative management.

Single fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy as monotherapy for low and intermediate risk prostate cancer: toxicities and early outcomes from a single institutional experience.

PURPOSE: High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) delivered in a single fraction as monotherapy is a potential treatment modality for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (LIR-PC); however, outcome data with this technique remain limited. Here we describe our institutional HDR monotherapy experience and report the efficacy and toxicity of this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: LIR-PC patients who received a definitive single fraction HDR-BT during 2013-2017 were retrospectively identified. The intended HDR monotherapy dose was 19 Gy in one fraction. Acute (< 90 days) and late (≥ 90 days) toxicity was assessed using CTCAE version 4.03. Trends in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores after treatment were assessed using Bayesian linear mixed models. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS). RESULTS: 28 patients with median follow-up of 23.6 months were identified. The median age at treatment was 65 years (48-83). The NCCN risk groups were low in 14, favorable intermediate in 10, and unfavorable intermediate in 4 patients. There were 5 (18%) and 0 (0%) acute grade 2 genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities, respectively, and one (4%) acute grade 3 GU toxicity. There were no late grade 3 toxicities, and 5 (18%) and 0 (0%) late grade 2 GU and GI toxicities respectively. PSA values and AUA symptom scores decreased significantly after treatment. There were 3 biochemical failures with the two- and three-year BFFS of 90.7% and 80.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early results from a single institution suggest that single fraction HDR-BT with 19 Gy has limited toxicity, although with suboptimal biochemical control.

Rethinking the Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Data Driven Treatment Algorithm for Optimizing Outcomes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide, with a majority of HCC patients not suitable for curative therapies. Approximately 70% of initially diagnosed patients cannot undergo surgical resection or transplantation due to locally advanced disease, poor liver function/underlying cirrhosis, or additional comorbidities. Local therapeutic options for patients with unresectable HCC, who are not suitable for thermal ablation, include transarterial embolization (bland, chemoembolization, radioembolization) and/or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Regarding EBRT specifically, technological advancements provide a means for safe and effective radiotherapy delivery in a wide spectrum of HCC patients. In multiple prospective studies, EBRT delivery in a variety of different fractionation schemes or in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) demonstrate improved outcomes, particularly with combination therapy. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification provides a framework for treatment selection; however, given the growing complexity of treatment strategies, this classification system tends to simplify decision-making. In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding unresectable HCC and propose a modified treatment algorithm that emphasizes the role of radiation therapy for Child-Pugh score A or B patients with ≤3 nodules measuring >3 cm, multinodular disease or portal venous thrombosis.

Association of 1p/19q Codeletion and Radiation Necrosis in Adult Cranial Gliomas After Proton or Photon Therapy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the incidence of and risk factors for clinically significant radiation necrosis (cRN) in adult cranial oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas treated with proton or photon therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 2007 and 2015, 160 patients with grade 2 or 3 oligodendrogliomas (with 1p/19q codeletion, n = 53) or astrocytomas (without 1p/19q codeletion, n = 107) were treated with proton (n = 37) or photon (n = 123) therapy. Clinically significant radiation necrosis (RN) was defined as symptomatic RN or asymptomatic RN that resulted in surgery or bevacizumab administration. The cumulative incidence was calculated using competing risks. Risk factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 28.5 months, cRN developed in 18 patients (proton, 6; photon, 12). The 2-year cumulative incidence of cRN for proton and photon therapy was 18.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.5%-33.8%) and 9.7% (95% CI, 5.1%-16%), respectively (P = .16). On multivariate analysis, risk factors for cRN included oligodendroglioma (hazard ratio [HR], 3.57; 95% CI, 1.38-9.25; P = .009) and higher prescription dose (in gray relative biological equivalents [GyRBE]) (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05-1.61; P = .015). The 2-year cumulative incidence of cRN in oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas was 24.2% and 6.2%, respectively (P = .01). The relative volume (percentage) of brain receiving 60 GyRBE was a significant dosimetric predictor of cRN in oligodendrogliomas (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03-1.20; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that 1p/19q codeleted oligodendroglioma was a significant risk factor associated with cRN and the relative volume (percentage) of brain receiving 60 GyRBE was an important dosimetric predictor of cRN for oligodendroglioma patients. There is insufficient evidence at this time to conclude a significant difference in the incidence of cRN between proton and photon therapy.