Expanded HILUS Trial: A Pooled Analysis of Risk Factors for Toxicity From Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Central and Ultracentral Lung Tumors.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic body radiation therapy for tumors near the central airways implies high-grade toxic effects, as concluded from the HILUS trial. However, the small sample size and relatively few events limited the statistical power of the study. We therefore pooled data from the prospective HILUS trial with retrospective data from patients in the Nordic countries treated outside the prospective study to evaluate toxicity and risk factors for high-grade toxic effects. METHODS AND MATERIALS: All patients were treated with 56 Gy in 8 fractions. Tumors within 2 cm of the trachea, the mainstem bronchi, the intermediate bronchus, or the lobar bronchi were included. The primary endpoint was toxicity, and the secondary endpoints were local control and overall survival. Clinical and dosimetric risk factors were analyzed for treatment-related fatal toxicity in univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 230 patients evaluated, grade 5 toxicity developed in 30 patients (13%), of whom 20 patients had fatal bronchopulmonary bleeding. The multivariable analysis revealed tumor compression of the tracheobronchial tree and maximum dose to the mainstem or intermediate bronchus as significant risk factors for grade 5 bleeding and grade 5 toxicity. The 3-year local control and overall survival rates were 84% (95% CI, 80%-90%) and 40% (95% CI, 34%-47%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor compression of the tracheobronchial tree and high maximum dose to the mainstem or intermediate bronchus increase the risk of fatal toxicity after stereotactic body radiation therapy in 8 fractions for central lung tumors. Similar dose constraints should be applied to the intermediate bronchus as to the mainstem bronchi.

Swedish Lung Cancer Radiation Study Group: predictive value of age at diagnosis for radiotherapy response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of age at diagnosis on prognosis in patients treated with curatively intended radiotherapy for NSCLC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a joint effort among all the Swedish Oncology Departments that includes all identified patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer that have been subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) treated during 1990 to 2000. Included patients had a histopathological/cytological diagnosis date as well as a death date or a last follow-up date. The following variables were studied in relation to overall and disease-specific survival: age, gender, histopathology, time period, smoking status, stage and treatment. RESULTS: The median overall survival of all 1146 included patients was 14.7 months, while the five-year overall survival rate was 9.5%. Younger patients (<55 years), presented with a more advanced clinical stage but had yet a significantly better overall survival compared with patients in the age groups 55-64 years (p = 0.035) and 65-74 years (p = 0.0097) in a multivariate Cox regression analysis. The overall survival of patients aged ≥75 years was comparable to those aged <55 years. CONCLUSION: In this large retrospective study we describe that patients younger than 55 years treated with curatively intended radiotherapy for NSCLC have a better overall survival than patients aged 55-64 and 65-74 years and that younger patients seem to benefit more from the addition of surgery and/or chemotherapy to radiotherapy. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, these results should be confirmed in future prospective trials.

The HILUS-Trial-a Prospective Nordic Multicenter Phase 2 Study of Ultracentral Lung Tumors Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Stereotactic body radiation therapy of thoracic tumors close to the central airways implies risk of severe toxicity. We report a prospective multicenter phase 2 trial for tumors located less than or equal to 1 cm from the proximal bronchial tree with primary end point of local control and secondary end point of toxicity. METHODS: Stereotactic body radiation therapy with 7 Gy × 8 was prescribed to the 67% isodose encompassing the planning target volume. The patients were stratified to group A (tumors ≤ 1 cm from the main bronchi and trachea) or group B (all other tumors). Risk factors for treatment-related death were tested in univariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was developed for fatal bronchopulmonary bleeding versus dose to the main bronchi and trachea. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients (group A/group B, n = 39/26) were evaluated. The median distance between the tumor and the proximal bronchial tree was 0 mm (0-10 mm). The 2-year local control was 83%. Grade 3 to 5 toxicity was noted in 22 patients, including 10 cases of treatment-related death (bronchopulmonary hemorrhage, n = 8; pneumonitis, n = 1; fistula, n = 1). Dose to the combined structure main bronchi and trachea and tumor distance to the main bronchi were important risk factors. Dose modeling revealed minimum dose to the "hottest" 0.2 cc to the structure main bronchi and trachea as the strongest predictor for lethal bronchopulmonary hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the presented data, 7 Gy × 8, prescribed to the planning target volume-encompassing isodose, should not be used for tumors located within 1 cm from the main bronchi and trachea. Group B-type tumors may be considered for the treatment on the basis of an individual risk-benefit assessment and a maximum dose to the main bronchi and trachea in the order of 70 to 80 Gy (equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions).

Multicentre phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM: To evaluate weekly induction chemotherapy followed by weekly concomitant chemoradiotherapy in a multicentre phase II study of patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage wet IIIB excluded). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients received three weekly cycles of paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 followed by six weekly cycles of paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 in combination with thoracic radiotherapy (2 Gy per fraction and day to a total dose of 60 Gy). RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (40 males and 24 females) with a median age of 63 years (range, 43-79 years) entered the study. T and N stage were distributed as follows: T1 2 patients (3.2%), T2 10 patients (15.6%), T3 15 patients (23.4%), T4 37 patients (57.8%); N0 10 patients (15.6%), N1 1 patient (1.6%), N2 26 patients (40.6%), N3 26 patients (40.6%), and N missing 1 patient (1.6%). Seven patients (10.9%) suffered from grade 3/4 oesophagitis. Grade 1/2 oesophagitis occurred in 36 patients (56.3%) and pneumonitis grade 1/2 occurred in 10 patients (15.6%). Sixty-three patients were evaluated on an intent-to-treat basis. The overall response rate was 74.6%. The median time to progression was 247 days and median overall survival was 461 days. According to subgroup analyses, no statistically significant differences were noted according to gender, age (<65 vs. > or =65 years), performance status, histology, or study centre. CONCLUSION: Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin is feasible and generates moderate toxicity. Efficacy is comparable to other recently published regimens. However, prognosis remains, in general, poor for this group of patients and further work to develop better therapy is required.

Differences in health related quality of life in the randomised ARTSCAN study; accelerated vs. conventional radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. A five year follow up.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed in the randomised, prospective ARTSCAN study comparing conventional radiotherapy (CF) with accelerated radiotherapy (AF) for head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 750 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (of any grade and stage) in the oral cavity, oro-, or hypopharynx or larynx (except T1-2, N0 glottic carcinoma) without distant metastases were randomised to either conventional fractionation (2 Gy/day, 5 days/week in 49 days, total dose 68 Gy) or accelerated fractionation (1.1+2.0 Gy/day, 5 days/week in 35 days, total dose 68 Gy). HRQoL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N35 and HADS at baseline, at end of radiotherapy (eRT) and at 3 and 6 months and 1, 2 and 5 years after start of treatment. RESULTS: The AF group reported HRQoL was significantly lower at eRT and at 3 months for most symptoms, scales and functions. Few significant differences were noted between the groups at 6 months and 5 years. Scores related to functional oral intake never reached baseline. CONCLUSION: In comparison to CF, AF has a stronger adverse effect on HRQoL in the acute phase.

Mature results from a Swedish comparison study of conventional versus accelerated radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma - The ARTSCAN trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This report contains the mature five-year data from the Swedish ARTSCAN trial including information on the influence of p16 positivity (p16+) for oropharyngeal cancers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma without distant metastases of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx (except T1-2, N0 glottic cancers) and hypopharynx were included. Patients were randomised between accelerated fractionation (AF) (1.1Gy+2Gy per day, 5days/week for 4.5weeks, total dose 68Gy) and conventional fractionation (CF) (2Gy per day, 5days/week for 7weeks, total dose 68Gy). Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated p16-expression was assessed retrospectively in tumour tissues from patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in loco-regional control (LRC) between AF and CF (log-rank test p=0.75). LRC at 5years was 65.5% for AF and 64.9% for CF. Overall survival (OS) was similar in both arms (p=0.99). The estimated cancer specific survival (CSS) at 5years was 62.2% (AF) and 63.3% (CF) (p=0.99). 206 specimens were analysed for p16 with 153 specimens (74%) identified as p16+. P16 status did not discriminate for response to AF vs. CF with regard to LRC, OS or CSS. Patients with p16+ tumours had a statistically significant better overall prognosis compared with p16- tumours. CONCLUSION: This update confirms the results of the 2-year report. We failed to identify a positive effect resulting from AF with regards to LRC, OS and CSS. The addition of information on the HPV-associated p16 overexpression did not explain this lack of effect.

Time trends in T3 to T4 laryngeal cancer: a population-based long-term analysis.

BACKGROUND: A decline in laryngectomies and survival in laryngeal cancer has been reported, especially among patients with advanced tumors. METHODS: Of 1058 patients with laryngeal cancer diagnosed from 1978 to 2007 in the Uppsala-Örebro region in Sweden, 263 T3 to T4 tumors treated with curative intent were studied retrospectively. Two time periods were defined, 1978 to 1992 and 1993 to 2007. RESULTS: Glottic tumors decreased constituting 68.6% of cases in 1978 to 1992 and 47.9% in 1993 to 2007. Laryngectomies were performed in 38.8% and 34.5% in the corresponding time periods. The use of laryngectomy was not strongly prognostic. A decline in overall survival (OS) over time could only be identified for the first year of follow-up. Chemotherapy was only used in a minority of cases. CONCLUSION: The marked decrease of glottic site may mark a shift in etiology. Laryngectomy was not strongly associated with improved survival. The absence of improved survival calls for intensified research.

The impact of hyperfractionated radiotherapy regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The prognosis for patients with lung cancer is poor with an average of 5-year overall survival rate of only 10-15 % taking all clinical stages together. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of the radiotherapy regimen on survival. Clinical data were collected from all the Swedish Oncology Departments for 1,287 patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) during the years 1990 to 2000. The included patients were identified based on a manual search of all medical and radiation charts at the oncology departments from which the individual patient data were collected. Patients who did not have a histopathological diagnosis date and/or death date/last follow-up date as well as patients being surgically treated were excluded from the study (n = 592). Thus, 695 patients were included in the present study. Patients who received hyperfractionated radiotherapy (HR) had a higher local control rate compared with patients receiving conventional fractionation (CF) (38 vs. 49 % local relapse). The difference in survival between the two radiotherapy regimens was statistically significant in a univariate Cox analysis (p = 0.023) in favor of HR. This significance was, however, not retained in a multivariate Cox analysis (p = 0.56). Thus, the possible beneficial effects of hyperfractionation are still unclear and need to be further investigated in well-controlled prospective clinical trials, preferably including systemic treatment with novel drugs.

Swedish lung cancer radiation study group: the prognostic value of anaemia, thrombocytosis and leukocytosis at time of diagnosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

There is a need to improve the prognostic and predictive indicators in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, the main focus is on genetic predictive markers while the prognostic value of the standard blood variables related to haematopoiesis has been subjected to relatively limited attention. To study the prognostic potential of haemoglobin (Hgb), platelet (Plt) and white blood cell (WBC) levels at time of diagnosis in NSCLC patients, 835 NSCLC patients, stage I-IV, who received radiotherapy with curative intention (>50 Gy), were included in the study. WBC, Plt, Hgb, gender, age at diagnosis, stage, surgery and first-line chemotherapy were studied in relation to overall survival. For patients with Hgb < 110 g/L and Hgb ≥ 110 g/L), the median survival was 11.2 and 14.5 months, respectively (p = 0.0032). For WBC > 9.0 × 10(9)/L and < 9.0 × 10(9)/L, the median survival was 11.6 and 15.4 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). For Plt > 350 × 10(9)/L and <350 × 10(9)/L, the median survival was 11.2 and 14.9 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). The median survival in patients with pathological results in all three markers was half of that in patients with normal levels of all three markers (8.0 and 16.0 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). The level of the three studied haematological biomarkers corresponds significantly to outcome in NSCLC. These results indicate that standard haematological variables may be used as guidance for the clinician in the decision-making regarding treatment intensity and patient information.

The value of induction chemotherapy for survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively investigate the impact of induction chemotherapy on treatment outcome in patients treated with curatively intended radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a diagnosed NSCLC that have been subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) and treated in an oncology department in Sweden during the years 1990-2000 were included in the study. Operated patients and patients having received concomitant chemotherapy were excluded. The included patients were localised by a manual search of all the oncology departments' medical records and radiation charts. RESULTS: Patients treated with induction chemotherapy (n=79) had a significantly better overall survival compared with patients treated with radiotherapy alone (p=0.0097) in a univariate Cox regression analysis. A platinum/taxane combination produced the greatest survival benefit; hazard ratio=0.49 (95% confidence interval=0.31 to 0.75). CONCLUSION: We found that patients treated with induction chemotherapy in addition to radiotherapy for NSCLC have a better overall survival than patients treated with radiotherapy alone and that the best results are achieved using a platinum/taxane combination.

Swedish lung cancer radiation study group: predictive value of histology for radiotherapy response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential predictive value of histology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curatively intended radiotherapy. In a collaborative effort among all the Swedish Oncology Departments, clinical data were collected for 1146 patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer subjected to curatively intended irradiation (⩾50 Gy) during the years 1990 to 2000. The included patients were identified based on a manual search of all medical and radiation charts at the oncology departments from which the individual patient data were collected. Only patients who did not have a histological diagnosis date and death date/last follow-up date were excluded (n=141). Among the 1146 patients with non-small cell carcinoma eligible for analysis, 919 were diagnosed with either adenocarcinoma (n=323) or squamous cell carcinoma (n=596) and included in this study. The median survival for the 919 patients was 14.8 months, while the 5-year survival rate was 9.5%. Patients with adenocarcinoma had a significantly better overall survival compared with patients with squamous cell carcinoma (p=0.0062, log-rank test). When comparing different stages, this survival benefit was most pronounced for stages IIA-IIB (p<0.0001, log-rank test). The difference in survival between the two histological groups was statistically significant in a univariate Cox analysis (p=0.0063) as well as in two multivariate Cox analyses including demographic and treatment variables (p=0.037 and p=0.048, respectively). In this large population based retrospective study we describe for the first time that patients with adenocarcinoma have a better survival after curatively intended radiation therapy in comparison with squamous cell carcinoma patients, particularly those with clinical stages IIA-IIB.

Two-year results from a Swedish study on conventional versus accelerated radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma--the ARTSCAN study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies on accelerated fractionation (AF) in head and neck cancer have shown increased local control and survival compared with conventional fractionation (CF), while others have been non-conclusive. In 1998 a national Swedish group decided to perform a randomised controlled clinical study of AF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with verified squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx (except glottic T1-T2, N0) and hypopharynx were included. Patients with prior chemotherapy or surgery were excluded. Patients were randomised to either CF (2Gy/day, 5days/week for 7 weeks, total dose 68Gy) or to AF (1.1Gy+2.0Gy/day, 5days/week for 4.5weeks, total dose 68Gy). An extensive quality assurance protocol was followed throughout the study. The primary end point was loco-regional tumour control (LRC) at two years after treatment. RESULTS: The study was closed in 2006 when 750 patients had been randomised. Eighty-three percent of the patients had stages III-IV disease. Forty eight percent had oropharyngeal, 21% laryngeal, 17% hypopharyngeal and 14% oral cancers. There were no significant differences regarding overall survival (OS) or LRC between the two regimens. The OS at two years was 68% for AF and 67% for CF. The corresponding figures for LRC were 71% and 67%, respectively. There was a trend towards improved LRC for oral cancers treated (p=0.07) and for large tumours (T3-T4) (p=0.07) treated with AF. The AF group had significantly worse acute reactions, while there was no significant increase in late effects. CONCLUSION: Overall the AF regimen did not prove to be more efficacious than CF. However, the trend towards improved results in AF for oral cancers needs to be further investigated.

Impact of age at diagnosis on prognosis and treatment in laryngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to analyze how age affects treatment and treatment outcome, and to determine whether tumor characteristics differ between different age groups with laryngeal cancer. METHODS: Patients with laryngeal cancer during 1978-2004 in the Uppsala-Orebro region in Sweden were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the 945 cases between age groups concerning major patient and tumor characteristics, such as male/female ratio, distribution of glottic/supraglottic tumors, stage, or site of recurrence. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were worse among the oldest, although a significant proportion was cured. Relapse risk was lower among the oldest (12%) compared with the youngest (23%). The risk of never becoming tumor-free was 25% among the oldest and 7% in the youngest. Among the most elderly, only 1 late recurrence occurred. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with laryngeal carcinoma cope well with treatment. Undertreatment may determine outcome more than age. The oldest group should be followed for a minimum of 2 years.

Molecular profiling using tissue microarrays as a tool to identify predictive biomarkers in laryngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy.

AIM: To explore the usefulness of the expression of five potential cancer biomarkers in predicting outcome in patients with laryngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the Swedish National Cancer Registry databases were used to identify patients with laryngeal cancer diagnosed during the years 1978-2004 in the Uppsala-Orebro region and treated with radiotherapy. The expression of Ki-67, MutS homolog 2, (MSH2), p53, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and cyclin D1 in the cancer cells was assessed immunohistochemically using tissue microarrays (TMAs) and its predicitve value on survival and relapse was analyzed using Cox regression models. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were included in the present study. Nuclear MSH2 staining was statistically significantly correlated to Ki-67 expression (p=0.022). However, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses showed no statistically significant association between the expression of the investigated biomarkers and overall survival or relapse. CONCLUSION: The present exploratory study does not show any significant predictive value of the biomarkers examined with respect to survival or relapse. However, with larger patient cohorts, we believe that protein profiling using TMAs and immunohistochemistry is a feasible strategy for prognostic and predictive biomarker screening in laryngeal cancer.