Long-Term Outcomes Using Electron IOERT APBI for Early Stage Breast Cancer: The Verona University Hospital Experience.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: From July 2006 to December 2015, 295 patients suitable for breast-conserving therapy entered a single-arm phase II study and were treated with IOERT as radical treatment. Inclusion criteria were age >50, postmenopausal status, cT1N0M0 stage, grade G1-G2, positive estrogen receptor status; unicentric and unifocal disease, histologically proven invasive ductal carcinoma no previous breast irradiation, good performance status. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 7.1 years (95% CI, 6.5;7.4) 6 women (2.0%) experienced a true local recurrence (reappearance of the tumour in the same quadrant). Five-year overall survival and local recurrence-free survival were 96% (95% CI, 92.9;97.8) and 94.9% (95% CI, 91.6;97.0) respectively. CONCLUSION: Our trial suggests that, in highly selected early stage breast cancers, a single-dose IOERT can be safely delivered with excellent results and very low long-term recurrence rates.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted on Integrated Care Pathways for Lung Cancer: The Parallel Experience of a COVID-Spared and a COVID-Dedicated Center.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a historic challenge for healthcare systems, particularly with regard to cancer patients. So far, very limited data have been presented on the impact on integrated care pathways (ICPs). METHODS: We reviewed the ICPs of lung cancer patients who accessed the Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV)/University Hospital of Padua (Center 1) and the University Hospital of Verona (Center 2) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, through sixteen indicators chosen by the members of a multidisciplinary team (MDT). RESULTS: Two window periods (March and April 2019 and 2020) were chosen for comparison. Endoscopic diagnostic procedures and major resections for early stage NSCLC patients increased at Center 1, where a priority pathway with dedicated personnel was established for cancer patients. A slight decrease was observed at Center 2 which became part of the COVID unit. Personnel shortage and different processing methods of tumor samples determined a slightly longer time for diagnostic pathway completion at both Centers. Personnel protection strategies led to a MDT reshape on a web basis and to a significant selection of cases to be discussed in both Centers. The optimization of patient access to healthcare units reduced first outpatient oncological visits, patient enrollment in clinical trials, and end-of-life cancer systemic treatments; finally, a higher proportion of hypofractionation was delivered as a radiotherapy approach for early stage and locally advanced NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the experience of the two Centers, we identified the key steps in ICP that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic so as to proactively put in place a robust service provision of thoracic oncology.

Predictors of Local Control for Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SAbR) in Pulmonary Oligometastases from Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To assess predictors of local control (LC) for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR) in pulmonary oligometastatic disease (OMD) from gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with pulmonary OMD treated with SAbR from January 2016 to December 2018 were included in this observational analysis. Primary endpoint was LC. Uni- and multivariate analyses to assess variable correlations were conducted. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients and 59 lung metastases were evaluated. The delivered dose was 30-60 Gy in 3-8 fractions. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months (range=6.3-50.4 months), LC rate at 1/2 years was 89.7%/85.0%, and increased to 96.0%/91.0% for lesions treated with a biologically effective dose (BED10) ≥100 Gy (p=0.03). RECIST response at 6 months was predictive for LC (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: SAbR is an effective option for pulmonary OMD from GI malignancies. A BED10 ≥100 Gy and radiological response at 6 months can affect LC.