Toxicities Following Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy Treatment of Locally-Recurrent and Previously Irradiated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) with concomitant cetuximab is an effective treatment option for previously irradiated, locally recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Its local control and overall survival are similar to those of other available treatment options. Each retreatment depends heavily on the prior treatment and every patient is a special case. Based on the experience of our institution and previously published studies, for patients who receive concomitant cetuximab with a median prior radiation therapy dose of 70Gy, we recommend a total dose of 40-44Gy delivered in 5 fractions on alternating days over 1-2 weeks. However, Grade 2 or 3 toxicities are not uncommon. Therefore, in this review, we also report a pilot study that applies a normal tissue complication probability dose-response model to estimate the probability of toxicities in locally recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck reirradiated with SABR. Although this dose-response model includes concurrent targeted therapy and no comparable model yet exists for SABR without it, complication rates without concurrent biological therapy or chemotherapy should be no higher than those described here.

Utilization and Role of Adjuvant Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Uterine Clear Cell Carcinoma: A National Cancer Data Base Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the rarity of uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC), a National Cancer Data Base analysis was conducted to evaluate practice patterns and implications of adjuvant therapy. METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was queried for UCCC patients diagnosed from 1998 to 2011. Patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy, lacking surgical staging, or having follow-up time shorter than 6 months were excluded. Factors associated with utilization were assessed using logistic regression. To define the probability of receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CT + RT), propensity scores with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Log-rank test and multivariable IPTW-adjusted Cox proportional hazards modeling were then conducted. RESULTS: A total of 2504 patients were identified, with a median follow-up of 65.5 months. Most patients had FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage I to II UCCC (71.4%). Adjuvant RT alone, CT alone, or CT + RT was given in 35.3%, 9.5%, and 11.7%, respectively. Among those receiving RT, external beam was the most common modality (69.4%). Later year of diagnosis (>2005: odds ratio [OR], 4.42; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.44-8.01), higher FIGO stage (IIIA-IIIC2: OR, 6.34; 95% CI, 3.93-10.24), larger tumor size (3.6-5.0 cm: OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.76-6.55), and lymph node dissection (OR, 4.22; 95% CI, 1.60-11.15) were associated with a higher chance of receiving CT + RT. With IPTW-adjusted multivariable analysis, CT + RT significantly decreased mortality risk in stage III to IVA patients (hazards ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22-0.77), trending toward benefit in stage I to II patients (hazards ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.27-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: In this hospital-based registry analysis of UCCC, adjuvant CT + RT significantly reduced the risk of death, reaching statistical significance for stage III to IVA patients.