Stereotactic body radiation therapy for bone oligometastases.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy is effective for the local management of oligometastases (at most five metastases) with a benefit in survival and local control. Most studies on the management of oligometastases focus on all oligometastatic sites in primary cancer and very few focus on a single oligometastatic site. In particular, there are few data on bone oligometastases, which represent one of the preferred sites for secondary cancer locations. This article focuses on the benefit of stereotactic radiotherapy for bone oligometastases of all cancers by histological types, and reviews the results of major studies in this field.

Clinical trials that will change practices: News in palliative radiotherapy.

Palliative radiotherapy is used to alleviate cancer-related symptoms. Symptomatic responses to palliative radiotherapy may however take several weeks, meaning that patients need to survive long enough to derive a real benefit. Oncologists can be optimistic when estimating survival for patients with advanced cancer and as a consequence some patients receiving palliative radiotherapy die before experiencing any gain. Models of patient survival have limited accuracy, particularly for predicting whether patients will die within the next 30 days. Dedicated rapid access palliative radiotherapy clinics, in which patients are assessed, simulated and treated on the same day, reduce the number of patient visits to the radiation oncology department and hence the burden on the patient as well as costs. Teleconsultation and advanced practice nurses can play a crucial role in providing rapid access to palliative radiotherapy in a dedicated palliative radiotherapy service. Single-fraction palliative radiotherapy should be offered to eligible patients if they are able to attend treatment and could potentially benefit from symptom palliation, irrespective of predicted life expectancy. Technical and organizational innovations have been proposed in order to dispense with the computed tomography scanner by carrying out the dosimetry on a recent diagnostic scanner or a magnetic resonance imaging scanner with integrated linear acceleration system. Stereotactic body radiation therapy makes it possible to envisage greater and more lasting analgesic benefits in patients with painful bone metastasis and good prognosis. Flash radiotherapy remains at the preclinical stage.

[Real world data in radiotherapy: A data farming project by Unitrad]. / Données de vie réelle en radiothérapie : le data farming du groupe Unitrad.

The aim of the data farming project by the Unitrad group is to produce and use large quantities of structured real-life data throughout radiotherapy treatment. Starting in 2016, target real world data were selected at expert consensus conferences and regularly updated, then captured in MOSAIQ© as the patient was treated. For each partner institution, the data was then stored in a relational database, then extracted and used by researchers to create real world knowledge. This production was carried out in a multicentre, coordinated fashion. When necessary, the raw data was shared according to the research projects, in compliance with regulations. Feedack was provided at each stage, enabling the system to evolve flexibly and rapidly, using the "agile" method. This work, which is constantly evolving, has led to the creation of health data warehouses focused on data of interest in radiotherapy, and the publication of numerous academic studies. It forms part of the wider context of the exploitation of real-life data in cancerology. Unitrad data farming is a collaborative project for creating knowledge from real-life radiotherapy data, based on an active network of clinicians and researchers.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp in the elderly: Efficacy and tolerance, preliminary results.

PURPOSE: Skin squamous cells carcinomas (SCC) are frequently tumor, especially in the elderly population. Surgical excision is the standard treatment. But for patients suffering large tumor or/with comorbidity, a conservative approach with irradiation can be proposed. The hypofractionated schedule is used to shorten the overall treatment time with same results and without compromising therapeutic outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerance of hypofractionated radiotherapy for invasive SCC of the scalp in elderly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients suffering from SCC of the scalp and treated by hypofractionated radiotherapy at the Institut de cancérologie de Lorraine or centre Émile-Durkeim d'Épinal, from January 2019 to December 2021. Characteristics of patients, size of the lesion and side effects were collected retrospectively. Tumor size at 6 months corresponded to the primary endpoint. Toxicity was collected for the secondary endpoint. RESULTS: Twelve patients with a median age of 85 years old were included. The mean size was 4,5cm with a bone invasion in 2/3 of cases. Radiotherapy was delivered after surgical excision for half of the patient. The dose delivered was 54Gy in 18 daily fractions size. Six months after irradiation: 6/11 patients had no residual lesion, 2/11 had a partial response with a residual lesion of about 1cm. 3 patients presented local recurrence. One patient died within 6 months of radiotherapy because of another comorbidity. In total, 25% had presented a grade 3 acute radiation dermatitis, no grade 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: Short term of moderately hypofractionated schedule radiotherapy was a success with complete or partial response for more than 70% of the patients in squamous cell carcinomas. There is no major side effect.

Comparison between the HyperArc™ technique and the CyberKnife® technique for stereotactic treatment of brain metastases.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the planimetric capacities between HyperArc™-based stereotactic radiosurgery and robotic radiosurgery system-based planning using CyberKnife® M6 for single and multiple cranial metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 51 treatment plans for cranial metastases, including 30 patients with a single lesion and 21 patients with multiple lesions, treated with the CyberKnife® M6. These treatment plans were optimized using the HyperArc™ (HA) system with the TrueBeam. The comparison of the quality of the treatment plans between the two treatment techniques (CyberKnife and HyperArc) was performed using the Eclipse treatment planning system. Dosimetric parameters were compared for target volumes and organs at risk. RESULTS: Coverage of the target volumes was equivalent between the two techniques, whereas median Paddick conformity index and median gradient index for all target volumes were 0.9 and 3.4, respectively for HyperArc plans, and 0.8 and 4.5 for CyberKnife plans (P<0.001). The median dose of gross tumor volume (GTV) for HyperArc and CyberKnife plans were 28.4 and 28.8, respectively. Total brain V18Gy and V12Gy-GTVs were 11cm3 and 20.2cm3 for HyperArc plans versus 18cm3 and 34.1cm3 for CyberKnife plans (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The HyperArc provided better brain sparing, with a significant reduction in V12Gy and V18Gy, associated with a lower gradient index, whereas the CyberKnife gave a higher median GTV dose. The HyperArc technique seems to be more appropriate for multiple cranial metastases and for large single metastatic lesions.

Could conventionally fractionated radiation therapy coupled with stereotactic body radiation therapy improve local control in bone oligometastases?

PURPOSE: To describe clinical outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) applied alone or as a boost after a conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) for the treatment of bone oligometastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients treated with SBRT from January 2007 to December 2015 in the Institut de cancérologie de Lorraine in France. The inclusion criteria involved adults treated with SBRT for one to three bone metastases from a histological proven solid tumor and a primary tumor treated, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score inferior or equal to 2. Local control (LC), overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), bone progression incidence (BPI), skeletal related events free survival (SRE-FS), toxicity and pain response were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-six patients and 52 bone metastases were treated. Twenty-three metastases (44.2%) received SBRT alone mainly for non-spine metastases and 29 (55.8%) a combination of CFRT and SBRT mainly for spine metastases. The median follow-up time was 22months (range: 4-89months). Five local failures (9.6%) were observed and the cumulative incidences of local recurrence at 1 and 2years respectively were 4.4% and 8% with a median time of local recurrence of 17months (range: 4-36months). The one- and two-years OS were 90.8% and 87.4%. Visceral metastasis (HR: 3.40, 95% confidence interval [1.10-10.50]) and a time from primary diagnosis (TPD)>30months (HR: 0.22 [0.06-0.82]) were independent prognostic factors of OS. The 1 and 2years PFS were 66.8% and 30.9% with a median PFS time of 18months [13-24]. The one- and two-years BPI were 27.7% and 55.3%. In multivariate analysis, unfavorable histology was associated with worse BPI (HR: 3.19 [1.32-7.76]). The SRE-FS was 93.3% and 78.5% % at 1 and 2years. The overall response rate for pain was 75% in the evaluable patients (9/12). No grade≥3 toxicity nor especially no radiation induced myelopathy (RIM), two patients developed asymptomatic vertebral compression fractures. CONCLUSION: The sole use of SBRT or its association with CFRT is an efficient and well-tolerated treatment that allows high LC for bone oligometastases.

AFSOS-SFRO-SFH-SFNEP-SFCE-GFRP guidelines on radio-induced nausea and vomiting.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting varies between 40% and 80%. They have many consequences on treatment and comorbidities. This work thus aimed to define clinical practice guidelines for the management of radiation-induced nausea and vomiting. METHODS: XXXXX, XXXX, XXX, XXXXX, XXXX and XXXX compiled a working group who draft these recommendations. RESULTS: The assessment of the emetogenic risk found two main predictive factors: 1) the irradiated anatomical location, 2) an associated concomitant chemotherapy. In the case of exclusive radiotherapy, primary antiemetic prophylaxis depends on the emetogenic risk (the irradiated anatomical location). In the case of concomitant chemotherapy, the emetogenic risk is generally higher and the primary antiemetic prophylaxis corresponds to that of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In cases where symptoms persist, remedial treatments are poorly codified. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced nausea and vomiting remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, its rapid detection and treatment are essential to reinstate good clinical practice.

Recommendations for stereotactic body radiation therapy for spine and non-spine bone metastases. A GETUG (French society of urological radiation oncolgists) consensus using a national two-round modified Delphi survey.

Background and purpose: The relevance of metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) remains to be demonstrated through phase III trials. Multiple SBRT procedures have been published potentially resulting in a disparity of practices. Therefore, the french society of urological radiation oncolgists (GETUG) recognized the need for joint expert consensus guidelines for metastasis-directed SBRT in order to standardize practice in trials carried out by the group. Materials and methods: After a comprehensive literature review, 97 recommendation statements were created regarding planning and delivery of spine bone (SBM) and non-spine bone metastases (NSBM) SBRT. These statements were then submitted to a national online two-round modified Delphi survey among main GETUG investigators. Consensus was achieved if a statement received ≥ 75 % agreements, a trend to consensus being defined as 65-74 % agreements. Any statement without consensus at round one was re-submitted in round two. Results: Twenty-one out of 29 (72.4%) surveyed experts responded to both rounds. Seventy-five statements achieved consensus at round one leaving 22 statements needing a revote of which 16 achieved consensus and 5 a trend to consensus. The final rate of consensus was 91/97 (93.8%). Statements with no consensus concerned patient selection (3/19), dose and fractionation (1/11), prescription and dose objectives (1/9) and organs at risk delineation (1/15). The voting resulted in the writing of step-by-step consensus guidelines. Conclusion: Consensus guidelines for SBM and NSBM SBRT were agreed upon using a validated modified Delphi approach. These guidelines will be used as per-protocole recommendations in ongoing and further GETUG clinical trials.

Impact of radiotherapy on survival in resected or unresectable anaplastic thyroid carcinomas, a Rare Cancer Network study.

PURPOSE: Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATC) are a heterogenous group of tumors of overall dismal prognosis. We designed models to identify relevant prognostic factors of survival of irradiated ATC patients including radiotherapy modalities (field size, dose). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2017, 166 ATC patients' treatments were divided into surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (poRT) or definitive radiotherapy (RT). Multiple imputation approach was used for missing data. Prognostic factors were identified using Lasso-penalized Cox modelling and predicted risk scores were built. RESULTS: Patients undergoing RT (n=70) had more adverse patient and disease characteristics than those undergoing poRT (n=96). Corresponding median survival rates were 5.4 and 12.1 months, respectively. PoRT patients undergoing poRT more likely received extended-field radiotherapy with prophylactic nodal irradiation, but rather received platinum- vs. adriamycin-based chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy was conventionally fractionated, delivered >60Gy in 51.9% and 61.7% and used extended fields in 88.5% and 71.2% of patients with poRT or RT. Radiotherapy interruption rates for toxicity were similar in the two groups. The best poRT-group model identified age>45yo, PS≥1, pathologic tumor stage≥pT4b,>N1 and R2 resection as poor prognostic factors. The best RT-group model (C-index of 0.72) identified PS≥3,>N1 and extended-field radiotherapy with prophylactic nodal irradiation (as opposed to tumour-bed irradiation only) as poor prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing poRT, radiotherapy parameters had little influence over their survival irrespective of patient, disease characteristics, and quality of resection. In patients undergoing RT, extended-field radiotherapy improved survival in addition to PS and nodal stage.

Histosurgical mapping of endoscopic endonasal surgery of sinonasal tumours to improve radiotherapy guidance.

PURPOSE: Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) is becoming a standard for most malignant sinonasal tumours. Margin analysis after piecemeal resection is complex and optimally relies on accurate histosurgical mapping. Postoperative radiotherapy may be adapted based on margin assessment mapping to reduce the dose to some sinonasal subvolumes. We assessed the use of histosurgical mapping by radiation oncologists (RO). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A French practice survey was performed across 29 ENT expert RO (2 did not answer) regarding integration of information on EES, as well as quality of operative and pathology reportsto refine radiotherapy planning after EES. This was assessed through an electronic questionnaire. RESULTS: EES was ubiquitously performed in France. Operative and pathology reports yielded accurate description of EES samples according to 66.7% of interviewed RO. Accuracy of margin assessment was however insufficient according to more than 40.0% of RO. Additional margins/biopsies of the operative bed were available in 55.2% (16/29) of the centres. In the absence of additional margins, quality of resection after EES was considered as microscopically incomplete in 48.3% or dubious in 48.3% of RO. As performed, histosurgical mapping allowed radiotherapy dose and volumes adaptation according to 26.3% of RO only. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized histosurgical mapping with margin and additional margin analysis could be more systematic. Advantages of accurate EES reporting could be dose painting radiotherapy to further decrease morbidity in sinonasal tumours.

Radiotherapy of bone metastases.

We present the update of the recommendations of the French society of oncological radiotherapy on bone metastases. This is a common treatment in the management of patients with cancer. It is a relatively simple treatment with proven efficacy in reducing pain or managing spinal cord compression. More complex treatments by stereotaxis can be proposed for oligometastatic patients or in case of reirradiation. In this context, increased vigilance should be given to the risks to the spinal cord.

[Stereotactic body radiation therapy for non-spine bone oligometastatic disease]. / Radiothérapie stéréotaxique des métastases osseuses du squelette périphérique.

PURPOSE: Stereotaxic radiotherapy is performed regularly for the irradiation of non-spine bone metastases, but its place is not well understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article in stereotaxic radiotherapy of non-spine bones oligometastases presents the current scientific data relating to the indications, to virtual simulation, to the delineation of target volumes, to the total dose and fractionation, to the efficacy and tolerance. RESULTS: Oligometastatic patients are classified into 4 categories: oligorecurrences, oligometastasis, oligopersistence, oligoprogression. The prognosis will be evaluated according to the following characteristics: primary tumor, quantitative characteristics, kinetics, qualitative characteristics. The delineation of GTV includes extensions to the soft tissue and bone marrow with the aid of MRI and PET. The CTV corresponds to a margin of 2 to 5mm and the PTV to a margin of 2mm. The most widely used irradiation schemes are: 1 single fraction of 18 to 24Gy/1 fr; 24Gy/2 fr; 27 to 30Gy/3 fr; 30 to 35Gy/5 fr. Stereotaxis provides 90% local control at 1 year and good pain control. The side effects are not very marked. CONCLUSION: Stereotaxic radiotherapy is feasible, non-invasive, minimally toxic and effective with good local control and good pain relief. The main issue remains selecting the patients most likely to benefit from it.

[Stereotactic body radiation therapy for spine bone oligometastatic disease]. / Radiothérapie stéréotaxiques des métastases osseuses des lésions vertébrales.

Stereotactic radiotherapy is an ever more common technique, regardless of the location treated. However, spinal stereotactic radiotherapy requires a particular technicality in order to ensure its proper realization. There is now a large literature defining the type of imaging to be used, the dose to be delivered and the delineation of target volumes. This technique can achieve a significant local control and an interesting analgesic efficiency. However, its place in relation to conventional radiotherapy remains limited because it requires MRI imaging and a significantly longer patient management during the treatment fraction. In this context, it is currently mainly restricted to oligometastatic patients or for re-irradiations.

[Anal canal cancer: In the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy, outstanding issues]. / Cancer du canal anal : à l'ère de la radiothérapie conformationnelle avec modulation d'intensité, questions en suspens.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy makes possible to optimize the irradiation and spare normal tissues. The toxicity remains important with concomitant chemotherapy often associated. The improvement of MRI and PET-CT define more precisely the target volumes, which need a higher dose, but necessitates to respect the rules of contouring. The treatment is uniform whatever the stage but should be individualized based on clinical stage and tumor response. New paradigms concern biology, staging, volumes and doses, fractionation and combined treatments.

[Advances in the management of cervical lymphadenopathies of unknown primary with intensity modulated radiotherapy: Doses and target volumes]. / Évolutions dans la prise en charge des métastases ganglionnaires cervicales sans cancer primitif retrouvé : doses et volumes cibles de la radiothérapie avec modulation d'intensité.

The definition of nodal and/or mucosal target volumes for radiation therapy for lymphadenopathies of unknown primary is controversial. Target volumes may include all nodal areas bilaterraly and be pan-mucosal or unilateral, selective, including the sole oropharyngeal mucosa. This review presents current recommendations in light of changes in the TNM classification, Human papillomavirus status and therapeutic advances. We conducted a systematic review of the literature with the following keywords: lymphadenopathy; head and neck; unknown primary and radiation therapy. There are no direct comparative studies between unilateral or bilateral nodal irradiation or pan-mucosal and selective mucosal irradiation. Contralateral lymph node failure rates range from 0 to 6% after unilateral nodal irradiation and 0 and 31% after bilateral irradiation. Occurrence of a mucosal primary varies between 0 and 19.2%. Initial clinical presentation and Human papillomavirus status are critical to define mucosal target volumes. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy is recommended (rather than three-dimensional irradiation) to avoid toxicities. Systemic treatments have similar indications as for identified primary head and neck cancers. Failures do not appear superior in case of unilateral nodal irradiation but comparative studies are warranted due to major biases hampering direct comparisons. Human papillomavirus status should be incorporated into the therapeutic strategy and practice-changing TNM staging changes will need to be evaluated.

Choosing a career in oncology: results of a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little information is currently available concerning young medical students desire to pursue a career in oncology, or their career expectations. METHODS: This project is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. A voluntary and anonymous questionnaire was distributed to all young oncologists studying in France between the 2nd of October 2013 and the 23rd of February 2014. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 75.6%. A total of 505 young oncologists completed the questionnaire. The main determining factors in the decision to practice oncology were the cross-sectional nature of the field (70.8%), the depth and variety of human relations (56.3%) and the multi-disciplinary field of work (50.2%). Most residents would like to complete a rotation outside of their assigned region (59.2%) or abroad (70.2%) in order to acquire additional expertise (67.7%). In addition, most interns would like to undertake a fellowship involving care, teaching and research in order to hone their skills (85.7%) and forge a career in public hospitals (46.4%). Career prospects mainly involve salaried positions in public hospitals. Many young oncologists are concerned about their professional future, due to the shortage of openings (40.8%), the workload (52.8%) and the lack of work-life balance (33.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation provides a comprehensive profile of the reasons young oncologists chose to pursue a career in oncology, and their career prospects.

[Prophylactic radiotherapy in a single fraction of 10Gy at intervention pleural site in patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma: A retrospective monocentric cohort study]. / Irradiation préventive en une séance de 10Gy des sites d'intervention pleurale des patients atteints de mésothéliome pleural malin : étude de cohorte rétrospective monocentrique.

PURPOSE: Prophylactic radiotherapy to prevent procedure-tracts metastases from malignant pleural mesothelioma remains controversial and clinical practice varies. The purpose was to assess the efficacy of local radiotherapy in a single fraction of 10Gy in preventing malignant seeding at intervention pleural site in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study, including patients with histological confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma treated by prophylactic irradiation to prevent interventional site metastases with a unique fraction of 10Gy with 6 to 18MeV, from January 1990 to December 2013 in the institut de cancérologie de Lorraine (Nancy, France). RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were treated by irradiation in intervention site, involving 120 intervention pleural sites, 91 thoracoscopies, 17 thoracotomies with chest drain and 12 CT or ultrasound guided needle biopsies. The median follow-up was 7 months (interquartile between 3 and 15 months). The overall survival was 43.5% at 12 months. The local progression free survival was 43.7% at 12 month. The incidence of local recurrence was 8% at 12 months. The median interval from radiotherapy to local recurrence was 4 months (2; 32). No grade II or higher toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: Irradiation of pleural intervention sites with a single fraction of 10Gy is effective, well tolerated, simple, fast and cost effective.

[Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastasis: Benefit of additional whole brain radiotherapy?] / Radiothérapie stéréotaxique hypofractionnée des métastases cérébrales : bénéfice de l'irradiation encéphalique totale ?

PURPOSE: To study overall survival, risk of neurological death, local recurrence and development of new brain metastasis in patients treated for brain oligometastases with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with CyberKnife®, according to the association or not with an additional whole brain irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Institutional retrospective study of 102 patients treated for one to three brain metastasis: 76 with exclusive hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and 26 with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and whole brain irradiation. Objectives were assessed and compared between these two groups according to the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox model. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 18.8 months. There were no difference between exclusive hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with whole brain irradiation for overall survival (respective median 21.5 and 20.1 months), risk of neurological death (respectively 9.2% and 15.4% at one year). At one year: the risk of cerebral progressive disease was greater in the group receiving exclusive hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (respectively 43.4% vs. 26.2%, P=0.043), the risk of local recurrence was 25% versus 17.6% (P=0.28) and the development of new brain metastasis was 23.7% versus 11.5% (P=0.27). After salvage treatments, crude local control was similar in the two groups, respectively 78.6% and 73.5%. Whole brain irradiation has been avoided for 72.4% of patients in the group receving exclusive hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Whole brain irradiation improves local control of brain metastatic disease in addition to hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Sparing whole brain irradiation for salvage treatments only does not affect overall survival or risk of neurological death in selected patients with favourable prognosis.

[Teaching pediatrics to residents via conventional lectures in France: A national survey from students]. / Enseignement théorique du Diplôme d'études spécialisées de pédiatrie en France : évaluation nationale par les internes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the point of view of young physicians training in pediatrics in France on their theoretical courses during residency. METHODS: A free-access electronic anonymous survey was sent three times by e-mail to the 1215 residents in pediatrics, from July to October 2015. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of French residents in pediatrics responded to the survey. It was established that they took part in six (range, 3-10) half-days of specific theoretical teaching in pediatrics from November 2014 to mid-April 2015. Only 54% participated in more than 75% of regional theoretical training. The main self-declared reason for their absence was that they could not leave their clinical activities. Fifty-three per cent of the residents took part in additional training, 45% of them because they found the primary theoretical training insufficient. The overall quality of the theoretical teaching was rated 5 (range, 3-7) out of 10. Eighty-five percent of residents expected to be evaluated on their knowledge during their residency. CONCLUSION: In pediatrics, additional training is individually undertaken because they deemed their initial training insufficient during their residency. An evaluation of knowledge is requested by residents. The reform of the national residency program must take into account these results in redesigning the theoretical training in pediatrics, integrating innovative teaching techniques to daily practice, for example.

Clinical practice guidelines of the French Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and the French Society for Psycho-oncology: refusal of treatment by adults afflicted with cancer.

PURPOSE: The study's purpose was to develop practical guidelines for assessment and management of refusal of treatment by adults afflicted with cancer. METHODS: The French Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and the French Society for Psycho-oncology gathered a task force that applied a consensus methodology to draft guidelines studied predisposing situations, the diagnosis, regulatory aspects, and the management of refusal of treatment by adults afflicted with cancer. RESULTS: We propose five guidelines: (1) be aware of the conditions/profiles of patients most often associated with refusal of treatment so as to adequately underpin the care and support measures; (2) understand the complexity of the process of refusal and knowing how to accurately identify the type and the modalities of the refused treatments; (3) apply a way to systematically analyze refusal, thereby promoting progression from a situation of disaccord toward a consensual decision; (4) devise procedures, according to the legal context, to address refusal of treatment that safeguards the stakeholders in situations of sustained disaccord; and (5) know the indications for ethical collective decision-making. CONCLUSION: The quality of the relationship between patients and health professionals, and the communication between them are essential components involved in reaching a point of consent or refusal of treatment. A process of systematic analysis of refusal is recommended as the only way to ensure that all of the physiological, psychological, and contextual elements that are potentially involved are taken into account.