Hypofractionated whole breast IMRT with HDR brachytherapy boost in early-stage breast cancer: Long-term results from a single-center.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The addition of a boost to the lumpectomy bed after whole-breast (WB) radiotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of patients with breast cancer (BC). The clinical benefits of a boost with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) after conventional fractionation is supported by a large body of evidence. However, few studies have described its outcomes after a hypofractionated scheme. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included all patients treated with adjuvant WB-IMRT in 15 sessions followed by a single-session HDR-BT boost with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2017, 638 patients with early-stage BC were treated according to the aforementioned protocol after breast-conserving surgery. Median follow-up was 6 years (4-11). Despite the low incidence of side effects and their slightness, we did identify an impact of breast volume on the risk of acute radiodermatitis, fibrosis, pain and edema. However, we did not identify any relationship between the volume in cubic centimeters of the BT-implant with acute or long-term side effects. 2.2% patients had an actual local relapse, 2.4% a 2nd primary in the same breast and 2.39% were diagnosed with contralateral BC. Event-free survival at 11 years was 85.5% with an overall survival of 95.7%. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant hypofractionated whole-breast IMRT followed by a single dose HDR-BT boost has a low incidence of acute and chronic toxicity and excellent oncological outcomes. However, it may be worthwhile to intensify self-care protocols and surveillance in women with large breasts who may be at increased risk of side effects.

Total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: a narrative review.

Locally advanced rectal cancer has traditionally been treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. However, a new strategy, total neoadjuvant therapy, involves the administration of CRT and neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the aim of eradicating micrometastases earlier and achieving greater control of the disease. The use of total neoadjuvant therapy has shown higher rates of pathological complete response and resectability compared with CRT, including improved survival. Nevertheless, distant relapse is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in locally advanced rectal cancer. To address this, new biomarkers are being developed to predict disease response.

IJRadiation therapy for recurrent hydatid cyst of the pelvic bone: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease usually affects the liver, but can also extend to other locations, such as the bones. In these cases, complete resection of the bone is considered the only curative approach. However, this is rarely feasible, and patients are left with benzimidazoles as their only option. In this context, there is an evident need for alternative treatments that can improve results. We present the case of a patient with a treatment-refractory hydatid cyst of the bone, who successfully underwent radiotherapy (RT). CASE SUMMARY: A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with a hydatid cyst of the bone in the sacroiliac joint that caused her sciatalgia and paresthesia. She underwent treatment with albendazole and surgery, and was treated with further doses of albendazole after relapsing six months later. After 2 years, she required a new resection, achieving a stable disease for 2 more years. At this point, she began to suffer from more intense pain (visual analogue scale 6/10). Given that further surgery was no longer feasible, she underwent radiotherapy (54 Gy in 27 fractions). No treatment-related toxicity was observed. At 1 month after radiotherapy, the pain had completely disappeared; 9 months later, the patient remains asymptomatic. The titer of anti-Echinococcus-granulosus antibodies and the absolute volume of eosinophils decreased after treatment with radiotherapy. The cyst remains radiologically stable. CONCLUSION: Although further studies are needed, radiotherapy seems to be effective for hydatid cysts that are refractory to other treatments.

Breast Radiotherapy-Related Cardiotoxicity. When, How, Why. Risk Prevention and Control Strategies.

In recent decades, improvements in breast cancer management have increased overall patient survival; however, many cancer therapies have been linked to an important risk of cardiovascular adverse events. Cardio-oncology has been proposed as an emerging specialty to coordinate preventive strategies that improve the cardiovascular health of oncologic patients. It employs the most suitable personalized multidisciplinary management approach for each patient to optimize their cardiovascular health and improve their survival and quality of life. Radiotherapy is an essential part of the therapeutic regimen in breast cancer patients but can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, minimizing the negative impact of radiation therapy is an important challenge for radiotherapy oncologists and cardiologists specializing in this field. The aim of the present review is to update our knowledge about radiation-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients by undertaking a critical review of the relevant literature to determine risk prevention and control strategies currently available.

Breast cancer radiotherapy: What physicians need to know in the era of the precision medicine.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases in one with significant epidemiological, clinical, and biological heterogeneity, which determines a different natural history and prognostic profile. Although classical tumour staging (TNM) still provides valuable information, the current reality is that the clinicians must consider other biological and molecular factors that directly influence treatment decision-making. The management of breast cancer has changed radically in the last 15 years due to significant advances in our understanding of these tumours. This knowledge has brought with it a major impact regarding surgical and systemic management and has been practice-changing, but it has also created significant uncertainties regarding how best integrate the radiotherapy treatment into the therapeutic scheme. In parallel, radiotherapy itself has also experienced major advances, new radiobiological concepts have emerged, and genomic data and other patient-specific factors must now be integrated into individualised treatment approaches. In this context, "precision medicine" seeks to provide an answer to these open questions and uncertainties. The aim of the present review is to clarify the meaning of this term and to critically evaluate its role and impact on contemporary breast cancer radiotherapy.

Clinical Applications of Molecular Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer.

There is clinically relevant molecular heterogeneity in prostate cancer (PCa), but this biological diversity has had only a minimal impact on clinical practice. Treatment outcomes in patients with localised PCa are often highly variable, even among patients stratified to the same risk group or disease state based on standard clinical and pathological parameters. In recent years, the development of gene panels has provided valuable data on the differential expression of genes in patients with PCa. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to identify and validate prognostic and predictive biomarkers that can be applied across clinical scenarios, ranging from localised disease to metastatic castration-resistant PCa. The availability of such tools would allow for precision medicine to finally reach PCa patients. In this review, we evaluate current data on molecular biomarkers for PCa, with an emphasis on the biomarkers and gene panels with the most robust evidence to support their application in routine clinical practice.

Impact of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the treatment of prostate cancer: Initial experience in Spain.

AIM: To evaluate whether positron-emission tomography/computed tomography with 68Ga-PSMA (68Ga-PSMA PET/CT) influences the therapeutic management of patients with primary or recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). BACKGROUND: Although 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is one of the best options for staging or restaging patients with PCa, its availability is still very limited in Spain. The present study reports the results of the first group of patients in Spain who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients (n = 27) with a histological diagnosis of PCa who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT prior to the definitive treatment decision at the only centre with this technology in Spain during 2017-2018 were included. Two nuclear medicine physicians and a radiologist reviewed the imaging studies. The clinical impact was assessed from a theoretical perspective, based on the treatment that would have been applied if no data from the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT were available. RESULTS: Most patients (n = 26; 96%) had persistent disease or biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, or combined treatment. One patient underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging to stage high-risk PCa. Overall, 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was positive in 19 patients (70.4%). In 68.75% of these patients, none of the other imaging tests-MRI, CT, or bone scans-performed prior to the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT were able to detect the presence of cancerous lesions. Overall, the findings of the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT led to a modification of the therapeutic approach in 62.96% of the patients in the study. CONCLUSIONS: 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT alters the therapeutic approach in a substantial proportion of patients with PCa.

Breast radiotherapy in elderly women: myths, controversies, and current techniques in the adjuvant setting.

In developed countries, breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of cancer in women, mainly affecting patients over age 60. Due to the increasing life expectancy and population ageing, the incidence of BC is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. However, no standardized clinical guidelines are available to assist in decision-making in elderly patients. Moreover, there is a lack of quality scientific evidence to guide treatment selection in this patient population, who are underrepresented in clinical trials. Consequently, up to 50% of elderly women are treated suboptimally, which implies a worse prognosis and survival. Given that the current estimated life expectancy of a healthy 70-year-old woman is 15 years, any treatment capable of reducing the likelihood of disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality in this patient population would be beneficial. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is one of the pillars of treatment for BC and it plays a key role in improving local control (LC) and overall survival (OS). Adjuvant RT is clearly indicated in young patients who undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS) as well as in high risk patients, regardless of age. However, the use of adjuvant RT in older patients with early-stage disease has decreased in recent years-even in patients who undergo BCS-due to outdated concerns about the possible side effects of RT and reports suggesting that RT can be omitted in low-risk patients. One of the greatest challenges currently facing radiation oncologists who specialise in the treatment of BC is the selection of elderly patients who are likely to benefit from adjuvant RT. There is also a clear need to critically evaluate the available evidence and to apply those findings to routine clinical practice. Given this context, the aim of the present review is to clarify the current role of adjuvant RT in the management of BC in older women-particularly those with early-stage disease-and to dispel the myths surrounding the use of RT to treat elderly women. This review primarily focuses on the indications, controversies, and irradiation techniques used in this patient subgroup.

Management of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients: Current controversies and future directions.

Oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) describes an intermediate stage of NSCLC between localized and widely-disseminated disease. This stage of NSCLC is characterized by a limited number of metastases and a more indolent tumor biology. Currently, the management of oligometastatic NSCLC involves radical treatment (radiotherapy or surgery) that targets the metastatic lesions and the primary tumor to achieve disease control. This approach offers the potential to achieve prolonged survival in patients who, in the past, would have only received palliative measures. The optimal therapeutic strategies for the different scenarios of oligometastatic disease (intracranial vs extracranial disease, synchronous vs metachronous) remain undefined. Given the lack of head-to-head studies comparing radiotherapy to surgery in these patients, the decision to apply surgery or radiotherapy (with or without systemic treatment) must be based on prognostic factors that allow us to classify patients. This classification will allow us to select the most appropriate therapeutic strategy on an individualized basis. In the future, the molecular or microRNA profiles will likely improve the treatment selection process. The objective of the present article is to review the most relevant scientific evidence on the management of patients with oligometastatic NSCLC, focusing on the role of radiotherapy and surgery. We also discuss areas of controversy and future directions.

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging-guided salvage radiotherapy in prostate cancer.

AIM: To analyse the efficacy and toxicity of postprostatectomy SRT in patients with a BCR evaluated with mpMRI. BACKGROUND: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has the ability to detect the site of pelvic recurrence in patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). However, we do not know the oncological outcomes of mpMRI-guided savage radiotherapy (SRT). RESULTS: Local, lymph node, and pelvic bone recurrence was observed in 13, 4 and 2 patients, respectively. PSA levels were significantly lower in patients with negative mpMRI (0.4 ng/mL [0.4]) vs. positive mpMRI (2.2 ng/mL [4.1], p = 0.003). Median planning target volume doses in patients with visible vs. non-visible recurrences were 76 Gy vs. 70 Gy. Overall, mean follow-up was 41 months (6-81). Biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) at 3 years was 82.3% and 82.5%, respectively, for the negative and positive mpMRI groups (p = 0.800). Three-year rates of late grade ≥2 urinary and rectal toxicity were 14.8% and 1.9%, respectively; all but one patient recovered without sequelae. CONCLUSION: SRT to the macroscopic recurrence identified by mpMRI is a feasible and well-tolerated option. In this study, there were no differences in bRFS between MRI-positive and MRI-negative patients, indicating effective targeting of MRI-positive lesions.

Evaluation of tumor recurrences after radical prostatectomy using 18F-Choline PET/CT and 3T multiparametric MRI without endorectal coil: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate and compare the utility of 18F-fluorocholine (18F-CH) PET/CT versus 3-Tesla multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) without endorectal coil to detect tumor recurrences in patients with biochemical relapse following radical prostatectomy (RP). Secondarily, to identify possible prognostic variables associated with mpMRI and 18F-CH PET/CT findings. METHODS: Retrospective study of 38 patients who developed biochemical recurrence after RP between the years 2011 and 2015 at our institution. PET/CT and mpMRI were both performed within 30 days of each other in all patients. The PET/CT was reviewed by a nuclear medicine specialist while the mpMRI was assessed by a radiologist, both of whom were blinded to outcomes. RESULTS: The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value pre-MRI/PET-CT was 0.9 ng/mL (interquartile range 0.4-2.2 ng/mL). There were no differences in the detection rate between 18F-CH PET/CT and mpMRI for local recurrence (LR), lymph node recurrence (LNR) and bone metastases (BM). Separately, mpMRI and 18F-CH PET/CT were positive for recurrence in 55.2% and 52.6% of cases, respectively, and in 65.7% of cases when findings from both modalities were considered together. The detection of LR was better with combined mpMRI and choline PET/CT versus choline PET/CT alone (34.2% vs 18.4%, p = 0.04). Salvage treatment was modified in 22 patients (57.8%) based on the imaging findings. PSA values on the day of biochemical failure were significantly associated with mpMRI positivity (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 30.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-635.8). Gleason score > 7 was significantly associated with PET/CT positivity (OR: 13.9; 95% CI: 1.5-125.6). A significant association was found between PSA doubling time (PSADT) (OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.7), T stage (OR: 21.1; 95% CI: 1.6-272.1), and LR. CONCLUSIONS: Multiparametric MRI and 18F-CH PET/CT yield similar detection rates for LR, LNR and pelvic BM. The combination of both imaging techniques provides a better LR detection versus choline PET/CT alone. The initially planned salvage treatment was modified in 57.8% of patients due to imaging findings. In addition to PSA values, Gleason score, T stage, and PSADT may provide valuable data to identify those patients that are most likely to benefit from undergoing both imaging procedures.

Tumor staging using 3.0 T multiparametric MRI in prostate cancer: impact on treatment decisions for radical radiotherapy.

To assess and validate the incorporation of the multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) tumour category (mT-category) to the conventional clinical tumour category (cT-category), in order to guide the radiotherapy (RT) treatment decisions in prostate cancer. In addition, to identify the clinical factors associated to the technique reliability. mpMRI was performed in 274 prostate cancer patients in order to refine the treatment decisions according to PSA, Gleason Score (GS) and cT-category. Comparisons between the cT and mT-category were performed, as well as the impact on the RT treatment [target volume, doses and hormonal therapy (HT)] independently if it was finally performed. Changes in HT indication for intermediate risk were also analyzed. mpMRI validation was performed with pathological staging (n = 90 patients finally decided to join surgery). The mpMRI upstaging range was 86-94 % for any PSA value or GS. Following mpMRI, 32.8 % of the patients (90/274) were assigned to a different risk group. Compared to cT-category, mpMRI identified more intermediate-risk (46.4 vs. 59.5 %) and high-risk (19.0 vs. 28.8 %) prostate cancer patients. This resulted in a higher indication (p < 0.05) of seminal vesicle irradiation (63.5 vs. 70.0 %), inclusion of any extracapsular disease (T3-T4) within the target volume (1.8 vs. 18.2 %), higher doses (65.3 vs. 88.3 %) and HT associated to RT (45.6 vs. 62.4 %). Global accuracy for mpMRI was higher compared to DRE/TRUS (8.9 vs. 71.1 %, p < 0.05). mpMRI reliability was independent of PSA or GS. mpMRI tumor staging significantly modified the RT treatment decisions in all prostate cancer risk groups.