Prospective evaluation of patient-reported anxiety and experiences with adaptive radiation therapy on an MR-linac.

Purpose: An integrated magnetic resonance scanner and linear accelerator (MR-linac) was implemented with daily online adaptive radiation therapy (ART). This study evaluated patient-reported experiences with their overall hospital care as well as treatment in the MR-linac environment. Methods: Patients pre-screened for MR eligibility and claustrophobia were referred to simulation on a 1.5 T MR-linac. Patient-reported experience measures were captured using two validated surveys. The 15-item MR-anxiety questionnaire (MR-AQ) was administered immediately after the first treatment to rate MR-related anxiety and relaxation. The 40-item satisfaction with cancer care questionnaire rating doctors, radiation therapists, the services and care organization and their outpatient experience was administered immediately after the last treatment using five-point Likert responses. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 205 patients were included in this analysis. Multiple sites were treated across the pelvis and abdomen with a median treatment time per fraction of 46 and 66 min respectively. Patients rated MR-related anxiety as "not at all" (87%), "somewhat" (11%), "moderately" (1%) and "very much so" (1%). Positive satisfaction responses ranged from 78 to 100% (median 93%) across all items. All radiation therapist-specific items were rated positively as 96-100%. The five lowest rated items (range 78-85%) were related to general provision of information, coordination, and communication. Overall hospital care was rated positively at 99%. Conclusion: In this large, single-institution prospective cohort, all patients had low MR-related anxiety and completed treatment as planned despite lengthy ART treatments with the MR-linac. Patients overall were highly satisfied with their cancer care involving ART using an MR-linac.

Randomized Trial of Concomitant Hypofractionated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Boost Versus Conventionally Fractionated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Boost for Localized High-Risk Prostate Cancer (pHART2-RCT).

PURPOSE: The aim of this work is to report on the results of a phase 2 randomized trial of moderately hypofractionated (MH) versus conventionally fractionated (CF) radiation therapy to the prostate with elective nodal irradiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a single-center, prospective, phase 2 randomized study. Patients with high-risk disease (cT3, prostate-specific antigen level >20 ng/mL, or Gleason score 8-10) were eligible. Patients were randomized to either MH using a simultaneous integrated boost (68 Gy in 25 fractions to prostate; 48 Gy to pelvis) or CF (46 Gy in 23 fractions with a sequential boost to the prostate of 32 Gy in 16 fractions), with long-term androgen deprivation therapy. The primary endpoint was grade ≥2 acute gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0). Secondary endpoints included late GI and GU toxicity, quality of life, and oncologic outcomes. RESULTS: One-hundred eighty patients were enrolled; 90 were randomized to and received MH and 90 to CF. The median follow-up was 67.4 months. Seventy-five patients (41.7%) experienced a grade ≥2 acute GI and/or GU toxicity, including 34 (37.8%) in the MH and 41 (45.6%) in the CF arms, respectively (P = .29). Late grade ≥2 GI (P = .07) and GU (P = .25) toxicity was not significantly different between arms; however, late grade ≥3 GI toxicity was worse in the MH group (P = .01). There were no statistically significant quality-of-life differences between the 2 treatments. There were no statistically significant differences observed in cumulative incidence of biochemical failure (P = .71) or distant metastasis (P = .31) and overall survival (P = .46). CONCLUSIONS: MH to the prostate and pelvis with androgen deprivation therapy for men with high-risk localized prostate cancer was not significantly different than CF with regard to acute toxicity, quality of life, and oncologic efficacy. However, late grade ≥3 GI toxicity was more common in the MH arm.

Association of PSMA PET-derived Parameters and Outcomes of Patients Treated for Oligorecurrent Prostate Cancer.

Background Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET is useful in the early detection of oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa), but whether PSMA PET parameters can be used to identify patients who would benefit from metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) with radiation or surgery remains uncertain. Purpose To assess the association of PSMA PET parameters with outcomes of patients with oligorecurrent PCa after MDT. Materials and Methods In this retrospective analysis of a single-center phase II trial that enrolled patients with biochemical recurrence of PCa after maximal local therapy and with no evidence of disease at conventional imaging, patients underwent PSMA PET (between May 2017 and November 2021), and unveiled recurrences were treated with MDT. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and PSMA tumor volume derived using thresholds of 2.5 (SUVmean2.5) and 41% (SUVmean41%), respectively, were recorded for sites of recurrence on PSMA PET scans, and a molecular imaging PSMA score was assigned. These parameters were also corrected for smooth filter and partial volume effects, and the PSMA score was reassigned. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between PSMA PET parameters and outcomes. Results A total of 74 men (mean age, 68.3 years ± 6.6 [SD]) with biochemical recurrence of PCa were included. PSMA PET revealed 145 lesions in the entire cohort, of which 125 (86%) were metastatic lymph nodes. Application of the correction factor changed the PSMA score in 88 of 145 lesions (61%). Mean SUVmax, SUVmean2.5, and SUVmean41% were associated with lower risk of biochemical progression (hazard ratio [HR] range, 0.77-0.95; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.00; P = .03 to P = .04). For corrected parameters, mean SUVmax, mean SUVmean2.5, mean SUVmean41%, mean PSMA score, maximum SUVmean2.5, maximum SUVmean41%, and maximum PSMA score were associated with a lower risk of biochemical progression (HR, 0.61-0.98; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.00; P = .01 to P = .04). Conclusion Measured and corrected PSMA PET parameters were associated with biochemical progression in men with oligorecurrent PCa treated with MDT. Clinical trial registration no. NCT03160794 © RSNA, 2023 See also the editorial by Civelek in this issue.

Prognostic Factor Risk Groups for Clinical Stage I Seminoma: An Individual Patient Data Analysis by the European Association of Urology Testicular Cancer Guidelines Panel and Guidelines Office.

BACKGROUND: The relapse rate in patients with clinical stage I (CSI) seminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis (SGCTT) who were undergoing surveillance after radical orchidectomy is 4-30%, depending on tumor size and rete testis invasion (RTI). However, the level of evidence supporting the use of both risk factors in clinical decision-making is low. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify the most important prognostic factors for relapse in CSI SGCTT patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Individual patient data for 1016 CSI SGCTT patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2019 with normal postorchidectomy serum tumor marker levels and undergoing surveillance were collected from nine institutions. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were fit to identify the most important prognostic factors. The primary endpoint was the time to first relapse by imaging and/or markers. Relapse probabilities were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: After a median follow-up of 7.7 yr, 149 (14.7%) patients had relapsed. Categorical tumor size (≤2, >2-5, and >5 cm), presence of RTI, and lymphovascular invasion were used to form three risk groups: low (56.4%), intermediate (41.3%), and high (2.3%) risks with 5-yr cumulative relapse probabilities of 8%, 20%, and 44%, respectively. The model outperformed the currently used model with tumor size ≤4 versus >4 cm and presence of RTI (Harrell's C index 0.65 vs 0.61). The low- and intermediate-risk groups were validated successfully in an independent cohort of 285 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of relapse after radical orchidectomy in CSI SGCTT patients under surveillance is low. We propose a new risk stratification model that outperformed the current model and identified a small subgroup with a high risk of relapse. PATIENT SUMMARY: The risk of relapse after radical orchidectomy in patients with clinical stage I seminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis is low. We propose a new risk stratification model that outperformed the current model and identified a small subgroup with a high risk of relapse.

Oligometastasis in Prostate Cancer: Can We Learn from Those "Excluded" from a Phase 2 Trial?

We conducted and previously published a phase 2 trial of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in men with recurrence of prostate cancer at a low prostate-specific antigen level following radical prostatectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. All patients had negative conventional imaging and underwent prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET). Patients without visible disease (n = 16) or with metastatic disease not amenable to MDT (n = 19) were excluded from the interventional study. The remaining patients with disease visible on PSMA-PET received MDT (n = 37). We analyzed all three groups to identify distinct phenotypes in the era of molecular imaging-based characterization of recurrent disease. Median follow up was 37 mo (interquartile range 27.5-43.0). There was no significant difference in time to the development of metastasis on conventional imaging among the groups; however, castrate-resistant prostate cancer-free survival was significantly shorter for patients with PSMA-avid disease not amenable to MDT (p = 0.047). Our findings suggest that PSMA-PET findings can help in discriminating diverging clinical phenotypes among men with disease recurrence and negative conventional imaging after local therapies with curative intent. There is a pressing need for better characterization of this rapidly growing population of patients with recurrent disease defined by PSMA-PET to derive robust selection criteria and outcome definitions for ongoing and future studies. Patient summary: In men with prostate cancer with rising PSA levels following surgery and radiation, a newer type of scan called PSMA-PET (prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography) can be used to characterize and differentiate the patterns of recurrence, and inform future cancer outcomes.

Late Toxicities of Prostate Radiotherapy: Can We Further SMARTen Up the Therapeutic Index?

Radiotherapy is a mainstay treatment option for localized prostate cancer (PCa), with oncological outcomes similar to those with surgery. Standard-of-care radiotherapy approaches include brachytherapy, hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), and EBRT with brachytherapy boost. Given the long survival associated with PCa and these curative-intent radiotherapy approaches, late toxicity is a paramount consideration. In this narrative mini-review, we summarize late toxicities associated with standard-of-care radiotherapy approaches including stereotactic body radiotherapy, an advanced radiotherapy technique supported by accumulating evidence. We also discuss stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging-guided adaptive radiotherapy (SMART), an emerging paradigm that may further improve the therapeutic index of radiotherapy and reduce late toxicities. PATIENT SUMMARY: This mini-review summarizes late side effects associated with standard and advanced radiotherapy techniques for localized prostate cancer. We also discuss a new radiotherapy approach called SMART that may reduce late side effects and increase treatment effectiveness.

Extended Results and Independent Validation of a Phase 2 Trial of Metastasis-Directed Therapy for Molecularly Defined Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: The role of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in molecularly defined oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa) remains irresolute. We present extended follow-up and an independent validation cohort of a prospective trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study consists of 2 sequential single-arm phase-2 trials of patients with biochemical recurrence (prostate specific antigen [PSA] 0.4-3.0 ng/mL) and negative conventional imaging after radical prostatectomy and postoperative radiation therapy. All patients underwent [18F]DCFPyL positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Patients with molecularly defined oligorecurrent prostate cancer underwent MDT with stereotactic body radiation therapy or surgery, without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The primary end point was biochemical response (≥50% PSA decline from baseline). Secondary end points included PSA progression-free survival and ADT-free survival. The sample size of 37 MDT patients was determined based on a Simon's 2-stage design with biochemical response rate >20%, and this design was also applied for the subsequent independent validation cohort. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients underwent MDT: 37 each in the initial and validation cohorts. Both cohorts met the prespecified biochemical response rate and completed the planned 2-stages of accrual. For the pooled cohort, the median number of prostate specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography avid lesions was 2 and most (87%) recurrences were nodal. Sixty-four (87%) had stereotactic body radiation therapy and 10 (13%) had surgery. Median follow-up (interquartile range [IQR]) for the initial, validation and combined cohorts were 41 (35-46) months, 14 months (7-21), and 24 months (14-41), respectively. The biochemical response rates for the initial, validation and combined cohorts were 59%, 43%, and 51%, respectively. For the combined cohort, median biochemical progression-free survival was 21 months (95% confidence interval, 13-not reached), and median ADT-free survival was 45 months (95% confidence interval, 31-not reached). CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients treated with MDT for molecularly defined-only oligorecurrent prostate cancer exhibited a biochemical response. This study provides necessary and validated evidence to support randomized trials aiming to determine whether MDT (alone or with systemic therapy) can affect clinically meaningful end points.

Safety of Minimizing Intensity of Follow-up on Active Surveillance for Clinical Stage I Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

Background: We have recommended active surveillance as the preferred management option for clinical stage I (CSI) testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) since 1980. Over time, the recommended intensity of surveillance has decreased; however, the impact on relapse detection has not been investigated. Objective: To examine relapse rate, time to relapse, extent of disease, and burden of treatment at relapse across decreasing surveillance intensity over time. Design setting and participants: CSI GCT patients under active surveillance from 1981 to 2021 were included in this study. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Through four major iterations in both nonseminomatous (NSGCT) and seminoma surveillance schedules, visit frequency, blood testing, and imaging have been decreased successively. Low-dose, noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans were adopted in 2011. Categorical variables and time to relapse were compared using chi-square and Fisher's exact or Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively. Results and limitations: A total of 1583 consecutive patients (942 with seminoma and 641 with NSGCT) were included. In seminoma, chest x-rays were reduced from 13 to one and CT scans were reduced from 20 to ten. Relapse rate, time to relapse, N or M category, and International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification did not change. In NSGCT, chest x-rays were reduced from 27 to zero and CT scans were reduced from 11 to five. Relapse rate (from 46.2% to 21.2%, p = 0.002) and the median time to relapse (from 6.54 to 4.47 mo, p = 0.025) decreased. No difference in relapsed disease burden was identified by N, M, and S category or IGCCCG classification. Treatment burden at relapse and GCT cancer deaths remained similar for seminoma and NSGCT. Limitations include the retrospective design and large time period covered. Conclusions: Despite considerable reductions in surveillance intensity, we did not observe an increase in disease extent, treatment burden, or GCT cancer deaths upon relapse. These results support that our current lower-intensity active surveillance schedules are safe for managing CSI GCT. Patient summary: Our current reduced-intensity surveillance schedules for clinical stage I germ cell tumors appear to be safe.

Enhancing International Cancer Organization Collaborations: King Hussein Cancer Center and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Model for Collaboration.

Collaborative partnerships, which link two health organizations with shared characteristics to achieve common goals and to improve healthcare quality, are becoming increasingly common in oncology. The purpose of this study is to review the collaboration between King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM). The context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model, a quasi-experimental form of program evaluation, has been applied to the KHCC-PM collaboration. This model is well suited to evaluate complex collaborations as it does not assume linear relationships. Data sources include stakeholders' judgements of the collaboration, assessment of achievements, and informal interviews with key participants involved in the program. KHCC and PM are recognized as high-caliber comprehensive cancer centers, with a common goal of delivering high-quality care to patients. Through personal relationships among faculty in the centers and the perceived opportunities for mutual benefit, KHCC and PM signed a memorandum of understanding in 2013 to enter into a formal partnership. This partnership has been an evolving process that started with collaboration on education and grew to include clinical care. Research is an area for potential future collaboration. Enabling factors in the collaboration include dedication of individuals involved, trusting relationships amongst faculty, and the reciprocal nature of the relationship. Challenges have been financial, competing interests, and the absence of a successful collaborative model to follow. The KHCC and PM collaboration has been successful. A strategic plan is being developed and followed to guide areas of expansion.

Elective nodal ultra hypofractionated radiation for prostate cancer: Safety and efficacy from four prospective clinical trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in localized prostate cancer (PCa) is controversial. With increasing use of SBRT to the prostate, data is needed regarding the safety and efficacy of ENI using ultra-hypofractionated radiation (UHRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2013-2020, 4 prospective clinical trials of intermediate or high-risk PCa receiving dose-escalated RT to the prostate (via HDR brachytherapy or SBRT boost) and ENI using UHRT (25 Gy in 5 weekly fractions) were conducted. Primary endpoints included acute genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities (CTCAE v3.0/4.0), and secondary endpoints included late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities, patient-reported quality of life (EPIC) and biochemical failure (Phoenix definition). RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-five patients were enrolled, of whom 98 (59%) had high-risk disease. ADT was used in 141 (85%). Median follow-up was 38 months (IQR 10-63). The worst acute genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities respectively were 48% and 7.5% for grade 2, and 2.7% and 0% for grade 3. Cumulative incidence of late grade 2+ genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities at 36 months were 58% and 11.3% and for late grade 3+ toxicities were 1% and 0%, respectively. No grade 4+ acute or late toxicities were observed. Bowel and sexual toxicity significantly worsened up to 1-year compared to baseline. Over time, urinary (p < 0.0001), bowel (p = 0.0018) and sexual (p < 0.0001) scores significantly improved. The 3-year biochemical recurrence-free survival was 98%. CONCLUSION: ENI using UHRT is associated with low incidence of grade 3+ toxicity, while grade 1-2 acute genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity is common. Randomized phase 3 trials are needed.

Moving Unfavorable Small-Bowel Anatomy Away From the Prostate to Optimize Radiation Therapy Plans With the GU-Lok.

Patients with localized prostate cancer comprise a large volume of treatments in radiation therapy centers. Occasionally, individual patient anatomy makes the safe delivery of an effective dose of radiation therapy challenging. We describe 2 cases of patients with a small bowel deep in the pelvis within the planning target volume with subsequent suboptimal radiation therapy treatment plans. We explore how we used the GU-Lok, a prostate immobilization device, to move the small bowel away from the prostate, and tighten target volume margins to help facilitate safe and effective treatment.

Elective pelvic nodal irradiation with a simultaneous hypofractionated integrated prostate boost for localized high risk prostate cancer: Long term results from a prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To report on long-term results of elective pelvic nodal irradiation (EPNI) and a simultaneous hypofractionated prostate boost for high-risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective single-arm study. Patients with high-risk disease (cT3, PSA >20 ng/mL, or Gleason score 8-10) were eligible. Patients received 45 Gy in 25 fractions to the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes with a simultaneous intensity-modulated radiotherapy boost of 22.5 Gy to the prostate (total dose 67.5 Gy in 25 fractions), with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for 2-3 years. The primary endpoint was biochemical failure. Secondary endpoints included distant metastases and overall survival. Multivariable analysis was performed to look for predictive factors. Late toxicity was assessed using CTCAE v3.0. RESULTS: 230 patients enrolled. Median follow-up was 11.2 years (IQR 8.1-12.9). At 10 years, cumulative incidence of biochemical failure was 33.4%, distant metastasis was 16.5%, and overall survival was 76.3%. On multivariable analysis, PSA nadir ≥0.05 ng/mL was associated with biochemical failure (HR 6.8, 95% CI 4-11.8, p < 0.001) and distant metastases (HR 7.5, 95% CI 3.9-14.5, p < 0.0001). PSA nadir ≥0.1 ng/mL (HR 5.2, 95% 2.2-12, p = 0.0001) and ADT use ≤12 months (versus >24 months) (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-3.9, p = 0.004) were associated with worse survival. The 5-year cumulative incidence of any late grade ≥3 gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity was 2.3% and 7.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: EPNI and a simultaneous hypofractionated prostate boost combined with long-term ADT for high-risk prostate cancer resulted in acceptable 10-year biochemical control and survival with low grade ≥3 toxicity.

Implementation of Cardiac Stereotactic Radiotherapy: From Literature to the Linac.

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) has been applied to treat cardiac arrhythmias, but our institution had not yet implemented this technique. Here, we explain how we used implementation science and knowledge translation to provide cardiac SBRT to a critically ill patient with malignancy-associated refractory ventricular tachycardia. We reviewed the critical factors that enabled the implementation of this urgent treatment, such as the context of the implementation, the characteristics of the intervention, and the stakeholders. These principles can be used by other radiation programs to implement novel treatments in urgent settings, where the gold standard process of planning and developing policies and protocols is not possible.

Mammographic Surveillance in Older Women With Breast Cancer in Canada and the United States: Are We Choosing Wisely?

PURPOSE: Guidelines on mammographic surveillance after breast cancer treatment have been disseminated internationally and incorporated into Choosing Wisely recommendations to reduce low-value care. However, adherence within different countries before their publication is unknown. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Low-value mammography, defined as "short-interval" (within 6 months of radiation) or "high-frequency" (>1 within 12 months of radiation), was compared in Medicare fee-for-service in the United States and Ontario, Canada. Women ≥65 years diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving therapy with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up were included (n = 19,715 United States; 6479 Ontario). Secondary outcomes were patient and physician characteristics associated with discordance. RESULTS: Short-interval mammography was higher in the United States than in Ontario (55.9% vs 38.0%, P < .001), as was high-frequency (39.6% vs 7.9%, P < .001). In Ontario, younger age (42% ≥85 vs 58% <74 years, P < .001) and chemotherapy (69% vs 51%, P < .001) were associated with short-interval mammography; in the United States, age, earlier diagnosis year, stage, chemotherapy, rurality, and academic center treatment were associated with greater use. Chemotherapy was associated with high-frequency mammography in both countries (13% vs 7% in Ontario, P < .001; 69% vs 51% in United States, P = .02); younger age, earlier diagnosis year, stage, and nonacademic center treatment were associated in the United States. In both countries, radiation oncologists had the highest proportion of providers ordering low-value mammograms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant evidence guiding surveillance mammography recommendations, there are high rates of short-interval mammography in both the United States and Ontario, and high rates of high-frequency mammography in the United States. Further international efforts, such as Choosing Wisely, are needed to reduce low-value mammography.

Curative-intent Metastasis-directed Therapies for Molecularly-defined Oligorecurrent Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Phase II Trial Testing the Oligometastasis Hypothesis.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis of a curable oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa) state remains to be clinically-proven. Conventional imaging often fails to localize early recurrences, hampering the potential for radical approaches. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted PET-MR/CT allows for earlier detection and localization of oligorecurrent-PCa, unveiling a molecularly-defined state amenable to curative-intent metastasis-directed treatment (MDT). DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Single-institution single-arm phase-two study. Patients with rising PSA (0.4-3.0 ng/mL) after maximal local therapy (radical prostatectomy and post-operative radiotherapy), negative conventional staging, and no prior salvage hormonal therapy (HT) were eligible. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent [18F]DCFPyL PET-MR/CT. Patients with molecularly-defined oligorecurrent-PCa had MDT (stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy [SABR] or surgery) without HT. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS/STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary endpoint was biochemical response (complete, i.e. biochemical 'no evidence of disease' [bNED], or partial response [100% or ≥50% PSA decline from baseline, respectively]) after MDT. Simon's two-stage design was employed (null and alternate hypotheses <5% and >20% response rate, respectively), with α and ß of 0.1. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled (May/2017-July/2019). Thirty-eight (53%) had PSMA-detected oligorecurrent-PCa amenable for MDT. Thirty-seven (51%) agreed to MDT: 10 and 27 underwent surgery and SABR, respectively. Median follow-up was 15.9 months (IQR 9.8-19.1). Of patients receiving MDT, the overall response rate was 60%, including 22% rendered bNED. One (2.7%) grade 3 toxicity (intra-operative ureteric injury) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: PSMA-defined oligorecurrent-PCa can be rendered bNED, a necessary step towards cure, in 1 of 5 patients receiving MDT alone. Randomized trials are justified to determine if MDT +/- systemic agents can expand the curative therapeutic armamentarium for PCa. PATIENT SUMMARY: We studied men treated for prostate cancer with rising PSA. We found PSMA imaging detected recurrent cancer in three-quarters of patients, and targeted treatment to these areas significantly decreased PSA in half of patients.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer: A Single-Institution Experience.

Introduction Despite treatment advances, the prognosis of locally advanced pancreatic cancer is poor. Treatment remains varied and includes systemic and radiotherapy (RT). Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), highly conformal high-dose RT per fraction, is an emerging treatment option. Materials and methods We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with SBRT from 2015-2017. The median dose was 27 Gy (range: 21-36 Gy) in three fractions. Endpoints included local progression (RECIST 1.1; Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1), distant metastasis, overall survival, and toxicity. Results Forty-one patients were treated, with a median follow-up of eight months. Patients who received SBRT had unresectable (49%), metastatic (17%), or borderline resectable (7%) disease, declined surgery (17%), medically inoperable (7%), or developed local recurrence following the Whipple procedure (2%). The six-month and one-year rates of local progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival were 62% and 55%, 44% and 32%, and 70% and 49%, respectively. Five patients (12%) experienced seven late gastrointestinal (GI) grade 3 events. Conclusion  SBRT may be considered a treatment option to achieve local control of pancreatic cancer and is associated with a modest risk of severe late GI toxicities. Systemic therapies remain important, given the proportion of patients who develop distant metastases.

The Capital Investment Strategy for Radiation therapy in Ontario: A Framework to Ensure Access to Radiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), formerly known as CCO, is the provincial governmental agency in Ontario, Canada responsible for developing radiation therapy-specific capital investment strategies, updated every 5 years, to ensure equitable access and to gain the highest value from these investments in infrastructure. These plans are informed by the changing landscape of health care delivery, technologic advancements affecting radiation therapy care, patient desire for care closer to home, and expected increases in utilization of radiation therapy services. In this article, we describe the development, model, and final recommendations of CCO's fifth radiation therapy capital investment strategy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A panel of multidisciplinary provincial experts, in combination with 2 patient and family advisors, developed planning principles to guide the development of a patient-centered strategy. Adaption of the previously used model for radiation therapy planning was used. RESULTS: The development of the capital investment strategy took place from fall 2017 to fall 2018. The model included 3 main factors: patient demand (including utilization targets), machine throughput, and machine demand and supply. The final recommendation is for an investment of 26 new radiation therapy machines in the province by 2028. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy plans for continued province-wide access to quality radiation therapy care and ensures machines are added to the system at the right place and in the right time. Ongoing data collection throughout this period is necessary to ensure the strategy achieves its goals and to allow for planning of future strategies.