Improving the quality of care in the molecular era for children and adolescents with medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: Elevated mortality and morbidity rates persist in pediatric patients with medulloblastoma. We present a clinical audit of a real-world cohort of patients in search for pragmatic measures to improve their management and outcome. METHODS/PATIENTS: All pediatric patients with medulloblastoma treated between 2003 and 2016 at a Spanish reference center were reviewed. In the absence of internationally accepted quality indicators (QIs) for pediatric CNS tumors, diagnostic, therapeutic, survival, and time QIs were defined and assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included, 24% were younger children (< 3 years), 36% high risk (anaplastic, metastasis, or surgical residue > 1.5 cm2), and 40% standard risk. Five-year OS was 59.2% (95% CI 47-75); 5-year PFS 36.4% (95% CI 25-53). Five main areas of quality assurance were identified: diagnosis, global strategy, frontline treatment modalities, outcomes, and long-term and end-of-life care. A set of 34 QIs was developed and applied. Lack of central pathology review, delay in the incorporation of novel molecular markers, and absence of a neurocognitive and quality-of-life evaluation program were some of the audit findings. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world research study resulted in the development of a pragmatic set of QIs, aimed to improve clinical audits and quality of care given to children and adolescents with medulloblastoma. We hope that our findings will serve as a reference to further develop a quality assurance system with specific QIs for pediatric CNS tumors in the future and that this will ultimately improve the survival and quality of life of these patients.

Survival after biochemical failure in prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy: Spanish Registry of Prostate Cancer (RECAP) database outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical course in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after biochemical failure (BF) has received limited attention. This study analyzes survival time from recurrence, patterns of progression, and the efficacy of salvage therapies in patients treated with radical or postoperative radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective comparative study of 1135 patients diagnosed with BF and treated with either radical (882) or postoperative (253) RT. Data correspond to the RECAP database. Clinical, tumor, and therapeutic characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics, survival estimates, and comparisons of survival rates were calculated. RESULTS: Time to BF from initial treatment (RT or surgery) was higher in irradiated patients (51 vs 37 months). At a median follow-up of 102 months (14-254), the 8-year cause-specific survival (CSS) was 80.5%, without significant differences between the radical (80.1%) and postoperative (83.4%) RT groups. The 8-year metastasis-free survival rate was 57%. 173 patients (15%) died of PCa and 29 (2.5%) of a second cancer. No salvage therapy was given in 15% of pts. Only 5.5% of pts who underwent radical RT had local salvage treatment and 71% received androgen deprivation (AD) ± chemotherapy. The worst outcomes were in patients who developed metastases after BF (302 pts; 26.5%) and in cases with a Gleason > 7. CONCLUSIONS: In PCa treated with radiotherapy, median survival after BF is relatively long. In this sample, no differences in survival rates at 8-years have been found, regardless of the time of radiotherapy administered. AD was the most common treatment after BF. Metastases and high Gleason score are adverse variables. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare outcomes after BF among patients treated with primary RT vs. those treated with postoperative RT and to evaluate recurrence patterns, treatments administered, and causes of death. The results allow avoiding overtreatment, improving quality of life, without negatively affecting survival.

Consensus on management of castration-resistant prostate cancer on behalf of the Urological Tumours Working Group (URONCOR) of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge in the field of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is developing rapidly, with emerging new therapies and advances in imaging. Nonetheless, in multiple areas there is still a lack of or very limited evidence, and clear guidance from clinicians regarding optimal strategy is required. METHODS: A modified Delphi method, with 116 relevant questions divided into 7 different CRPC management topics, was used to develop a consensus statement by the URONCOR group. RESULTS: A strong consensus or unanimity was reached on 93% of the proposed questions. The seven topics addressed were: CRPC definition, symptomatic patients, diagnosis of metastasis, CRPC progression, M0 management, M1 management and sequencing therapy, and treatment monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations based on the radiation oncology experts' opinions are intended to provide cancer specialists with expert guidance and to standardise CRPC patient management in Spain, facilitating decision-making in different clinically relevant issues regarding CRPC patients.

Adjuvant versus salvage radiotherapy in prostate cancer: multi-institutional retrospective analysis of the Spanish RECAP database.

PURPOSE: To compare adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) to salvage radiotherapy (SRT) after radical prostatectomy (RP) in a cohort of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. The primary aim was to comparatively assess 2- and 5-year biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS). A secondary aim was to identify predictors of survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were acquired from the RECAP database, a population-based prostate cancer registry in Spain. Inclusion criteria included RP (with or without lymphadenectomy) followed by ART or SRT. A total of 702 patients were analyzed. Pre-RT PSA values (>0.5 vs. ≤0.5 ng/ml), pathological stage (T1-2 vs. T3-4), post-surgical Gleason score (≤7 vs. 8-10), margin status (positive vs. negative), hormonal treatment (yes vs. no), and RT dose (≤66 Gy vs. >66 Gy) were evaluated to assess their impact on BRFS. RESULTS: The mean patient age in the ART and SRT groups, respectively, was 64 years (range 42-82) and 64.8 years (range 42-82). Median follow-up after RT in the whole sample was 34 months (range 3-141). A total of 702 patients were included: 223 (31.8%) received ART and 479 (68.2%) SRT. BRFS rates (95% CI) in the ART and SRT groups at months 24 and 60 were, respectively: 98.1% (95.9-100.0%) vs. 91.2% (88.2-94.2%) and 84.5% (76.4-92.6%) vs. 74.0% (67.4-80.7%) (p = 0.004). No significant differences in OS were observed (p = 0.053). The following variables were significant predictors of biochemical recurrence in the SRT group: (1) positive surgical margin status (p = 0.049); (2) no hormonotherapy (p = 0.03); (3) total prostate dose ≤66 Gy (p = 0.004); and pre-RT PSA ≥0.5 ng/ml (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide study in Spain to evaluate a large cohort of PCa patients treated with RP followed by postoperative RT. ART yielded better 2- and 5-year BRFS rates, although OS was equivalent. These findings are consistent with most other published studies and support ART in patients with adverse prognostic characteristics after radical prostatectomy. Prospective trials are needed to compare immediate ART to early SRT to better determine their relative benefits.

Consensus statement on definition, diagnosis, and management of high-risk prostate cancer patients on behalf of the Spanish Groups of Uro-Oncology Societies URONCOR, GUO, and SOGUG.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent malignancy in men and the second cause of mortality in industrialized countries. METHODS: Based on Spanish Register of PCa, the incidence of high-risk PCa is 29%, approximately. In spite of the evidence-based beneficial effect of radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy in high-risk PCa, these patients (pts) are still a therapeutic challenge for all specialists involved, in part due to the absence of comparative studies to establish which of the present disposable treatments offer better results. RESULTS: Nowadays, high-risk PCa definition is not well consensual through the published oncology guides. Clinical stage, tumour grade, and number of risk factors are relevant to be considered on PCa prognosis. However, these factors are susceptible to change depending on when surgical or radiation therapy is considered to be the treatment of choice. Other factors, such as reference pathologist, different diagnosis biopsy schedules, surgical or radiotherapy techniques, adjuvant treatments, biochemical failures, and follow-up, make it difficult to compare the results between different therapeutic options. CONCLUSIONS: This article reviews important issues concerning high-risk PCa. URONCOR, GUO, and SOGUG on behalf of the Spanish Groups of Uro-Oncology Societies have reached a consensus addressing a practical recommendation on definition, diagnosis, and management of high-risk PCa.

Androgen deprivation and radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer and cardiovascular risk factors: clinical controversies.

INTRODUCTION: Recent reports of an association between androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events have generated debate on the use of ADT in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and CV comorbidities. This study aims to describe the recommendations of radiation oncologists in the most controversial aspects of treating such patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The project involved 61 oncologists and comprised 4 phases: (1) selection of the most controversial aspects in the administration of ADT in patients with a history of CV disease and PCa, (2) selection of the most relevant published evidence, (3) preparation of case reports, (4) critical reading and discussion. Therapeutic procedures were classified as "highly recommendable", "recommendable in some cases", or "not recommendable/not applicable". For each item assessed, the mode of the scores given, and the percentage of experts who selected each score were calculated. RESULTS: The panel recommended that patients with high/very high-risk PCa and a history of CV disease should receive gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). ADT with GnRHa for 24-36 months + radiotherapy (RT) was also considered highly recommendable. In intermediate-risk PCa and a history of CV, ADT with GnRHa for 6-8 months + RT, and not administering ADT were considered highly recommendable. CONCLUSIONS: Studies are necessary to investigate the impact of ADT on CV mortality in patients who benefit most from adjuvant ADT in terms of survival. In the meantime, the experts believe that clinical evidence on the proven therapeutic benefits of ADT should override concerns about potential cardiac toxicity.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for the treatment of resectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma: topography of locoregional recurrences and long-term outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: To report feasibility, tolerance, anatomical sites of upper abdominal locoregional recurrence and long-term outcome of gastric cancer patients treated with surgery and a component of intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IORT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1995 to December 2010, 32 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma treated with curative resection (R0) [total gastrectomy (n = 9; 28 %), subtotal (n = 23; 72 %) and D2 lymphadenectomy in all patients] and apparent disease confined to locoregional area [Stage: II (n = 15; 47 %), III (n = 17; 53 %)] were treated with a component of IORT (IORT applicator size 5-9 cm in diameter, dose 10-15 Gy, beam energy 6-5 MeV) over the celiac axis and peripancreatic nodal areas. Sixteen (50 %) patients also received adjuvant treatment (external beam radiotherapy n = 6, chemoradiation n = 9, chemotherapy alone n = 1). RESULTS: With a median follow-up time of 40 months (range, 2-60), locoregional recurrence was observed in five (16 %) patients (4 nodal in hepatic hilum and 1 anastomotic). Only pN1 patients developed locoregional relapse. No recurrence was observed in the IORT-treated target volume (celiac trunk and peripancreatic nodes). Overall survival at 5 years was 54.6 % (95 % CI: 48.57-60.58). Postoperative mortality was 6 % (n = 2) and postoperative complications 19 % (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to integrate IORT as a component of radiotherapy in combined modality therapy of gastric cancer. Local control is high in the radiation boosted area, but marginal regional extension (in particular, involving the hepatic hilum) might be considered as part of the anatomic IORT target volume at risk in pN+ patients.