45 or 50 Gy, Which is the Optimal Radiotherapy Pelvic Dose in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer in the Perspective of Reaching Magnetic Resonance Image-guided Adaptive Brachytherapy Planning Aims?

AIMS: In locally advanced cervical cancer, the dose delivered results from the sum of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy, and is limited by the surrounding organs at risk. The balance between both techniques influences the total dose delivered to the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV). The aim of the present study was to compare the ability of reaching different planning aims after external beam radiotherapy pelvic doses of 45 Gy in 25 fractions or 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions, both considered as standard prescriptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The optimised plans of 120 patients treated with pelvic chemoradiation followed by magnetic resonance image-guided intracavitary brachytherapy were reviewed. The doses per pulse were calculated, and the number of pulses required to reach the planning aims, or a limiting dose constraint to organs at risk, was calculated. All doses were converted to 2-Gy equivalents. Three scenarios were applied consisting of different sets of planning aims: 85 and 60 Gy for the HR-CTV and the intermediate-risk CTV (IR-CTV) D90 (minimal dose received by 90% of the volume) in scenario 1, 90 and 60 Gy, respectively, for scenarios 2 and 3. For organs at risk, dose constraints were 90, 75 and 75 Gy to the bladder, rectum and sigmoid D2cm(3), respectively, in scenarios 1 and 2, and 80, 65 and 70 Gy in scenario 3. RESULTS: A similar HR-CTV D90 could have been reached in scenarios 1 and 2 according to both pelvic doses. In scenario 3, a higher mean HR-CTV could have been reached in the 45 Gy arm (83.5 ± 8.0 versus 82.4 ± 8.0, P < 0.0001). The mean D2cm(3) of organs at risk was systematically and significantly increased after a delivery of 50.4 Gy to the pelvis, from 0.9 to 2.89 Gy. The proportions of plans reaching planning aims were 85.8, 72.5 and 42.5% after 45 Gy and 85.5, 67.5 and 33.3% after 50.4 Gy according to scenarios 1, 2 and 3, respectively. According to scenario 3, 50.4 Gy, the reachable HR-CTV D90 was higher in 30% of the cases, by 2 Gy in two cases. Those cases were unpredictable and due to unfavourable organs at risk topography and poor response to external beam radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: The delivery of 45 Gy in 25 fractions to the pelvis before brachytherapy warrants a higher probability to reach brachytherapy planning aims, in comparison with 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions.

Lung metastases in oligometastatic patients: outcome with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

Purpose. To assess the clinical results in terms of local control, toxicity, failure pattern and toxicity of SBRT in oligometastatic patients with inoperable lung metastases. Methods. Forty-four patients were treated (53 metastases). Dose regimen: 5 × 12 Gy (66 %), 8 × 7.5 Gy (20.8 %) and 10 × 5 Gy (13.2 %). Response was assessed using PET/CT at 6 months after SBRT. Results. Local control at 1 and 2 years was 86.7 %. Seventy-five percent of local failures had received a BED <105 Gy. After a median follow-up of 13.3 months, 25 % experienced distant progression. Overall survival at 1 and 2 years was 86.7 and 60.4 %, and cancer-specific survival was 95.3 and 75.2 %, respectively. Grade 2 toxicity was 6.8 %. There was no grade 3–4 toxicity. Conclusion. SBRT is effective and safe. The main failure pattern is distant progression. The selection of patients with a high probability of remaining oligometastatic is crucial for the efficiency of SBRT, both clinically and in terms of resources (AU)

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Lung metastases in oligometastatic patients: outcome with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical results in terms of local control, toxicity, failure pattern and toxicity of SBRT in oligometastatic patients with inoperable lung metastases. METHODS: Forty-four patients were treated (53 metastases). Dose regimen: 5 × 12 Gy (66 %), 8 × 7.5 Gy (20.8 %) and 10 × 5 Gy (13.2 %). Response was assessed using PET/CT at 6 months after SBRT. RESULTS: Local control at 1 and 2 years was 86.7 %. Seventy-five percent of local failures had received a BED <105 Gy. After a median follow-up of 13.3 months, 25 % experienced distant progression. Overall survival at 1 and 2 years was 86.7 and 60.4 %, and cancer-specific survival was 95.3 and 75.2 %, respectively. Grade 2 toxicity was 6.8 %. There was no grade 3-4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: SBRT is effective and safe. The main failure pattern is distant progression. The selection of patients with a high probability of remaining oligometastatic is crucial for the efficiency of SBRT, both clinically and in terms of resources.

Outcome and toxicity using helial tomotherapy for craniospinal irradiation in pediatric medulloblastoma

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and outcome of craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with helical tomotherapy (HT) in the treatment of medulloblastoma. METHODS: We evaluated 19 consecutive patients with primary medulloblastoma who were treated with HT from 2007 through 2010. HT regimens to the neuroaxis included: 23.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction (N = 10), 36 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction (N = 7), and 39 Gy bid at 1.3 Gy/fraction (N = 2). The tumor bed received 54-60 Gy. Potential associations between patient, treatment, and toxicity factors and overall survival (OS) were assessed in univariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to correlate potential risk factors with the grade of acute toxicity. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 5 years (range 2-14) and the median follow-up for alive patients (N = 14) 40 months (range 10-62). Two- and three-year overall survival was 75 and 68 %, respectively. The most common acute toxicity was hematological (79 %), being grade 2 and grade 3 in 4 (21 %) and 11 (58 %) cases, respectively. No grade ≥2 late toxicities were observed. Higher grades of acute body toxicity were found in older children (P = 0.004). Longer time between diagnosis and radiation therapy was correlated with shorter OS (P = 0.03). In addition, higher grades of acute thrombocytopenia were associated with shorter OS (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: CSI delivered with HT for medulloblastoma is well tolerated with low rates of severe acute toxicity. Further research is necessary to assess late toxicity with a longer follow-up (AU)

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Outcome and toxicity using helical tomotherapy for craniospinal irradiation in pediatric medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and outcome of craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with helical tomotherapy (HT) in the treatment of medulloblastoma. METHODS: We evaluated 19 consecutive patients with primary medulloblastoma who were treated with HT from 2007 through 2010. HT regimens to the neuroaxis included: 23.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction (N = 10), 36 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction (N = 7), and 39 Gy bid at 1.3 Gy/fraction (N = 2). The tumor bed received 54-60 Gy. Potential associations between patient, treatment, and toxicity factors and overall survival (OS) were assessed in univariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to correlate potential risk factors with the grade of acute toxicity. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 5 years (range 2-14) and the median follow-up for alive patients (N = 14) 40 months (range 10-62). Two- and three-year overall survival was 75 and 68 %, respectively. The most common acute toxicity was hematological (79 %), being grade 2 and grade 3 in 4 (21 %) and 11 (58 %) cases, respectively. No grade ≥2 late toxicities were observed. Higher grades of acute body toxicity were found in older children (P = 0.004). Longer time between diagnosis and radiation therapy was correlated with shorter OS (P = 0.03). In addition, higher grades of acute thrombocytopenia were associated with shorter OS (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: CSI delivered with HT for medulloblastoma is well tolerated with low rates of severe acute toxicity. Further research is necessary to assess late toxicity with a longer follow-up.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy delivered by image-guided helical tomotherapy for extracranial oligometastases

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcomes and risk factors of patients treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) delivered by image-guided helical tomotherapy (HT) for extracranial oligometastases. METHODS: From August 2006 through July 2011, 42 consecutive patients (median age 69 years [range 16-87]) with oligometastases (≤3) received HT to all known cancer sites (lung, n = 28; liver, n = 12; adrenal, n = 2). Prognostic factors were assessed by Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 60 lesions were treated with hypofractionated HT (median dose 39 Gy [range 36-72.5]; median dose per fraction 12 Gy [range 5-20]). Complete or partial response was observed in 40 (54 %) patients. With a median follow-up period of 15 months, 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 84 and 63 %, respectively; and 1- and 2-year local control (LC) was 92 and 86 %, respectively. Four patients had pneumonitis Grade ≥2 and two patients had lower gastrointestinal toxicity Grade ≥2. Only the lack of complete/partial response was associated with higher risk of mortality on univariate (HR = 3.8, P = 0.04) and multivariate (HR = 6.6, P = 0.01) analyses. CONCLUSIONS: SABR delivered by image-guided HT is well tolerated and offers adequate LC with low acute morbidity in patients with extracranial oligometastatic disease. We found that the response to HT was the only predictor for OS (AU)

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy delivered by image-guided helical tomotherapy for extracranial oligometastases.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcomes and risk factors of patients treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) delivered by image-guided helical tomotherapy (HT) for extracranial oligometastases. METHODS: From August 2006 through July 2011, 42 consecutive patients (median age 69 years [range 16-87]) with oligometastases (≤3) received HT to all known cancer sites (lung, n = 28; liver, n = 12; adrenal, n = 2). Prognostic factors were assessed by Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 60 lesions were treated with hypofractionated HT (median dose 39 Gy [range 36-72.5]; median dose per fraction 12 Gy [range 5-20]). Complete or partial response was observed in 40 (54 %) patients. With a median follow-up period of 15 months, 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 84 and 63 %, respectively; and 1- and 2-year local control (LC) was 92 and 86 %, respectively. Four patients had pneumonitis Grade ≥2 and two patients had lower gastrointestinal toxicity Grade ≥2. Only the lack of complete/partial response was associated with higher risk of mortality on univariate (HR = 3.8, P = 0.04) and multivariate (HR = 6.6, P = 0.01) analyses. CONCLUSIONS: SABR delivered by image-guided HT is well tolerated and offers adequate LC with low acute morbidity in patients with extracranial oligometastatic disease. We found that the response to HT was the only predictor for OS.

Ten-year results of a phase II study with a single fraction of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (FAST-boost) after whole breast irradiation in invasive breast carcinoma

PURPOSE: We present the results of a prospective ten-year follow-up study to prove the effectiveness of a single fraction of 192-Ir high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) as a boost. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1999 and 2000, 84 consecutive patients with invasive breast carcinoma, with over 4 mm free margins after conservative surgery, were treated. All cases were stages T1-2, except for one case, a stage T3, 81% pN0, 19% pN1-2. Chemotherapy was used in 47% and hormonal therapy in 87%. Whole breast external beam radiotherapy (46 Gy) was followed 1-2 weeks later by an implant with metallic needles. A 7 Gy single dose of HDR BT to the 90% isodose line was delivered on an outpatient basis. Dosimetry was performed theoretically. This technique is called FAST-boost because the whole treatment is delivered in about two hours. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 120 months, three patients relapsed in the margin of the implant and two in a different quadrant (5/84, 6%). Actuarial local control at five and ten years was 98.5% and 95.6%. Overall survival was 92.7% and 90.2%, and disease-free survival 90.2% and 79.9%. Cosmetic results were good or excellent in 92.5%. CONCLUSIONS: A single-fraction HDR boost with rigid needles (FAST-boost) is a good, quick, simple technique when surgical margins are free (AU)