Stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer patients with oligometastatic disease: a real world study

Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a treatment modality with curative intent for oligometastatic cancer patients, commonly defined by a low-burden metastatic disease with 1–5 systemic metastases. Better knowledge of the clinical profile and prognostic factors in oligometastatic cancer patients could help to improve the selection of candidates who may obtain most benefits from SBRT. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical data and outcome in term of overall survival (OS) of patients with oligometastatic disease treated with SBRT over a 6-year period. Methods From 2013 to 2018, 284 solid tumor cancer patients with 1–5 oligometastases underwent SBRT at a large university-affiliated oncological center in Barcelona, Spain. Variables related to the patient profile, tumor, oligometastatic disease, and treatment were evaluated. Results A total of 327 metastatic tumors were treated with SBRT. In 65.5% of cases, metachronous tumors were diagnosed at least 1 year after diagnosis of the primary tumor. The median age of the patients was 73.9 years and 66.5% were males. The median follow-up was 37.5 months. The most common primary tumors were lung and colorectal cancer, with lung and bone as the most commonly treated metastatic sites. Ninety-three percent of patients showed a Karnofsky score (KPS) between 80 and 100. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type. The median overall survival was 53.4 months, with 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rates of 90.5%, 73.9% and 43.4%, respectively. Overall survival rates of breast (67.6 months, 95% CI 56.4–78.9), urological (63.3 months, 95% CI 55.8–70.8), and colorectal (50.8 months, 95% CI 44.2–57.4) tumors were higher as compared with other malignancies (20 months, 95% CI 11.2–28.8 months) (p < 0.001) (AU)

Paclitaxel Plus Cetuximab as Induction Chemotherapy for Patients With Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Unfit for Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy.

Objectives: Induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by definitive treatment is an accepted non-surgical approach for locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). However, ICT remains a challenge for cisplatin-unfit patients. We evaluated paclitaxel and cetuximab (P-C) as ICT in a cohort of LA-HNSCC patients unfit for cisplatin. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients with newly diagnosed LA-HNSCC considered unfit for cisplatin-based chemotherapy (age >70 and/or ECOG≥2 and/or comorbidities) treated with weekly P-C followed by definitive radiotherapy and cetuximab (RT-C) between 2010 and 2017. Toxicity and objective response rate (ORR) to ICT and RT-C were collected. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine baseline predictors of OS and PFS. Results: A total of 57 patients were included. Grade 3-4 toxicity rate to ICT was 54.4%, and there was a death deemed treatment-related (G5). P-C achieved an ORR of 66.7%, including 12.3% of complete responses (CR). After P-C, 45 patients (78.9%) continued with concomitant RT-C. Twenty-six patients (45.6%) achieved a CR after definitive treatment. With a median follow-up of 21.7 months (range 1.2-94.6), median OS and PFS were 22.9 months and 10.7 months, respectively. The estimated 2-year OS and PFS rates were 48.9% and 33.7%, respectively. Disease stage had a negative impact on OS (stage IVb vs. III-IVa: HR = 2.55 [1.08-6.04], p = 0.03), with a trend towards worse PFS (HR = 1.92 [0.91-4.05], p = 0.09). Primary tumor in the larynx was associated with improved PFS but not OS (HR = 0.45 [0.22-0.92], p = 0.03, and HR = 0.69 [0.32-1.54], p = 0.37, respectively). Conclusion: P-C was a well-tolerated and active ICT regimen in this cohort of LA-HNSCC patients unfit for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. P-C might represent a valid ICT option for unfit patients and may aid patient selection for definitive treatment.

Actualización en el manejo de sarcomas retroperitoneales y pélvicos; el papel de la cirugía compartimental / Update in pelvic and retroperitoneal sarcoma management: The role of compartment surgery

La cirugía de los sarcomas retroperitoneales debe ser compartimental «en bloque», lo que implica la resección de órganos adyacentes al tumor. Su empleo «de entrada» permite un elevado porcentaje de resecciones con márgenes negativos, lo que supone un mejor control local y mayor supervivencia en muchos pacientes. La preservación de órganos debe hacerse de forma personalizada, especialmente en la pelvis, y adaptarla a la agresividad histológica del tumor. La biopsia preoperatoria permite establecer el subtipo de sarcoma y una adecuada estrategia perioperatoria. Estos pacientes deben ser manejados por cirujanos expertos en centros de referencia, con unidades multidisciplinarias y comités oncológicos. El uso de quimioterapia y radioterapia aún no está bien definido, por lo que solo se recomienda en centros de referencia con ensayos clínicos. En la actualidad esta es la única opción para ofrecer las mejores tasas de morbimortalidad, y las posibles mejoras en la supervivencia de estos pacientes

Surgery for retroperitoneal sarcomas should be "en bloc" compartmental, which involves resection of unaffected organs. Its upfront use is key, providing a high percentage of resections with negative margins, resulting in a better local control and increased survival in many patients. Preservation of organs should be done in an individualized manner, especially in the pelvic location, and adapted to the histological aggressiveness of the tumor. Preoperative biopsy is able to establish the diagnosis of sarcoma subtype and consequently an adequate perioperative strategy. These patients should be managed by expert surgeons at referral centers with multidisciplinary units and oncology committees. The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is not yet well defined, so it is only recommended at referral centers with clinical trials. Currently, this is the only option to offer the best morbidity and mortality rates, as well as possible improvements in the survival of these patients

Update in pelvic and retroperitoneal sarcoma management: The role of compartment surgery. / Actualización en el manejo de sarcomas retroperitoneales y pélvicos; el papel de la cirugía compartimental.

Surgery for retroperitoneal sarcomas should be "en bloc" compartmental, which involves resection of unaffected organs. Its upfront use is key, providing a high percentage of resections with negative margins, resulting in a better local control and increased survival in many patients. Preservation of organs should be done in an individualized manner, especially in the pelvic location, and adapted to the histological aggressiveness of the tumor. Preoperative biopsy is able to establish the diagnosis of sarcoma subtype and consequently an adequate perioperative strategy. These patients should be managed by expert surgeons at referral centers with multidisciplinary units and oncology committees. The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is not yet well defined, so it is only recommended at referral centers with clinical trials. Currently, this is the only option to offer the best morbidity and mortality rates, as well as possible improvements in the survival of these patients.

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein (LMP-1), p16 and p53 proteins in nonendemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC): a clinicopathological study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although the latent membrane protein type 1 (LMP1) is frequently expressed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) malignancies, its contribution to the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not fully defined. LMP1 functions as a viral mimic of the TNFR family member engaging a number of signaling pathways that induce morphological and phenotypic alterations. This study aimed to investigate the LMP1 expression and EBV infection in relation to clinical outcome and survival in a series of Mexican NPC patients. We also studied expression of p16 and p53 proteins. METHODS: We analyzed in 25 tumor specimens the expression of LMP1, p16 and p53 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and EBV presence by IHC/in situ hybridization. Differences in clinical outcome and survival in relation to protein expression were correlated through χ(2) statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: Our results showed a rate of 92% (23/25) of EBV infection. The expressions of LMP-1, p16 and p53 proteins were 40.0, 44.0 and 40.0%, respectively. LMP-1 immunoexpression was more common in older patients (>50 vs. <50 years old, p = 0.02) and with parapharyngeal space invasion (p = 0.02). The presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis (p = 0.03), distant recurrence disease (p = 0.006) and shorter distance recurrence-free survival (p = 0.05) was associated with lack of p16. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, EBV infection rates are particularly high for nonendemic NPC, although without a statistically significant difference in overall survival, LMP1 and p16 expression was correlated with poorer clinical prognosis. Probably, LMP1 and p16 detection identify a worse clinical prognosis in NPC patient subgroup.

The role of plastic surgery in sarcoma treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcomas are low-incidence tumours, but their poor prognosis and complex treatment require the work of a multidisciplinary medical team. The Plastic Surgery Service forms part of the Sarcoma Functional Unit in our centre, performing tumour exeresis as well as immediate reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective study on the experience of the Plastic Surgery Service of the Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge in the treatment of 133 sarcomas over 20 years. RESULTS: The surgical treatment was based on local radical surgery supported by primary reconstructive surgery in 42.9% of the cases, with an amputation rate in limb sarcomas of 9.7%. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were used in the high-grade sarcomas as adjuvant treatment. The anatomical location of the head and neck was associated with the need for reconstructive procedures. Survival free from local recurrence was 84.72% at 5 years. Disease-specific survival was 81.22% at 5 years. The only prognostic factor for survival in our series was histological grade. CONCLUSIONS: Primary reconstructive surgery has a fundamental role in sarcoma treatment enabling radical surgical resection, avoiding amputations and facilitating adjuvant treatments.