A proposed framework for the implementation of head and neck cancer treatment at a new cancer center from a radiation oncology perspective.

BACKGROUND: Establishing a new head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment center requires multidisciplinary team management and expertise. To our knowledge, there are no clear recommendations or guidelines in the literature for the commencement of HNC radiation therapy (RT) at a new cancer center. We propose a novel framework outlining the necessary components required to set-up a new radiation therapy HNC treatment. METHODS: We reviewed the infrastructure and methodology in the commencement of HNC radiation therapy in our cancer care center and invited several external, experienced metropolitan head and neck radiation oncologists to develop a novel consensus guideline that may be used by new RT centers to treat HNC. Recommendations were presented to our internal and external staff specialists using a survey questionnaire with ratings utilized to determine consensus using pre-defined thresholds as per the American Society of Clinical Oncology Guidelines Methodology Manual. CONCLUSION: This consensus recommendation aims to improve RT utilization whilst advocating for optimal patient outcomes by presenting a framework for new radiation therapy centers ready to step up and manage the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. We propose these evidence-based consensus guidelines endorsed by external HNC radiation oncologists.

Radiation therapy utilization and outcomes for older women with breast cancer: Impact of molecular subtype and tumor grade.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) utilization for elderly women with respect to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor status has not been evaluated. Our purpose was to determine differences in RT utilization and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) for elderly breast cancer patients with distinct molecular biomarkers. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for women ≥70 years of age diagnosed with T1N0M0 breast cancer between 2010 and 2013 receiving breast conservation. Chi-squared analysis was performed to determine the difference in RT utilization between groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors for RT use. Kaplan-Meier curves were created and the log-rank test done to compare differences in breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) between groups. RESULTS: A total of 12,312 patients met the inclusion criteria. Receipt of RT for patients with distinct tumor biomarkers was as follows: 55.7% for patients with Estrogen Receptor (ER) +/HER2+; 57.1% for patients with ER+/HER2-; 65.6% for patients with ER-/HER2+; and 69.2% for ER-/HER2- patients (p < 0.001). Factors associated with RT use included ER-/HER2- status, 70-74 years of age, and high grade disease, while adjuvant RT was associated with improve BCSS in ER+/HER2- and ER-/HER2- patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients 70-74 years old and those with ER-/HER2- are more likely to receive adjuvant RT. Moreover, adjuvant RT is associated with improvements in BCSS in ER+/HER2- and ER-/HER2- patients. Given possible poor compliance with hormonal therapy, the omission of RT in ER + patients, without consideration of HER2 status, should be undertaken with care.

Changes in treatment patterns and impact of radiotherapy for early stage diffuse large B cell lymphoma after Rituximab: A population-based analysis.

PURPOSE: Use of Rituximab for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has improved outcomes and led to further questions regarding the benefit of consolidative radiation therapy (RT). This study sought to determine changes in RT utilization following the incorporation of Rituximab for treatment of early stage DLBCL and to examine survival outcomes. MATERIALS/METHODS: We included patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, diagnosed with Stage I-II DLBCL between 1992 and 2011. Linear regression was performed to determine rate of RT utilization over time during the pre- and post-Rituximab eras (1992-2001 vs. 2002-2011). Kaplan-Meier and Cox Regression were performed to compare overall survival (OS) for patients treated with or without RT. Propensity-score matching was used to compare survival outcomes to account for indication bias. RESULTS: 34,680 patients met the specified criteria. RT utilization was 35.2% in the pre-Rituximab era and 29.9% in the post-Rituximab era (​P<0.001). Linear regression revealed that in the pre-Rituximab era the slope of the best fit line for RT utilization by year was positive (m=0.01, ​P=0.0046), while the slope was negative in the post-Rituximab era (m=-0.008, ​P=0.0102). RT use was associated with improved OS in both the pre-Rituximab era (hazard ratio [HR]=0.797; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.756-0.841) and the post-Rituximab era (HR=0.745; 95% CI 0.702-0.789). Propensity-score matched analysis confirmed that RT use improved OS in the pre-Rituximab era (HR=0.844; 95% CI 0.793-0.897) and post-Rituximab era (0.754; 95% CI 0.703-0.809). CONCLUSION: RT utilization has decreased following incorporation of Rituximab for first line treatment of DLBCL. RT use is associated with improved OS in both pre- and post-Rituximab eras, suggesting that RT should continue to be used for management of early stage DLBCL, even in the era of Rituximab.