Acute and definitive management of oropharyngeal hemorrhage in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

BACKGROUND: Massive oropharyngeal bleeding post-chemoradiotherapy is a life-threatening condition that requires emergent management. METHODS: This retrospective case series included 11 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who suffered from massive bleeding during or following treatment with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Details of acute and definitive management of oropharyngeal bleeding are reported. RESULTS: Nine of 11 hemorrhagic events occurred a mean (SD) of 88.6 days (53.6) after radiotherapy. Airway intubation and embolization were performed in 10 of 11 patients, followed by surgery in 7 of 11 patients. The most commonly embolized vessels were the external carotid and lingual arteries. At the time of discharge, 3 of 11 patients had a tracheostomy, and 7 of 11 continued to use a gastrostomy tube. Four patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic complications in oropharyngeal cancer treatment require emergent responses. Developing a workflow for coordination between multidisciplinary teams can maximize probability of survival and decrease morbidity.

Prevalence and correlates of high-dose opioid use among survivors of head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: We characterized prescription opioid medication use up to 2 years following the head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and examined associations with moderate or high daily opioid prescription dose. METHODS: Using administrative data from Veterans Health Administration, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 5522 Veterans treated for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract between 2012 and 2019. Data included cancer diagnosis and treatments, pain severity, prescription opioid characteristics, demographics, and other clinical factors. RESULTS: Two years post-HNC, 7.8% (n = 428) were receiving moderate or high-dose opioid therapy. Patients with at least moderate pain (18%, n = 996) had 2.48 times higher odds (95% CI = 1.94-3.09, p < 0.001) to be prescribed a moderate opioid dose or higher at 2 years post diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors of HNC with at least moderate pain were at elevated risk of continued use of moderate and high dose opioids.

The contemporary management of cancers of the sinonasal tract in adults.

Sinonasal malignancies make up <5% of all head and neck neoplasms, with an incidence of 0.5-1.0 per 100,000. The outcome of these rare malignancies has been poor, whereas significant progress has been made in the management of other cancers. The objective of the current review was to describe the incidence, causes, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and recent developments of malignancies of the sinonasal tract. The diagnoses covered in this review included sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, sinonasal adenocarcinoma, sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma, and esthesioneuroblastoma, which are exclusive to the sinonasal tract. In addition, the authors covered malignances that are likely to be encountered in the sinonasal tract-primary mucosal melanoma, NUT (nuclear protein of the testis) carcinoma, and extranodal natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma. For the purpose of keeping this review as concise and focused as possible, sarcomas and malignancies that can be classified as salivary gland neoplasms were excluded.

Pilot Study Demonstrating the Value of Interdisciplinary Education on the Integration of Radiation Therapy in Lung Cancer Management.

This study aimed to understand baseline knowledge of basic principles of radiation therapy for lung cancer among medical oncology, thoracic surgery, and pulmonology trainees and practicing physicians and also assess whether a didactic lecture will improve objective knowledge and perceived comfort level in making appropriate referrals to radiation oncology (RO). Radiation oncologists at 8 academic institutions offered a presentation covering indications, logistics, efficacy, and toxicity of thoracic radiation. Participants completed a survey to assess their prior exposures to RO and perceived value of the lecture, and objective knowledge gained based on pre/post-lecture questions. Among 121 attendees, 76 completed the pre-test, and 25 the post-test (response rates 62.8% and 20.7%, respectively). Fifty-seven (75.0%) had never previously experienced a RO didactic about lung cancer, 62 (81.6%) had never seen a linear accelerator, and 65 (85.5%) had never rotated in a RO department. The mean pre-test score was 53.5% (SD 17.6%), with a trend (p = 0.066) towards thoracic surgeons (61.5%) performing better than medical oncologists (55.5%) or pulmonologists (48.3%). Level of training (p = 0.130), and prior RO exposures (p = 0.240), did not significantly impact pre-test scores. The mean post-test score of 75.1% (SD 3.6%) was significantly higher than mean pre-test score (p < 0.001). After the lecture, 25 participants (100%) felt more knowledgeable about RO, and 24 (96%) felt more comfortable making appropriate referrals to RO. A didactic lecture about RO for trainees and physicians who treat lung cancer at 8 academic institutions was feasible, filled a gap in exposure, and improved knowledge.

Imaging and Biomarker Surveillance for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and AUC Document.

Surveillance for survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) is focused on early detection of recurrent or second primary malignancies. After initial restaging confirms disease-free status, the use of surveillance imaging for asymptomatic patients with HNC is controversial. Our objective was to comprehensively review literature pertaining to imaging and biomarker surveillance of asymptomatic patients treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to convene a multidisciplinary expert panel to provide appropriate use criteria for surveillance in representative clinical scenarios. The evidence base for the appropriate use criteria was gathered through a librarian-mediated search of literature published from 1990 to 2022 focused on surveillance imaging and circulating tumor-specific DNA for nonmetastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The systematic review was reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Using the modified Delphi process, the expert panel voted on appropriate use criteria, providing recommendations for appropriate use of surveillance imaging and human papillomavirus (HPV) circulating tumor DNA. Of 5178 studies identified, 80 met inclusion criteria (5 meta-analyses/systematic reviews, 1 randomized control trial, 1 post hoc analysis, 25 prospective, and 48 retrospective cohort studies [with ≥50 patients]), reporting on 27,525 patients. No large, randomized, prospective trials examined whether asymptomatic patients who receive surveillance imaging or HPV circulating tumor DNA monitoring benefit from earlier detection of recurrence or second primary tumors in terms of disease-specific or quality-of-life outcomes. In the absence of prospective data, surveillance imaging for HNC survivors should rely on individualized recurrence-risk assessment accounting for initial disease staging, HPV disease status, and tobacco use history. There is an emerging surveillance role for circulating tumor biomarkers.

Emerging Frontline Leaders' Voices in Response to COVID-19 Crisis.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected healthcare institutions, introducing new challenges for nurse leaders and their colleagues. However, little is known about how the pandemic has specifically affected the lives of these leaders and what methods and strategies they are using to overcome pandemic-related challenges. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the 2019 pandemic on emerging healthcare leaders and highlight methods and strategies they used to overcome pandemic-related challenges. METHODS: The participants in this study represent a diverse group of interprofessional healthcare faculty enrolled in a transformational leadership course (Paths to Leadership) when the pandemic first appeared. Three months into the pandemic, the leadership cohort was invited to participate in this qualitative study, exploring four questions: Q1: How have you transformed your working styles in response to the pandemic? Q2: How have you adjusted your personal life in response to the pandemic? Q3: How have you used leadership skills learned from Paths to Leadership during the pandemic? Q4: What lessons have you learned from the pandemic? Participant narratives were analyzed by a team of nurse researchers using conventional qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Themes for Q1 (working styles) included shifted from face-to-face to telework, faced novel disease and decisions, worked more from home, and challenged to maintain contact with professional peers and team. Themes for Q2 (personal life) included accommodate adults working and children learning from home, looked for and found the positive, and continue to struggle. Themes for Q3 (leadership skills) included reflective practice, listening, holding, and reframing. Finally, themes for Q4 (pandemic lessons) included leadership, human connection, be prepared, taking care of ourselves, and connecting with nature. DISCUSSION: The 2019 pandemic brought hardships and opportunities to faculty members enrolled in an interprofessional transformational leadership course. In conjunction with this course, the pandemic provided a unique opportunity for participants to apply newly acquired relationship building, positive organizational psychology, and reframing skills during a time of crisis. Nursing leaders, whose educational offerings may be immediately "put to the test," may find our lessons learned helpful as they develop strategies to cope with unanticipated future challenges.

Contemporary radiotherapy: present and future.

Oncology care is increasingly a multidisciplinary endeavour, and radiation therapy continues to have a key role across the disease spectrum in nearly every cancer. However, the field of radiation oncology is still one of the most poorly understood of the cancer disciplines. In this Review, we attempt to summarise and contextualise developments within the field of radiation oncology for the non-radiation oncologist. We discuss advancements in treatment technologies and imaging, followed by an overview of the interplay with advancements in systemic therapy and surgical techniques. Finally, we review new frontiers in radiation oncology, including advances within the metastatic disease continuum, reirradiation, and emerging types of radiation therapy.

Qualitative Study of Interprofessional Collaboration in Radiation Oncology Clinics: Is There a Need for Further Education?

PURPOSE: Interprofessional education (IPE) is gaining recognition as a means of improving health care delivery and patient outcomes. A primary goal of IPE is improved interprofessional collaboration (IPC). The multidisciplinary team in the radiation oncology clinic requires effective IPC for optimal delivery of radiation therapy. However, there are limited data on IPE and IPC in radiation oncology. This qualitative study aims to characterize IPC in radiation oncology. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Semistructured phone interviews were performed from June to August 2019 with radiation oncologists, nurses, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, medical physicists, and medical students across a single academic medical center and affiliated network sites. Interviews were recorded, de-identified, and transcribed verbatim. Resulting transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Seventeen interviews were performed with 4 radiation oncologists, 2 nurses, 2 dosimetrists, 4 radiation therapists, 2 medical physicists, and 3 medical students. Thematic analysis identified 4 themes: (1) management of the radiation oncology clinic, (2) potential impact of interprofessional training in radiation oncology, (3) current climate of interprofessional education in radiation oncology, and (4) creating an interprofessional training program in radiation oncology. Each theme elicited between 2 and 7 subthemes. CONCLUSIONS: From the analytical themes that emerged, it is hypothesized that misunderstanding professionals' roles can lead to communication breakdown, which creates less efficient clinic management and disorganized patient care. Although other medical professionals shadow physicians during their training, physicians are not learning about other professions in the same way. Interviewees from each professional category recommend a formal shadowing program for radiation oncology trainees at the medical student or resident level. Having structured opportunities for IPE is important given competing demands of learners during medical student rotations and residency. This study suggests an unmet need for exposure of radiation oncology medical trainees to IPE with the ultimate goal of improving IPC in the radiation oncology clinic.

Increasing Medical Student Engagement Through Virtual Rotations in Radiation Oncology.

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected medical student clerkships and education around the country. A virtual medical student clerkship was created to integrate didactic education with disease specific lectures for medical students, contouring, and hands on learning with telehealth. Twelve medical students in their 3rd and 4th year were enrolled in this 2 week elective from April 27, 2020 to June 5, 2020. There was significant improvement of overall knowledge about the field of radiation oncology from pre elective to post elective (P < .001). Feedback included enjoying direct exposure to contouring, telehealth, and time with residents. Overall this 2 week rotation was successful in integrating radiation oncology virtually for medical students. This is now being expanded to multiple institutions as an educational resource and future rotations for medical students.

Radiation therapy primes tumors for nanotherapeutic delivery via macrophage-mediated vascular bursts.

Efficient delivery of therapeutic nanoparticles (TNPs) to tumors is critical in improving efficacy, yet strategies that universally maximize tumoral targeting by TNP modification have been difficult to achieve in the clinic. Instead of focusing on TNP optimization, we show that the tumor microenvironment itself can be therapeutically primed to facilitate accumulation of multiple clinically relevant TNPs. Building on the recent finding that tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) can serve as nanoparticle drug depots, we demonstrate that local tumor irradiation substantially increases TAM relative to tumor cells and, thus, TNP delivery. High-resolution intravital imaging reveals that after radiation, TAM primarily accumulate adjacent to microvasculature, elicit dynamic bursts of extravasation, and subsequently enhance drug uptake in neighboring tumor cells. TAM depletion eliminates otherwise beneficial radiation effects on TNP accumulation and efficacy, and controls with unencapsulated drug show that radiation effects are more pronounced with TNPs. Priming with combined radiation and cyclophosphamide enhances vascular bursting and tumoral TNP concentration, in some cases leading to a sixfold increase of TNP accumulation in the tumor, reaching 6% of the injected dose per gram of tissue. Radiation therapy alters tumors for enhanced TNP delivery in a TAM-dependent fashion, and these observations have implications for the design of next-generation tumor-targeted nanomaterials and clinical trials for adjuvant strategies.

A systematic evaluation of abscopal responses following radiotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab.

Case reports and preclinical data suggest radiotherapy and immunotherapy may synergize to generate "abscopal" responses outside the radiation field. This phenomenon remains relatively unexplored, prompting our systematic evaluation of metastatic melanoma patients treated with the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab and palliative radiation therapy. We evaluated 47 consecutive metastatic melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab and 65 courses of radiation. Responses of index lesions outside the radiation field were compared before and after radiotherapy, and parameters associated with favorable response were assessed. Median survival was 28 months, with an estimated 20% 5-y survival. Index lesions shrank in 7 instances prior to radiation therapy (11%), compared with 16 instances (25%) after radiation therapy; in 11 of the latter instances (69%), the index lesion had been increasing in size prior to radiotherapy (P = 0.03). In 68% of cases, radiotherapy was associated with an improved rate of index lesion response (P = 0.006). Radiation fraction size ≤ 3 Gy was the only parameter identified associated with favorable index lesion response (P = 0.014). Our systematic review of melanoma patients treated with radiotherapy and ipilimumab suggests that a subset of patients may have more favorable out-of-field responses following treatment with radiation. Interestingly, we found that multiple fraction radiation regimens were associated with a more favorable response. These results are encouraging regarding potential synergies between radiation and immunotherapy, but suggest that attention and even prospective testing of radiation parameters critical to producing abscopal effects in human patients would be of value.

Age, Comorbidity, and the Risk of Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality in Men With Biopsy Gleason Score 4+3: Implications on Patient Selection for Multiparametric MRI.

BACKGROUND: Some men with biopsy Gleason score (GS) 7 prostate cancer (PC) harbor occult GS 8 to 10 PC and might be undertreated with short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiation therapy (RT). With advancing age associated with occult high-grade PC, we evaluated PC-specific mortality (PCSM) risk after RT and short-term ADT for older men with GS 4+3 PC and men of any age with GS 8 to 10 PC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort comprised 206 men with unfavorable-risk PC treated with RT or RT and 6 months of ADT on a randomized trial between 1995 and 2001. Competing risks regression was used to compare PCSM risk for men with GS 8 to 10 PC to men with GS ≤ 3+4, GS 4+3 and age ≤ 73 years (median age), and GS 4+3 and age > 73 years, adjusting for PC risk factors, comorbidity, and treatment. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 14.3 years, 135 men died (65.53%), 24 (17.78%) of PC. Men age > 73 years with GS 4+3 PC did not have significantly lower PCSM risk compared with men with GS 8 to 10 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-4.06; P = .91); whereas unhealthy men (AHR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04-0.93; P = .04) and men age ≤ 73 years with GS 4+3 (AHR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-1.03; P = .05) fared better. CONCLUSION: Men age > 73 years with biopsy GS 4+3 did not have a significant difference in PCSM risk than men with GS 8 to 10, supporting further study of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in such men with no or minimal comorbidity before determining ADT duration.