The Henri Mondor Procedure of Morbidity and Mortality Review Meetings: Prospective Registration of Clinical, Dosimetric, and Individual Radiosensitivity Data of Patients With Severe Radiation Toxicity.

PURPOSE: After radiation therapy (RT), various radiation-induced toxicities can develop in about one-fourth of patients. An international interest in using morbidity and mortality rates to monitor the quality of care and integrate morbidity and mortality review (MMR) meetings into organizations' governance processes has arisen. We report the first results of patients included in our MMR procedure that included biological assays for individual intrinsic radiosensitivity (IIRS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-three patients were prospectively included in the MMR database. Twenty-two were evaluable for IIRS. Prostate (n=10) and breast (n=8) cancers were the most frequent disease types. The total dose delivered, determined according to the type of disease, ranged from 30 to 74 Gy. Our MMR procedure requires strict criteria: patients with unresolved toxicity of grade 3 or higher with availability of clinical (photographic) data, IIRS results obtained from skin biopsy assays, treatment modalities, and follow-up data. The RT technique and dosimetry were reviewed. RESULTS: Our prospective registration of toxicities showed mainly rectitis, occurring in 7 cases, and skin toxicities, occurring in 9. Of the 7 patients with rectitis, 5 received 66 Gy of post-prostatectomy RT with V50 (rectum volume receiving 50 Gy) ranging from 45% to 75% and a mean maximal dose of 66.5 Gy. For dermatitis and cystitis, the mean maximal doses were in the range of classical constraints without any overdosage or dose heterogeneity. No errors were found in the review of treatment planning and positioning. Conversely, all the patients were considered biologically as radiosensitive with genomic instability and ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated)-dependent DNA double-strand break repair impairments. CONCLUSIONS: The MMR review of files allowed clear answers for patients on the relationship between clinical events and their IIRS. Our procedure has allowed education of all our staff to monitor, identify, and document clinical, physical, and biological aspects of radiation-induced toxicities. Thus we recommend the introduction of the MMR procedure in RT departments.

Role of radiation therapy in non-melanoma cancers, lymphomas and sarcomas of the skin: Systematic review and best practice in 2016.

Radiotherapy (RT) has been used for the treatment of skin cancers since very early after the discovery of X-rays. Indications for radiotherapy in non-melanoma cancers are controversial, and are usually decided according to the tumor type and the possibility of curing the patient with surgery. The introduction of sophisticated surgery techniques and the information of the general population on potential late radiation-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis have led to limiting radiation indications in the dermatologist community. However, radiotherapy has undergone considerable development, including technological advances, to enable limiting doses to the organs at risk. Thus, side effects due to high doses and/or the use of old radiotherapy (RT) techniques have been significantly decreased. In this systematic review we aim to discuss indications of radiotherapy in non-melanoma skin cancers and focus on new advances that may lead to rehabilitating this treatment option according to the tumor's radiosensitivity and the clinical benefit/risk ratio. Finally, for each type of cancer, we suggest "the best RT practice".

Role of radiation therapy in melanomas: Systematic review and best practice in 2016.

Radiotherapy has been used for skin cancers since early after the discovery of X-rays. The introduction of sophisticated surgery techniques and information of the general population on potential late radiation-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis have led to limiting indications in the dermatologist community. However, radiotherapy (RT) has undergone considerable developments, essentially including technological advances, to sculpt radiation delivery, with demonstration of the benefit either alone or after adding concomitant cytotoxic agents or targeted therapies. Although side effects due to high doses and/or the use of old RT techniques have been significantly decreased, the risk of atrophic scars, ulcerations or secondary cancers persist. In this systematic review, we aim to discuss indications for RT in melanomas with focus on new advances that may lead to rehabilitating this treatment option according to the tumor radiosensitivity and clinical benefit/risk ratio. Melanomas have been considered as radioresistant tumors for many years.