Factores pronósticos de sobrevida en pacientes con cáncer de endometrio tratados con radioterapia preoperatoria / Prognostic factors for survival in patients with endometrial cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy

Objetivo: determinar la sobrevida global (SG), los factores pronósticos de sobrevida libre de enfermedad y SG, el porcentaje de complicaciones en pacientes con cáncer de endometrio tratados con radioterapia preoperatoria en el INEN. Material y Métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo analítico de 381 historias clínicas de pacientes con cáncer de endometrio entre 1995 a diciembre del 2004, 53 pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión: estadiaje clínico I, II, III según FIGO 1971, radioterapia externa (RTE) a la pelvis a dosis de 50Gy a 50,4Gy en 25-28 sesiones más Braquiterapia (BT) seguido de cirugía. Resultados: la dosis promedio de BT fue 45Gy (rango 25Gy a 70Gy) administradas en una sola aplicación de baja tasa de dosis. La sobrevida Global (SG) a los 5 años fue 86,39%. La sobrevida diferenciada por estadios clínicos fue 85,71%, 83,52% y 84,03% para los estadíos I, II y III respectivamente sin diferencia significativa (p=0,55). El 20,75% (11/53) fallecieron por enfermedad, de las cuales 36,36% (4/11) recurrieron a nivel loco regional y 63,64% (7/11) metástasis a distancia. El análisis Bivariado no demostró factores de riesgo asociados con la mortalidad. Sin embargo el análisis multivariado de Regresión de Cox solo la enfermedad extra-pélvica es un factor de mal pronóstico y se relacionó con mayor mortalidad [HR: 5,27 IC 95% (1,10-25,28)] (p=0,038). Las pacientes con viabilidad en la pieza quirúrgica recibieron mayor dosis de radiación al punto A (mayores a 90Gy) que las piezas quirúrgicas no viables (p=0,041). El porcentaje de complicaciones fue del 20,75% (11/53) siendo el 9,44% (5/53) complicaciones severas (grado 4). Conclusiones: La presencia de enfermedad extra-pélvica fue un factor de mal pronóstico para la sobrevida. Palabras Claves: cáncer endometrial, radioterapia preoperatoria, sobrevida global.

Objective: To determine overall survival (OS), prognostic factors for disease-free survival and OS, the percentage of complications in patients with endometrial cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN). Material and Methods: An analytical retrospective study of 381 patient records with endometrial cancer between 1995 and December 2004 was done; Only 53 patients full filed the inclusion criteria: clinical stage I, II, III according to FIGO 1971, external beam radiation to the pelvis to a dose of 50Gy - 50.4Gy in 25-28 sessions followed Brachytherapy (BT) and then surgery. Results: The mean dose of BT was 45Gy (range 25Gy to 70Gy) administered in a single application with low dose radiation. The OS at 5 years was 86.39%. OS for clinical stages I, II and III were 85.71%, 83.52% and 84.03% respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.55). 20.75% (11/53) died of disease, of which 36.36% (4/11) had recurrence in the pelvis and 63.64% (7/11) was distant metastases. Bivariate analysis showed no risk factors associated with mortality. However in the multivariate Cox regression only the extra-pelvic disease is a poor prognostic factor and was associated with increased mortality [HR: 5.27 IC 95% (1.10-25.28)] (p=0.038). The patients with viability in the surgical specimen had higher radiation doses to point A than non-viable surgical specimens (greater than 90Gy) difference that was significant (p = 0.041). The complication rate was 20.75% (11/53) and 9.44% (5/53) of complications were grade 4. Conclusions: The presence of extra-pelvic disease proved to be a poor prognostic factor for overall survival. Keywords: endometrial cancer, preoperative radiotherapy, overall survival.

ICRP publication 112. A report of preventing accidental exposures from new external beam radiation therapy technologies.

Disseminating the knowledge and lessons learned from accidental exposures is crucial in preventing re-occurrence. This is particularly important in radiation therapy; the only application of radiation in which very high radiation doses are deliberately given to patients to achieve cure or palliation of disease. Lessons from accidental exposures are, therefore, an invaluable resource for revealing vulnerable aspects of the practice of radiotherapy, and for providing guidance for the prevention of future occurrences. These lessons have successfully been applied to avoid catastrophic events with conventional technologies and techniques. Recommendations, for example, include the independent verification of beam calibration and independent calculation of the treatment times and monitor units for external beam radiotherapy, and the monitoring of patients and their clothes immediately after brachytherapy. New technologies are meant to bring substantial improvement to radiation therapy. However, this is often achieved with a considerable increase in complexity, which in turn brings opportunities for new types of human error and problems with equipment. Dissemination of information on these errors or mistakes as soon as it becomes available is crucial in radiation therapy with new technologies. In addition, information on circumstances that almost resulted in serious consequences (near-misses) is also important, as the same type of events may occur elsewhere. Sharing information about near-misses is thus a complementary important aspect of prevention. Lessons from retrospective information are provided in Sections 2 and 4 of this report. Disseminating lessons learned for serious incidents is necessary but not sufficient when dealing with new technologies. It is of utmost importance to be proactive and continually strive to answer questions such as 'What else can go wrong', 'How likely is it?' and 'What kind of cost-effective choices do I have for prevention?'. These questions are addressed in Sections 3 and 5 of this report. Section 6 contains the conclusions and recommendations. This report is expected to be a valuable resource for radiation oncologists, hospital administrators, medical physicists, technologists, dosimetrists, maintenance engineers, radiation safety specialists, and regulators. While the report applies specifically to new external beam therapies, the general principles for prevention are applicable to the broad range of radiotherapy practices where mistakes could result in serious consequences for the patient and practitioner.

[The recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for high-dose-rate brachytherapy and for permanent prostatic implants]. / Recommandations de la Commission internationale de protection radiologique (CIPR) pour la curiethérapie de haut débit de dose et la curiethérapie de prostate.

ICRP (International Commission for Radiological Protection) Committee 3 ("Radioprotection in medicine") is currently finalizing two recommendations about Brachytherapy. The first text, from Task Group (TG) 53, is focussing on the prevention of high-dose-rate brachytherapy accidents. It reminds the reader of the 500 accidents/incidents which have been reported so far in the literature, and reports in details on some representative accidents. Building on those data, the text gives general and specific recommendations, aiming at reducing both the frequency and the severity of those accidents. The second text, from Task Group 57, considers the radiation safety aspects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer using permanently implanted sources. For this topic, no severe accident has never been reported so far. However, some radioprotection problems arose, due to the dose received from the patients, to migrating seeds and to cremation. The text presents recommendations specifically addressing those issues.