Regional Nodal Control for Head and Neck Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.

PURPOSE: To assess clinical outcomes and patterns of failure, particularly regional nodal control, for pediatric patients treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) for head and neck alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (HN-ARMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2006 and 2015, 14 patients with HN-ARMS were enrolled in a prospective registry protocol and treated with PBT at a single institution. Of the patients, 8 (57%) presented with localized disease and 6 (43%) with regional nodal metastases. All patients were treated with systemic therapy per accepted cooperative group regimens. All patients received PBT to the primary site and involved nodal disease with a median dose of 50.4 Gy (relative biological effectiveness). Elective nodal irradiation was not delivered. RESULTS: The median follow-up period for surviving patients was 4.3 years. The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates for the cohort (N = 14) were 45% and 25%, respectively. There were 10 relapses in the cohort: 7 regional nodal, 1 combination local and regional nodal, and 2 leptomeningeal. In 6 of 8 patients (75%) with no nodal disease at diagnosis, isolated regional nodal relapse developed. All nodal relapses occurred in first-echelon draining lymph node basins relative to the primary tumor site. Of 6 patients who presented with nodal metastases, 2 had regional nodal relapse; both of these nodal relapses occurred in the same nodal basin that was initially involved by disease but was not completely targeted as part of the primary treatment plan. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of regional nodal relapse are observed for HN-ARMS patients, including patients with no nodal disease at diagnosis. These data suggest that HN-ARMS patients may benefit from elective nodal irradiation to treat at-risk draining lymph node stations relative to the primary tumor site. We further recommend coverage of the entire nodal level for any sites of initial nodal disease at diagnosis, given the high risk of failure at these sites.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study of 55 Patients.

Purpose/Objective(s): Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an effective treatment for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are not surgical candidates or who refuse surgical management. In this study, we report on our clinical outcomes and toxicity in the treatment of early-stage NSCLC with SBRT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-five patients with 59 T1-2N0M0 NSCLC lesions were treated at our institution between December 2009 and August 2014. The majority of the patients [38 (69%)] were treated with 50 Gy in 5 fractions, 7 patients (13%) with 48 Gy in 4 fractions, 8 patients (14%) with 60 Gy in 3 fractions, 1 patient (2%) with 62.5 Gy in 10 fractions, and 1 patient (2%) with 54 Gy in 3 fractions. Tumor response was evaluated using RECIST 1.1, and toxicity was graded using the CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version 3.0. The primary endpoints of this retrospective review included rates of overall survival, disease-free and progression-free survival, local failure, regional failure, and distant failure. A secondary endpoint included radiation-related toxicities. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 23.8 months (range 1.1-57.6). The 3-year local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 91, 55, and 71%, respectively. The median age at diagnosis was 67.9 years (range 51.4-87.1). There were a total of 54 T1N0 tumors (92%) and 5 T2N0 lesions (8%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common pathology, comprising 54% of the lesions. A total of 16 of the patients (29%) failed. Among these, 5 local (9%), 14 regional (25%), and 4 distant failures (7%) were observed. On follow-up, one patient had grade 2 and another had grade 5 pneumonitis. Three patients experienced grade 2 chest wall tenderness. Two patients had grade 1 rib fractures, one of which could not be discerned from radiation-induced toxicity versus a traumatic fall. CONCLUSION: The University of Mississippi Medical Center SBRT experience has shown that SBRT provides satisfactory local control and overall survival rates with minimal toxicity in early-stage NSCLC patients.

Short-term clinical outcome and dosimetric comparison of tandem and ring versus tandem and ovoids intracavitary applicators.

PURPOSE: To compare the short-term toxicity and dosimetry of tandem and ring (TR), and tandem and ovoid (TO) applicators in treatment of gynecologic malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), a total of 52 computed tomography-based plans from 13 patients with cervical cancer (FIGO IB2-IIIB) were evaluated for HDR brachytherapy. Prescription was 7 Gy to the ICRU point A for four weekly fractions. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were evaluated. Clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk were delineated on CT scans. Bladder, rectum, and sigmoid mean doses and D2cc were calculated. Treatment time and irradiated tissue volume were compared. Percent of CTV receiving 100% (CTV100%) of the prescribed dose as well as the percent of the prescription dose covering 90% of the CTV (D90) were evaluated. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were not different between TO and TR applicators. No significant differences in the dose to the right and left point A, or the left point B were observed. TO delivered a higher dose to right point B. Organs at risk doses were similar between the two applicators, except mean rectal dose was lower for TO applicator. Overall, TO treats a larger tissue volume than TR. Mean treatment time was shorter for TR. Tumor coverage (D90 and CTV100%) was equivalent between TO and TR applicators. CONCLUSION: Although TO treats a larger tissue volume than TR, short-term toxicities and tumor coverage are similar. Long-term clinical outcomes will be elucidated with longer follow up period.