Emergency radiation therapy in modern-day practice: Now or never, or never again ?

Radiation therapy plays a fundamental role in oncological emergencies such as superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) and metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC). These are two examples of critical complications of metastatic cancer in terms of pain and functional impact (respiratory and/or neurological). The aim of this review is to explore the current indications, treatment options and outcomes for emergency radiotherapy regarding to these complications.Regarding SVCS, studies are mostly retrospective and unanimously demonstrated a beneficial effect of radiotherapy on symptom relief. Spinal cord compression remains an indication for urgent radiotherapy, and should be combined with surgery when possible. The innovative stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) showed promising results, however this technique requires small volumes and more time preparation and therefore is often unsuitable for SVCS and MESCC emergencies.This review concluded that radiotherapy has a central role to play within a multimodal approach for SVCS and MESCC treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of radiation and establish the criteria for selecting patients to benefit from this treatment option.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy: current status and future directions.

PURPOSE: Around 40% of men with intermediate-risk or high-risk prostate cancer will experience a biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). The aim of this review is to describe both toxicity and oncological outcomes following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivered to the prostate bed (PB). METHOD: In april 2023, we performed a systematic review of studies published in MEDLINE or ClinicalTrials.gov according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, using the keywords "stereotactic radiotherapy" AND "postoperative" AND "prostate cancer". RESULTS: A total of 14 studies assessing either adjuvant or salvage SBRT to the whole PB or macroscopic local recurrence (MLR) within the PB, and SBRT on radiorecurrent MLR within the PB were included. Doses delivered to either whole PB or MLR between 30 to 40 Gy are associated with a low rate of late grade ≥ 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicity, ranging from 2.2 to 15.1%. Doses above 40 Gy are associated with increased rate of late GU toxicity, raising up to 38%. Oncological outcomes should be interpreted with caution, due to both short follow-up, heterogeneous populations and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) use. CONCLUSION: PB or MLR SBRT delivered at doses up to 40 Gy appears safe with relatively low late severe GU toxicity rates. Caution is needed with dose-escalated RT schedules above 40 Gy. Further prospective trials are eagerly awaited in this disease setting.

Local Treatment (Primary Tumor and Metastases) in Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

For patients with low-volume de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, addition of an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and prostate radiotherapy to the standard (SOC) improves survival in comparison to the next most effective strategy (SOC + ARPI). For the subgroup with prior definitive treatment of the primary tumor, long-term outcomes and genomic predictors of response to metastasis-directed therapy suggest that this might be a reasonable option in selected patients.

Organ at risk dose-volume metrics in a series of hypofractionated breast radiotherapy with integrated boost.

Dose and volume metrics to organs at risk are used for evaluation and optimization in radiotherapy planning. However, the numerous choices of metrics can be confusing. In a series of patients treated with hypofractionation and an integrated boost for breast cancer, we aim to determine if a parsimonious selection of representative metrics can be identified. The dosimetries of 42 patients receiving 42 Gy to the breast, with or without nodal irradiation, and 51 Gy integrated boost to tumor bed in 15 fractions were reviewed. For each organ-heart, lungs, and contralateral breast-cumulative dose-volume histograms were used to extract values for 3 basic metric classes: Two additional classes were considered: Pearson correlation coefficient R was calculated between pairs of values within each basic class and with the 2 additional classes for each organ. The interquartile ranges of correlations for D.yy, Vrel.xx, and Vabs.xx were as follows: The mean dose correlated with all basic classes for the heart and lungs, and with dose D.yy and volumes at Vrel.10-Vabs.10 for the contralateral breast. The standard deviation correlated with Vrel.xx and Vabs.xx for the heart and lungs (R ≥ 0.70). Among the D.yy, D.50 (median dose) correlated with the mean and standard deviation for all organs (R = 0.65-0.96). The mean, standard deviation, and median doses were the preeminent correlators. These statistics appear to be parsimonious representatives of doses to organs. Further studies with other radiotherapy series will be necessary to validate these observations.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for primary renal cell carcinoma: A review on behalf of the CC-AFU.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is on the rise among individuals aged 70 and older. While the gold standard for treatment remains surgical resection, some elderly and frail patients with comorbidities are not eligible for this procedure. In selected cases, percutaneous thermal ablation, such as cryotherapy, microwave and radiofrequency, offers less invasive options. General anesthesia is sometimes necessary for such treatments, but most of the procedures can be conducted using mild or deep conscious sedation. This approach is preferably recommended for small cT1a tumors situated at a distance from the renal hilum and/or ureter. Active surveillance remains an alternative in the case of small low grade RCC although it may induce anxiety in certain patients. Recent research has highlighted the potentials of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) as a noninvasive, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for small renal tumors. This narrative review aims to explore recent advances in SABR for localized RCC, including appropriate patient selection, treatment modalities and administration, as well as efficacy and tolerance assessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review using the terms [kidney cancer], [renal cell carcinoma], [stereotactic radiotherapy], [SBRT], and [SABR] in the Medline, PubMed, and Embase databases, focusing on prospective and relevant retrospective studies published in English. RESULTS: Studies report local control rates ranging from 70% to 100% with SABR, highlighting its efficacy in treating RCC. The decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is approximately -5 to -17mL/min over the years following SABR. Common toxicities are rare, primarily CTCAE grade 1, include fatigue, nausea, chest or back pain, diarrhea, or gastritis. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) may be considered as a viable option for patients with localized RCC who are not suitable candidates for surgery with a high local control rate and a favorable safety profile. This approach should be discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and results from ongoing clinical trials are awaited.

Short-term Darolutamide (ODM-201) Concomitant to Radiation Therapy for Patients with Unfavorable Intermediate-risk Prostate Cancer: The Darius (AFU-GETUG P15) Phase 2 Trial Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Combination of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is a standard of care for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, 6 months of ADT generates multiple side effects impacting quality of life (QoL). Darolutamide (an androgen receptor targeting agent [ARTA]) is associated with low blood-brain barrier penetrance and less drug-drug interaction. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a combination of 6 months of darolutamide with EBRT to treat patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk PCa. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The DARIUS trial is a multicenter randomized non comparative phase 2 trial, randomizing the 6-months darolutamide + EBRT arm versus 6-months ADT + EBRT in patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk PCa. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint is a biological response defined as prostate-specific antigen ≤0.1 ng/ml at month six of darolutamide or ADT. The key secondary endpoints are biochemical recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival, safety, and QoL. Ancillary studies using radiomics and genomic classifier are planned. Sixty-two patients will be included. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In this population of patients requiring ADT combined with EBRT, the use of an ARTA alone, such as darolutamide, may demonstrate antitumoral efficacy while minimizing toxicity and maintaining QoL. Limitations are mainly inherent to the open-label design of this study. CONCLUSIONS: Six months of darolutamide + EBRT compared with 6 months of ADT + EBRT may be efficient in terms of a biological response, avoiding toxicity and altered QoL attributable to ADT in patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk PCa. PATIENT SUMMARY: The ongoing DARIUS clinical trial assesses short-term (6 months) darolutamide treatment in association with external beam radiation therapy in men with localized prostate cancer. The trial investigates whether single-agent darolutamide can improve the biological response while maintaining a favorable tolerability profile.

Consolidative Radiotherapy for Metastatic Urothelial Bladder Cancer Patients with No Progression and with No More than Five Residual Metastatic Lesions Following First-Line Systemic Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis.

Local consolidative radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic malignancies has shown promising results in several types of tumors. The objective of this study was to assess consolidative radiotherapy to the bladder and to residual metastases in metastatic urothelial bladder cancer with no progression following first-line systemic therapy. MATERIALS/METHODS: Patients who received first-line therapy for the treatment of metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (mUBC) and who were progression-free following treatment with no more than five residual metastases were retrospectively identified through the database of four Comprehensive Cancer Centers, between January 2005 and December 2018. Among them, patients who received subsequent definitive radiotherapy (of EQD2Gy > 45Gy) to the bladder and residual metastases were included in the consolidative group (irradiated (IR) group), and the other patients were included in the observation group (NIR group). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined from the start of the first-line chemotherapy using the Kaplan-Meier method. To prevent immortal time bias, a Cox model with time-dependent covariates and 6-month landmark analyses were performed to examine OS and PFS. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients with at least stable disease following first-line therapy and with no more than five residual metastases were analyzed: 51 in the IR group and 40 in the NIR group. Metachronous metastatic disease was more frequent in the NIR group (19% vs. 5%, p = 0.02); the median number of metastases in the IR group vs. in the NIR group was 2 (1-9) vs. 3 (1-5) (p = 0.04) at metastatic presentation, and 1 (0-5) vs. 2 (0-5) (p = 0.18) after completion of chemotherapy (residual lesions), respectively. Two grade 3 toxicities (3.9%) and no grade 4 toxicity were reported in the IR group related to radiotherapy. With a median follow up of 85.9 months (95% IC (36.7; 101.6)), median OS and PFS were 21.7 months (95% IC (17.1; 29.7)) and 11.1 months (95% IC (9.9; 14.1)) for the whole cohort, respectively. In multivariable analysis, consolidative radiotherapy conferred a benefit in both PFS (HR = 0.49, p = 0.007) and OS (HR = 0.47, p = 0.015) in the whole population; in the landmark analysis at 6 months, radiotherapy was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.48, p = 0.026), with a trend for PFS (HR = 0.57, p = 0.082). CONCLUSION: Consolidative radiotherapy for mUBC patients who have not progressed after first-line therapy and with limited residual disease seems to confer both OS and PFS benefits. The role of consolidative radiotherapy in the context of avelumab maintenance should be addressed prospectively.

Prostatectomy Bed Image-guided Dose-escalated Salvage Radiotherapy (SPIDER): An International Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Management of macroscopic local recurrence (MLR) after radical prostatectomy is a challenging situation with no standardized approach. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of functional image-guided salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in patients with MLR in the prostate bed. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this international multicenter retrospective study across 16 European centers, eligible patients were initially treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) with or without pelvic lymph node dissection for localized or locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measured 4 wk after RP was <0.1 ng/ml. All patients presented a biochemical relapse after RP defined by an increase in PSA level of ≥0.2 ng/ml on two successive measures. Only patients with an MLR lesion in the prostatectomy bed visualized on functional imaging (multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/computed tomography [PET/CT] choline, or PET/CT prostate-specific membrane antigen) were eligible. Patients with lymph node, bone, or visceral dissemination at restaging imaging (CT and/or bone scintigraphy and/or magnetic resonance imaging and/or PET) were excluded. Dose escalation was defined as a dose of >66 Gy prescribed to the prostate bed or to MLR. Toxicities were classified using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scale, version 4.03. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary outcomes were metastasis-free survival (MPFS), biochemical progression-free survival, and overall survival. Genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were analyzed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Between January 2000 and December 2019, 310 patients received at least one dose escalation on MLR and 25 patients did not receive any dose escalation. The median PSA level before SRT was 0.63 ng/ml (interquartile range [IQR], 0.27-1.7). The median follow-up was 54 mo (IQR, 50-56). Five-year PFS and MPFS were 70% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [64; 75]) and 84% (95% CI: [78; 88]), respectively. Grade ≥2 GU and GI late toxicities were observed in 43 (12%) and 11 (3%) patients, respectively. When the prescribed dose on the MLR lesion was ≥72 Gy, an improvement in 5-yr PFS was found for patients received at least one dose escalation (73% [95% CI: 65-79]) vs 60% [95% CI: 48; 70]; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this contemporary study integrating functional imaging data, we found potential efficacy of SRT with dose escalation ≥72 Gy for patients with MLR in the prostate bed and with an acceptable toxicity profile. Prospective data exploring this MLR dose escalation strategy are awaited. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we looked at the outcomes from salvage radiotherapy for prostate cancer and macroscopic relapse in a large European population. We found that outcomes varied with prostate-specific antigen at relapse, Gleason score, and dose escalation. We found potential efficacy of salvage radiotherapy with dose escalation for macroscopic relapse in the prostate bed, with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Highly hypofractionated schedules for localized prostate cancer: Recommendations of the GETUG radiation oncology group.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become treatment option for localized prostate cancer but the evidence base remains incomplete. Several clinical studies, both prospective and retrospective, have been published. However, treatment techniques, target volumes and dose constraints lack consistency between studies. Based on the current available literature, the French Genito-Urinary Group (GETUG) suggests that.

Brachytherapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer to the penis.

The origin of penile metastases is in 70% of cases from primary pelvic cancers (genitourinary and recto-sigmoid primary tumors). The prognosis is poor and it is often associated with synchronous bone metastases at the time of diagnosis. We present the case of a 61-year-old patient who developed a penile induration 7 years after radical prostatectomy followed by adjuvant external beam radiation therapy for high-risk prostatic adenocarcinoma. Biopsies confirmed the metastatic localization and a detailed assessment failed to find any further remote lesions. Faced with this penile oligometastatic prostate cancer, we proposed an ablative treatment based on interstitial multi-catheter high-dose rate brachytherapy. At the six-month follow-up, clinical examination and 68Ga-PSMA-11-PET confirmed a complete response of the penile tumor without new lesion at a distance.

Post-Operative Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer: Is It Time for a Belt and Braces Approach?

Approximately 30% of patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancers experience biochemical recurrence (BCR). Post-operative radiation therapy (RT) can be either offered immediately after the surgery in case of aggressive pathological features or proposed early if BCR occurs. Until recently, little data were available regarding the optimal RT timing, protocol, volumes to treat, and the benefit of adding androgen deprivation therapies to post-operative RT. In this review, we aim to pragmatically discuss current literature data on these points. Early salvage RT appears to be the optimal post-operative approach, improving oncological outcomes especially with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, as well as sparing several unnecessary adjuvant treatments. The standard RT dose is still 64-66 Gy to the prostate bed in conventional fractionation, but hypofractionation protocols are emerging pending on late toxicity data. Several scientific societies have published contouring atlases, even though they are heterogeneous and deserve future consensus. During salvage RT, the inclusion of pelvic lymph nodes is also controversial, but preliminary data show a possible benefit for PSA > 0.34 ng/ml at the cost of increased hematological side effects. Concomitant ADT and its duration are also discussed, possibly advantageous (at least in terms of metastasis-free survival) for PSA rates over 0.6 ng/ml, taking into account life expectancy and cardiovascular comorbidities. Intensified regimens, for instance, with new-generation hormone therapies, could further improve outcomes in carefully selected patients. Finally, recent advances in molecular imaging, as well as upcoming breakthroughs in genomics and artificial intelligence tools, could soon reshuffle the cards of the current therapeutic strategy.