Is helical tomotherapy-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy feasible and effective in bilateral synchronous breast cancer? A two-center experience.

PURPOSE: This study describes the early clinical results and dosimetric parameters of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a tomotherapy device in patients with primary bilateral synchronous breast cancer (PSBBC). METHODS: Fourteen patients with bilateral breast cancer were treated with tomotherapy between January 2011 and October 2014. The treatment planning objectives were to cover 95% of the planning target volume using a 95% isodose, with a minimum dose of 90% and a maximum dose of 107%. The organs at risk (OAR), such as the lungs, heart, esophagus and spinal cord, were contoured. Acute toxicity was recorded during and after radiation therapy. RESULTS: The advantages included better treatment conformity with lower dosages to minimize the risk to susceptible organs, such as the lungs, heart and spinal cord. There was improved coverage of the planning target volume, including the regional nodes, without any field junction problems. The median homogeneity index was 0.13 and the median conformity index 1.32. The median V20, V15, V10 and V5 for the total lungs were 18.5, 23.3, 24.2 and 60%, respectively. Skin acute toxicity was grade 1 in 72% and grade 2 in 14% of the patients. Esophageal acute toxicity was grade 1 in 43% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Tomotherapy delivers treatment that is well-tolerated, with high homogeneity and coverage indexes and the capability to reduce the irradiation dose received by the lungs and heart in PSBBC patients. This technique is therefore feasible and safe for the treatment of bilateral breast cancer.

Carboplatin and etoposide followed by once-daily thoracic radiotherapy in limited disease small-cell lung cancer: unsatisfactory results.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: There has been a trend to replace cisplatin with carboplatin in the treatment of small-cell lung carcinoma. The goal of the present study was to determine the efficacy of carboplatin and etoposide followed by thoracic radiotherapy in patients with previously untreated limited disease small-cell lung carcinoma. METHODS: From February 2001 to March 2007, 47 patients with limited disease small-cell lung cancer were enrolled in the study. Etoposide, 100 mg/m2, was administrated intravenously on days 1-3 in combination with carboplatin, AUC 6, on day 1 every 21 days for 6 cycles. In cases considered to have non-progressive disease following induction chemotherapy, thoracic radiotherapy was given with in a once daily fraction of 2.0 Gy, 5/wk, up to 50-60 Gy. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were evaluated. Median age was 62 (range, 40-78), 88% of patients were male. ECOG PS was 0-1 in 38 patients. Seven of the 41 patients (17.5%) had pleural effusion (one malignant) and 7 patients (17.5%) had involved supraclavicular lymph nodes. Ninety percent of patients had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. Median follow-up was 13.5 mo. A total of 209 cycles of chemotherapy was administered (median, 6; range, 1-6). Thoracic irradiation was given to 33 patients. The overall response rate to combined modality on an intention-to-treat basis was 73%. Median survival time was 13.7 months (95% CI, 10.3-17.1), and median progression-free survival was 9.5 months (95% CI, 8.6-10.4). Two- and four-year overall survival was 23% and 7%, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and leukopenia were the most common adverse events and occurred in 46.0% and 24.0% of the patients, respectively. Six (14%) patients experienced febrile neutropenia. Three patients (7%) died of sepsis and neutropenic fever. Non-hematological toxicities were mild. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin and etoposide chemotherapy followed by thoracic radiotherapy in LD-SCLC appears to be unsatisfactory.

Solitary bone metastasis in the tibia as a presenting sign of endometrial adenocarcinoma: a case report and the review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis to bone from endometrial adenocarcinoma is rare, when metastasises it usually locates in axial skeleton. Metastasis to extremities is extremely rare. Additionally the detection of the bone metastasis as a presenting feature is uncommon. In the present study we report the 10th cases of bone metastasis in the literature which located at tibial diaphysis and originated from endometrial adenocarcinoma as a presenting feature of the primary disease. CASE: Single tibial lesion was observed in a 70 years old woman. Biopsy confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the unknown origin. We couldn't find the primary origin with aggressive work-up. Tibial lesion regressed with radiotherapy. Endometrial adenocarcinoma is detected after the end of disease-free one year with the symptom of vaginal bleeding. After 47 months from initial tibial lesion and 35 months from gynaecologic operation, patient is still alive and disease free. DISCUSSION: Patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma presenting an isolated skeletal metastasis may exhibit an unusual group with a better prognosis.

Comparison of curative and palliative radiotherapy efficacy in unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with or without metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of curative and palliative radiotherapy in inoperable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a performance status (PS) equal or greater than 2, and to compare the therapy effect on survival with or without metastatic disease. METHODS: From January 1998 through December 2004, 797 patients with inoperable stage III and IV NSCLC were treated with radiotherapy alone because of older age, cardiovascular disease, insufficient respiratory reserve or general frailty. Radical radiotherapy, consisting of approximately 60 Gy, given in 30 fractions was performed in 363 (45.5 %) of these patients. The other 434 patients (54.5%) were treated with palliative dose radiotherapy. Conventional follow-up of the patients was conducted at Izmir Oncology Center. All results were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-three patients (95.7%) were male. The mean age was 61.02 years (+/- 9.678), ranging from 30-88 years. The prominent histology was squamous cell carcinoma (70.7%). Sixty-five patients (8.2%) have been staged IIIA, 419 (52.6%) IIIB, and 313 (39.3%) IV. The median follow up of patients was 274.19 days. One-year survival rate was 37%, and 2-year survival rate was 11% in the radical radiotherapy group, while these rates were 20% and 5% in the others. CONCLUSION: Although radical thoracic radiotherapy for metastatic NSCLC has not been adopted universally, this study shows that curative radiotherapy for the primary tumor provides additional survival benefit in patients with metastatic disease compared with palliative radiotherapy. This result raises the question of whether treatment with radical radiotherapy alone might be the most beneficial and cost-effective treatment of advanced stage NSCLC.

Evaluation of curative and palliative radiotherapy efficacy in extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of curative and palliative radiotherapy in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer (E-SCLC), and compare therapy effect on survival with or without metastatic disease. METHODS: From January 1998 through December 2004, 128 patients with E-SCLC were treated with radiotherapy and concomitants combined chemotherapy. Radical radiotherapy, consisting of approximately 60 Gy given in up to 30 fractions was performed in 53 (41.4%) of these patients. Others (58.6%) were treated with palliative dose radiotherapy. In all patients, chemotherapy was planned with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1, and etoposide (120 mg/m2) i.v. on days 1, 2 and 3, every 3 weeks for 3-6 cycles. Conventional follow-up of patients was conducted at Izmir Oncology Center, Izmir, Turkey. All results were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients (96.9%) were males. The mean age was 58.49 (+/- 9.01), ranging from 37-78 years. Metastases were initially determined in 64 patients (50%). The median follow up of patients was 287.41 days and median survival was 354.87 days. One year survival rate was 35.8%, and 2-year survival rates was 16.9% in the radical radiotherapy group, while these rates were 26.6% and 8% in the others. According to the statistical findings; the gains in duration of median survival with the curative thoracic irradiation are 151.97 days in all 128 patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that curative radiotherapy at the primary tumor provides an additional survival benefit in patients with metastatic disease compared with palliative radiotherapy. This finding raises the question of whether treatment with radical thoracic radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, consisting of first-line drugs, might be more beneficial and cost-effective as well as a less toxic treatment of E-SCLC.

Patterns of care for lung cancer in radiation oncology departments of Turkey.

PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of care for lung cancer in Turkish radiation oncology centers. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Questionnaire forms from 21 of 24 (87.5%) centers that responded were evaluated. RESULTS: The most frequent histology was non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (81%). The most common postoperative radiotherapy (RT) indications were close/(+) surgical margins (95%) and presence of pN2 disease (91%). The most common indications for postoperative chemotherapy (CHT) were ">/= IB" disease (19%) and the presence of pN2 disease (19%). In Stage IIIA potentially resectable NSCLC, the most frequent treatment approach was neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CHRT) (57%). In Stage IIIA unresectable and Stage IIIB disease, the most frequent approach was definitive concomitant CHRT (91%). In limited SCLC, the most common treatment approach was concomitant CHRT with cisplatin+etoposide for cycles 1-3, completion of CHT to cycles 4-6, and finally prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with complete response (71%). Six cycles of cisplatin + etoposide CHT and palliative thoracic RT, when required, was the most commonly used treatment (81%) in extensive SCLC. Sixty-two percent of centers did not have endobronchial brachytherapy (EBB) facilities. CONCLUSION: There is great variation in diagnostic testing, treatment strategies, indications for postoperative RT and CHT, RT features, and EBB availability for LC cases. To establish standards, national guidelines should be prepared using a multidisciplinary approach.