Increasing clinician participation in tobacco cessation by an implementation science-based tobacco cessation champion program.

BACKGROUND: We designed a process to increase tobacco cessation in an academic center and its widely distributed network community sites using clinical champions to overcome referral barriers. METHODS: In 2020 a needs assessment was performed across the City of Hope Medical Center and its 32 community treatment sites. We reviewed information science strategies to choose elements for our expanded tobacco control plan, focusing on distributed leadership with tobacco cessation champions. We analyzed smoking patterns in patients with cancer before and following program implementation. We evaluated the champion experience and measured tobacco abstinence after 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Cancer center leadership committed to expanding tobacco control. Funding was obtained through a Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) grant. Multi-disciplinary leaders developed a comprehensive plan. Disease-focused clinics and community sites named cessation champions (a clinician and nurse) supported by certified tobacco treatment specialists. Patient, staff, clinician, and champion training/education were developed. Roles and responsibilities of the champions were defined. Implementation in pilot sites showed increased tobacco assessment from 80.8 to 96.6%, increased tobacco cessation referral by 367%, and moderate smoking abstinence in both academic (27.2%) and community sites (22.5%). 73% of champions had positive attitudes toward the program. CONCLUSION: An efficient process to expand smoking cessation in the City of Hope network was developed using implementation science strategies and cessation champions. This well-detailed implementation process may be helpful to other cancer centers, particularly those with a tertiary care cancer center and community network.

Early Stage and Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment from Present to Future: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

OPINION STATEMENT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare malignancy, endemic in China, that is commonly diagnosed in locally advanced scenarios. Its pathogenesis is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an infection for which measuring EBV plasma DNA levels has helped as a prognostic factor guiding treatment options, including a stronger treatment in those with high titers. Additionally, tobacco and alcohol are often implicated in EBV-negative patients. The local disease is treated with radiotherapy alone, preferentially intensity modulated radiotherapy. For locally advanced disease, the backbone treatment is concurrent chemoradiotherapy with the ongoing research dilemma being adding adjuvant chemotherapy or induction chemotherapy. The ongoing research is focused not only on identifying patients that will benefit from adjuvant or induction chemotherapy, but also on identifying the best chemotherapeutic regimen, regimen alternatives to diminish toxicity, the role that immune checkpoint inhibitors play, and the use of molecularly guided treatment targeting patients with NPC whether driven by EBV or tobacco and alcohol. Knowing the precise oncogenesis of NPC not only offers a better understanding of the role that EBV plays in this tumor but also helps create targeted therapies that could potentially block important pathways such as the NF-κB pathway. Much is yet to be done, but the prognosis and management of NPC patients have changed drastically, offering precise treatment methods and excellent control of the disease, even in locally advanced scenarios.

Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment from Present to Future: Where Are We and Where Are We Heading?

OPINION STATEMENT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is distinct in its anatomic location and biology from other epithelial head and neck cancer (HNC). There are 3 WHO subtypes, which considers the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and other histopathology features. Despite the survival benefit obtained from modern treatment modalities and techniques specifically in the local and locally advanced setting, a number of patients with this disease will recur and subsequently die of distant metastasis, locoregional relapse, or both. In the recurrent setting, the ideal therapy approach continues to be a topic of discussion and current recommendations are platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Phase III clinical trials which led to the approval of pembrolizumab or nivolumab for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) specifically excluded NPC. No immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, to date, has been approved by the FDA to treat NPC although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations do include use of these agents. Hence, this remains the major challenge for treatment options. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is challenging as it is really 3 different diseases, and much research is required to determine best options and sequencing of those options. This article is going to address the data to date and discuss ongoing research in EBV + and EBV - inoperable recurrent/metastatic NPC patients.

Early mortality of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer in the United States.

Background: Early mortality is a major deterrent to oncologic management, often preventing delivery of therapy or leading to administration of treatment that offers limited benefit from aggressive interventions. Due to more recent progress in therapeutic options for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, identifying those at high risk of early mortality (within 30 days) could have implications for treatment selection. Because early mortality following diagnosis of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not well-characterized, this investigation evaluated national trends and predictors thereof. Material and methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for cases of pathologically confirmed metastatic NSCLC with complete vital status and clinical information, diagnosed between 2006 and 2014. Multivariable logistic regression ascertained factors associated with 30-day mortality. Results: Of 346,681 patients, 45,861 (13%) experienced early mortality over the past decade, which remained relatively constant over time. Predictors of early mortality included advancing age (>65 years), male gender, Caucasian race, non-private insurance, lower income, greater comorbidities, residence in metropolitan and/or lesser-educated areas, treatment at community centers, patients with no prior history of cancer and regional differences (p < .01 for all). Early mortality was highest in patients older than 80 years with multiple comorbidities (29%). The majority of patients (71%) who died within 30 days did not receive any therapy. Conclusions: A fair proportion of NSCLC patients experience early mortality, which has not decreased over time. The majority of patients with early mortality do not receive treatment. Prognostic factors for early mortality should be considered during initial evaluation and subsequent follow-up of these patients. Doing so may impact systemic treatment selection by medical oncologists, management of (oligo)metastatic disease by radiation and surgical oncologists and cost-effective administration of these therapies in the stage IV NSCLC population.

Radiation Therapy for the Head and Neck Patient: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives.

Radiation therapy for head and neck malignancies has made remarkable advances in treatment technology, resulting in improved clinical and functional outcomes. It is necessary for the radiation oncologist to have a complex understanding of the patient's tumor and its relationship to the surrounding normal anatomy, in order to safely limit dose to normal tissues. Complications following radiation can be managed with timely intervention, usually on an outpatient basis. This chapter will discuss the technological advances in the field, the impact of human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated disease on radiation treatment, efforts to limit dose to critical salivary and swallowing structures, and management of certain radiation-related toxicities.

Treatment: Radiation Therapy.

Radiation therapy (RT) is an integral part of treating all stages of lung cancer. Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) has emerged as a standard treatment option for stage I-II patients with medically inoperable disease. Stage IIIA-IIIB disease is typically managed with definitive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has enabled delivery of more potent RT dose while greatly limiting dose to surrounding normal organs, including lung, esophagus, and heart. SABR may have an expanding role in the treatment of stage IV patients, with new clinical trials exploring its combination with systemic immuotherapies.

The impact of pretreatment symptom burden on long-term quality of life following head and neck radiation: A prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: This study characterized the impact of baseline symptom burden on long-term quality-of-life in patients receiving head and neck radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: The Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey was collected prior to head and neck RT and at follow-up visits. Responses were divided into symptom clusters of toxicities and scored from 0 (asymptomatic) to 10 (severe). Patients with responses at baseline and 1-year or 2-year follow-up were stratified by scores ≤1 or >1 and compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up (n = 75), patients with higher baseline scores had greater symptom burden for every cluster except in taste/smell. At 2-year follow-up (n = 47), patients with higher baseline scores had greater symptom burden for every cluster except in nutrition, dry mouth, trismus, neck tightness, and hearing. CONCLUSION: The Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey demonstrated a relationship between baseline symptom burden and long-term quality-of-life and might be useful as a screening tool.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy to the kidney for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A narrative review of an emerging concept.

This narrative review provides a historical overview of cytoreductive nephrectomy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and examines the safety and therapeutic potential of cytoreductive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for mRCC in the modern immunotherapy era. In the last five years, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of mRCC has improved outcomes for patients. This has brought forth new exploration of the role of CN in combination with immunotherapy. Early retrospective evidence suggests that there may be a benefit of deferred CN after immunotherapy (IOT) for de novo mRCC patients. However, there has also been concern regarding the feasibility of surgery after IOT due to inflammation. SBRT may be an appropriate alternative in these circumstances. Since 1999, cytoreductive SBRT has been used for inoperable primary RCC. Several prospective and retrospective studies treating the kidney tumor for localized RCC have shown that this technique is safe and produces favorable and durable local control. SBRT has also exhibited similar effectiveness to CN, while providing additional benefits including noninvasiveness and the ability to treat tumors that can't be treated with nephrectomy or ablation due to size or location. Furthermore, SBRT confers immunostimulatory effects, which are hypothesized to work synergistically with immunotherapy. Clinicians should consider SBRT a safe and reliable alternative to CN for RCC patients. Ongoing studies are exploring the utility of SBRT for treatment of the primary tumor in mRCC patients receiving standard of care immunotherapy.

Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Identify Dosimetric Predictors of Toxicity in Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of RTOG 0617.

PURPOSE: Dosimetric predictors of toxicity in patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer are often identified through trial and error. This study used machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence to empirically characterize dosimetric predictors of toxicity in patients treated as part of a prospective clinical trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A secondary analysis of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0617 trial was performed. Multiple ML models were trained to predict grade ≥3 pulmonary, cardiac, and esophageal toxicities using clinical and dosimetric features. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC). The best performing model for each toxicity was explained using the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) framework; SHAP values were used to identify relevant dosimetric thresholds and were converted to odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) generated using bootstrapping to obtain quantitative measures of risk. Thresholds were validated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The best-performing models for pulmonary, cardiac, and esophageal toxicities, outperforming logistic regression, were extreme gradient boosting (AUC, 0.739), random forest (AUC, 0.706), and naive Bayes (AUC, 0.721), respectively. For pulmonary toxicity, thresholds of a mean dose >18 Gy (OR, 2.467; 95% CI, 1.049-5.800; P = .038) and lung volume receiving ≥20 Gy (V20) > 37% (OR, 2.722; 95% CI, 1.034-7.163; P = .043) were identified. For esophageal toxicity, thresholds of a mean dose >34 Gy (OR, 4.006; 95% CI, 2.183-7.354; P < .001) and V20 > 37% (OR, 3.725; 95% CI, 1.308-10.603; P = .014) were identified. No significant thresholds were identified for cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In this data set, ML approaches validated known dosimetric thresholds and outperformed logistic regression at predicting toxicity. Furthermore, using explainable artificial intelligence, clinically useful dosimetric thresholds might be identified and subsequently externally validated.

Surgical Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). Surgery should be performed by a surgical oncologist with sub-specialization in this disease and in the context of a multidisciplinary team of sarcoma specialists. For primary RPS, the goal of surgery is to achieve the complete en bloc resection of the tumor along with involved organs and structures to maximize the clearance of the disease. The extent of resection also needs to consider the risk of complications. Unfortunately, the overarching challenge in primary RPS treatment is that even with optimal surgery, tumor recurrence occurs frequently. The pattern of recurrence after surgery (e.g., local versus distant) is strongly associated with the specific histologic type of RPS. Radiation and systemic therapy may improve outcomes in RPS and there is emerging data studying the benefit of non-surgical treatments in primary disease. Topics in need of further investigation include criteria for unresectability and management of locally recurrent disease. Moving forward, global collaboration among RPS specialists will be key for continuing to advance our understanding of this disease and find more effective treatments.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Bridging Therapies Prior to CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Bridging therapy (BT) with systemic therapy (ST), radiation therapy (RT), or combined-modality therapy (CMT) is increasingly being utilized prior to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). We report the long-term outcomes of the patients who received commercial CAR T-cell therapy with or without BT. METHODS: The patients with LBCL who underwent infusion of a commercial CD19 CAR T product were eligible. The radiation was stratified as comprehensive or focal. The efficacy outcomes and toxicity were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 156 patients were included and, of them, 52.5% of the patients received BT. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 0.65 years in the BT cohort compared to 1.45 years in the non-BT cohort. The median overall survival (OS) was 3.16 years in the BT cohort and was not reached in the non-BT cohort. The patients who received comprehensive radiation (versus focal) had significantly improved PFS and OS, achieving a 1-year PFS of 100% vs. 9.1% and 1-year OS of 100% vs. 45.5%. There was no difference in the severe toxicity between any of the nonbridging or BT cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: BT did not appear to compromise outcomes with respect to response rates, disease control, survival, and toxicity. The patients with limited disease treated with RT had favorable outcomes.

Overcoming Barriers to Tobacco Cessation and Lung Cancer Screening among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups and Underserved Patients in Academic Centers and Community Network Sites: The City of Hope Experience.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco control is important for cancer patient health, but delivering effective low-dose CT (LDCT) screening and tobacco cessation is more difficult in underserved and patients from racial and ethnic minority groups. At City of Hope (COH), we have developed strategies to overcome barriers to the delivery of LDCT and tobacco cessation. METHODS: We performed a needs assessment. New tobacco control program services were implemented focusing on patients from racial and ethnic minority groups. Innovations included Whole Person Care with motivational counseling, placing clinician and nurse champions at points of care, training module and leadership newsletters, and a patient-centric personalized medicine Personalized Pathways to Success (PPS) program. RESULTS: Emphasis on patients from racial and ethnic minority groups was implemented by training cessation personnel and lung cancer control champions. LDCT increased. Tobacco use assessment increased and abstinence was 27.2%. The PPS pilot program achieved 47% engagement in cessation, with self-reported abstinence at 3 months of 38%, with both results slightly higher in patients from racial and ethnic minority groups than in Caucasian patients. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco cessation barrier-focused innovations can result in increased lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation reach and effectiveness, especially among patients from racial and ethnic minority groups. The PPS program is promising as a personalized medicine patient-centric approach to cessation and lung cancer screening.

Early breast cancer with positive margins: excellent local control with an upfront brachytherapy boost.

Standard breast conservation therapy consists of lumpectomy and whole breast radiation with boost. The effectiveness of radiation in cases of positive margins is controversial. Two potential treatment-related factors are time to initiation of radiation and localization of the boost. Here, we examine long-term outcomes of positive margin cases treated with an upfront interstitial brachytherapy boost. This particular treatment arrangement may reduce those treatment-related effects on local control. Historically, a low dose interstitial implant was a common boost technique. One approach administered the boost before external beam. A review of 521 cases treated at our institution was conducted. Patients were selected for this study if they received an upfront brachytherapy boost and had close or positive margins. Forty-four breast cancers were identified. Median follow-up of survivors was 11.3 years (8.1-21.7). Implant was performed at lumpectomy (12) or axillary dissection (32). Margin statuses were: focal carcinoma at ink (37), multifocal carcinoma at ink (1), carcinoma <1 mm from ink (2), and DCIS at ink (4). Median tumor size was 1.2 cm (0.5-3.5 cm). Ten patients had nodal involvement. Total median dose was 60 Gy (58.6-65.3 Gy). Median boost dose was 15 Gy (12-20.3 Gy). Lumpectomy to boost interval was median of 3 weeks (0-10.8). No ipsilateral breast recurrences or second primaries were identified. Four developed contralateral breast cancer. Eleven are deceased, four from breast cancer-all from metastasis. 12-year Kaplan-Meier estimates were: overall survival 78 ± 7 %, cause specific survival 93 ± 4 %, and recurrence-free survival 82 ± 6 %. Univariate analysis identified nodal disease as significant for cause specific survival (log rank p = 0.005). No ipsilateral breast recurrences were found. Early administered radiation and accurate boost localization were identified as suspected treatment-related factors for local recurrence. When these two treatment-related factors are minimized, long-term local control rates do not suffer.

Lung stereotactic body radiation therapy using simultaneous integrated BED-escalation for peripherally located non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Report the outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and peripheral tumors treated with simultaneous integrated biologically equivalent dose (BED)-escalation (SIBE) lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to achieve dose escalation. Materials/methods: Patients with NSCLC within 5 mm of the chest wall treated with a SIBE approach were eligible. Patients received 60 Gy in 5 fractions, with dose decreased to 50 Gy based on proximity to the chest wall. Dosimetry, oncologic outcomes, and toxicity were evaluated. Results: Twenty-four patients met inclusion criteria. Median BED to the PTV was 135.4 Gy. Median chest wall V30 was 18.7 cc. The 3-year LC, OS, and PFS of the non-metastatic cohort was 93%, 35%, and 39%, respectively. The crude rate of chest wall toxicity was 12.5%, with no rib fractures. Conclusions: SIBE lung SBRT appears to be well tolerated and achieves favorable local control rates and survival.

Prognostic Impact of Primary Tumor Extent and Postoperative Radiation Facility Location in Major Salivary Gland Malignancies.

Introduction The treatment of primary salivary malignancies often requires a multimodality approach. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the interaction between primary tumor extent and the treatment location of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with primary salivary malignancies with respect to survival outcomes. Methods Patients with primary salivary malignancies who underwent upfront surgery followed by radiation were queried in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Patients were stratified by pathologic T stage and whether PORT was performed at the same or different facility as the definitive surgery. Survival outcomes were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results A total of 5,553 patients were selected, of which 1,159 had pathologic T4 (pT4) tumors. Patients who received PORT at the same facility compared with a different facility demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) on log-rank analysis (p=0.003). On subgroup analysis, patients with pT4 tumors had superior OS (p=0.015), whereas patients with smaller T1-3 tumors did not. PORT receipt at the same surgical facility was not a significant predictor of OS on multivariable analysis when all patients were included (p=0.057). However, among patients with pT4 tumors, OS was improved in patients who got PORT at the same facility as their surgery (p=0.015), with 10-year survival rates of 38.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 33%-44%) versus 31% (95%CI: 24%-38%). Conclusion OS was improved in patients with primary salivary malignancies who received PORT at the same facility as their surgery, but the difference appears to be primarily driven by patients with pT4 primary tumors.

Cancer Survivors, Oncology, and Primary Care Perspectives on Survivorship Care: An Integrative Review.

PURPOSE: Evidence-based models of cancer survivorship care are lacking. Such models should take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the current state of the literature on cancer survivorship care from the cancer survivor, the oncology care team, and the primary care team perspectives. METHODS: Using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, we conducted a literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus databases to identify relevant articles on the stakeholders' perspectives on cancer survivorship care published between 2010 and 2021. We reviewed and abstracted eligible articles to synthesize findings. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included in the review. Barriers to the receipt and provision of cancer survivorship care quality included challenges with communication, cancer care delivery, and knowledge. CONCLUSION: Persistent stakeholder-identified barriers continue to hinder the provision of quality cancer survivorship care. Improved communication, delivery of care, knowledge/information, and resources are needed to improve the quality of survivorship care. Novel models of cancer survivorship care that address the needs of survivors, oncology teams, and PCPs are needed.

Prolonged response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy in two metastatic mucoepidermoid salivary gland carcinoma cases: a research report.

Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are heterogeneous tumors that range from benign masses to aggressive high-grade carcinomas with distant metastatic potential and limited response to chemotherapy. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) accounts for 10% of SGTs and has a poor prognosis. In this research report, we describe two cases of metastatic high-grade MECs with prolonged response to immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab. Case 1 presented with a left neck mass, and biopsy of the parotid mass revealed MEC. The patient underwent surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy for stage IVB disease. Post-treatment, she was found to have brain and spinal metastases and was placed on pembrolizumab. Case 2 presented with a left neck mass, and biopsy of the right parotid gland revealed MEC. Further staging demonstrated metastatic disease in the lungs, and he was placed on pembrolizumab. Both cases of MEC demonstrated prolonged extracranial responses to pembrolizumab. Although both cases reported little to no PD-L1 expression, these results demonstrate immunotherapy efficacy in advanced/metastatic MEC.

Ablative Radiotherapy as a Strategy to Overcome TKI Resistance in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation. However, most individuals treated with TKI therapy for EGFR-mutant NSCLC will develop tumor resistance to TKI therapy. Therapeutic strategies to overcome TKI resistance are the topic of several ongoing clinical trials. One potential strategy, which has been explored in numerous trials, is the treatment of progressive sites of disease with stereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We sought to review the literature pertaining to the use of local ablative radiation therapy in the setting of acquired resistance to TKI therapy and to discuss stereotactic radiation therapy as a strategy to overcome TKI resistance.

Dosimetric Predictors of Genitourinary Toxicity From a Phase I Trial of Prostate Bed Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to analyze dose-volume parameters associated with genitourinary (GU) toxicity from a phase I clinical trial of prostate bed stereotactic body radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients were treated in escalating dose levels of 35, 40, and 45 Gy, over 5 fractions. Data from all 26 patients enrolled in the protocol were analyzed using multiple dose-volume cut points for multiple GU organs at risk. Univariate logistical regression and Fisher exact test were used to assess statistical significance associated with incidence of toxicity. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 36 months for all patients. Acute GU toxicity was mild and resolved spontaneously. Eight out of 26 patients (30.7%) developed late GU toxicity of grade 2 or higher. Two patients developed grade 3 ureteral stenosis, 1 in the 35 Gy arm and the other in the 45 Gy arm. Three patients developed grade 2 or higher hematuria/cystitis, and 3 developed grade 2 or higher incontinence. Incidence of grade 3 ureteral stenosis was related to the absolute volume of bladder wall receiving greater than 20, 25, and 30 Gy (P < .01). Grade 2 cystitis and hematuria were related to the volume of bladder wall receiving 20 Gy less than 34% and 35 Gy less than 25% (18.8% vs 60% and 23.8% vs 80%, respectively, P < .05). Incontinence was related to mean urethral dose less than 35 Gy and 25 Gy (4.3% vs 66.7% and 0% vs 37.5%, respectively, P < .05) and volume of urethra receiving 35 Gy less than 24% (8.3% vs 50%, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first analysis to report dose-volume thresholds associated with late GU toxicity in patients receiving prostate bed stereotactic body radiation therapy. We recommend limiting the bladder wall receiving 25 Gy to less than 18 cubic centimeters to reduce the risk for late grade 3 ureteral stenosis.

Predicting Survival Duration With MRI Radiomics of Brain Metastases From Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Brain metastases are associated with poor survival. Molecular genetic testing informs on targeted therapy and survival. The purpose of this study was to perform a MR imaging-based radiomic analysis of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to identify radiomic features that were important for predicting survival duration. Methods: We retrospectively identified our study cohort via an institutional database search for patients with brain metastases from EGFR, ALK, and/or KRAS mutation-positive NSCLC. We segmented the brain metastatic tumors on the brain MR images, extracted radiomic features, constructed radiomic scores from significant radiomic features based on multivariate Cox regression analysis (p < 0.05), and built predictive models for survival duration. Result: Of the 110 patients in the cohort (mean age 57.51 ± 12.32 years; range: 22-85 years, M:F = 37:73), 75, 26, and 15 had NSCLC with EGFR, ALK, and KRAS mutations, respectively. Predictive modeling of survival duration using both clinical and radiomic features yielded areas under the receiver operative characteristic curve of 0.977, 0.905, and 0.947 for the EGFR, ALK, and KRAS mutation-positive groups, respectively. Radiomic scores enabled the separation of each mutation-positive group into two subgroups with significantly different survival durations, i.e., shorter vs. longer duration when comparing to the median survival duration of the group. Conclusion: Our data supports the use of radiomic scores, based on MR imaging of brain metastases from NSCLC, as non-invasive biomarkers for survival duration. Future research with a larger sample size and external cohorts is needed to validate our results.