High-dose neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy alone followed by surgery in potentially-resectable stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. A multi-institutional retrospective study by the Oncologic Group for the Study of Lung Cancer (Spanish Radiation Oncology Society).

BACKGROUND: The optimal induction treatment in potentially-resectable stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC remains undefined. AIM: To compare neoadjuvant high-dose chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) in patients with resectable, stage IIIA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre study of 99 patients diagnosed with stage cT1-T3N2M0 NSCLC who underwent neoadjuvant treatment (high-dose CRT or CHT) followed by surgery between January 2005 and December 2014. RESULTS: 47 patients (47.5%) underwent CRT and 52 (52.5%) CHT, with a median follow-up of 41 months. Surgery consisted of lobectomy (87.2% and 82.7%, in the CRT and CHT groups, respectively) or pneumonectomy (12.8% vs. 17.3%). Nodal downstaging (to N1/N0) and Pathologic complete response (pCR; pT0pN0) rates were significantly higher in the CRT group (89.4% vs. 57.7% and 46.8% vs. 7.7%, respectively; p < 0.001)). Locoregional recurrence was significantly lower in the CRT group (8.5% vs. 13.5%; p = 0.047) but distant recurrence rates were similar in the two groups. Median PFS was 45 months (CHT) vs. "not reached" (CRT). Median OS was similar: 61 vs. 56 months (p = 0.803). No differences in grade ≥3 toxicity were observed. On the Cox regression analysis, advanced pT stage was associated with worse OS and PFS (p < 0.001) and persistent N2 disease (p = 0.002) was associated with worse PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, a higher proportion of patients treated with preoperative CRT achieved nodal downstaging and pCR with better locoregional control. However, there were no differences in survival. More studies are needed to know the optimal treatment of these patients.

[Mortality in a cohort of men with fragility hip fracture in a health area: Associated factors]. / Mortalidad de una cohorte de hombres con fractura de cadera por fragilidad en un sector sanitario: factores asociados.

BACKGROUND: A quarter of the patients with fragility hip fracture (FHF) are men, and they have higher mortality rates than women. The objective of this study is to analyse the mortality, as well as associated factors, due to FHF in men aged ≥65years, while in hospital and at one and three years of follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analytical observational study was conducted on a historical cohort of 182 male patients equal or older than 65 years that were admitted to an Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (OST) Department between January 2009 and December 2014. RESULTS: Within-hospital mortality was 10.9% (6% in the OST Department, and 8.6% in a Social-Health centre). A relationship (P=.039) was found between within-hospital mortality and age. A total of 20 patients died during their stay in both units, 42 (25.9%) died one year later, and 95 (58.6%) died three years later. Dementia/cognitive impairment was associated with a relative risk of one-year mortality of 2.2, and 1.6 of three-year mortality. An association was observed between age and mortality and between Barthel Index at baseline and mortality at both periods. The most frequent causes of death were cardiovascular (15.7%) and tumours (13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Male patients with FHF showed high mortality rates in hospital, and at one-year and three-years follow-up. The most important risk factor of mortality was dementia/cognitive deterioration at one year, and high blood pressure at three years.

Prognostic factors in neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery in stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer: a multi-institutional study by the Oncologic Group for the Study of Lung Cancer (Spanish Radiation Oncology Society).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic factors associated with survival in patients treated with neoadjuvant treatment [chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or chemotherapy] followed by surgery (CRTS) in patients with stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 118 patients diagnosed with stage T1-T3N2M0 NSCLC and treated with CRTS at 14 hospitals in Spain between January 2005 and December 2014. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Surgery consisted of lobectomy (74.5% of cases), pneumectomy (17.8%), or bilobectomy (7.6%). Neoadjuvant treatment was CRT in 62 patients (52.5%) and chemotherapy alone in 56 patients (47.5%). Median follow-up was 42.5 months (5-128 months). 5-year OS and PFS were 51.1% and 49.4%, respectively. The following variables were independently associated with worse OS and PFS: pneumonectomy (vs. lobectomy); advanced pathologic T stage (pT3 vs. pT0-pT2); and presence of persistent N2 disease (vs. ypN0-1) in the surgical specimen. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of patients with stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC treated with CRTS, 5-year survival (both OS and PFS) was approximately 50%. After CRTS, the patients with the best prognosis were those whose primary tumour and/or mediastinal nodal metastases were downstaged after induction therapy and those who underwent lobectomy. These findings provide further support for neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery in selected patients.

Neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery versus definitive chemoradiation in stage IIIA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer: A multi-institutional study by the oncologic group for the study of lung cancer (Spanish Radiation Oncology Society).

OBJECTIVES: The role of surgery in stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an actively debated in oncology. To evaluate the value of surgery in this patient population, we conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study comparing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy plus surgery (CRTS) to definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 247 patients with potentially resectable stage T1-T3N2M0 NSCLC treated with either CRTS or dCRT between January 2005 and December 2014 at 15 hospitals in Spain were identified. A centralized review was performed to ensure resectability. A propensity score matched analysis was carried out to balance patient and tumor characteristics (n = 78 per group). RESULTS: Of the 247 patients, 118 were treated with CRTS and 129 with dCRT. In the CRTS group, 62 patients (52.5%) received neoadjuvant CRT and 56 (47.4%) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgery consisted of either lobectomy (97 patients; 82.2%) or pneumonectomy (21 patients; 17.8%). In the matched samples, median overall survival (OS; 56 vs 29 months, log-rank p = .002) and progression-free survival (PFS; 46 vs 15 months, log-rank p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the CRTS group. This survival advantage for CRTS was maintained in the subset comparison between the lobectomy subgroup versus dCRT (OS: 57 vs 29 months, p < 0.001; PFS: 46 vs 15 months, p < 0.001), but not in the comparison between the pneumonectomy subgroup and dCRT. CONCLUSION: The findings reported here indicate that neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (preferably lobectomy) yields better OS and PFS than definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC.

Role of 3.0 T multiparametric MRI in local staging in prostate cancer and clinical implications for radiation oncology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative 3T multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (3TmMRI) for local staging of prostate cancer and its influence on the decision to change the clinical target volume (CTV), total dose and hormonal therapy when treating prostate cancer patients with radiotherapy. METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, 150 patients, who had confirmed prostate cancer and underwent a 3TmMRI before treatment with radical prostatectomy or radical radiation therapy, were included. Radiation therapy treatment (CTV, total dose and hormonal therapy) was initially determined on the basis of the clinical information, and radiation therapy plan was reevaluated after 3TmMRI review. The value of preoperative 3TmMRI in local staging and in the decision of radiotherapy treatment according to NCCN risk classification was analyzed. RESULTS: 3TmMRI performed correct, over- and under staging in 78.7 % (37/47), 6.3 % (3/47), 14.8 % patients (7/47), respectively. 3TmMRI identified 6 cT2a, 7 cT2b, 28 cT2c, 3 cT3a, 3 cT3b tumors. At final pathology, 5 tumors were classified as pT2a, 5 as pT2b, 30 as pT2c, 4 as pT3a, 3 as pT3b. After reviewing the MRI reports, the initial radiotherapy and hormonal therapy plan was changed in 33.9 % patients (35/103). CONCLUSIONS: In our group of patients, 3TmMRI has been a reliable technique providing an optimal staging for prostate cancer. Its routine use could induce important changes in radiation therapy treatments in a significant number of such patients. However, more additional studies are needed to clarify this issue.