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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess if multicriteria optimization could limit interoperator variability in radiation therapy planning and assess if this method could contribute to target volume coverage and sparing of organ at risk for intensity-modulated curative radiation therapy of head and neck cancers., Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on 20 patients treated for an oropharyngeal or oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. We carried out a comparative dosimetric study of manual plans produced with Precision® software, compared with the plans proposed using the multicriteria optimization method (RayStation®). We assessed interoperator reproducibility on the first six patients, and dosimetric contribution in sparing organs at risk using the multicriteria optimization method., Results: Median age was 69 years, most lesions were oropharyngeal carcinoma (65%), and 35% lesions were stage T3. First, we obtained a high degree of similarity between the four operator measurements for each patient at the level of each organ. Intraclass correlation coefficients were greater than 0.85. Second, we observed a significant dosimetric benefit for contralateral parotid gland, homolateral and contralateral masseter muscles, homolateral and contralateral pterygoid muscles and for the larynx (P<0.05). For the contralateral parotid gland, the mean dose difference between the multicriteria optimization and manual plans was -2.0Gy (P=0.01). Regarding the larynx, the mean dose difference between the two plans was -4.6Gy (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Multicriteria optimization is a reproducible technique and faster than manual optimization. It allows dosimetric advantages on organs at risk, especially for those not usually taken into consideration in manual dosimetry. This may lead to improved quality of life., (Copyright © 2024 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Metastases are the most common brain tumors. After surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity is the standard of care. Data from two randomized trials indicate that SRT to the surgical bed is an effective treatment in reducing local failure as compared with observation, while reducing the risk of cognitive deterioration and maintaining quality of life as compared with whole brain radiation therapy. Local control appears higher after hypofractionated SRT compared to single-fraction SRT. Several questions such as target volumes, the optimal regimen in particular for large tumor bed, strategies to reduce the risk of lepto-meningeal recurrence, and the treatment sequence still need to be answered., (Copyright © 2020 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this analysis was to assess the 5-year tolerance and survival in patients undergoing hypofractionated stereotactic boost after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for intermediate-risk prostate cancer., Methods and Materials: Between August 2010 and April 2013, 76 patients with intermediate-risk prostate carcinoma were included in the study. A first course delivered 46 Gy using conventional fractionation. The second course delivered a boost of 18 Gy (3 × 6 Gy) within 10 days using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were assessed according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0. Secondary outcome measures were overall, biochemical relapse-free, and relapse-free survival; prostate-specific antigen kinetics; and patient functional status (urinary and sexual) according to the International Index of Erectile Function and International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires., Results: Sixty patients (79%) were treated by CyberKnife and 16 (21%) by linear accelerator. Median follow-up was 62 months (range, 29-69). The cumulative incidence of genitourinary and gastrointestinal grade ≥2 toxicities at month 60 after the end of radiation therapy was 1.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1%-6.6%) and 9.3% (95% CI, 4.1%-17.1%), respectively. Biochemical relapse-free and relapse-free survival rates at 5 years were 87.4% (95% CI, 77.1%-93.2%) and 86.2% (95% CI, 75.8-92.3), respectively. The mean (standard deviation) prostate-specific antigen variation within 3 months and 5 years post-radiation therapy was -1.20 ng/mL/mo (0.79) and -1.30 ng/mL/y (1.05), respectively. There was no significant difference between the International Prostate Symptom quality of life score between inclusion and month 60. For the International Index of Erectile Function, there was a significant difference between inclusion and month 60 (P = .005), with a higher proportion of severe/noninterpretable disorders at 60 months., Conclusions: The results of the trial demonstrate that the EBRT and SBRT combination is well tolerated and yields good efficacy results. These data provide a good basis for comparing EBRT and brachytherapy boost to EBRT and SBRT boost in future prospective studies., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of salvage stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with biopsy-proven local prostate cancer recurrence after radiation therapy., Methods and Materials: Between April 2010 and January 2017, 100 patients were included in 7 centers. Disease extension was assessed by pelvic multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and choline positron emission tomography in 87% and 94% of patients, respectively. The median time interval between the 2 treatments was 7.5 years (range, 2-18). Median prostate-specific antigen at recurrence was 4.3 ng/mL (range, 2-38). Median SBRT dose was 36 Gy (range, 25-36.25) in 6 fractions (range, 5-6), every other day. Thirty-four percent of patients were treated by androgen deprivation therapy for a median duration of 12 months. Toxicity was assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03., Results: Median follow-up was 29.3 months (range, 4-91). Second biochemical recurrence-free survival rate at 3 years was 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42%-66%). The initial D'Amico group, time interval after first radiation therapy, and SBRT dose were prognostic factors of biochemical recurrence-free survival in multivariate analysis (P = .09, P = .025, P = .018, respectively). No patient developed acute gastrointestinal toxicity of grade >1; rates of acute genitourinary toxicity of grade 2 and 3 were 8% and 1%, respectively. The actuarial 3-year grade ≥2 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity was 20.8% (95% CI, 13%-29%) and 1% (95% CI, 0.1%-5.1%), respectively. One patient presented with neuritis of grade 3., Conclusions: With a short follow-up, this study shows that salvage SBRT allows for encouraging control and acceptable toxicity. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results and to determine late toxicity., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess, in a large series, the efficacy and tolerance of post-operative adjuvant hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (HFSRT) for brain metastases (BMs). Materials and Methods: Between July 2012 and January 2017, 160 patients from 2 centers were operated for BM and treated by HFSRT. Patients had between 1 and 3 BMs, no brainstem lesions or carcinomatous meningitis. The primary endpoint was local control. Secondary endpoints were distant brain control, overall survival (OS) and tolerance to HFSRT. Results: 73 patients (46%) presented with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 23 (14%) had melanoma and 21 (13%) breast cancer. Median age was 58 years (range, 22-83 years). BMs were synchronous in 50% of the cases. The most frequent prescription regimens were 24 Gy in 3 fractions ( n = 52, 33%) and 30 Gy in 5 fractions ( n = 37, 23%). Local control rates at 1 and 2 years were 88% [95%CI, 81-93%] and 81% [95%CI, 70-88%], respectively. Distant control rate at 1 year was 48% [95%CI, 81-93%]. In multivariate analysis, primary NSCLC was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death compared to other primary sites (HR = 0.57, p = 0.007), the number of extra-cerebral metastatic sites (HR = 1.26, p = 0.003) and planning target volumes (HR = 1.15, p = 0.012) were associated with a lower OS. There was no prognostic factor of time to local progression. Median OS was 15.2 months [95%CI, 12.0-17.9 months] and the OS rate at 1 year was 58% [95% CI, 50-65%]. Salvage radiotherapy was administered to 72 patients (45%), of which 49 received new HFSRT. Ten (7%) patients presented late grade 2 and 4 (3%) patients late grade 3 toxicities. Thirteen (8.9%) patients developed radiation necrosis. Conclusions: This large multicenter retrospective study shows that HFSRT allows for good local control of metastasectomy tumor beds and that this technique is well-tolerated by patients.

Objectives: No study has reported clinical results of external-beam radiotherapy specifically for T3b prostate cancer. The possibility of escalating the dose to the involved seminal vesicles (ISV) while respecting the dose constraints in the organs at risk is thus so far not clearly demonstrated. The objective of the study was to analyze the dose distribution and the clinical outcome in a large series of patients who received IMRT for T3b prostate cancer., Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients who received IMRT and androgen deprivation therapy for T3b prostate cancer, between 2008 and 2017, in six French institutions, with available MRI images and dosimetric data., Results: A total of 276 T3b patients were included. The median follow-up was 26 months. The median (range) prescribed doses (Gy) to the prostate and to the ISV were 77 (70-80) and 76 (46-80), respectively. The dose constraint recommendations were exceeded in less than 12% of patients for the rectum and the bladder. The 5-year risks of biochemical and clinical recurrences and cancer-specific death were 24.8%, 21.7%, and 10.3%, respectively. The 5-year risks of local, pelvic lymph node, and metastatic recurrences were 6.4%, 11.3%, and 15%, respectively. The number of involved lymph nodes (≤ 2 or ≥ 3) on MRI was the only significant prognostic factor in clinical recurrence (HR 9.86) and death (HR 2.78). Grade ≥ 2 acute and 5-year late toxicity rates were 13.2% and 12% for digestive toxicity, and 34% and 31.5% for urinary toxicity, respectively. The dose to the pelvic lymph node and the age were predictive of late digestive toxicity., Conclusion: IMRT for T3b prostate cancer allows delivery of a curative dose in the ISV, with a moderate digestive toxicity but a higher urinary toxicity. Lymph node involvement increases the risk of recurrence and death., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) often cause morbidity and mortality for stage IV melanoma patients. An ongoing randomised phase III trial (NCT01503827 - WBRT-Mel) evaluates the role of adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) following local treatment of MBM. Hippocampal avoidance during WBRT (HA-WBRT) has shown memory and neurocognitive function (NCF) preservation in the RTOG-0933 phase II study. This study assessed the quality assurance of HA-WBRT within the WBRT-Mel trial according to RTOG-0933 study criteria., Methods: Hippocampal avoidance was allowed in approved centres with intensity-modulated radiotherapy capability. Patients treated by HA-WBRT were not randomized within the WBRT arm. The RTOG 0933 contouring Atlas was used to contour hippocampi. In the trial co-ordinating centre, patients were treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy using complementary arcs; similar techniques were used at other sites. Dosimetric data were extracted retrospectively and analysed in accordance with RTOG 0933 study constraints criteria., Results: Among the 215 patients accrued to the WBRT-Mel study between April 2009 and September 2017, 107 were randomized to the WBRT arm, 22 were treated by HA-WBRT in 4 centers. Eighteen patients were treated in the same centre. The median age was 65 years. The commonest (91%) HA-WBRT schema was 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Prior to HA-WBRT, 10 patients had been treated by surgery alone, six by radiosurgery alone, four by surgery and radiosurgery and two exclusively by simultaneous integrated boost concurrent to HA-WBRT. Twenty patients were treated with intention to spare both hippocampi and two patients had MBM close to one hippocampus and were treated with intention to spare the contralateral hippocampus. According to RTOG-0933 study criteria, 18 patients (82%) were treated within constraints and four patients (18%) had unacceptable deviation in just one hippocampus., Conclusions: This dosimetric quality assurance study shows good compliance (82%) according to RTOG-0933 study dosimetric constraints. Indeed, all patients respected RTOG hippocampal avoidance constraints on at least one hippocampus. In the futureanalysis of the WBRT-Mel trial, the NCF of patients on the observation arm, WBRT arm and with HA-WBRT arm will be compared.

Purpose: Dose escalation may improve curability in intermediate-risk prostate carcinoma. A multicenter national program was developed to assess toxicity and tumor response with hypofractionated stereotactic boost after conventional radiotherapy in intermediate-risk prostate cancer., Methods and Material: Between August 2010 and April 2013, 76 patients with intermediated-risk prostate carcinoma were included in the study. A first course delivered 46 Gy by IMRT (68.4% of patients) or 3D conformal radiotherapy (31.6% of patients). The second course delivered a boost of 18 Gy (3x6Gy) within 10 days. Gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities were evaluated as defined by NCI-CTCAE (v4.0). Secondary outcome measures were local control, overall and metastasis-free survival, PSA kinetics, and patient functional status (urinary and sexual) according to the IIEF5 and IPSS questionnaires., Results: The overall treatment time was 45 days (median, range 40-55). Median follow-up was 26.4 months (range, 13.6-29.9 months). Seventy-seven per cent (n = 58) of patients presented a Gleason score of 7. At 24 months, biological-free survival was 98.7% (95% CI, 92.8-99.9%) and median PSA 0.46 ng/mL (range, 0.06-6.20 ng/mL). Grade ≥2 acute GI and GU toxicities were 13.2% and 23.7%, respectively. Grade ≥2 late GI and GU toxicities were observed in 6.6% and 2.6% of patients, respectively. No grade 4 toxicity was observed., Conclusions: Hypofractionated stereotactic boost is effective and safely delivered for intermediate-risk prostate carcinoma after conventional radiation. Mild-term relapse-free survival and tolerance results are promising, and further follow-up is warranted to confirm the results at long term., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01596816.

After the liver and lungs, bones are the third most common sites of cancer metastasis. Palliative radiotherapy for secondary bone tumours helps relieve pain, improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of fractures. Stereotactic body radiotherapy can deliver high radiation doses with very tight margins, which has significant advantages when treating tumours close to the spinal cord. Strict quality control is essential as dose gradient at the edge of the spinal cord is important. Optimal schedule is not defined. A range of dose-fractionation schedules have been used. Pain relief and local control are seen in over 80%. Toxicity rates are low, although vertebral fracture may occur. Ongoing prospective studies will help clarify its role in the management of oligometastatic patients., (Copyright © 2016 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Analgesic external beam radiation therapy is a standard of care for patients with uncomplicated painful bone metastases and/or prevention of bone complications. In case of fracture risk, radiation therapy is performed after surgery in a consolidation of an analgesic purpose and stabilizing osteosynthesis. Radiotherapy is mandatory after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Spinal cord compression - the only emergency in radiation therapy - is indicated postoperatively either exclusively for non surgical indication. Analgesic re-irradiation is possible in the case of insufficient response or recurrent pain after radiotherapy. Metabolic radiation, bisphosphonates or denosumab do not dissuade external radiation therapy for pain relief. Systemic oncological treatments can be suspended with a period of wash out given the risk of radiosensitization or recall phenomenon. Better yet, the intensity modulated radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy can be part of a curative strategy for oligometastatic patients and suggest new treatment prospects., (Copyright © 2016 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)