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With expansion of academic cancer center networks across geographically-dispersed sites, ensuring high-quality delivery of care across all network affiliates is essential. We report on the characteristics and efficacy of a radiation oncology peer-review quality assurance (QA) system implemented across a large-scale multinational cancer network. Since 2014, weekly case-based peer-review QA meetings have been standard for network radiation oncologists with radiation oncology faculty at a major academic center. This radiotherapy (RT) QA program involves pre-treatment peer-review of cases by disease site, with disease-site subspecialized main campus faculty members. This virtual QA platform involves direct review of the proposed RT plan as well as supporting data, including relevant pathology and imaging studies for each patient. Network RT plans were scored as being concordant or nonconcordant based on national guidelines, institutional recommendations, and/or expert judgment when considering individual patient-specific factors for a given case. Data from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019, were aggregated for analysis. Between 2014 and 2019, across 8 network centers, a total of 16,601 RT plans underwent peer-review. The network-based peer-review case volume increased over the study period, from 958 cases in 2014 to 4,487 in 2019. A combined global nonconcordance rate of 4.5% was noted, with the highest nonconcordance rates among head-and-neck cases (11.0%). For centers that joined the network during the study period, we observed a significant decrease in the nonconcordance rate over time (3.1% average annual decrease in nonconcordance, P = 0.01); among centers that joined the network prior to the study period, nonconcordance rates remained stable over time. Through a standardized QA platform, network-based multinational peer-review of RT plans can be achieved. Improved concordance rates among newly added network affiliates over time are noted, suggesting a positive impact of network membership on the quality of delivered cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognostic significance of pre-treatment Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) in stage IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) older patients treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). We included 83 stage IIIB NSCLC older patients (age > 70 years) treated with C-CRT consisting of 60–66 Gy (2 Gy/fx) thoracic radiotherapy and at least 1 cycle of platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were grouped into three: GPS-0: c-reactive protein (CRP) ≤ 10 mg/L and albumin >35 g/L, GPS-1: CRP ≤ 10 mg/L and albumin ≤35 g/L or CRP > 10 mg/L and albumin >35 g/L, GPS-2: CRP > 10 mg/L and albumin ≤35 g/L according to the definition. The relationship between GPS groups and overall survival (OS) was the primary objective, while locoregional- (LRPFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were secondary objectives. For the whole cohort, the median OS, LRPFS, and OS were 19.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.8–22.6), 13.2 (95% CI: 8.7–17.7), and 8.3 months (95% CI: 6.6–10.0), respectively. Comparisons between the GPS-0, GPS-1, and GPS -2 groups revealed that the lower GPS was associated with significantly superior median OS (25.8 versus 16.3 versus 9.4 months; p <.001) which retained its independent significance in multivariate analysis (p <.001), as well. Similarly, the respective median LRPFS (20.0 versus 10.4 versus 6.3 months; p <.001), and PFS (11.3 versus 7.3 versus 4.1 months; p <.001) durations were also significantly longer in the earlier GPS groups. The present results suggested that the GPS was useful in three layered stratification of older stage IIIB NSCLC patients undergoing C-CRT in terms of OS, LRPS, and PFS times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We investigated the influence of change in hemoglobin (Hgb) levels during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT) on outcomes of non-anemic patients with stage IIIA/B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods We identified 722 patients with stage IIIA/B NSCLC without anemia at baseline [hemoglobin (Hgb) <12 g/dL for women or <13 g/dL for men], either nonsmokers or ex-smokers, who received C-CRT between 2007 and 2012. All patients had received 1−3 cycles of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy during radiotherapy to 60−66 Gy and had documented Hgb measurements before treatment and at weekly intervals for 6 weeks during the C-CRT. Potential associations were assessed between baseline, nadir, extent of change in Hgb level, and anemia and overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), and PFS. Results The median baseline Hgb level was 13.9 g/dL (range 12.0–16.8) and declined to a median 12.4 g/dL (range 7.9–16.1) during treatment. Anemia appeared in 237 patients (32.8%) and was more common among women (44.8% vs. 26.5%, P <  0.001). Neither baseline Hgb level nor change during treatment nor anemia emergence influenced any survival endpoint. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed an Hgb nadir of 11.1 g/dL to be associated with outcomes, in that a nadir Hgb <11.1 g/dL (in 156 patients) was linked with shorter median OS time ( P <  0.001), LRPFS time ( P <  0.001), and PFS time ( P <  0.001); retained significance for all three endpoints in multivariate analyses; and was more strongly associated with OS in squamous cell carcinoma ( P  < 0.001) than in adenocarcinoma ( P  = 0.009). Conclusion Nadir Hgb <11.1 g/dL levels during C-CRT were associated with significantly poorer survival times in initially non-anemic patients presenting with locally advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study constitutes a feasibility assessment of dynamic conformal arc (DCA) therapy as an alternative to volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of lung cancer with the free-breathing technique using four-dimensional computed tomography. A total of 25 patients who received 50 Gy in four fractions treated using VMAT technique having two partial coplanar arcs with 6 MV beams for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included. Plans were re‐planned using a novel and clinically technique of weight optimized based on dynamic conformal Arcs with two coplanar partial dynamic conformal arcs (WO-DCA). For the two partial arcs, MLC aperture around the PTV was automatically generated at different margins for both arcs and maintained dynamically around the target during arc rotation. Weight of the two arcs using optimization method was adjusted between the arcs to maximize tumor coverage and protect organs at risk (OAR). The clinical VMAT and WO-DCA plans were compared via the RTOG-0915 protocol for conformity and dose to the organs at risk (OAR). Additionally, delivery efficiency, quality assurance pass rate, monitor unit and beam treatment time were recorded. The mean value of quality assurance (QA) pass rate 98.16 ± 1.27 in WO-DCA and 92.87 ± 1.56 in VMAT. The rate was higher in WO-DCA (p < 0.001 and t = 8.75). The values of beam‐on time (BOT) and monitor units (MU) in the VMAT technique were 4.20 (3.45–4.95) and 3155 (2279–4867) and they were 3.10 (2.85–3.35) and 2167 (1702–2948) in WO-DCA. These values were significantly improved with WO-DCA (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) As there is, no beam modulation through the target, WO‐DCA plans could potentially minimize small‐field dosimetry error without MLC interplay effects via respiratory motion and provide similar doses to OAR and the tumor while providing faster treatment delivery by significantly reducing MU and BOT in lung cancer for tumors of appropriate localization. Additionally, providing WO‐DCA eliminate patient‐specific VMAT quality assurance; potentially offering cost‐effective, same day SBRT treatments. • Dynamic Conformal Arc technique called WO-DCA (weight optimizations dynamic conformal arc) is a new planning strategy. • WO-DCA provided reduction treatment time. • This technique delivers lower radiation. • WO‐DA could increase efficiency treatment technique compared to VMAT. • It minimizes small‐field dosimetry error without MLC interplay effects via respiratory motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Total body irradiation (TBI) is a well established conditioning regimen for patients who had undergone bone marrow transplantation. TBI not only offers a slightly significant survival advantage over Busulphan-based conditioning regimens but also lower toxicity profile. However the biological process after TBI seems rather different than conventional routine partial body irradiation. Not only the tolerance doses but also time to occurrence of the organ toxicities show a variation. It has been shown that there are alterations in trace element content in kidney after TBI in addition to cytokines and redox-active metal composition of blood. Acute phase proteins also have been shown to rise after irradiation. Considering all these evidences we suggest that TBI changes the blood content of trace elements, acute phase response proteins with probably many other inflammatory proteins and cytokines within the blood and this change in blood content may sensitize the organs to radiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: This Rare Cancer Network (RCN) study was performed in pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PNPC) patients to evaluate the optimal dose of radiotherapy and to determine prognostic factors. Patients and Methods: The study included 165 patients with the diagnosis of PNPC treated between 1978 and 2003. The median age was 14 years. There were 3 (1.8%) patients with stage I, 1 (0.6%) with IIA, 10 (6.1%) with IIB, 60 (36.4%) with III, 44 (26.7%) with IVA, and 47 (29%) with IVB disease. While 21 (12.7%) patients were treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone, 144 (87.3%) received chemotherapy and RT. The median follow-up time was 48 months. Results: The actuarial 5-year overall survival (OS) was 77.4% (95% CI: 70.06–84.72), whereas the actuarial 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 68.8% (95% CI: 61.33–76.31). In multivariate analysis, unfavorable factors were age >14 years for LRC (p =0.04); male gender for DMFS (p =0.03); T3/T4 disease for LRFS (p =0.01); and N3 disease for DFS (p =0.002) and OS (p =0.002); EBRT dose of less than 66Gy for LRFS (p =0.02) and LRRFS (p =0.0028); and patients treated with RT alone for LRFS (p =0.0001), LRRFS (p =0.007) and DFS (p =0.02). Conclusion: Our results support the current practice of using combined radiation and chemotherapy for optimal treatment of NPC. However, research should be encouraged in an attempt to reduce the potential for long-term sequelae in pediatric patients given their relatively favorable prognosis and potential for longevity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Purpose: : To evaluate the outcome of patients ≤30 years old with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and discover adverse prognostic factors. Materials and methods: : We performed a database search maintained by the Department of Radiation Oncology of Hacettepe University School of Medicine for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer who were ≤30 years old at presentation. This search identified 59 (23.7%) patients among 248 patients treated between 1994 and 2001 that met the inclusion criteria for this retrospective study. Patients were staged according to AJCC 1997 classification. There were 1 (2%) patient with stage I, 7 (12%) with stage IIb, 25 (42%) with stage III, 9 (15%) with stage IVA, and 17 (29%) with stage IVB. Thirteen (22%) patients were stage T1, 16 (27%) were T2, 21 (36%) were T3, and 9 (15%) were T4. Nodal staging at presentation was as follows; 7 (12%) N0, 22 (37%) N1, 13 (22%) N2, 13 (22%) N3a, and 4 (7%) N3b. All patients were treated with fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to a median dose of 65Gy. While 12 (20.3%) patients were treated with EBRT alone, 47 (79.7%) received chemotherapy beside EBRT. Twenty-five (42.3%) patients older than 17 years of age received brachytherapy boost in addition to EBRT. Results: : The median follow-up time for all patients was 46 months (range, 1–111 months). While only 3 patients (5%) developed local recurrence (1/21 T3 and 2/9 T4 patients), 13 patients (22%) developed distant metastases (6/35 N1 and 2 and 7/17 N3 patients). None of the patients had regional failure. Four patients (6.7%) died due to the treatment related toxicity. The actuarial 5-year local control (LC), regional control (RC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 96%, 100%, 76.5%, and 74.5%, respectively. The actuarial 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 70.6%. DFS at 5 years is significantly longer in patients aged &#60;16 years than ones >17 (90.5% versus 64.7%; p =0.02). Patients aged &#60;16 years had longer 5 year DMFS (90.5% versus 67.7%; p =0.05) with a borderline significance. DMFS is significantly shorter in patients initially presented with N3 disease compared to N0–2 disease (58.8% versus 84.4%; p =0.04). Conclusions: : We suggest that RT combined with multiagent chemotherapy is effective in achieving satisfactory DFS and comparable OS in young patients with NPC. Results of both previous series and ours are evoking the necessity of early administration of efficient chemotherapeutic agents in addition to radiotherapy, but indistinct is the precise regimen and the intensity along the radiotherapy. All efforts towards decreasing late side effects of treatment should be encouraged in this long life expected group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To report on the outcome of patients with melanoma brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).Patients and methods: One hundred three patients with 153 intracranial melanoma metastases consecutively underwent Linac-based SRS between November 1991 and October 2001. The Kaplan-Meier method, univariate comparisons with log–rank test, and multivariate analyses with classification and regression tree models were performed. Calculations were based on last imaging date rather than the date of the last visit.Results: Median age was 51 years (range, 18–93 years). Median Karnofsky performance status was 90. Sixty-one patients (59%) had single brain metastasis at presentation. Treatment sequence was SRS alone (61 patients), SRS + whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) (12 patients), and salvage SRS after WBRT (30 patients). The median tumor volume was 1.9 cm3 (range, 0.06–22.3 cm3). The median SRS minimum peripheral dose and isodose was 18 Gy (range, 10–24 Gy) and 85% (range, 60%–100%), respectively. The median follow-up was 6 months for all patients and 13 months (range, 2–46 months) for patients alive at the time of analysis. The 1-year local control (LC) for all patients treated with SRS was 49%. Among the patients treated with initial SRS alone, the 1-year LC was better for patients with tumors ≤2 cm3 than with tumors >2 cm3: 75.2% vs. 42.3% (p < 0.05). The 1-year distant brain metastasis–free survival incidence was 14.7% for the 73 patients receiving either initial SRS alone or SRS +WBRT. The initial number of brain lesions (single vs. multiple) was the only factor with a significant effect on distant brain metastasis–free survival at 1 year: 23.5% for single metastases and 0% for multiple lesions (p < 0.05). The 1-year overall survival was 25.2%. Stratification by Score Index for Radiosurgery (SIR) revealed a significant effect on survival, which was 29% at 1 year for SIR >6 and 10% for SIR ≤6 (relative hazard ratio, 2.1; p < 0.05) in classification and regression-tree multivariate analysis involving age, Karnofsky performance status, primary tumor control, tumor volume, SRS dose, SIR (>6 vs. ≤6), and systemic disease status.Conclusions: Initial SRS alone was an effective treatment modality for smaller cerebral melanoma metastases, achieving a 75% incidence of 1-year LC for ≤2 cm3 single brain metastases and should be considered in patients with SIR >6. The role of WBRT in melanoma brain metastases cannot be addressed, owing to retrospective bias toward administering this treatment to patients with more aggressive disease. A prospective study is needed to assess the role of WBRT in patients with melanoma brain metastasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between the dose and volume of radiation to proximal penile structures and the development of erectile dysfunction after external beam radiotherapy (RT) for localized prostate adenocarcinoma.Methods and materials: The study cohort comprised 28 patients who were enrolled our in-house three-dimensional conformal RT dose escalation protocol. The patients were treated to 78 Gy between 1995 and 1998. This protocol included a planned quality-of-life questionnaire to assess sexual function 2 years after completing RT. All the study patients were potent before RT. The median follow-up was 66 months (range 39–95). Penile base contents were outlined retrospectively in restored treatment plans. The dose–volume histograms (DVHs) for the corpus spongiosum (penile bulb), corpora cavernosum and crura, and total penile structure (corpus spongiosum plus corpora cavernosum and crura) were calculated. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. The Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Power calculations showed that our study sample would detect radiation- induced impotence with a very high power. We also estimated that a relatively small difference of 10–15% in the DVHs between the potent and impotent patients could be detected.Results: At 2 years after RT, 10 patients (35.7%) reported new-onset erectile dysfunction and were unable to attain firm enough erections to have intercourse. Only hypertension was observed to affect erectile dysfunction after external beam RT. We found no statistically significant correlation among age, diabetes, or heavy alcohol consumption and post-RT potency. The mean radiation dose ± standard deviation delivered to the corpus spongiosum, corpora cavernosa and crura, and total penile structure was, respectively, 42.2 ± 8.4 Gy, 36.3 ± 8.0 Gy, and 38.2 ± 7.5 Gy. t test comparisons were performed between DVHs of post-RT potent and impotent patients on multiple cutpoints. No dose–volume effect was found. Analysis of the DVHs when the patients were subdivided into normotensive and hypertensive groups also showed no dose–volume response.Conclusion: Our analysis did not show statistically significant correlations between potency preservation and radiation dose to the proximal penis. The entire etiology of radiation- induced erectile dysfunction remains unclear and further research is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of radiation therapy treatment of patients with Stage I and II squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx and discover adverse prognostic factors that may help select a subgroup of patients for a different management approach.Methods and materials: A search of the database maintained by the Department of Radiation Oncology of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for patients with Stage I or II SCC of the oropharynx was performed. This search identified 175 patients treated between 1970 and 1998 who met the inclusion criteria for this retrospective study. Distribution of primary sites was: tonsillar fossa/pillar, 60 patients; soft palate, 55 patients; base of tongue, 40 patients; and pharyngeal wall, 20 patients. Twenty-five patients were stage T1, 124 were T2, and 26 were Tx. All patients were treated with fractionated radiation to a median dose of 66 Gy. Eighty-five patients were treated with conventionally fractionated radiation, 73 were treated with the concomitant boost fractionation schedule, and the remaining 17 were treated with other altered fractionation schedules or with intraoral or interstitial boosts.Results: The median follow-up for all patients was 76 months (range, 2–302 months). The actuarial 5-year local control (LC), regional control, locoregional control (LRC), and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 85%, 93%, 81%, and 77%, respectively. Only 7 patients (5%) with LC developed nodal metastases, and 10 patients (7%) with LRC developed distant metastases. Eleven patients (32%) with locoregional recurrence were rendered without evidence of disease after a surgical salvage procedure, resulting in a 5- year ultimate LRC rate of 87%. T-stage classification was statistically significant (p = 0.03) in univariate analysis for actuarial 5-year LRC, 88% for Stage I vs. 72% for Stage II. The 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 85% and 79%, respectively, while the actuarial 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 70% and 43%, respectively. Fifty-one patients (29%) developed second primary tumors, 86% of which were cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT). Heavy alcohol consumption was associated with both an increased risk of disease recurrence and development of a second cancer of the UADT.Conclusions: Patients with early-stage oropharynx cancer have high rates of disease control when treated with radiation. Lymphatic and hematogenous metastases are uncommon. Surgical salvage of disease recurrence is successful in approximately one-third of patients. As the majority of recurrences occur within the first 2 years from treatment, close observation during this time period is important. The development of second primary tumors of the UADT adversely impacts survival in these patients to as great a degree as the index cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeTo determine the utility of the percentage of positive prostate biopsies (PPPB) in predicting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) outcome after external beam radiotherapy alone.: Methods and materialsThe records of 750 clinical Stage T1 and T2 patients treated by external beam radiotherapy alone with a median follow-up of 80 months were reviewed. Of the 750 patients, 345 were eligible for analysis; 255 (74%) had undergone sextant biopsies, 28 (8%) <6 biopsies, and 62 (18%) >6 biopsies. The pretreatment PSA level (<10, 10–20, >20 ng/mL), biopsy Gleason score (2–6, 7, 8–10), and clinical stage (T1-T2a, T2b, T2c), uni- or bilateral positive biopsy, radiation dose, and PPPB were analyzed as potential predictors of PSA outcome. The PPPB data were analyzed as a continuous and as a categorical variable.: ResultsPPPB was a significant predictor of the time to PSA failure on univariate analysis as a continuous (p = 0.0053) and as a categorical (<50% vs. ≥50%, p = 0.0077) variable. In multivariate analysis, a trend was noted for worse 5-year PSA failure-free survival based on PPPB ≥50% vs. <50% (p = 0.082). Sixty-four patients experienced biochemical failure according to the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology definition. The 5-year PSA failure-free survival rate was 79% vs. 69% (p = 0.02) and the clinical disease-free survival rate was 97% vs. 86% (p = 0.0004) for patients with <50% vs. ≥50% PPPB. PPPB was not a significant predictor for the time to PSA failure within the traditional risk groups (low, intermediate, and high) on multivariate analysis.: ConclusionPPPB was a predictor of post–external beam radiotherapy PSA outcome in clinically localized prostate cancer; but in this cohort it did not provide additional information beyond the traditional risk stratification schema. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated the impact of weight change (WC) during concurrent chemoradiation therapy (C-CRT) on clinical outcomes of stage 3B non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods and Materials: A total of 425 patients treated with C-CRT were included. All patients received 60 to 66 Gy of thoracic radiation therapy concurrently with 1 to 3 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. Pre- and posttreatment weight measurements on first and last days of C-CRT were used for WC. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 = weight loss (WL); group 2 = weight preservation/gain (WP) for comparative analyses. Results: Following C-CRT, 252 patients (59.3%) experienced WL, while 89 patients (20.9%) and 84 patients (19.8%) showed WP or WG. At median 24.2 months of follow-up, 142 patients (33.4%) were alive (84 WP [48.6%] and 58 WL [23.0%]), and 58 (13.6%) of them were free of disease progression (41 [23.7%] for WP and 17 [6.7%] for WL). Median overall survival (OS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) for the entire population were 22.8, 14.4, 10.6, and 11.7 months, respectively. Intergroup comparisons between WP and WL cohorts revealed significantly superior OS, LRPFS, PFS, and DMFS in WP patients (P<.05 for each). On multivariate analyses, only WL and advanced T stage were associated with poor prognosis (P<.05). Conclusions: Present results in 425 stage 3B NSCLC patients demonstrated that WL during C-CRT is strongly associated with inferior survival outcomes compared to WP. This emerging finding might be useful by forming an encouraging basis for future investigations in facilitating a way to improve the outcomes of these patients experiencing WL during C-CRT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To quantify the effect of bladder volume on the dose distribution during intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Methods and Patients: The study was performed on 10 women with cervical cancer who underwent brachytherapy treatment. After insertion of the brachytherapy applicator, the patients were transferred to the computed tomography unit. Two sets of computed tomography slices were taken, including the pelvis, one with an empty bladder and one after the bladder was filled with saline. The target and critical organs were delineated by the radiation oncologist and checked by the expert radiologist. The radiotherapy plan was run on the Plato planning system, version 14.1, to determine the dose distributions, dose–volume histograms, and maximal dose points. The doses and organ volumes were compared with the Wilcoxon signed ranks test on a personal computer using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 11.0, statistical program. Results: No significant difference regarding the dose distribution and target volumes between an empty or full bladder was observed. Bladder fullness significantly affected the dose to the small intestine, rectum, and bladder. The median of maximal doses to the small intestine was significantly greater with an empty bladder (493 vs. 284 cGy). Although dosimetry revealed lower doses for larger volumes of bladder, the median maximal dose to the bladder was significantly greater with a full bladder (993 vs. 925 cGy). The rectal doses were also affected by bladder distension. The median maximal dose was significantly lower in the distended bladder (481vs. 628 cGy). Conclusions: Bladder fullness changed the dose distributions to the bladder, rectum, and small intestine. The clinical importance of these changes is not known and an increase in the use of three-dimensional brachytherapy planning will highlight the answer to this question. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: Background and purposeTo compare the outcome from adjuvant and delayed radiotherapy (RT) after surgery in patients with benign cerebral meningioma.: Patients and methodsBetween March 1953 and January 2001, 92 patients with benign cerebral meningioma (WHO grade I) were treated with surgery. Forty-eight patients underwent gross total resection (GTR), and 44 patients underwent subtotal resection (STR). Treatments were classified as GTR (n=48), STR+adjuvant RT (n=12), STR alone (n=32). The prognostic factors were assessed as, gender, the Karnofsky performance score (KPS) (≥90 vs. <90), the extent of surgery, and adjuvant or delayed RT. The endpoints analyzed were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Overall survival curve of the study population is compared with the age-adjusted expected survival curve for the US population born in 1970.: ResultsThe median follow-up was 7.7 years. The 5-year PFS and OS rates for all patients were 65 and 93%, respectively. The 5-year PFS rates in patients treated with GTR and STR were 77 and 52%, respectively (P=0.02). Patients treated with STR+adjuvant RT had significantly better PFS (91%) at 5 years than with STR alone (38%) (P=0.0005). Gender showed no statistically significant impact on either PFS or OS (P>0.05). However, multivariate analysis showed the KPS to have a statistically significant effect on OS (P=0.02). The OS rate was the same across all three treatment groups. The age-adjusted expected survival curve for the US population born in 1970 lay within the confidence intervals for the overall survival curve of the study population.: ConclusionsAlthough OS was not affected, adjuvant RT appeared to significantly reduce tumor progression. However, only a prospective randomized trial can adequately determine whether adjuvant or delayed radiotherapy is the better approach in patients with subtotally resected benign meningioma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The safety of combined immunotherapy and thoracic radiation therapy (iRT) has been understudied. We evaluated toxicities in patients receiving iRT from 3 single-institutional phase 1/2 trials.Methods and Materials: Clinical/treatment characteristics and toxicities (per the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0) were extracted. For purposes of this analysis, groupings were made into (1) patients receiving immunotherapy plus stereotactic body radiation therapy (50 Gy/4 fractions or 60 Gy/10 fractions), (2) immunotherapy plus 45 Gy/15 fractions, and (3) twice-daily chemoimmunoradiotherapy (45 Gy in twice-daily fractions).Results: None of the 60 patients undergoing immunotherapy plus stereotactic body radiation therapy (50 Gy, n = 49; 60 Gy, n = 11) experienced grade ≥4 events. There were 34 instances of any grade 3 event (in 15 total patients), with 9 pulmonary specific grade 3 events (in 4 patients). In the patients receiving 45 Gy/15 fractions (small cell lung cancers, n = 26; non-small cell lung cancers, n = 27), there were 2 grade 4 events (in the same patient), along with 17 grade 3 toxicities experienced by 10 total patients (2 pulmonary specific). Lastly, in the twice-daily cohort (n = 22), there were 5 grade 4 events (3 of which occurred in 1 patient) and 16 grade 3 toxicities occurring in 8 total patients (half of which were hematologic).Conclusions: Administration of combined iRT is safe in the short term. Toxicities did not appreciably associate with demographics or dosimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and influence of tumor cavitation (TC) on survival outcomes of locally advanced squamous cell lung cancer (LA-SqCLC) patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy (C-CRT).Methods and Materials: Records of 789 stages IIIA/B squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC) patients treated with C-CRT who received 1 to 3 cycles of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy during 60 to 66 Gy radiation therapy (RT) were analyzed retrospectively. Primary endpoint was the association between overall survival (OS) and pretreatment TC status. Secondary endpoints included locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and incidence of TC and correlated factors.Results: Pretreatment TC occurred in 95 patients (12%), being significantly more common in those patients with ever-smoking history (12.6% vs 3.9%; P < .001), weight loss >5% (20.9% vs 7.1%; P < .001), and hemoptysis (27.1% vs 6.4%; P < .001). Rates of acute and late toxicities were similar in patients who presented with and without TC (P > .05 for each). For the whole cohort, at a median follow-up of 22.9 months (range: 2.4-71.1), the respective median OS, LRPFS, and PFS estimates were 23.7, 14.7, and 10.7 months. In multivariate analysis, stage IIIB disease (P < .001; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.21-1.45), weight loss >5% (P < .001; HR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.85-2.35), anemia (P < .001; HR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.67-1.97), and presence of TC (P < .001; HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.37-1.71) appeared to be independently associated with poorer OS durations, likewise the LRPFS (P < .001 for each of these covariates), and PFS (P < .001 for each of these covariates), respectively.Conclusions: Present results showed that the TC occurred in 12% of LA-SqCLC patients, which was strongly associated with poorer PFS, LRPFS, and OS outcomes after definitive C-CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To investigate the safety and efficacy of single-dose 8-Gy palliative chest reirradiation (CRI) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (M-NSCLC) patients with painful thoracic failures (TF) within the previous radiation portal. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 M-NSCLC patients who received single-dose 8-Gy CRI for painful TF after concurrent chemoradiation therapy to a total radiation dose of 52 to 66 Gy between 2007 and 2012. Primary endpoints included significant pain relief (SPR) defined as a ≥2 point decrement in the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain inventory (VAS-P), time to pain relief, and duration of pain control. Secondary objectives were survival and prognostic factors. Results Treatment was well tolerated, with only 5.1% grade 3 pneumonitis and 1.3% grade 2 esophagitis. Pre-CRI median and post-CRI minimum VAS-P were 7 and 3 ( P <.001), respectively. SPR was noted in 67 (85.9%) patients, and only 3 (3.9%) scored progressive pain. Median time to lowest VAS-P and duration of pain control were 27 days and 6.1 months, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 7.7 months, and the 1-year OS rate was 26.5%. On multivariate analyses, lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology group score (1-2; P <.001), absence of anemia ( P =.001), and fewer metastatic sites (1-2; P <.001) were found to be associated with longer OS. Conclusions Single-dose 8-Gy CRI provides safe, effective, and durable pain palliation for TF in radically irradiated M-NSCLC patients. Because of its convenience, lower cost, and higher comfort, the present protocol can be considered an appropriate option for patients with limited life spans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We retrospectively evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of concurrent radiochemotherapy (C-RCT) in medically fit septuagenarians with stage IIIB non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Eighty-nine medically fit, stage IIIB NSCLC septuagenarians were included. Thoracic radiotherapy to a total dose of 66Gy in 2Gy fractions was delivered concurrently with 1–2 cycles of cisplatin-based doublet chemotherapy. Treatment was relatively well-tolerated with no grade 4/5 acute toxicity. Acute grade 3 hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity rates were 55.1 and 39.3%, respectively. Late toxicity was reported in 3 (3.4%) patients: esophagitis (N =2) and peripheral neuropathy (N =1). At median 21.7 months (4.4–42.1), 26 patients (29.2%) were alive. Median overall, local-regional progression-free and progression-free survivals were 17.7, 10.5 and 7.8 months, respectively. On univariate analyses, histology (p <0.03), nodal status (p =0.038), number of concomitant chemotherapy (p <0.001), and weight change during C-RCT (p <0.001) demonstrated significant association with overall survival; while only number of chemotherapy and weight change (p <0.001 for each) could retain their significance on multivariate analyses. Current results suggested that C-RCT in highly selected medically fit septuagenarians with LA-NSCLC may improve survival outcomes up to that achieved in younger patients, with a relatively acceptable toxicity profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is increasingly used to manage spinal metastases, yet the technique's effectiveness in controlling the symptom burden of spinal metastases has not been well described. We investigated the clinical benefit of SBRT for managing spinal metastases and reducing cancer-related symptoms.Methods: 149 patients with mechanically stable, non-cord-compressing spinal metastases (166 lesions) were given SBRT in a phase 1-2 study. Patients received a total dose of 27-30 Gy, typically in three fractions. Symptoms were measured before SBRT and at several time points up to 6 months after treatment, by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the M D Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). The primary endpoint was frequency and duration of complete pain relief. The study is completed and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00508443.Findings: Median follow-up was 15·9 months (IQR 9·5-30·3). The number of patients reporting no pain from bone metastases, as measured by the BPI, increased from 39 of 149 (26%) before SBRT to 55 of 102 (54%) 6 months after SBRT (p<0·0001). BPI-reported pain reduction from baseline to 4 weeks after SBRT was clinically meaningful (mean 3·4 [SD 2·9] on the BPI pain-at-its-worst item at baseline, 2·1 [2·4] at 4 weeks; effect size 0·47, p=0·00076). These improvements were accompanied by significant reduction in opioid use during the first 6 months after SBRT (43 [28·9%] of 149 patients with strong opioid use at baseline vs 20 [20·0%] of 100 at 6 months; p=0·011). Ordinal regression modelling showed that patients reported significant pain reduction according to the MDASI during the first 6 months after SBRT (p=0·00003), and significant reductions in a composite score of the six MDASI symptom interference with daily life items (p=0·0066). Only a few instances of non-neurological grade 3 toxicities occurred: nausea (one event), vomiting (one), diarrhoea (one), fatigue (one), dysphagia (one), neck pain (one), and diaphoresis (one); pain associated with severe tongue oedema and trismus occurred twice; and non-cardiac chest pain was reported three times. No grade 4 toxicities occurred. Progression-free survival after SBRT was 80·5% (95% CI 72·9-86·1) at 1 year and 72·4% (63·1-79·7) at 2 years.Interpretation: SBRT is an effective primary or salvage treatment for mechanically stable spinal metastasis. Significant reductions in patient-reported pain and other symptoms were evident 6 months after SBRT, along with satisfactory progression-free survival and no late spinal cord toxicities.Funding: National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To compare the dose distribution characteristics of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with intracavitary high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in patients with cervical carcinoma. Methods and Materials: HDR intracavitary brachytherapy treatment plans for 11 women with cervical carcinoma were evaluated in this analysis. The total HDR brachytherapy dose was 28Gy given in four fractions. HDR brachytherapy was delivered with the microSelectron HDR therapy unit (Nucletron B. V., Veenendaal, The Netherlands). SBRT plans for each patient were generated with MultiPlan for CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). The dose distributions, dose–volume histograms, and maximum dose points of the target and critical organs were recorded for both plans. Results: SBRT yielded significantly better target coverage; the median target coverage for the 100% isodose line was 50.7% for HDR brachytherapy plans, whereas it was 99.1% for SBRT plans. The dose distributions for critical organs were similar in both types of plans. The exceptions were the 25% isodose being significantly better in brachytherapy plans for rectum, and the 100% isodose exposure being higher in brachytherapy plans for rectum, bladder, and sigmoid colon. Some significant differences were also found in maximum doses received by a 2-cc volume of bladder in favor of SBRT plans. In addition, maximum bone marrow doses were significantly higher in SBRT plans. Conclusion: SBRT plans achieved better target coverage and better dose distributions to critical organs except bone marrow compared with HDR brachytherapy plans in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]