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We analysed the correlation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake into primary tumours using the maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) and the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) values in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the clinical and pathological factors in patients with cervical cancer who were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The patients were stratified according to the primary tumour pre-treatment ADCmean and SUVmax cut-off values. There were significant correlations between the SUVmax of the primary tumour and tumour size, and the treatment response. The correlation between the ADCmean and FIGO stage, tumour size, and the lymph node metastasis was significant. The SUVmax was significantly and inversely correlated with the ADCmean for cervical cancer (r = -0.44, p <.001). In the multivariate analysis, the primary tumour ADCmean, treatment response and the lymph node metastasis emerged as significant independent predictors of both OS and DFS, and of the primary tumour SUVmax for DFS. Tumour size has a borderline significance for OS. High SUVmax and low ADCmean of the primary tumour are important predictive factors for identifying high-risk patients with cervical cancer who are treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. These results point to a future role for the diffusion-weighted MRI and for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, not only in the staging of cervical cancer but as an aid in the selection of an adjuvant treatment regimen after chemoradiotherapy for individual patients. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? A negative correlation between primary tumour SUVmax derived from positron emission tomography (PET/CT) and ADCmin derived from diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in various cancer types and cervical cancer has been demonstrated. However, the prognostic value of primary tumour SUVmax and ADCmean in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy is not well studied yet. What the results of this study add? The patients with high-risk features (larger tumours, extensive stage, lymph node metastasis) had higher primary tumour SUVmax and lower ADCmean values. Primary tumour ADCmean and lymph node metastasis emerged as significant independent predictors of both overall and disease-free survival. This study demonstrated that the functional biomarkers delivered from PET-CT and DW-MRI are important in predicting the treatment outcomes in the squamous cell carcinoma of cervix treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy, where clinical and radiological findings are very important, since these patients are not staged surgically. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Based on these findings, there may be a future role of DW-MRI and FDG/PET-CT not only in the staging of cervical cancer but as an aid in the selection of an adjuvant treatment regimen after chemoradiotherapy (ChRT) for individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To assess the outcomes of breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and systemic treatment. Materials and methods Patients with oligometastasis at the time of liver metastasis (LM) or who became oligometastatic (≤5 metastases) after systemic treatment were assessed. Twenty-nine liver metastatic lesions were treated with a total of 54 Gy delivered in 3 fractions. The local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Results A total of 22 patients with 29 liver metastatic lesions treated with liver SBRT between April 2013 and September 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. After a median follow-up time of 16.0 months (range 4.4–59.4 months), 18 patients (82%) had disease recurrence, median of 7.4 months (range 1.0–27.9 months) after completion of liver SBRT. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 85% and 57%, and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 38% and 8%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year LC rates were 100% and 88%, respectively. No significant prognostic factors, including disease extension, size of metastasis, number of liver metastasis and timing of liver metastasis, hormonal status affecting OS, PFS and LC were found. No patients experienced Grade 4 or 5 toxicity; furthermore, only one patient experienced rib fracture 6 months after completion of treatment, and one patient had a duodenal ulcer. Conclusion This study is the first to evaluate the feasibility of SBRT to BCLM patients. Liver SBRT is a conservative approach with excellent LC and limited toxicities. Highlights • 25–30% of breast cancer patients will develop distant metastasis with the 5-year survival rate of 25%. • This study is the first to evaluate the feasibility of stereotactic body radiotherapy for breast cancer liver metastasis. • Liver SBRT has an excellent local control and similar survival rates compared to other treatment approaches. • In BCLM platients with good treatment response after systemic chemotherapy, liver SBRT possesses very low toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Turkish Radiation Oncology Study Group investigated local recurrence rates and prognostic factors in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast treated with breast conservative surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy (RT) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Study E5194 were compared with the original study. Patients and methods Totally 252 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Prognostic factors that might influence local control (age, nuclear grade, comedo necrosis, surgical margins, tumor size, hormone receptor status) were compared. The eligibility criteria of ECOG 5194 were stratified into two groups as in the original study and were compared for local control. Results The median follow-up time was 59 (21–220) months. Local recurrence was observed in 9 patients (3.6%) who had invasive carcinoma (3 patients) and DCIS (6 patients). Ten years local control rates was 91.8% respectively. We found that the risk of ipsilateral breast recurrence was significantly higher in women younger than 50 years old (p = 0.016). In addition, a statistically significant trend was found in patients with tumor larger than 1 cm and HER2 positive tumors (p = 0.051, p = 0.068 respectively). When 12-year results were compared with the ECOG 5194, adjuvant RT produced an absolute difference of 11% in low-intermediate and 20% in high grade in local control. Conclusion In our study, the 10-year local control rate was 92% and younger than 50 years old was the most important unfavorable prognostic factor for local recurrence. There was provided 20% absolute local control with adjuvant radiotherapy which eligibility criteria of ECOG 5194 high grade group. Highlights • Our aim in this study; local recurrence rates and prognostic factors were investigated with DCIS of the breast treated with BCS and radiotherapy. The outcomes were compared with ECOG 5194 low risk groups. • We have identified the risk of ipsilateral breast recurrence was significantly higher in women younger than 50 years old. In addition, significant trend was found in patients with tumor larger than 1 cm and HER2 positive tumors. • The risk of local recurrence was significantly higher in patients with high grade lesions, comedo necrosis, HER2 positive tumors in under age of 50. • Compared with the ECOG 5194 study, adjuvant RT produced an absolute difference of 11% in low to intermediate grade and 20% in high grade in terms of providing local control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of pretreatment and posttreatment lymphopenia in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cervical cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (ChRT). Methods: Data from 95 patients with SCC were retrospectively analyzed. Relationships between pretreatment or posttreatment lymphopenia and patient or tumor characteristics, and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated. Results: Median follow-ups for the entire cohort and survivors were 68 months (range, 3–133 months) and 88 months (range, 22–133 months), respectively. Ten patients (11%) exhibited pretreatment lymphopenia, whereas 58 patients (61%) exhibited posttreatment lymphopenia. Median pretreatment total lymphocyte counts decreased from 2029 cells/μL to 506 cells/μL 2 months after ChRT (P < 0.001). The 5-year OS and DFS rates were significantly higher in patients without pretreatment lymphopenia compared with patients with pre-retreatment lymphopenia (61% vs 20% [ P < 0.001], 55% vs 20% [ P < 0.001]). Patients without posttreatment lymphopenia had significantly higher 5-year OS and DFS rates than their counterparts (70% vs 46% [ P = 0.02], 70% vs 39% [ P = 0.004]). Complete response (CR) was observed in significantly fewer patients with pretreatment lymphopenia than in those without, after ChRT. Patients with posttreatment lymphopenia had higher rates of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001) and lower posttreatment CR rates (P = 0.01) versus patients without posttreatment lymphopenia. In univariate analysis, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and treatment response were prognostic for OS and DFS. In multivariate analysis, pretreatment lymphopenia, lymph node metastasis, and treatment response were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Age was predictive of OS. Tumor size was prognostic for DFS. Conclusions: Pretreatment lymphopenia and posttreatment lymphopenia are associated with worse treatment response in patients given ChRT for cervical SCC. Pretreatment lymphopenia is predictive for OS and DFS. Therapeutic strategies including pretreatment or posttreatment immune preservation or modulation may improve response rates and survival in women with cervical SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Serum PSA value may be of limited value in determining the true treatment response after RT. • An early PSA response at 4 months in low/intermediate disease risk may not be indicative of treatment response. • The role of ADC value in treatment response evaluation after definitive RT is not well known. • A total of 229 low- and intermediate-risk PC patients treated with RT were analyzed. • Post-treatment mean ADC values were lower in patients with recurrence than in those without recurrence. We assessed early changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) values after definitive radiotherapy (RT) without androgen deprivation treatment in low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients. The clinical data and ADC parameters of 229 PC patients were retrospectively evaluated. Pre-treatment and post-treatment serum PSA and primary tumor ADC values were calculated. Post-treatment DW-MRI was performed median 4.1 months after completion of definitive RT. The prognostic factors predicting freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using univariable and multivariable analyses. With a median follow-up time of 80.8 months, the 5-year FFBF and PFS rates were 95.9% and 89.3%, respectively. Eleven patients (4.8%) had PSA relapse, with a median of 34.4 months after the completion of RT. A statistically significant difference in post-treatment ADC values was noted between patients with and without recurrence (0.94 ± 0.07 vs. 1.10 ± 0.20 × 10-3 mm2/sec; p< 0.001). Patients with a Gleason score (GS) of 6 and low-risk disease had significantly higher post-treatment tumor ADC and PSA levels than patients with a GS of 7 and intermediate-risk disease. The 5-year FFBF rate in patients with tumor ADC ≤ 0.96 × 10-3 mm2/sec was significantly lower than patients with tumor ADC > 0.96 × 10-3 mm2/sec (85.5% vs. 100; p< 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, a lower ADC value, GS 4 + 3 and intermediate-risk disease were independent predictors of worse FFBF. In the multivariate analysis, a lower post-treatment ADC value and a GS of 4 + 3 were significant prognostic factors for a lower PFS. These findings suggest that the post-treatment tumor ADC value could be used for early treatment response evaluation after definitive RT in PC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare dosimetric data for the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) between 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and helical tomotherapy [1].Materials and Methods: The dosimetric data for 15 gastric cancer patients treated with 3DCRT, VMAT, or HT techniques were used. Cumulative dosimetric parameters, homogeneity index (HI), and conformal index (CI) were compared for the PTV and OARs.Results: The average maximum doses of PTV were significantly higher in VMAT plans than in 3DCRT (p = 0.04) and HT (p = 0.02) plans, whereas minimum dose values were significantly lower in 3DCRT plans compared with VMAT (p < 0.001) and HT (p = 0.02) plans. Liver mean dose (D mean) and D mean values for both kidneys were significantly lower in HT plans than in 3DCRT and VMAT plans. The doses in high dose regions (V30-V45) using 3DCRT plans were significantly higher compared to both VMAT and HT plans. The bowel V5-V30 and V45 was significantly less in HT plans compared to VMAT plans. There were no significant differences in dose sparing of the spinal cord.Conclusions: The HT plans reduced the maximum dose applied to the target and improved the conformality and homogeneity of radiation, while providing sufficient PTV coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Postoperative ultra-fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has tolerable acute and late toxicity. • Postoperative ultra-fractionated SBRT has excellent biochemical control rates. • Postoperative SBRT does not increase grade 3 or higher GU toxicity. • Pre- and post-SBRT PSA levels may be a reliable predictor of biochemical response. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to prostate bed. Sixty-six prostate cancer patients treated with postoperative ultra-hypofractionated SBRT between 2018 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received a total dose of 35 Gy to prostate bed in 5 fractions. Biochemical complete response (BCR), biochemical failure (BF), acute and late toxicities were assessed. After a median follow-up of 24.2 months (range, 6.4–37.2), seven patients (10.6%) developed BF, and the 2-year freedom from BF (FFBF) rate was 88.4%. BCR was observed in 57 patients (86.4%). The 2-year FFBF in patients with pre-SBRT PSA value of <0.2 ng/mL was higher than those with pre-SBRT PSA of ≥0.2 ng/mL (100% vs. 81.4%; P = 0.04). The 2-year FFBF in patients with BCR was significantly higher than in those without BCR (94.5% vs. 58.3%; P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, pre-SBRT PSA and post-SBRT PSA values were prognostic factors for FFBF (P = 0.009 and P = 0.01, respectively). Nine patients (13.6 %) developed acute and late grade 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicities. There was no acute or late grade ≥3 GU toxicity. Acute and late grade ≥2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was observed in 9 (13.6%) and 2 (3%) patients, respectively. Postoperative ultra-fractionated SBRT showed no severe acute toxicity and late toxicity rates of about 15%, in addition to excellent biochemical control rates. Pre- and post-SBRT PSA levels may be a predictor of BCR in patients receiving post-operative ultra-fractionated SBRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a significant study that shows that definitive chemo-radiotherapy is an effective treatment option for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We are curious, though, whether local control has any effect on survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic factors for survival and treatment-related toxicities in older (≥65 years) cervical cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. In addition, we sought to compare the outcomes between the older elderly (≥75 years) and their younger old counterparts (age, 65-74 years). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records from 269 biopsyproven nonmetastatic cervical cancer patients treated with external radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy at the departments of radiation oncology in 2 different universities. The prognostic factors for survival, local control, and distant metastasis (DM) were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up time was 38.8 months (range, 1.5-175.5 months) for the entire cohort and 70.0 months (range, 6.1-175.7 months) for survivors. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cause-specific survival rates were 66% and 42%, 63% and 39%, and 72% and 55%, respectively. Patients 75 years or older showed significantly worse OS compared with patients aged 65 to 74 years but showed no significant difference in DFS. The 2- and 5-year local control rates were 86% and 71%, respectively. The incidences of DMs at 2 and 5 years were 22% and 30%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, vaginal infiltration and lymph node metastasis were predictive of OS, DFS, local recurrence, and DM. Concomitant chemotherapy was predictive of OS, DFS, and local recurrence, and larger tumor (>4 cm) was a significant prognostic factor for local recurrence. None of the patients had toxicity that necessitated the discontinuation of radiotherapy. All patients were evaluable for acute toxicity, and no grade higher than 3 adverse events occurred during external beam radiation therapy or brachytherapy. Conclusions: Although age limited the delivery of aggressive treatment, concurrent chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients associated with improved outcomes similar as in younger counterparts without increasing serious acute and late toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Further research is required for evaluating the use of ADC histogram analysis in more advanced stages of cervical cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Purpose To investigate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive CRT. Material and Methods The clinical and radiological data of 50 patients with histologically proven cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive CRT were retrospectively analyzed. The impact of clinicopathological factors and ADC histogram parameters on prognostic factors and treatment outcomes was assessed. Results The mean and median ADC values for the cohort were 1.043 ± 0.135 × 10-3 mm2/s and 1.018 × 10-3 mm2/s (range, 0.787-1.443 × 10-3 mm2/s). The mean ADC was significantly lower for patients with advanced stage (≥IIB) or lymph node metastasis compared with patients with stage

Purpose: To compare soft-tissue cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT-P) and fiducial marker (CBCT-FM)-based image guided radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients.Materials and Methods: Sixteen prostate cancer patients were treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy. Manual alignment using CBCT-P and CBCT-FM was performed for each patient. Couch shifts were calculated and compared between methods in the left-right (x), superior-inferior (y), and anterior-posterior (z) directions.Results: CBCT-P and CBCT-FM alignments were compared using 252 scans from the 16 patients. Mean displacement from zero was 2.4 ± 1.3, 1.7 ± 1.2, and 1.8 ± 1.1 mm for CBCT-P and 2.3 ± 1.3, 1.7 ± 1.1 and 1.8 ± 1.1 mm for CBCT-FM in the x, y and z directions, respectively. There was no difference in median displacement between CBCT-P and CBCT-FM; however, there was a significant positive correlation between CBCT-P- and CBCT-FM-based displacements in the x (r = 0.881; p < 0.001), y (r = 0.789; p < 0.001) and z (r = 0.856; p < 0.001) directions by linear regression analysis. Systematic deviations within each group were <1 mm; however, random and systematic errors were similar in the x and y directions but larger in the z direction.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that CBCT-FM was not superior to CBCT-P for image-guided radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although epithelioid ovarian cancer (EOC) is a radiosensitive tumor and radiotherapy (RT) played a significant role in adjuvant treatment management in the past, the role of RT has evolved with the advent of platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. Nonetheless, modern RT techniques may be useful in certain patients particularly those with recurrent disease. After surgery and chemotherapy, two patients, aged 57 and 70, presented with recurrent lesions in the parailiac region. The recurrent lesions were treated with high field 1.5-Tesla MR-Linac treatment in 5 fractions at a dose of 30 Gy. The patients tolerated the treatment well and were disease free after 12 and 20 months of magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT), respectively. MRgRT is a novel and rapidly evolving technology that allows for the highly precise treatment of even mobile targets through direct visualization of the tumor. The majority of patients with EOC frequently present with abdominal-pelvic recurrences. It has been demonstrated that EOC requires high radiation doses for curative treatment. MR-Linac enables monitoring of organ motion during treatment, which is necessary for delivering higher doses to target volumes while sparing surrounding organs. To reduce radiation doses to nearby normal tissues, MRgRT allows for the delivery of hypofractionated RT with tight safety margins. Regardless of initial resistance or gradual development of intolerance to standard chemotherapy regimens, the role of RT in patients with persistent or recurrent EOC should be reconsidered. • Abdominal-pelvic region or other distant recurrence is common in ovarian cancer patients. • The role of radiotherapy is debatable in ovarian cancer patients due to toxicity. • Magnetic resonance guided RT allows direct target visualization during treatment delivery. • We present two cases of recurrent ovarian cancer treated with adaptive MRgRT using 1.5 T-MR linac. • MRgRT may be an alternative treatment option in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is the most common extra-thyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease. The treatment options for GO are high-dose glucocorticoids, selenium, rituximab, cyclosporine, orbital radiotherapy (RT), and surgery. A 43-year-old male patient was referred to our clinic with complaints of severe bilateral proptosis, diplopia, and orbital pain at both globes for 1 year. Pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral proptosis, the expansion of bilateral optic nerves sheath, the increase of right medial muscle thickness, and a mass at the right eyehole. Patient was treated with 1 Gy per fraction per week with a total dose of 10 Gy over 10 weeks with adoptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique. During RT at 3rd and 6th weeks, a moderate shrinkage of the lesions was observed. The patient has been disease free, has had no complaints for 36 months, and has not required any surgical intervention. No late side effects such as retinopathy or cataract were observed. Orbital RT with innovative techniques may be considered as an initial local treatment for GO. With adoptive protracted low dose RT, a good clinical and radiological response could be seen without increasing early and late reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]