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Pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy with chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy in stage III NSCLC. Contribution of IASLC recommendations

PURPOSE This prospective study assessed the effects of low-dose radiotherapy in patients diagnosed with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) with recurrent symptoms or refractory to previous conservative measures. METHODS We evaluated a total of 155 patients (90.3% women, mean age 69 years). Most patients (n = 136) received 10 Gy (1 Gy/day/3 fractions per week on alternate days), but after recommendations of DEGRO guidelines published in 2015, the remaining 19 patients (12.2%) received 6 Gy (1 Gy/day/3 fractions per week on alternate days). RESULTS At the pre-treatment visit, the mean (standard deviation, SD) visual analog scale (VAS) score was 8), which decreased to 5 (SD 2.2) after 1 month of the end of treatment and to 4 (SD 2.3) after 4 months. An objective symptom response with increased mobility, better sleep quality, and reduction of analgesic medication was found in 56% of patients at 1 month. In 129 patients (83.2%), there was a decrease of at least 1 point in the VAS score, and in 49 patients (29.0%), the VAS score was lower than 3. The mean length of follow-up was 45 months. The probability of maintaining the analgesic response estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 53% at 5 years. CONCLUSION Low dose radiotherapy effectively improved pain in the trochanteric area in most patients with recurrent or refractory GTPS, allowing a reduction in the need for analgesic medications and, more, importantly, better functioning and mobility. Further randomized studies in selected populations of GTPS are needed to define the treatment position of low-dose radiotherapy in this clinical setting.

The administration of a dose boost to the tumor bed after breast-conserving surgery has proven to reduce local recurrence. Intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) offers an alternative method to deliver a boost with several advantages, such as direct visualization of the tumor bed, less inter- and intrafraction motion and a reduction in the number of medical appointments. The objective of our study is to assess chronic toxicity and long-term outcome for our patients after IOERT boost. Forty-six patients treated at our institution between July 2013 and June 2020 with IOERT boost during Breast-Conserving Surgery and consecutive whole breast irradiation were prospectively analyzed. A 10–12 Gy boost was prescribed to 42 patients and 4 patients received a 20 Gy boost. An analysis for overall survival, local relapse and distant progression was performed. Acute and chronic toxicity was assessed by CTCAE 4.0. The median age was 64.5 years (40–90). The median follow-up was 62 months (4–86). We had no local recurrences but 2 patients (4.3%) presented a distant recurrence. Mean pathological tumor size was 16 mm (6–52). 84.8% (39) of the patients had invasive ductal carcinoma. 52.2% (24) presented histological grade II. 52.2% (24) were Luminal A like, 21.7% (10) Luminal B like, 13% (6) HER2 positive, 13% (6) triple negative. No Grade 3–4 chronic toxicity was observed. Grade 1–2 fibrosis was evidenced in 13% (6) of the patients, 4.3% (2) patients presented fat necrosis, 6.5% (3) presented seroma, 4.3% (2) had localized pain, 2.2% (1) presented localized hematoma and 2.2% (1) presented localized edema. IOERT boost in breast cancer treatment during BCS is a safe option with low chronic toxicity. The recurrence rates are comparable to published data and emphasize that IOERT as boost is an effective treatment.

Purpose To evaluate the preliminary results of the use of 68 Gy EQD2(α/β=3 Gy) as a dose limit to the lowest dose in the most exposed 2 cm3 of the vagina in order to reduce G2 late vaginal problems in postoperative endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods From November 2016 to October 2019, 69 postoperative EC patients receiving vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) ± external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) were prospectively analyzed. The median EBRT dose was 45 Gy (range: 44–50.4 Gy), 1.8−2 Gy/day, 5 fractions(Fr)/week. VBT was administered with the following schedule: 1Fr of 7 Gy after EBRT and 2 daily Fr × 7.5 Gy in exclusive VBT. The dose was prescribed at 0.5 cm from the applicator surface with an active length of 2.5 cm; 56 patients were treated with vaginal cylinders (49–3.5 cm, 6–3 cm, and 1–2.5 cm) and 13 with the colpostat technique. The overall VBT dose was adjusted to meet the vaginal restriction of (α/β=3 Gy) at 2 cm3. Late toxicity was prospectively assessed using RTOG scores for bladder and rectum, and the objective LENT-SOMA criteria for vagina. Results With a median follow-up of 31.0 months, no vaginal-cuff recurrences were found. Late toxicity: only 1G1(1.4%) rectal toxicity; 21G1(30.4%) and 3G2(4.3%) vaginal complications. Only one (1.4%) of 3 G2 manifested as vaginal shortening. Conclusions In postoperative EC patients treated with VBT, only one developed G2 vaginal stenosis with the use of 68 Gy EQD2(α/β=3 Gy) as a dose constraint. These preliminary results seem to indicate the value of this dose limit for reducing G2 vaginal stenosis. Nonetheless, these findings should be confirmed in a larger number of patients with longer follow-up.

The administration of a dose boost to the tumor bed after breast-conserving surgery has proven to reduce local recurrence. Intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) offers an alternative method to deliver a boost with several advantages, such as direct visualization of the tumor bed, less inter- and intrafraction motion and a reduction in the number of medical appointments. The objective of our study is to assess chronic toxicity and long-term outcome for our patients after IOERT boost.Forty-six patients treated at our institution between July 2013 and June 2020 with IOERT boost during Breast-Conserving Surgery and consecutive whole breast irradiation were prospectively analyzed. A 10-12 Gy boost was prescribed to 42 patients and 4 patients received a 20 Gy boost. An analysis for overall survival, local relapse and distant progression was performed. Acute and chronic toxicity was assessed by CTCAE 4.0.The median age was 64.5 years (40-90). The median follow-up was 62 months (4-86). We had no local recurrences but 2 patients (4.3%) presented a distant recurrence. Mean pathological tumor size was 16 mm (6-52). 84.8% (39) of the patients had invasive ductal carcinoma. 52.2% (24) presented histological grade II. 52.2% (24) were Luminal A like, 21.7% (10) Luminal B like, 13% (6) HER2 positive, 13% (6) triple negative. No Grade 3-4 chronic toxicity was observed. Grade 1-2 fibrosis was evidenced in 13% (6) of the patients, 4.3% (2) patients presented fat necrosis, 6.5% (3) presented seroma, 4.3% (2) had localized pain, 2.2% (1) presented localized hematoma and 2.2% (1) presented localized edema.IOERT boost in breast cancer treatment during BCS is a safe option with low chronic toxicity. The recurrence rates are comparable to published data and emphasize that IOERT as boost is an effective treatment.

46 Background: To report early results obtained in a prospective group of patients (pts) treated with whole breast IMRT radiotherapy plus a brachytherapy boost to the tumor bed after conservative surgery, given either with hypofractionated or normofractionated radiotherapy. Methods: Between 12/2008 and 06/2014, 829 pts with