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Background and objective There is a scarcity of research on outcomes in patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma limited to pulmonary metastases who receive whole-lung radiotherapy (WLRT). In light of this, this study aimed to evaluate the use of WLRT and compare the survival outcomes between patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma who received treatment with WLRT and those who did not. Materials and methods Patients of all ages with metastatic Ewing sarcoma restricted to the lung who were referred to the British Columbia (BC) Cancer from 1995 to 2017 were identified from the Sarcoma Outcomes Unit (SARCOU). Patient demographics and tumor and treatment characteristics were compared between cohorts treated with WLRT versus those who did not undergo WLRT. Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates and compared between treatment groups with log-rank tests. Results The study cohort comprised 30 patients (median follow-up time: 6.8 years). Overall, the median age of the patients was 16 years (range: 4-86 years) and 60% were female; the primary disease sites were as follows: 27% axial skeleton, 53% appendicular skeleton, 20% visceral, 86% had ≥2 lung metastases, and 60% had bilateral disease. Fifteen (50%) patients received WLRT (median of 1500 cGy in 10 fractions). Chemotherapy was used in 97% of patients. The rate of surgery for lung metastases was 40%, which was similar between the WLRT and non-WLRT groups. The median size of the largest lung metastasis in the WLRT cohort was 1 cm (range: 0.3-1.8 cm), compared to 2 cm (range 0.5-6.7 cm) in the non-WLRT cohort (p=0.05). Demographics and tumor characteristics were otherwise not significantly different between the two treatment groups (all p0.05). Among patients who received WLRT, 53% had complete response (CR), 7% partial response (PR), and 40% had disease progression. The five-year PFS was 86% vs. 59% (p=0.33) and OS was 78% vs. 54% (p=0.24) respectively for patients in the WLRT group vs. those in the non-WLRT group. The five-year PFS outcomes were higher on univariate analysis in patients with appendicular skeletal compared to axial skeletal and visceral primary sites (87.5% vs. 58% vs. 50%, respectively, p=0.02) and in patients with the size of the largest lung metastasis2 cm vs. those with a size ≥2 cm (80% vs. 25%, p=0.04). Conclusions Patients treated with WLRT had a smaller-volume lung disease and over half of the patients who received WLRT had either complete or partial response. Trends of improved PFS and OS at five years were observed among patients who received WLRT compared to the non-WLRT group, but these were not statistically significant.

Background The anti-programmed cell death one antibodies (Anti-PD-1 Ab) pembrolizumab or nivolumab are commonly prescribed to patients with advanced melanoma. The purpose of the current study is to identify baseline clinical characteristics associated with time to treatment initiation (TTI) of pembrolizumab or nivolumab for advanced melanoma and whether treatment delays are associated with differences in survival outcomes. Methods All patients receiving Anti-PD-1 Ab as a first-line treatment for advanced melanoma outside of clinical trials at British Columbia Cancer Agency between 10/2015 and 10/2019 were identified retrospectively. TTI was defined as the interval from pathologic diagnosis of advanced melanoma to first Anti-PD-1 Ab treatment. To determine the association between TTI and baseline characteristics, multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses provided an estimate of the instantaneous relative risk of starting treatment at any time point (hazard ratio [HR] >1 indicates shorter TTI). To describe changes in overall survival (OS) observed for each four-week delay in treatment initiation, multivariable cox proportional hazard regression modelling was also performed. Results In a cohort of 302 patients, the median TTI was 52 days (interquartile range 30.2-99.0). Pulmonary metastases (M1b)/non-central nervous system visceral metastases (M1c) vs. metastases to skin or non-regional lymph nodes (M1a)(HR=1.50, 95% CI=1.12-2.02; p=0.007) and pre-treatment Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) >1 (vs 0/1, HR=1.50, 95% CI= 1.11-2.01; p=0.008) were associated with earlier TTI. An association between treatment delay and improved OS was observed. Conclusion Patients having visceral metastases and poor baseline ECOG PS were more likely to initiate Anti-PD-1 Ab sooner. The association of shorter TTI with worse OS likely represents confounding by indication (urgent treatment offered to patients with aggressive disease).

Objectives There is limited literature on the optimal treatment of sarcoma arising in the scalp. This study evaluates local relapse (LR) and survival outcomes of patients with scalp sarcoma treated at a provincial cancer care institution. Methods A retrospective review of 95 patients with a primary diagnosis of scalp sarcoma referred from 1990-2015 was completed. Kaplan-Meier statistics were used to estimate LR-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS). Survival curves were compared using log-rank tests. Regression analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards model. Results The median age at diagnosis was 77 years. The most common histologies were angiosarcoma (27%), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (24%), and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (21%). Final margins were 36% positive, 28% close, 31% negative, and 5% unknown. Of 73 patients treated with curative-intent, 32 (44%) experienced LR. Five-year LRFS was 56.0% and overall survival was 48.3%. Patients with close or positive margins who received pre- or post-operative radiotherapy (n=19) had similar LR risk compared to patients who did not (n=34) (five-year LRFS 41.8% vs 69.1%; p=0.145). On multivariate analysis, angiosarcoma was associated with a higher LR risk (Hazard ratio (HR) 12.06, p

Objective Stem cells residing in the subventricular zone (SVZ) may be related to recurrence, potentially affecting outcome in glioblastoma (GBM). This study investigated the relationship of SVZ radiation dose and survival in a large cohort treated with surgery and chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods Patients with GBM treated between 2006 and 2012 (n = 370) were identified. SVZs were contoured from planning computed tomography (CT) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) registration where available. Dose was extracted from dose volume histograms. Kaplan-Meier (KM) progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates were compared with log-rank tests for SVZ doses. Multivariate analysis (MVA) identified clinical and treatment-related factors significantly associated with outcome. Results Median follow-up was 16.4 months, 48.1% underwent gross total resection (GTR), 37.5% subtotal resection, and 14.4% biopsy without resection. Median PFS was 8.9 months (95% CI: 8.3–9.8 months), and OS was 16.5 months (95% CI: 15.2–17.6 months). PFS was significantly lower for older age (>50 years, P = 0.045), poor Karnofsky performance status (KPS, P = 0.049), multifocality (P < 0.001), and incomplete adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Worse OS was associated with poor KPS (P = 0.001), biopsy only (P = 0.003), multifocality (P = 0.009), and failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001). SVZ dose was not associated with outcome for any of the dose levels assessed. On MVA, multifocality was associated with worse PFS (P < 0.01). Poor performance status and biopsy only were associated with worse OS (both P < 0.01). Conclusion In this analysis of a large cohort of GBM treated with surgery and CRT, increased SVZ dose was not associated with improved survival.

The abscopal effect is a rare phenomenon in the treatment of metastatic cancer where tumor regression occurs distant from the irradiated volume. It is thought that local radiation induces immunogenic cell death by systemically enhancing the host's antitumor immune system. We present a rare case of the abscopal effect in esophageal adenocarcinoma. After palliative radiation therapy to the primary tumor and adjacent lymph nodes, a complete response was observed not only in the irradiated tissues, but also in non-irradiated metastatic lymph nodes. The patient remains cancer-free one year later. A better understanding of the abscopal effect may lead to novel research to improve patient outcome in the often dismal case of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background Phyllodes tumor (PT) of the breast is an uncommon fibroepithelial neoplasm. Malignant epithelial transformation in PT is rare. This study reports clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of patients with malignant epithelial transformation in PT. Methods From an institutional database of 183 patients with newly diagnosed PT referred to a Canadian provincial cancer institution between 1999 and 2014, 11 cases of PT with concomitant in situ or invasive carcinoma were identified. Descriptive analysis was performed to document the characteristics, treatment and outcomes of this cohort. Results Prevalence of malignant epithelial transformation in PT was 6.0%. Median (range) age was 54 (35-75) years. Types of carcinoma were ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 6), lobular carcinoma in situ (n = 4), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (n = 1). Median PT size was 5 (1-15) cm. Three PTs were classified as benign (27%), five as borderline (45%), and three as malignant (27%). Mastectomy was performed in six (55%) and breast conserving surgery in five (45%) patients. Hormonal therapy was used in two cases: one with a 1 cm, grade 2 DCIS, and one with an 11 cm, grade 1 IDC, the latter also receiving radiotherapy. Mean follow-up duration was 54 (6-175) months. None of the cases showed any evidence of disease after treatment at the time of their last follow-up. Conclusion This case series showed a higher prevalence of malignant epithelial transformation in PT than reported in previous literature. Outcomes were favourable despite the presence of either in situ or invasive carcinoma within PT.

We report on a 56-year-old Caucasian female, diagnosed with locally advanced, hormone-receptor-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive cancer of the left breast. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with adriamycin/cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by docetaxel/trastuzumab. A partial clinical and radiographical response was documented after four cycles of AC. Approximately one week after the first cycle of docetaxel and trastuzumab, the patient presented with diffuse edema, erythema, and induration involving the entire left breast. The differential diagnoses included infection, inflammatory response/reaction to docetaxel, or cancer progression. After a multidisciplinary review, the decision was made to stop the docetaxel and deliver neoadjuvant radiation treatment concurrent with trastuzumab. Approximately four weeks after radiation therapy completion, the patient underwent a left total mastectomy and axillary dissection, with pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast and axillary nodal disease. After surgery, systemic therapy was resumed with paclitaxel and trastuzumab, with a plan to start adjuvant endocrine therapy after completion of chemotherapy. We will discuss clinical considerations in the management of the unexpected findings of acute inflammatory response in the breast and nodal regions during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Associations between intrinsic breast cancer subtype and pCR in locally advanced breast cancer will also be reviewed.

Objective Management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) remains controversial. This study examined long-term outcomes in a population-based cohort of patients with pure DCIS treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone, BCS + radiotherapy (RT), and mastectomy. Outcomes were compared between patients referred versus not referred for oncologic assessment after definitive surgery. Materials and methods Subjects were 2575 women diagnosed between 1985 and 1999. Data from several electronic databases were linked and analyzed. Outcomes were invasive local recurrence-free survival (ILRFS), mastectomy-free survival (MFS), breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), and overall survival (OS). Results Median follow-up time was 9.8 years. Overall, 56% (n = 1448) of subjects were referred to a cancer centre. Factors associated with non-referral were older age, comorbidities, and travel distance. Ten-year MFS, BCSS, and OS were higher among referred patients (all p ≤ 0.001). In cohorts treated with BCS alone (n = 1314) vs. BCS + RT (n = 510) vs. mastectomy (n = 751), 10-year ILRFS were 93.7% vs. 96.6% vs. 97.7%, (p < 0.001) and BCSS were 97.6% vs. 99.8% vs. 98.6%, (p = 0.01). Corresponding rates of ipsilateral invasive breast relapse at 10 years were 6.3% after BCS alone, 3.4% after BCS + RT, and 2.3% after mastectomy (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with improved ILRFS were older age at diagnosis, low comorbidity score, absence of comedo histology, mastectomy, and post-BCS RT. Conclusion Patients with DCIS referred for oncologic assessment were more likely to undergo post-BCS RT, resulting in lower mastectomy and higher survival rates compared to non-referred patients. Patients with significant comorbidities were less likely to be referred and experienced lower ILRFS and BCSS. Referral for multidisciplinary oncologic assessment after surgery is warranted to individualize management and optimize outcomes for patients with DCIS.