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Purpose: To test the hypothesis that increasing radiation therapy (RT) dose to the thoracic vertebral bodies (TVBs) contributes to the development of hematologic toxicities (HTs) in patients with lung cancer., Methods and Materials: Cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiation with concurrent platinum-based doublet chemotherapy at our institution from 2007 to 2016 were identified. Mean TVB dose and the volume of TVBs receiving at least 5 to 60 Gy (V 5 -V 60 ) were retrospectively recorded. Logistic regression was used to test associations between grade ≥3 HT (HT3+) and dosimetric/clinical parameters. Normal tissue complication probability was evaluated using the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) model for HT3+, and receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to determine dosimetric cut-points., Results: We identified 201 patients, the majority having NSCLC (n=162, 81%) and stage III to IV disease (n=179, 89%). All patients received either cisplatin/etoposide (n=107, 53%) or carboplatin/paclitaxel (n=94, 47%). Median RT dose was 60 Gy (range, 60-70 Gy). The rate of HT3+ was 49% (n=99). Increasing mean TVB dose (per Gy) was associated with higher odds of developing HT3+ (odds ratio 1.041, 95% confidence interval 1.004-1.080, P=.032), as were increasing TVB V 5 to V 20 . These dosimetric correlates to HT3+ persisted on multivariate analysis. Constrained optimization of the LKB model for HT3+ yielded the parameters: n=1, m=1.79, and TD 50 =21.4 Gy. Optimal cut-points identified were V 5 =65%, V 10 =60%, V 20 =50%, and mean dose=23.5 Gy. Patients with values above these cut-points had an approximately 2-fold increased risk of HT3+., Conclusions: We found that mean TVB dose and low-dose parameters (V 5 -V 20 ) were associated with HT3+ in chemoradiation for lung cancer. Per the LKB model, bone marrow behaves like a parallel organ (n=1), implying that mean TVB dose is a useful predictor for toxicity. These data suggest that efforts to spare dose to the TVBs may reduce rates of severe HT., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a rare sarcoma with a predilection for multiple local recurrences (LR), for which optimal treatment has not been defined. We reviewed our experience to determine the impact of surgery and radiation therapy (RT) on pattern of recurrence, limb salvage, and overall survival (OS)., Methods and Materials: Between 1995 and 2005, 36 patients with localized intermediate- or high-grade MFS were treated at our institution. Data on clinicopathologic features, treatments, and patient outcomes were reviewed and analyzed., Results: Median age was 72.5 years (range, 42-96 years). Median tumor size was 7.5 cm, and 34 tumors (94%) were high grade. All patients underwent surgery at our institution, including re-resections in 20 patients (56%) after initial surgery elsewhere. Margins were microscopically positive in 9 patients (25%). RT was given to 28 patients (78%) pre - and/or postoperatively. After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range, 0.4-12.4 years), 11 patients (31%) developed LR. There were no significant predictors for LR on univariate analysis, including margin status or use of RT. Limb salvage was ultimately achieved in only 5 of 11 LRs (45%) because of multiple subsequent LRs. Distant recurrence (DR) occurred in 6 patients (17%). Median and 4-year OS were 96 months and 65%, respectively. Seven patients (19%) died of tumor-related causes, 6 of whom had DRs. On univariate analysis, tumor size was associated with OS., Conclusions: Despite aggressive surgery and RT, intermediate- and high-grade MFS are associated with a high rate of LR that adversely affects limb preservation. More aggressive local treatment strategies are necessary., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)