Search

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess if multicriteria optimization could limit interoperator variability in radiation therapy planning and assess if this method could contribute to target volume coverage and sparing of organ at risk for intensity-modulated curative radiation therapy of head and neck cancers., Material and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on 20 patients treated for an oropharyngeal or oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. We carried out a comparative dosimetric study of manual plans produced with Precision® software, compared with the plans proposed using the multicriteria optimization method (RayStation®). We assessed interoperator reproducibility on the first six patients, and dosimetric contribution in sparing organs at risk using the multicriteria optimization method., Results: Median age was 69 years, most lesions were oropharyngeal carcinoma (65%), and 35% lesions were stage T3. First, we obtained a high degree of similarity between the four operator measurements for each patient at the level of each organ. Intraclass correlation coefficients were greater than 0.85. Second, we observed a significant dosimetric benefit for contralateral parotid gland, homolateral and contralateral masseter muscles, homolateral and contralateral pterygoid muscles and for the larynx (P<0.05). For the contralateral parotid gland, the mean dose difference between the multicriteria optimization and manual plans was -2.0Gy (P=0.01). Regarding the larynx, the mean dose difference between the two plans was -4.6Gy (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Multicriteria optimization is a reproducible technique and faster than manual optimization. It allows dosimetric advantages on organs at risk, especially for those not usually taken into consideration in manual dosimetry. This may lead to improved quality of life., (Copyright © 2024 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of primary renal cancer is increasing, particularly in elderly patients who may have comorbidities and/or a surgical contraindications. Stereotactic body radiotherapy has primarily been evaluated retrospectively to date. The most commonly used dose schedules are 40Gy in five fractions, 42Gy in three fractions, and 26Gy in one fraction. The results in terms of local control and toxicity are very encouraging. The advantages of stereotactic body radiotherapy compared to thermal ablative treatments are its non-invasive nature, absence of general anesthesia, ability to treat larger lesions, and those close to the renal hilum. Prospective evaluations are still necessary., (Copyright © 2023 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Extreme hypofractionation in adjuvant breast radiotherapy currently generates a lot of interest. We propose here a synthesis of hypofractionation trials and present the DESTHE COL and DESTHE GR projects, encouraged by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa), which experiment care pathways in order to deploy effective strategies to de-escalate the therapeutics and to reduce sequelae after cancer treatment., (Copyright © 2023 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Brain tumors can be associated with various neurological symptoms impairing driving ability. We sought to assess patients' knowledge on the French driving legislation., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective descriptive epidemiological study carried out at the Oscar Lambret center in Lille, among driving license holders treated by radiotherapy for one or more primary cerebral tumor or brain metastasis. The survey was carried out by hetero-administered questioners. The primary endpoint was the frequency of patients informed on the French driving legislation at the initial radiotherapy consultation, given with a 95% confidence interval by the Clopper-Pearson exact binomial method., Results: From the 1st February to March 31st, 2022, 33 patients with brain tumors were evaluated. Three of them were excluded because they did not have a driving license. Among the 30 patients analyzed, 12 patients (40% IC95 [22.7; 59.4]) had been informed of the existence of a possible contraindication to drive before the radiotherapy consultation. Among the 30 patients, 21 (70%) had a contraindication to drive. Of the eight patients (26.6%) who drove, four (13.3%) should not., Conclusion: Most patients have a contraindication to drive, but only 40% of the patients questioned stated that they had been informed of the existence of a possible contraindication before the radiotherapy consultation., (Copyright © 2022 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We present the updated recommendations of the French society for radiation oncology on radiotherapy of oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer still remains a malignant tumour with a poor prognosis. Surgery remains the standard treatment for localized cancers, regardless of histology. For locally advanced stages, surgery remains a standard for adenocarcinomas after neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. However, it is a therapeutic option after initial chemoradiotherapy for stage III squamous cell carcinomas, given the increased morbidity and mortality with a multimodal treatment, which results in an equivalent overall survival with or without surgery. Preoperative or exclusive chemoradiotherapy should be delivered according to validated regimens with an effective total dose (50Gy), if surgery is not planned or if the tumour is deemed resectable before chemoradiotherapy. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy significantly reduces irradiation of the lungs and heart and may reduce the morbidity of this treatment, especially in combination with surgery. In case of exclusive chemoradiotherapy, dose escalation beyond 50Gy is not currently recommended. Some technical considerations still remain questionable, such as the place of prophylactic lymph node irradiation, adaptive radiotherapy, evaluation of response during and after chemoradiotherapy and the value of proton therapy., (Copyright © 2021 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Hypofractionated radiotherapy of early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx is a promising treatment option. This can be divided into radiotherapy with moderate hypofractionation (up to 2.5Gy per fraction), more intense hypofractionation (between 2.5 and 4.5Gy per fraction) and stereotactic radiotherapy (above 4.5Gy per fraction). Most studies evaluating moderate hypofractionation show a local control rate between 85 and 95%. Acute laryngeal toxicity is superior to conventional treatment, but only for grades 1 and 2, with no significant difference reported for severe toxicity. Stereotactic radiotherapy in this pathology is also an emerging entity, but some authors have reported significant toxicity. There are currently no standardized guidelines for treatment and management regimen. We conducted a systemic review of published prospective and retrospective trials to evaluate efficacy, toxicity, and discuss future directions., (Copyright © 2021 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is an emerging treatment option. Most studies showed local control of approximately 75% with no evidence of improved overall survival. Gastrointestinal toxicities could be significant, ranging up to 22% for acute toxicities≥grade 3+ and 44% for late toxicities≥grade 3+. Currently, no standardized guidelines for treatment and management scheme. We conducted a systemic review of published prospective and retrospective trials to evaluate the efficacy, safety, technical data, and discuss future directions., (Copyright © 2021 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Metastases are the most common brain tumors. After surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity is the standard of care. Data from two randomized trials indicate that SRT to the surgical bed is an effective treatment in reducing local failure as compared with observation, while reducing the risk of cognitive deterioration and maintaining quality of life as compared with whole brain radiation therapy. Local control appears higher after hypofractionated SRT compared to single-fraction SRT. Several questions such as target volumes, the optimal regimen in particular for large tumor bed, strategies to reduce the risk of lepto-meningeal recurrence, and the treatment sequence still need to be answered., (Copyright © 2020 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is an option for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Radiation therapy may increase postoperative pulmonary complications. Usual lungs dose constraints in radiotherapy are old and used by extrapolation of lung cancer management. Our objective is to review the literature on correlations between postoperative lung toxicity and dosimetric factors., Method: This literature review identified and selected studies published between 1987 and 2019 using the PRISMA method. The articles were identified on the basis of a PubMed search and the author's knowledge, using the following terms: "esophageal cancer"; "chemoradiotherapy"; "dosimetric factors"; "postoperative pulmonary complications"., Results: Fourteen articles were selected, and five did not demonstrate a correlation between dosimetric factors and the postoperative pulmonary complications rate. The V20 (lung volume receiving more than 20Gy) was identified in three studies, like the V10, V15 and mean lung dose (around 10Gy) in two studies. The V30≥20% was identified in one study., Discussion: The most frequently identified dosimetric predictors for postoperative pulmonary complications are the V20 and the mean lung dose. Results of prospective studies would lead us to specify which of these parameters is most relevant for predicting the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications., (Copyright © 2020 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Stereotactic radiotherapy is a fundamental change from the conventional fractionated radiotherapy and represents a new therapeutic indication. Stereotactic radiotherapy is now a standard of care for inoperable patients or patients who refuse surgery. The results are encouraging with local control and survival rates very high in selected populations. The rate of late toxicity remains acceptable. Good tolerability makes it appropriate even for elderly and frail patients. In these fragile patients or in certain specific clinical situations, different surgical, radiotherapy or interventional radiology attitudes can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. These situations are considered in this article for the pulmonary, hepatic and prostatic localizations., (Copyright © 2020 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has increased rapidly over the past decade. Optimal preservation of normal tissues is a major issue because of their high sensitivity to high doses per session. Extreme hypofractionation can convert random errors into systematic errors. Optimal preservation of organs at risk requires first of all a rigorous implementation of this technique according to published guidelines. The robustness of the imaging modalities used for planning, and training medical and paramedical staff are an integral part of these guidelines too. The choice of SBRT indications, dose fractionation, dose heterogeneity, ballistics, are also means of optimizing the protection of normal tissues. Non-coplanarity and tracking of moving targets allow dosimetric improvement in some clinical settings. Automatic planning could also improve normal tissue protection. Adaptive SBRT, with new image guided radiotherapy modalities such as MRI, could further reduce the risk of toxicity., (Copyright © 2019 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the adjuvant management of high grade uterine sarcoma and highlight prognostic factors for overall survival and progression-free survival., Material and Methods: Between 01/2000 and 01/2015, 91 patients undergoing surgery were presented at the multidisciplinary team meeting of our institution. The type of surgery, the anatomopathological features, adjuvant treatments, dates and sites of recurrence were collected. The prognostic value of the various factors was evaluated with the multivariate Cox model., Results: A total of 50 women with uterine sarcoma were identified and lesions included 43 leiomyosarcomas (86%) and seven high grade sarcomas (14%). Eighteen patients received adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy (36%) and six adjuvant systemic therapy (12%). The median follow-up time was 63 months. Thirty-nine patients (78%) had a recurrence: 22 had only metastatic recurrence (58%), two had isolated pelvic recurrence (5%) and 15 had pelvic and metastatic recurrence (38%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with survival without pelvic recurrence in univariate analysis (P=0.005, hazard ratio [HR]=0.15); age greater than 55 years and adjuvant radiotherapy were associated with metastatic free survival in multivariate analysis (P=0.015, HR=2.37, and P=0.013, HR=0.41 respectively) CONCLUSION: According to the results of our series, there is a benefit of radiotherapy after surgery in terms of local control of uterine sarcoma. It is necessary to identify the subgroup of patients who will benefit from an adjuvant radiotherapy in order to provide them with more optimal care., (Copyright © 2019 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Adjuvant left-sided breast cancer locoregional radiotherapy can be accounted for long-term cardiac toxicity. The deep inspiration breath hold techniques can reduce cardiac doses. Only a few studies have investigated rotational intensity-modulated radiotherapy with deep inspiration breath hold., Material and Methods: We conducted a dosimetric study comparing rotational intensity-modulated radiotherapy in free breathing with deep inspiration breath hold for irradiation of left breast cancer and locoregional lymph nodes. Doses to organs at risk were compared, as well as doses to coronary arteries, left anterior descending coronary artery region, and aortic valve., Results: The data from nine patients were included in the study. Treatment plans were comparable for target volumes. The deep inspiration breath hold delivery technique, compared with free breathing, reduced radiation dose to the heart (mean dose 4.8Gy vs. 6.6Gy, p=0.008; dose in 2% of the volume 16.8Gy vs. 23.3Gy, p=0.008; volume receiving 25Gy 0.8% vs. 2,2%, p=0.008; volume receiving 30Gy 0.4% vs. 1.2%, p=0.009), as well as to the right coronary artery (mean dose 6Gy vs. 8.9Gy, p=0.028), to the left anterior descending artery (mean dose 9.6Gy vs. 14.6Gy, p=0.021), to the left anterior descending coronary artery region (dose in 2% of the volume 17.4Gy vs. 24.6Gy, p=0.021), and to the aortic valve (mean dose 4.8Gy vs. 7Gy, p=0.028). Other doses to organs at risk were similar., Conclusion: Rotational intensity-modulated radiotherapy with deep inspiration breath hold is associated with better sparing of the heart, on the right and left anterior descending coronary arteries, and on the aortic valve, compared with free breathing techniques, for adjuvant left breast cancer locoregional irradiation., (Copyright © 2019 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Outcome of intermediate risk rectal cancer may be improved by the addition of oxaliplatin during 5-fluoruracil concomitant neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the main clinical results of the ACCORD12 trial (NCT00227747) in rectal cancer after 5 years of follow-up., Patients and Methods: Inclusion criteria were as follows: rectal adenocarcinoma accessible to digital examination staged T3-T4 Nx M0 (or T2 Nx distal anterior rectum). Two neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy regimens were randomized: CAP45 (RT 45 Gy + capecitabine) and CAPOX50 (RT 50 Gy + capecitabine and oxaliplatin). Main end point was sterilization of the operative specimen. Acute and late toxicities were prospectively analyzed with dedicated questionnaires., Results: Between November 2005 and July 2008, 598 patients were included in the trial. After a median follow-up of 60.2 months, there was no difference between treatment arms in multivariate analysis either for disease-free survival or overall survival (OS) [P = 0.9, hazard ratio (HR)=1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.76-1.36 and P = 0.3, HR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.66-1.15, respectively]. There was also no difference of local control in univariate analysis (P = 0.7, HR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.51-1.66). Late toxicities were acceptable with 1.6% G3 anal incontinence, and <1% G3 diarrhea, G3 rectal bleeding, G3 stenosis, G3-4 pain, G3 urinary incontinence, G3 urinary retention and G3 skeletal toxicity. There was a slight increase of erectile dysfunction over time with a 63% rate of erectile dysfunction at 5 years. There was no significant statistical difference for these toxicities between treatment arms., Conclusions: The CAPOX50 regimen did not improve local control, disease-free survival and overall survival in the ACCORD12 trial. Late toxicities did not differ between treatment arms., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy to vertebral column remains uncommon practice and only relevant in selected group of patients. The main objective of the study was to describe the current state of medical practices of stereotactic body radiotherapy to vertebral column in France in 2016 and to assess the diversity of practices to identify areas for improvement and establish a common database set for this technique., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was written with contribution of a medical physicist, a radiation oncologist, an information technologist and a radiotherapy resident. The questionnaire was distributed online to a radiation oncologists and a medical physicists partner of selected French radiotherapy specialized centres that provide stereotactic body radiotherapy to vertebral metastasis from April to June 2016. The questionnaire surveyed the following topics: patients' selection, simulation, targeted volume and organs at risk delineation, prescription, dosimetric implementation and image guidance., Results: A total of 31 centres were surveyed. Seventy eight per cent of centres (n=21) completed the questionnaire. The "ideal" patient for spine stereotactic radiotherapy according to these institutions has a good performance status, a long life expectancy, controlled primary tumour with oligometastatic spread. The most prescribed protocol was 30Gy in three fractions. For clinical target volume delineation, about two thirds of centres used the International Spine Radiosurgery Consortium (ISRC) recommendations (Noël G et al.,2006)., Conclusion: This study identified some consistency of practices in some aspects despite the lack of consensus guidelines. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to establish consensus of planning and treatment., (Copyright © 2017 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

After the liver and lungs, bones are the third most common sites of cancer metastasis. Palliative radiotherapy for secondary bone tumours helps relieve pain, improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of fractures. Stereotactic body radiotherapy can deliver high radiation doses with very tight margins, which has significant advantages when treating tumours close to the spinal cord. Strict quality control is essential as dose gradient at the edge of the spinal cord is important. Optimal schedule is not defined. A range of dose-fractionation schedules have been used. Pain relief and local control are seen in over 80%. Toxicity rates are low, although vertebral fracture may occur. Ongoing prospective studies will help clarify its role in the management of oligometastatic patients., (Copyright © 2016 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Localized oesophageal and gastric cancers have a poor prognosis. In oesophageal cancer, external radiotherapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy is accepted as part of the therapeutic armamentarium in a curative intent in the preoperative setting for resectable tumours; or without surgery in inoperable patients or non-resectable tumours due to wide local and/or regional extension. Data from the literature show conflicting results with no clinical evidence in favour of either a unique dose protocol or consensual target volume definition in the setting of exclusive chemoradiation. In the preoperative setting, chemoradiotherapy has become the standard in oesophageal cancer, even though there is no evidence that surgery may be beneficial in locally advanced tumours that respond to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The main cause of failure after exclusive chemoradiotherapy in oesophageal cancer is locoregional relapse suggesting that doses and volumes usually considered may be inadequate. In gastric cancer, radiotherapy may be indicated postoperatively in patients with resected tumours that include less than D2 lymph node dissection or in the absence of perioperative chemotherapy. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in gastric cancers is still under investigation. The evolving techniques of external radiotherapy, such as image-guided radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arctherapy (VMAT) have reduced the volume of lung and heart exposed to radiation, which seems to have diminished radiotherapy-related morbi-mortality rates. Given this, quality assurance for radiotherapy and protocols for radiotherapy delivery must be better standardized. This article on the indications for radiotherapy and the techniques used in oesophageal and gastric cancers is included in a special issue dedicated to national recommendations from the French society of radiation oncology (SFRO) on radiotherapy indications, planning, dose prescription, and techniques of radiotherapy delivery., (Copyright © 2016 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Stereotactic body radiation therapy is the standard treatment for inoperable patients with early-stage lung cancer. Local control rates range from 80 to 90 % 2 years after treatment. The role of positron emission tomography in patient selection is well known, but its use for target definition or therapeutic response evaluation is less clear. We reviewed the literature in order to assess the current state of knowledge in this area., (Copyright © 2015 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: To date, for esophageal cancer (EC), the optimal timing of surgical procedures after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) is not well defined. Data in rectal cancer suggest that a prolonged interval between treatment and operation may improve tumoral pathologic response, R0 resection rate, and survival. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether delaying operation after nCRT in EC increases pathologic response and has an impact on oncologic outcome or postoperative course., Methods: A total of 257 consecutive EC patients (n=161 squamous cell carcinomas and n=96 adenocarcinomas) undergoing nCRT followed by operation between 1997 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed by the use of prospectively collected data. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median delay between nCRT and operation (<7 weeks, n=122; ≥7 weeks, n=135). The impact of surgical delay on outcomes was studied through univariable and multivariable analyses., Results: The groups were comparable regarding patient and tumor characteristics (p≥0.074). The ypT0 and R0 resection rates were similar between the two groups, as were postoperative course, median survivals, and incidence and patterns of recurrence (p≥0.332). Multivariable analysis failed to identify any impact of the surgical delay on the endpoints. Subgroup analysis according to the histologic type found similar results., Conclusions: After nCRT for EC, delaying operation does not affect the ypT0 rate, postoperative course, or oncologic outcome and cannot therefore be justified by these aims., (Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The last years are marked by the emergence of new molecules for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma with a significant benefit on the survival. Besides, some techniques are in development for the loco-regional treatment of the metastatic sites, bringing new therapeutic perspectives. However, their respective use and place in the therapeutic strategy are debated by healthcare professionals., Objective: The French National Cancer Institute leads a national clinical practice guidelines project since 2008. It realized a review of these modalities of treatment and developed recommendations., Methods: The clinical practice guidelines development process is based on systematic literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary expert workgroup. The recommendations are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines are reviewed by independent practitioners in cancer care delivery., Results: This article presents recommendations for loco-regional treatments of the pulmonary, bone, cutaneous, hepatic and digestive metastatic sites for patients with pauci-metastatic cutaneous melanoma.

Low dose-rate brachytherapy as a boost after concomitant chemoradiation therapy is a standard of care for locally advanced anal carcinoma, providing a rigorous selection taking into account the initial staging and tumor response to external beam radiotherapy. Local control is likely to be superior when the boost is performed with brachytherapy than with external beam radiotherapy. The several steps of the brachytherapy procedure are described. The standard treatment scheme is a concomitant chemoradiation therapy, including 45 Gy (1,8 Gy × 5) pelvic external beam radiotherapy and two courses of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C, followed by a 15 Gy brachytherapy boost with a gap limited to 2 to 3 weeks. Higher irradiation dose for the most advanced cases has not yet demonstrated a therapeutic gain in terms of colostomy free survival. Exclusive brachytherapy for in-situ carcinoma or invasive carcinoma less than 10mm is not recommended due to a high risk of local recurrence. Pulsed dose rate brachytherapy is an alternative to low dose rate brachytherapy (iridium wires) providing the respect of the recommended dose rate (0.5 to 1 Gy/hour). High dose rate brachytherapy is still under evaluation., (Copyright © 2013 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Cutaneous basal or squamous cell carcinomas are frequent lesions, their prognosis being associated to local control. Surgery remains the standard of treatment, if a complete resection can be realized without impairment of cosmesis or function. Brachytherapy can be used in the other cases, and is especially well adapted to periorificial lesions of the face. It is mostly realized with low dose rate iridium wires, but can be done with high dose rate if outpatient treatment is preferred. It allows high local control rates with very few late complications. The indication has to be discussed as first line treatment, according to the patient's age and general condition, the characteristics of the lesion, and the risk of late cosmetic or functional side-effects of the different therapeutic options., (Copyright © 2013 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The CyberKnife(®) system is a recent radiation therapy technique that allows treatment of liver lesions with real-time tracking. Because of its high precision, the dose administered to the tumor can be increased. We report Oscar-Lambret Cancer Centre experience in the treatment of primary and secondary liver lesions., Patients and Methods: It is a retrospective study analyzing all the patients who have been treated for their liver lesions since July 2007. A hundred and twenty patients have been treated: 42 for hepatocellular carcinoma, 72 for liver metastases and six for cholangiocarcinoma. Gold seeds need to be implanted before the treatment and are used as markers to follow the movement of the lesion due to respiration. On average, the treatment is administered in three to four sessions over 12 days. A total dose of 40 to 45 Gy at the 80% isodose is delivered. Local control and overall survival analysis with Log-rank is performed for each type of lesion., Results: Treatment tolerance is good. The most common toxicities are of digestive type, pain and asthenia. Six gastro-duodenal ulcers and two radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) were observed. At a median follow-up of 15 months, the local control rate is respectively of 80.4% and 72.5% at 1 and 2 years. Overall survival is 84.6 and 58.3% at 1 and 2 years. The local control is significantly better for the hepatocellular carcinoma and overall survival is significantly better for liver metastases (P<0.05). The local control rate and overall survival at 1 year for cholangiocarcinoma is 100%., Conclusion: CyberKnife(®) is a promising technique, well tolerated, with tumoral local control rates comparable to other techniques. Its advantage is that it is very minimally invasive delivered as an outpatient procedure in a frail population of patient (disease, age)., (Copyright © 2011 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Stereotactic radiation therapy using the CyberKnife(®) has been introduced in France in 2006. Two treatment modalities are currently available: the first one (Synchrony(®)) is a real-time fiducial-based target tracking system, while the other (Xsight Lung Tracking [XLT] System(®)) is completely fiducial-free., Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight patients were treated for a pulmonary tumor between June 2007 and November 2009. Since august 2008, the XLT System(®) was used for 26 patients. We report the necessary conditions for the XLT System (position, laterality and size of the tumor), the toxicity and outcome of this treatment., Results: Twenty-two patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 6 months (min=3; max=16). Local control rate was 100%. The main toxicity was grade grade 1 pulmonary alveolitis (27%). No grade 3 or 4 toxicities were reported., Conclusion: The high local control rate and low toxicity obtained with the CyberKnife(®) XLT System(®) suggest that such treatment is an alternative for inoperable patients., (Copyright © 2010 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Esophageal cancers are highly malignant tumours with often a poor prognostic, except for minimal lesions treated with surgery. Radiation therapy, or combined radiation and chemotherapy is the most used therapeutic modality, alone or before oesophagectomy. The delineation of target volumes is now more accurate owing the possibility to use routinely the new imaging techniques (mainly PET). The aim of this work is to precise the radio-anatomical particularities, the pattern of spread of esophageal cancer and the principles of 3D conformal radiotherapy illustrated with a clinical case., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The liver is a large abdominal organ in the right hypondrium. Because of its anatomical situation, it is near many abdominal PTVs as well as some lower thoracic PVTs. The liver could also be at the same time the target (for irradiation of liver metastases or primary liver tumours) and organ at risk (OAR). Radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) is radiobiologically the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), i.e., the clinical event limiting the total dose that could be delivered. This review describes radiobiological criteria justifying the NTCP data, and recommendations for conformal 3D radiotherapy and stereotactic liver irradiation., (Copyright (c) 2010 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

In June 2007, the CyberKnife has been implemented at Centre Oscar-Lambret in Lille. The program has been developed around specific clinical indications: head and neck reirradiation, liver. Early results are presented. The system includes several way of repositioning fixed targets and tracking moving targets with breathing. With each way, there is a dedicated tool for the quality control.

We propose herein a review based on literature data about current treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma, including new data on adjuvant radiotherapy and sentinel lymph node biopsy.

A phase I trial was initiated to establish the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of chronomodulated 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin given concurrently with preoperative radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer. Patients with stage I or II esophageal cancer received preoperative radiation therapy (28-30 daily 1.8-Gy fractions for a total of 50.4 or 54 Gy) and concurrent three fortnightly cycles of chronomodulated 5-fluorouracil (700-835 mg/m2 per day, d1-d4, with peak delivery at 4.00 am) and cisplatin (50 mg/m2, d1, with peak delivery at 4.00 pm) administered by a time-programmable pump. Ten patients were treated on this study. Two of six patients treated at the starting dose-level experienced acute DLTs (esophagitis, asthenia) which required de-escalation of 5-fluorouracil. Five patients out of ten experienced seven DLTs (severe esophagitis, asthenia, vomiting: 5/1/1) at any dose-level. The MTD was not assessed because the study was halted due to slow accrual. Finally, two patients deceased from an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to inadequate radiation therapy planning. Without definitively ruling out any possible impact of chronomodulation in that setting, our data reinforce the need of a better selection of patients aimed to be treated by CRT plus surgery.

In 2006, 3 sites have been selected by the Institut national of cancer (Lille, Nancy et Nice) to evaluate a radiotherapy robot, the CyberKnife. This machine, able to track mobile tumours in real time, gives new possibilities in the field of extra cranial stereotactic radiotherapy. Functionalities and medico economical issues of the machine will be evaluated during 2 years on the 3 sites.

Background: Photodynamic therapy is an endoscopic treatment of early cancers based on the photosensitisation of neoplasms following the administration of a photosensitiser prior to laser light-induced tissue destruction., Aim: To assess the results of photodynamic therapy using Photofrin(Axcan Pharma Inc., Quebec, Canada) in patients with an early oesophageal cancer., Patients: Twenty-four patients with early oesophageal cancer presenting as a not well-demarcated irregular dyschromic area of mucosa and unsuitable for any other treatment underwent photodynamic therapy. RESULTS.: Seventy-five per cent were successfully treated; three of them recurred and two died from head and neck cancer. To date, 54% of patients are alive without recurrence; the average follow-up is 21 months. There were one oesophageal lethal perforation and six stenosis. Results of photodynamic therapy were limited in this series by three failures, three recurrences and three deaths from previous head and neck cancers., Conclusion: This study provides some promising data for photodynamic therapy of oesophageal carcinomas in selected patients. It also emphasises the need for a best delivery device of laser light.

Little is known about epidemiology of adults soft tissue and visceral sarcomas (ASTS). The frequency of previous cancers and associated genetic diseases has been analyzed out of 493 ASTS, treated between 1997 and 2002 at Oscar Lambret Cancer Center. Median age is 51, sex ratio is close to 1. Liposarcomas and malignant fibrous histiocytofibromas are the two main types (respectively 104 and 86 cases). Upper and lower limbs are the two main locations (respectively 176 and 75 cases). Fifteen patients had associated genetic disease, including 12 cases of Recklinghausen diseases. 7 out of those 15 patients have neurosarcoma. 30 patients have previous cancers, including 7 breast cancers, 3 lymphomas and 3 chronic lymphocytic leukemias. Four out of those 30 patients have two different previous cancers. 13 patients have radiation-induced sarcomas, after an average 10-year-period, and an average dose of 53 Gy. Undifferenciated sarcomas are the main histologic type (8/13), followed by angiosarcomas (2/13). Radiation-induced sarcomas are located in the chest wall (7/13), in pelvis (2/13) and head and neck (2/13). Those sarcomas are high grade (10 grade III tumours). ASTS epidemiology is complex with different risk factors depending on histologic type.

The aim of this work, synthesized from personal case reports and a review of literature is to describe cutaneous complications of radiation therapy (except radiation-induced cancers): known and frequent such as radiation dermatitis or less frequent, beginning or strictly limited on irradiated skin areas: acne, infectious diseases, dyskeratosis, Grover's disease, sub-cutaneous pustulosis, cutaneous lichen, morphea, autoimmune bullous dermatosis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, we try to precise the physiopathogenic mechanisms of these dermatosis and we want to draw the attention on these dermatoses which sometimes need a multidisciplinary approach.

Although slightly declining in France, the incidence rate of esophageal cancer remains amongst the highest seen in Europe, especially in Brittany, in the North as well as in Normandy. Alcohol and tobacco consumption remains the main risk factor for esophageal cancer in Western countries. Positive diagnosis of esophageal cancer is made by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy combined with biopsies. At present, surgery and definitive radiochemotherapy are two therapeutic options offering a chance to cure even though surgery remains the more frequently used treatment. Five-year-survival rate after apparently curative surgical resection or definitive radiochemotherapy remains only 20% in most population-based series. The studies that have examined the role of adjuvant treatments after surgical resection, have failed to demonstrate any improvement in overall or relapse-free survival. The pre-operative cytotoxic combined modality approaches with radiochemotherapy have shown improved relapse-free survival but still remains experimental. Finally, the symptomatic treatment of dysphagia might not be ignored either in locally, locally advanced, or in metastatic disease.

Purpose: To analyse toxicity and response to a new scheme of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and concomitant radiochemotherapy (RT-CT) for locally advanced anal canal squamous-cell carcinoma (ACC)., Patients and Methods: Eighty patients with an ACC > 40 mm and/or with lymph node involvement were included (1 T1, 52 T2, 14 T3, 13 T4, 18 N0, 30 N1, 32 N2-N3). Two cycles of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and CDDP were delivered as neoadjuvant CT and two during RT-CT. Pelvic (+/- inguinal) RT delivered 45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy. Involved fields were boosted after a one to two month gap (15-20 Gy). The median follow-up was 29 months., Results: One patient died of a pulmonary embolism on day 4. All patients received the entire treatment, with reduced 5-FU doses in 27% of the cases because of acute toxicity. Sixty-four grade 3 and five grade 4 toxicities were observed. No toxic death occurred. Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were, respectively, 10% and 51% after neoadjuvant CT, 67% and 28% after RT-CT and 93% and 5% after treatment completion (including 4 abdomino-perineal resections). The three-year actuarial overall, tumour-specific, colostomy-free, relapse-free, disease-free and event-free survivals were 86%, 88%, 73%, 70%, 67% and 63%, respectively., Conclusions: Tolerance was good. After neoadjuvant CT, most of the patients were objective responders. After treatment completion, all but five achieved CR. The long-term results confirm the durability of local control and low toxicity on the sphincter. An ongoing phase III intergroup trial analyses the impact of neoadjuvant CT, and the benefit of a high-dose boost irradiation, on local control and colostomy-free survival.

Background: Chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil-mitomycin C) concomitant with radiotherapy (RT) increases local control and colostomy-free survival in advanced anal canal carcinomas (ACC). The purpose of this prospective trial was to analyse the toxicity of and response to an induction chemotherapy combining 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and CDDP administered concomitantly with irradiation., Patients and Methods: Thirty patients (24 F/6 M, mean age 60, range 38-74) with an advanced ACC > 40 mm and/or with node involvement were prospectively treated (1 T1, 16 T2, 8 T3, 5 T4, 10 N1, 1 N2, 8 N3) from November 1994 to January 1996. Two induction and two concomitant cycles of 5-FU (800 mg/ m2 D1-4 infusion) and CDDP (80 mg/i.v./m2 at D1) were delivered. RT consisted of 45 Gy (1.8 Gy/fr, 5 fr/w) on pelvis +/- inguinal nodes or 30 Gy (3 Gy/fr, 4 fr/w) by direct perineal field. A boost (15-20 Gy) was delivered six weeks later., Toxicity: one patient died of a pulmonary embolism on D4. The remaining 29 received the entire treatment, with reduced 5-FU doses in 11 patients because of acute toxicity. The RT boost was delayed for one patient (aplasia). In 109 cycles, 3 grade 4 and 17 grade 3 toxicities were observed; there were no toxic deaths. Tumor response: the complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were, respectively, 11% and 61% after induction chemotherapy, 59% and 31% after concomitant radiochemotherapy and 96% and 0% two months after completion of the treatment. No tumor progression was observed., Conclusion: the treatment was well tolerated and there was good compliance. After induction chemotherapy, most of the patients were in PR, with some even in CR. After completion of the treatment all but one were in CR. The tumor response and the long term results of 50 patients will be analysed before initiation of a randomised trial is considered.

Purpose: Retrospective analysis of the results obtained with daily interactive use of portal imaging for monitoring thoracic cancer radiotherapy., Materials and Methods: A Siemens electronic portal imaging system called Beamviewplus was used daily in 15 lung cancer patients for each X-ray field. Out of the 714 expected portal images, 585 (82%), were obtained and printed., Results: We counted 94 errors in the 585 successful controls (16%). Four main classes of errors were identified: irradiation field placement (47 cases, 50%), shielding placement (30 cases, 32%) patient's position on the till examining table (14 cases, 15%), and selection of the energy (3 cases, 3%). Forty percent of these errors were potentially serious in terms of treatment volume and vital organ protection., Conclusion: Only portal imaging control could easily detect errors because they occurred randomly. We thus consider the use of this daily system helpful for patient management.

Thymomas is a rare disease. Staging systems and surgical adjuvant treatments remain controversial. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome and the prognostic factors in a series of 149 patients with non metastatic thymomas treated in ten French cancer centers between 1979 and 1990. Patients were staged according to the "GETT" classification derived from that of Masaoka. There were 13 stage I patients, 46 stage II, 58 stage III and 32 stage IV. Surgery consisted of complete resection in 63 patients, partial resection in 31 patients and biopsy alone in 55 patients. All patients received postoperative radiation therapy and 74 were given postoperative chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 7.7 years. Local control was obtained in 117 patients (78.5%) and was influenced by the extent of surgery (p < 0.0001). Metastases occurred in 26 patients. Seven patients developed grade 3-4 pulmonary and heart complications. One patient developed a malignant lymphoma after 24 cycles of chemotherapy. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates were of five years 92%, 75%, 60%, 39% and 48% in stage I, II, IIIA, IIIB and IVA patients, respectively. After complete resection, partial resection and biopsy alone, these rates were 74%, 60% and 38%, respectively. With a multivariate analysis, DFS rates were influenced by the extent of surgery (p < 0.001) and by chemotherapy (p < 0.001). Three other factors could predict a worse DFS: young age (p < 0.006), stages III-IV (p < 0.04) and mediastinal symptoms (p < 0.001), "GETT" staging correlated well with local control and survival. After complete resection, a 50 Gy postoperative radiation therapy can be recommended in patients with invasive thymomas. Despite a 65% local control rate after partial resection or biopsy alone in this series, a higher dose of radiation (> 60 Gy) must be evaluated. Despite the benefit of the chemotherapy in this retrospective and multicentric study, the role of this treatment remains to be assessed.

A prospective comparative study of the alveolar bone resorption after teeth extraction was achieved in a series of 79 patients in order to analyze macroscopically the possible consequences of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the toothless edges. After quarterly coronal and sagittal X-rays for two years, this study enhances quite a similar vertical resorption for the radiation and chemotherapy-treated patients as well as for the witness patients. The alveolar bone resorption progression also appears unaltered by anti cancerous treatments. In both cases, a resorption stabilisation can be clearly seen after 6 months according to dental extractions. The vertical alveolar bone resorption is more important in incisor and canine regions. The anti cancerous treatments may not have significant disastrous consequences as far as available bone amount is concerned, on a post prosthetic restoration.