Search

Purpose: Proton radiotherapy (PT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) have the capacity to optimize the therapeutic ratio. We analyzed the dosimetric differences between PT and SBRT in treating primary peripheral early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer. Methods and Materials: Eight patients were simulated, planned, and treated with SBRT according to accepted techniques. SBRT treatments were retrospectively planned using heterogeneity corrections. PT treatment plans were generated using single-, two-, and three-field passively scattered and actively scanned proton beams. Calculated dose characteristics were compared. Results: Comparable planning target volume (PTV) median minimum and maximum doses were observed between PT and SBRT plans. Higher median maximum doses 2 cm from the PTV were observed for PT, but higher median PTV doses were observed for SBRT. The total lung mean and V5 doses were significantly lower with actively scanned PT. The lung V13 and V20 were comparable. The dose to normal tissues was lower with PT except to skin and ribs. Although the maximum doses to skin and ribs were similar or higher with PT, the median doses to these structures were higher with SBRT. Passively scattered plans, compared with actively scanned plans, typically demonstrated higher doses to the PTV, lung, and organs at risk. Conclusions: Single-, two-, or three-field passively or actively scanned proton therapy delivered comparable PTV dose with generally less dose to normal tissues in these hypothetic treatments. Actively scanned beam plans typically had more favorable dose characteristics to the target, lung, and other soft tissues compared with the passively scanned plans. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the study which aims to evaluate the effects of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) on overall survival and cause-specific survival. The study includes 7995 patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) Program from 1988 and 1997. The study needs to consider prophylactic cranial irradiation for patients with restricted stage small cell lung cancer.

Abstract: Background: The role of radiotherapy (RT) for rising PSA after radical prostatectomy (RP) is debatable. We analyzed a large database of men to evaluate for predictors of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure after salvage RT. Methods: Data from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor database (CaPSURE™) identified 4,563 men with RP between 1989 and 2004; 194 underwent salvage RT ≥6 months after RP. PSA failure following RT was defined as a PSA >0.2 ng/ml. The association between clinical and pathologic characteristics and PSA failure was examined using a χ-square metric. A multivariable analysis of predictors for time to PSA failure was performed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: After a median follow-up of 66 months, 121 (62%) men experienced PSA failure at a median 20 months. Significant associations for PSA failure were found for the clinical T category (P < .01), race/ethnicity (P = 0.04), pT3 disease (P < 0.01), seminal vesicle invasion (P < 0.01), and pre-RT PSA level (P < 0.01). The pre-RT PSA level (P = 0.07) was the only factor to approach significance as an independent predictor of PSA failure on multivariable analysis. Pre-RT PSA doubling time was calculated for 131 men but did not predict for PSA failure on univariate (P = 0.38) or multivariate analyses (P = 0.13) for ≤12 vs. >12 months. Conclusions: Salvage RT provided the greatest benefit in PSA control in men with the lowest pre-RT PSA levels. Post-RP PSA doubling time >12 months trended toward predicting for PSA failure but was not significant likely owing to limited sample size. Together, these findings would suggest that salvage RT is optimal at low pre-RT PSA and long doubling times with favorable pathologic features. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: The utility of serial simulations in vaginal vault irradiation is controversial. Our primary endpoint was to assess the significance of simulation in women who received adjuvant intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma. Secondary endpoints included assessment of acute and late treatment toxicity, medication requirements, and charges related to the HDR-BT simulation and procedure. Methods and materials: Twenty-four consecutive women with early-stage endometrial cancer treated with adjuvant HDR-BT were evaluated. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed on the ratio of calculated to prescription BT dose at predefined dosimetric points. Data on acute and late toxicities, medication usage, and simulation charges were evaluated and compared. Results: The intravaginal cylinder was placed three times over 10–14 days (median 6.5Gy prescribed to 5mm). No substantial deviation in the means of the calculated ratios was observed except at the bladder point (mean 0.77±0.23). Early toxicity was found to be no greater than Grade 1 (n =5). Serious late toxicities were uncommon; one woman developed a Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Half of the women required prescription medication incident to simulation. The average simulation charge was $1252.80. Conclusions: Despite the broad range of doses calculated at the bladder point, genitourinary toxicity was minimal. Simulation proved useful in recording dose and represented a small, yet important portion of the total treatment charge but did not alter treatment in this series. The necessity of simulation for intracavitary high-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy remains unclear. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective. : The role of post-operative radiotherapy (RT) in women with early-stage, low to intermediate risk cancer of the uterine corpus remains controversial. The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate the survival outcomes of women with early-stage endometrial cancer treated with surgery alone or surgery followed by RT. Methods. : Data from two institutions were collected from 1990 to 2003. The 608 eligible women had FIGO stage IA to IIA endometrial cancer and underwent primary surgery±RT. Univariate and multivariate analyses of pertinent variables were performed for the end points of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results. : The median age for all women was 64 years. RT was delivered to 133 women (22%). Unfavorable histologic grade (P < 0.0001) and stage (P < 0.0001) were significantly more prevalent in the adjuvant RT group. At a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 26 pelvic (11 vaginal) and 16 distant failures occurred along with 110 deaths (with no significant differences between women undergoing surgery alone or followed by RT). Adjuvant RT, younger age, and lower stage predicted for improved DFS and OS on multivariate analysis. Stratified analysis revealed that adjuvant RT conferred a survival benefit in women with stage IC or IIA disease. Conclusions. : Adjuvant RT was associated with improved disease-free and overall survival in women with higher risk disease. Despite significantly worse disease characteristics among women in the adjuvant RT group, the analyzed end points were equivalent among the two groups. These findings suggest that adjuvant radiotherapy has a significant benefit in reducing mortality and disease progression in early-stage carcinoma of the uterine corpus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective.: To evaluate treatment outcomes in women with early-stage endometrial cancer (FIGO IA, IB, IC, or IIA) surgically managed by a general gynecologist (GYN) or a gynecologic oncologist (GYO). Methods and results.: 349 women treated from 1990–2003 were studied. Median follow-up was 3.7 years. Ninety-five were classified as high-intermediate risk (HIR: stages IB grade III, IC grade II or III, any stage IIA). 110 women received adjuvant radiotherapy. The GYO group had more unfavorable tumor characteristics based on stage and grade (P < 0.0001), shorter follow-up (median 3.1 vs. 5.1 years, P = 0.0002), and an absolute 12% less likelihood of receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.04). Local and distant failures were not significantly different. Overall survival favored GYN patients (P = 0.02) with no difference in disease-specific survival (P = 0.38). Multivariate analysis for disease-free survival revealed HIR disease (P = 0.04) and GYO treatment (P = 0.049) to be significant, with a trend for age ≤64 (P = 0.05). Multivariate analysis for overall survival found age ≤64 (P = 0.0001), HIR disease (P = 0.01), and adjuvant radiotherapy (P = 0.0055) to be significant. Conclusions.: Women primarily managed by a GYO for early-stage disease were significantly less likely to receive adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite significantly more unfavorable disease characteristics among GYO-managed women, disease-free and cause-specific survival were equivalent between the two groups. Favorable disease characteristics and adjuvant radiotherapy correlated with improved survival on multivariate analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]