New perspectives in radiation oncology: Young radiation oncologist point of view and challenges

AIM

To assess the role of the young radiation oncologist in the context of important recent advancements in the field of radiation oncology, and to explore new perspectives and competencies of the young radiation oncologist.

BACKGROUND

Radiation oncology is a field that has rapidly advanced over the last century. It holds a rich tradition of clinical care and evidence-based practice, and more recently has advanced with revolutionary innovations in technology and computer science, as well as pharmacology and molecular biology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Several young radiation oncologists from different countries evaluated the current status and future directions of radiation oncology.

RESULTS

For young radiation oncologists, it is important to reflect on the current practice and future directions of the specialty as it relates to the role of the radiation oncologist in the comprehensive management of cancer patients. Radiation oncologists are responsible for the radiation treatment provided to patients and its subsequent impact on patients' quality of life. Young radiation oncologists must proactively master new clinical, biological and technical information, as well as lead radiation oncology teams consisting of physicists, dosimetrists, nurses and technicians.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of the young radiation oncologist in the field of oncology should be proactive in developing new competencies. Above all, it is important to remember that we are dealing with the family members and loved ones of many individuals during the most difficult part of their lives.

Higher toxicity with 42 Gy in 10 fractions as a total dose for 3D-conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation: results from a dose escalation phase II trial

Objective

Recent recommendations regarding indications of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) have been put forward for selected breast cancer (BC) patients. However, some treatment planning parameters, such as total dose, are not yet well defined. The Institut Gustave Roussy has initiated a dose escalation trial at the 40 Gy/10 fractions/5 days and at a further step of total dose (TD) of 42 Gy/10 fractions/ 5 days. Here, we report early results of the latest step compared with the 40 Gy dose level.

Methods and materials

From October 2007 to March 2010, a total of 48 pT1N0 BC patients were enrolled within this clinical trial: 17 patients at a TD of 42 Gy/10f/5d and 31 at a TD of 40 Gy/10f/5d. Median follow-up was 19 months (min-max, 12–26). All the patients were treated by APBI using a technique with 2 minitangents and an “enface” electrons delivering 20% of the total dose. Toxicities were systematically assessed at 1; 2; 6 months and then every 6 months.

Results

Patients’ recruitment of 42 Gy step was ended owing to persistent grade 3 toxicity 6 months after APBI completion (n = 1). Early toxicities were statistically higher after a total dose of 42 Gy regarding grade ≥2 dry (p = 0.01) and moist (p = 0.05) skin desquamation. Breast pain was also statistically higher in the 42 Gy step compared to 40 Gy step (p = 0.02). Other late toxicities (grade ≥2 fibrosis and telangectasia) were not statistically different between 42 Gy and 40 Gy.

Conclusions

Early toxicities were more severe and higher rates of late toxicities were observed after 42 Gy/10 fractions/5 days when compared to 40 Gy/10 fractions/5 days. This data suggest that 40 Gy/10 fractions/ 5 days could potentially be the maximum tolerance for PBI although longer follow-up is warranted to better assess late toxicities.

Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy for newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas: feasibility and long-term outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT) is an alternative to dose escalation for the treatment of central nervous system tumors. The objective of this study was to describe the feasibility and long-term outcomes of IOERT in the treatment of primary and recurrent gliomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 1992 through December 2002, all patients treated with IOERT at the Hospital San Francisco de Asis, Madrid/Spain were retrospectively reviewed. The selection criteria included patients with superficial tumors, KPS >70 % and lesions <6 cm. Irradiation was administered in one section. The prescribed dose considered the amount of post-resection residual tumor, previous radiotherapy and the tolerance level of brain structures exposed to IOERT.

RESULTS

There were 17 patients (53 %) with newly diagnosed malignant brain gliomas and 15 patients with recurrent tumors. The delivered dose varied from 8 to 20 Gy (median 12.5 Gy) for primary and from 8 to 16 Gy (median 10 Gy) for recurrent tumors. The median overall survival for the entire cohort was 13 months (14 and 10.4 months for the primary and recurrent, respectively). Three patients presented with radionecrosis, one patient with osteomyelitis at the craniotomy bone flap, one with intracerebral hemorrhage, and another patient experienced a pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSIONS

IOERT is a feasible technique and can be viewed as a tool in the treatment of newly diagnosed or recurrent brain gliomas.

[Conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation: state of the art]

Breast conserving treatment (breast conserving surgery followed by whole breast irradiation) has commonly been used in early breast cancer since many years. New radiation modalities have been recently developed in early breast cancers, particularly accelerated partial breast irradiation. Three-dimensional conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation is the most commonly used modality of radiotherapy. Other techniques are currently being developed, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, arctherapy, and tomotherapy. The present article reviews the indications, treatment modalities and side effects of accelerated partial breast irradiation.

Preoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer: Tumor response and patient outcome after 26 years of median follow-up

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Background: Preoperative radiotherapy (PreopRT) in locally advanced breast cancer patients (LABC) has been rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to determine if pathological response to PreopRT could have prognostic value on locoregional control and survival.

Methods: From 1970 to 1984, 203 LABC patients were treated by PreopRT, delivering 45Gy in 25 fractions to the breast, supraclavicular fossa, axilla and ipsilateral internal mammary chain. After a median interval of 38 days (range: 5-121 days), radical mastectomy and axillary dissection was performed independently of radiation response. Chemotherapy or endocrine therapy was prescribed according to physician discretion in 28% and 11% of patients, respectively. Premenopausal patients underwent ovarian ablation. Median follow-up was 26 years. Locoregional control (LRC), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, the comparison of survival between groups was performed using the log-rank test, multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model.

Results: Thirty-three patients (16.2%) had a pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast. The 10- and 20-year Kaplan-Meier LC were 90% (95% confidence interval CI: 85-94%) and 84% (95% CI: 77-89%), respectively. The 10 and 20-years DFS were 49% (CI: 42-55%) and 35% (CI: 29-42%), and the 10 and 20-years OS, 56% (CI: 49-63%) and 41% (CI: 35-48%), in that order. Patients with pCR tended to have better DFS (p=0.06) and OS (p=0.07) when compared to patients with partial response or stable/progressive disease. Having a pCR did not significantly influenced LRC (p=0.44). Multivariate analysis showed that a lower number of positive nodes on axillary dissection and younger age were associated with better DFS (p<0.0001 and p=0.02) and OS (p<0.0001 and p=0.007).

Conclusions: LCR achieved by PreopRT followed by radical mastectomy in LABC was excellent in this study, despite few patients having adjuvant systemic therapy. Complete pathologic response defined a subgroup of women with a trend toward better DFS and OS. Older patients and those with a higher number of involved axillary nodes had a worse prognosis.

Helical tomotherapy in the treatment of pediatric malignancies: a preliminary report of feasibility and acute toxicity

Background

Radiation therapy plays a central role in the management of many childhood malignancies and Helical Tomotherapy (HT) provides potential to decrease toxicity by limiting the radiation dose to normal structures. The aim of this article was to report preliminary results of our clinical experience with HT in pediatric malignancies.

Methods

In this study 66 consecutive patients younger than 14 years old, treated with HT at our center between January 2006 and April 2010, have been included. We performed statistical analyses to assess the relationship between acute toxicity, graded according to the RTOG criteria, and several clinical and treatment characteristics such as a dose and irradiation volume.

Results

The median age of patients was 5 years. The most common tumor sites were: central nervous system (57%), abdomen (17%) and thorax (6%). The most prevalent histological types were: medulloblastoma (16 patients), neuroblastoma (9 patients) and rhabdomyosarcoma (7 patients). A total of 52 patients were treated for primary disease and 14 patients were treated for recurrent tumors. The majority of the patients (72%) were previously treated with chemotherapy. The median prescribed dose was 51 Gy (range 10-70 Gy). In 81% of cases grade 1 or 2 acute toxicity was observed. There were 11 cases (16,6%) of grade 3 hematological toxicity, two cases of grade 3 skin toxicity and one case of grade 3 emesis. Nine patients (13,6%) had grade 4 hematological toxicity. There were no cases of grade 4 non-hematological toxicities. On the univariate analysis, total dose and craniospinal irradiation (24 cases) were significantly associated with severe toxicity (grade 3 or more), whereas age and chemotherapy were not. On the multivariate analysis, craniospinal irradiation was the only significant independent risk factor for grade 3-4 toxicity.

Conclusion

HT in pediatric population is feasible and safe treatment modality. It is characterized by an acceptable level of acute toxicity that we have seen in this highly selected pediatric patient cohort with clinical features of poor prognosis and/or aggressive therapy needed. Despite of a dosimetrical advantage of HT technique, an exhaustive analysis of long-term follow-up data is needed to assess late toxicity, especially in this potentially sensitive to radiation population.

A Case of RhabdomyoSarcoma Following a Metal Surgical Implant

Patient. We report a 51-year-old male presenting with Grade III rhabdomyosarcoma.

Discussion. A case of rhabdomyosarcoma which developed in proximity to a metal surgical implant is described. Few cases have been reported in the world in humans.The therapeutic approach to the disease is presented, together with a brief review of literature.