Phase I study of stereotactic body radiation therapy for peripheral T2N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (JCOG0702): Results for the group with PTV⩾100cc

PURPOSE

A dose escalation study to determine the recommended dose (RD) with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for peripheral T2N0M0 non-small cell carcinomas (NSCLC) was conducted. The results of the group with PTV⩾100cc are reported in this paper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The continual reassessment method (CRM) was used to determine the dose level that patients should be assigned to and to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was Grade 3 or higher radiation pneumonitis (RP), and Grade 2 or higher RP was used as a surrogate DLT. The RD was equal to the MTD. The dose was prescribed at D₉₅ of the PTV.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were accrued. More patients should have been enrolled but we decided not to prolong the study period. No patients experienced Grade 3 RP. Two patients experienced Grade 2 RP at 50Gy in 4 fractions. The predicted MTD was 50.2Gy. The posterior probability of the Grade 2 RP frequency over 40% was 5.3% for the dose level of 50Gy. The RD was determined to be 50Gy.

CONCLUSIONS

The RD was determined to be 50Gy in 4 fractions in this population.

Metabolic tumor volume on FDG-PET/CT is a possible prognostic factor for Stage I lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy: a retrospective clinical study

The aim of this study was to determine whether metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) are associated with outcomes in Stage I lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Thirty-eight patients underwent [¹⁸F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT) within 60 days before SBRT at our institution between January 2001 and December 2011. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), MTV₂, MTV₄, MTV₆, TLG_40%, TLG_50% and TLG_60% were calculated. Prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) were analyzed using Cox's proportional hazards model, and survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves of PET parameters for OS and LC were calculated. The median follow-up period for survivors was 37.7 months. Three-year OS and LC rates were 56.4% and 70.5%, respectively, and 5-year OS and LC rates were 36.8% and 70.5%, respectively. In univariate analyses, tumor diameter (P = 0.019), single dose ≥10 Gy (P = 0.017), MTV₂ (P = 0.030) and MTV₄ (P = 0.048) were significant predictors for OS. Tumor diameter (P < 0.001), single dose ≥10 Gy (P = 0.007), SUV_max (P = 0.035), MTV₂ (P < 0.001), MTV₄ (P = 0.003), MTV₆ (P = 0.017), TLG_40% (P < 0.001), TLG_50% (P = 0.001) and TLG_60% (P = 0.003) were significant predictors for LC. SUVmax was not a significant predictor for OS. We made the ROC curves at PET parameters, and the largest area under the curve value for OS was MTV₂ and for LC was TLG_40% Tumor diameter, single dose ≥10 Gy, MTV2 and MTV₄ are prognostic factors for OS and LC rates and MTV₂ is a better prognostic factor for OS than other PET parameters.

Improvement of neurological disorders in postmenopausal model rats by administration of royal jelly

OBJECTIVE

Royal jelly (RJ) from honeybees (Apis mellifera) has estrogenic activity. Estrogen deficiency after menopause leads to a high risk of memory impairment and depression as well as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis. We here investigated the effect of RJ on memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

METHODS

OVX rats were administered with RJ for 82 days. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory and depression-like behaviors were assessed by the Morris water maze test and the forced swimming test, respectively. The weights of body, brain and uterus and the contents of protein and myelin galactolipids including galactosylceramide and sulfatide were measured.

RESULTS

Memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by RJ administration. Increased body weight and decreased uterine weight in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by 17β-estradiol (E2) administration but not by RJ administration. In contrast, brain weight was slightly increased by RJ administration but not by E2 administration. The contents of protein and myelin galactolipids were higher in the brains of RJ-administered OVX rats than in the brains of E2-administered OVX rats.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that RJ has a beneficial effect on neurological symptoms of a menopausal disorder.

Comparison of visual biofeedback system with a guiding waveform and abdomen-chest motion self-control system for respiratory motion management

Irregular breathing can influence the outcome of 4D computed tomography imaging and cause artifacts. Visual biofeedback systems associated with a patient-specific guiding waveform are known to reduce respiratory irregularities. In Japan, abdomen and chest motion self-control devices (Abches) (representing simpler visual coaching techniques without a guiding waveform) are used instead; however, no studies have compared these two systems to date. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of respiratory coaching in reducing respiratory irregularities by comparing two respiratory management systems. We collected data from 11 healthy volunteers. Bar and wave models were used as visual biofeedback systems. Abches consisted of a respiratory indicator indicating the end of each expiration and inspiration motion. Respiratory variations were quantified as root mean squared error (RMSE) of displacement and period of breathing cycles. All coaching techniques improved respiratory variation, compared with free-breathing. Displacement RMSEs were 1.43 ± 0.84, 1.22 ± 1.13, 1.21 ± 0.86 and 0.98 ± 0.47 mm for free-breathing, Abches, bar model and wave model, respectively. Period RMSEs were 0.48 ± 0.42, 0.33 ± 0.31, 0.23 ± 0.18 and 0.17 ± 0.05 s for free-breathing, Abches, bar model and wave model, respectively. The average reduction in displacement and period RMSE compared with the wave model were 27% and 47%, respectively. For variation in both displacement and period, wave model was superior to the other techniques. Our results showed that visual biofeedback combined with a wave model could potentially provide clinical benefits in respiratory management, although all techniques were able to reduce respiratory irregularities.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis

Eleven patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenotic lesions underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Seven patients had stenosis in M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), two in the cavernous internal carotid artery, one in M2 segment of the MCA and one in the P2 segment of the posterior cerebral artery. Initial successful dilatation (less than 50% residual stenosis) was obtained in nine patients (81.8%). Permanent neurological deficit related to PTA was seen in one patient and transient symptoms were observed in two. Re-stenosis was revealed in two cases (18.2%) in the early follow-up period. All patients with successful dilatation and without re-stenosis never had TIA or stroke after PTA. Intracranial PTA is an effective procedure, but several problems remain to be solved.

Renal atrophy after stereotactic body radiotherapy for renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Renal atrophy is observed in an irradiated kidney. The aim of this study was to determine dose-volume histogram parameters and other factors that predict renal atrophy after 10-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

A total of 14 patients (11 males, 3 females) who received SBRT for RCC at Tohoku University Hospital between April 2010 and February 2014 were analyzed. The median serum creatinine level was 1.1 mg/dl and two patients had a single kidney. Nine patients were implanted with fiducial markers. The median tumor diameter was 30 mm. SBRT was delivered at 70 Gy in 10 fractions for 7 tumors, at 60 Gy in 10 fractions for 2 tumors, and at 50 Gy in 10 fractions for 5 tumors with 6 and/or 15 MV X-ray using 5 to 8 multi-static beams. Renal atrophy was assessed using post-SBRT CT images after 12-24 months intervals. Correlations were examined by Spearman rank correlation analysis. Differences between two groups were evaluated by the Mann-Whitney test, and pairwise comparisons were made by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

The median tumor volume shrunk from 14.8 cc to 10.6 cc (p = 0.12), and the median irradiated kidney volume changed from 160.4 cc to 137.1 cc (p < .01). The median peak creatinine level was 1.6 mg/dl after treatment (p < .01). Percentage volumes of the irradiated kidney receiving at least 10 Gy (V10, p = 0.03), V20 (p < .01), V30(p < .01), V40 (p = 0.01), mean irradiated kidney dose (p < .01), and magnitude of overlap between PTV and kidney volume (p = 0.03) were significantly correlated with post-treatment irradiated kidney volume in percent, and V20-V30 had strong correlation (r < -0.70, p < .01). Patients with implanted fiducial markers showed a significantly lower ratio of renal atrophy (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant renal atrophic change was observed. Dose distribution of SBRT at 20-30 Gy had a strong correlation with renal atrophy when irradiation was performed in 10 fractions.

Quantification of residual dose estimation error on log file-based patient dose calculation

PURPOSE

The log file-based patient dose estimation includes a residual dose estimation error caused by leaf miscalibration, which cannot be reflected on the estimated dose. The purpose of this study is to determine this residual dose estimation error.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Modified log files for seven head-and-neck and prostate volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans simulating leaf miscalibration were generated by shifting both leaf banks (systematic leaf gap errors: ±2.0, ±1.0, and ±0.5mm in opposite directions and systematic leaf shifts: ±1.0mm in the same direction) using MATLAB-based (MathWorks, Natick, MA) in-house software. The generated modified and non-modified log files were imported back into the treatment planning system and recalculated. Subsequently, the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) was quantified for the definition of the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risks.

RESULTS

For MLC leaves calibrated within ±0.5mm, the quantified residual dose estimation errors that obtained from the slope of the linear regression of gEUD changes between non- and modified log file doses per leaf gap are in head-and-neck plans 1.32±0.27% and 0.82±0.17Gy for PTV and spinal cord, respectively, and in prostate plans 1.22±0.36%, 0.95±0.14Gy, and 0.45±0.08Gy for PTV, rectum, and bladder, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this work, we determine the residual dose estimation errors for VMAT delivery using the log file-based patient dose calculation according to the MLC calibration accuracy.

Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Advanced Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with a poor prognosis. We herein report on a case of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma that was treated successfully by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A 65-year-old man was diagnosed to have pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (clinical T4N2M0 stage IIIB). He received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (60 Gy of radiotherapy in 30 fractionations and two courses of chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel). After chemoradiotherapy, a significant reduction of the tumor size was observed. Two courses of adjuvant chemotherapy were performed. He is currently alive at 15 months after the first treatment without any recurrence or metastasis.

Long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for stage II-III thoracic esophageal cancer in a single institution after 2000 -with a focus on comparison of three protocols

Background

To evaluate the long-term results of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for stage II-III thoracic esophageal cancer mainly by comparing results of three protocols retrospectively.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2012, 298 patients with stage II-III thoracic esophageal cancer underwent CRT. Patients in Group A received two cycles of cisplatin (CDDP) at 70 mg/m² (day 1 and 29) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at 700 mg/m²/24 h (day 1–4 and 29–32) with radiotherapy (RT) of 60 Gy without a break. Patients in Group B received two cycles of CDDP at 40 mg/m² (day 1, 8, 36 and 43) and 5-FU at 400 mg/m²/24 h (day 1–5, 8–12, 36–40 and 43–47) with RT of 60 Gy with a 2-week break. Patients in Group C received two cycles of nedaplatin at 70 mg/m² (day 1 and 29) and 5-FU at 500 mg/m²/24 h (day 1–4 and 29–32) with RT of 60–70 Gy without a break. Differences in prognostic factors between the groups were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The 5-year overall survival rates for patients in Group A, Group B and Group C were 52.4, 45.2 and 37.2 %, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients in Stage II, Stage III (non-T4) and Stage III (T4) were 64.0, 40.1 and 22.5 %, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates for patients who received 1 cycle and 2 cycles of concomitant chemotherapy were 27.9 and 46.0 %, respectively. In univariate analysis, stage, performance status and number of concomitant chemotherapy cycles were significant prognostic factors (p < 0.001, p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, stage, protocol and number of concomitant chemotherapy cycles were significant factors (p < 0.001, p = 0.043 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

The protocol used in Group A may be an effective protocol of CRT for esophageal cancer. It may be important to complete the scheduled concomitant chemotherapy with the appropriate intensity of CRT.

Chemoradiotherapy for T4 and/or M1 lymph node esophageal cancer: experience since 2000 at a high-volume center in Japan

PURPOSE

To review data for patients with stage T4 and/or M1 lymph node (lym) esophageal cancer who have been treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy since 2000 at a high-volume center in Japan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients with T4 and/or M1 lym esophageal cancer who were treated by definitive chemoradiotherapy between 2000 and 2010. The eligibility criteria included (1) histopathologically proven esophageal cancer, (2) T4 and/or M1 lym (UICC 2002), (3) 20-79 years of age, (4) having undergone at least 1 cycle of concomitant chemotherapy, (5) having been irradiated with ≥ 50 Gy, and (6) having no other active malignant tumor during treatment. Toxicity was graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v3.0).

RESULTS

Data from 128 patients (70 with clinical stage III, 58 with clinical stage IV) were used for analysis in this study. The median observation period for survivors was 46.3 months. The 2- and 4-year overall survival rates were 32.8 and 24.4 %, respectively. The overall survival of patients without M1 lym was significantly better than that of patients with Ml lym (4-year, 32.6 vs 11.7 %, log-rank test; p = 0.04). Overall survival in more recent patients (2006-2010) did not show improvement when compared with past patients (2000-2005). Eight patients had late toxicities of grade ≥3.

CONCLUSIONS

T4 patients without M1 lym showed a relatively good 4-year survival rate of approximately 33 %; however, the results did not show significant improvement after 2000.

Assessment of myocardial metabolic disorder associated with mediastinal radiotherapy for esophageal cancer -a pilot study

Background

To evaluate the dose-effect relations for myocardial metabolic disorders after mediastinal radiotherapy (RT) by performing iodine-123 β-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (I-123 BMIPP) scintigraphy.

Methods

Between 2011 and 2012, we performed I-123 BMIPP scintigraphy for patients with esophageal cancer before and six months after curative mediastinal RT. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images of pre-RT and post-RT were registered into RT dose distributions. The myocardium was contoured, and the regional RT dose was calculated. Normalization is required to compare pre- and post-RT SPECT images because the uptake pattern is changed due to the breathing level. Normalization was applied on the mean of SPECT counts in regions of the myocardium receiving less than 5 Gy. Relative values in each dose region (interval of 5 Gy) were calculated on the basis of this normalization for each patient. The reduction in the percent of relative values was calculated.

Results

Five patients were enrolled in this study. None of the patients had a past history of cardiac disease. The left ventricle was partially involved in RT fields in all patients. The patients received RT with median total doses of 60-66 Gy for the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes. Concomitant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin or nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil with RT was performed in 4 patients. All patients had reduced uptake corresponding to RT fields. Dose-effect relations for reduced uptake tended to be observed at 6 months after RT with mean decreases of 8.96% in regions at 10-15 Gy, 12.6% in regions at 20-25 Gy, 15.6% in regions at 30-35 Gy, 19.0% in regions at 40-45 Gy and 16.0% in regions at 50-55 Gy.

Conclusions

Dose-effect relations for myocardial metabolic disorders tended to be observed. We may need to make an effort to reduce high-dose mediastinal RT to the myocardium in RT planning.

Dosimetric impact of 4-dimensional computed tomography ventilation imaging-based functional treatment planning for stereotactic body radiation therapy with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to clarify the dosimetric impact of 4-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT)-derived, ventilation-guided functional avoidance for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eleven lung cancer patients with peripheral tumors no greater than 5 cm in size were studied (average planning target volume, 42.4 ± 32.5 cm(3)). Four-dimensional-CT ventilation imaging was performed using deformable image registration for spatial mapping of the peak-exhale 4D-CT image to the peak-inhale 4D-CT image and computation of the Jacobian-based ventilation metric. For each patient, anatomical and functional plans were created using 7 to 9 noncoplanar beams for SBRT (40-56 Gy/4-8 fractions). The anatomical plan was generated without incorporating ventilation information. In the functional plan, functional dose-volume constraints were applied in planning to spare the high-functional lung that was defined as the 90th percentile functional volume. The beam directions of the 2 plans were automatically determined by beam angle optimization.

RESULTS

The percentage of volume receiving a dose of ≥5 Gy (V5), V10, V20, and mean dose to the high-functional lung were 20.5%, 15.6%, 7.8%, and 4.6 Gy, respectively, for the anatomical plan, whereas they were 12.3%, 8.2%, 4.6%, and 3.2 Gy, respectively, for the functional plan. No significant differences in minimum dose, maximum dose, and conformity index of the planning target volume and in all dosimetric parameters for normal tissues between the anatomical and functional plans were seen.

CONCLUSIONS

We compared anatomical and functional plans for SBRT with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for the first time. Our results demonstrated that a functional plan for SBRT reduced the dose in the high-functional regions without a significant change in the total lung or planning target volume even if the radiation technique cannot modulate beam intensity. Thus, this technique can be safely used in functional planning for SBRT.