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Nosrati JD, Ma D, Bloom B, Kapur A, Sidiqi BU, Thakur R, Tchelebi LT, Herman JM, Adair N, Potters L, Chen WC. Treatment Terminations During Radiation Therapy: A 10-Year Experience. Pract Radiat Oncol 2024:S1879-8500(24)00142-5. [PMID: 38972541 DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2024.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients undergoing radiation therapy may terminate treatment for any number of reasons. The incidence of treatment termination (TT) during radiation therapy has not been studied. Herein, we present a cohort of TT at a large multicenter radiation oncology department over 10 years. METHODS AND MATERIALS TTs between January 2013 and January 2023 were prospectively analyzed as part of an ongoing departmental quality and safety program. TT was defined as any premature discontinuation of therapy after initiating radiation planning. The rate of TT was calculated as a percentage of all patients starting radiation planning. All cases were presented at monthly morbidity and mortality conferences with a root cause reviewed. RESULTS A total of 1448 TTs were identified out of 31,199 planned courses of care (4.6%). Six hundred eighty-six (47.4%) involved patients treated with curative intent, whereas 753 (52.0%) were treated with palliative intent, and 9 (0.6%) were treated for benign disease. The rate of TT decreased from 8.49% in 2013 to 3.02% in 2022, with rates decreasing yearly. The most common disease sites for TT were central nervous system (21.7%), head and neck (19.3%), thorax (17.5%), and bone (14.2%). The most common causes of TT were hospice and/or patient expiration (35.9%), patient choice unrelated to toxicity (35.2%), and clinician choice unrelated to toxicity (11.5%). CONCLUSIONS This 10-year prospective review of TTs identified a year-over-year decrease in TTs as a percentage of planned patients. This decrease may be associated with the addition of root cause reviews for TTs and discussions monthly at morbidity and mortality rounds, coupled with departmental upstream quality initiatives implemented over time. Understanding the reasons behind TTs may help decrease preventable TTs. Although some TTs may be unavoidable, open discourse and quality improvement changes effectively reduce TT incidents over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Nosrati
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Daniel Ma
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Beatrice Bloom
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Ajay Kapur
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Baho U Sidiqi
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Richa Thakur
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Leila T Tchelebi
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Joseph M Herman
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Nilda Adair
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Louis Potters
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - William C Chen
- Northwell, New Hyde Park, New York; Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York.
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O'Leary C, Cleary S, Linane H, Hamilton B, Jennings M, Lee Y, Lavan N, O'Reilly M, Twomey M. Palliative radiotherapy and the introduction of a Rapid Access Palliative Clinic in a national radiation oncology network. Ir J Med Sci 2024; 193:577-583. [PMID: 37606800 PMCID: PMC10961263 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-023-03494-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is commonly used to treat symptoms of advanced cancer. PRT has been associated with elevated 30-day mortality (30DM). A Rapid Access Palliative Clinic (RAPC) can streamline the treatment process for patients receiving treatment. AIMS We reviewed the PRT practices in a radiation oncology network in Ireland, and the implementation of a RAPC. Patient outcomes were assessed to inform future treatment decisions. METHODS A retrospective review of all patients who received PRT over 6 months in 2018 in St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) was undertaken. We assessed 30DM rates, demographics and referral to specialist palliative care (SPC) services. Subsequently, a retrospective analysis was conducted of a RAPC which ran for 6 months from 2019 to 2020. We assessed treatment data and mortality. RESULTS Over 6 months, 645 patients commenced PRT in the SLRON. The 30DM for this cohort was 15.8% (n = 102), with most patients having lung primaries. Of the 30DM cohort, only 55% (n = 56) were referred to SPC services and only 26.4% (n = 27) had performance status recorded. Over 6 months, 40 patients attended 28 RAPCs. Of these, 88% (n = 35) received PRT. Single fraction therapy was utilised in 60% and 48% of patients underwent CT simulation and treatment on the same day. Ultimately, 75% of patients received SPC referral. CONCLUSIONS Referral rates to SPC services and documentation of performance status were low in our 30DM retrospective review cohort. The RAPC facilitated quick treatment turnaround, fewer hospital visits and referral to SPC services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cian O'Leary
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland.
| | - Sinead Cleary
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Hannah Linane
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Barbara Hamilton
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Michelle Jennings
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Yvonne Lee
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Naomi Lavan
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Maeve O'Reilly
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
| | - Marie Twomey
- St. Luke's Hospital Rathgar, Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland
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Guan TL, Kutzko JH, Lunn DP, Dunn NA, Burmeister BH, Dadwal P, Tran N, Holt TR. Utility of 30-day mortality as a quality metric for palliative radiation treatment: A population-based analysis from Queensland, Australia. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2024; 68:316-324. [PMID: 38500454 DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.13633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is frequently used to treat symptoms of advanced cancer, however benefits are questionable when life expectancy is limited. The 30-day mortality rate after PRT is a potential quality indicator, and results from a recent meta-analysis suggest a benchmark of 16% as an upper limit. In this population-based study from Queensland, Australia, we examined 30-day mortality rates following PRT and factors associated with decreased life expectancy. METHODS Retrospective population data from Queensland Oncology Repository was used. Study population data included 22,501 patients diagnosed with an invasive cancer who died from any cause between 2008 and 2017 and had received PRT. Thirty-day mortality rates were determined from the date of last PRT fraction to date of death. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors independently associated with risk of death within 30 days of PRT. RESULTS Overall 30-day mortality after PRT was 22.2% with decreasing trend in more recent years (P = 0.001). Male (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.13-1.27); receiving 5 or less radiotherapy fractions (HR = 2.97, 95% CI = 2.74-3.22 and HR = 2.17, 95% CI = 2.03-2.32, respectively) and receiving PRT in a private compared to public facility (HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.51-1.71) was associated with decreased survival. CONCLUSION The 30-day mortality rate in Queensland following PRT is higher than expected and there is scope to reduce unnecessarily protracted treatment schedules. We encourage other Australian and New Zealand centres to examine and report their own 30-day mortality rate following PRT and would support collaboration for 30-day mortality to become a national and international quality metric for radiation oncology centres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey L Guan
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Justin H Kutzko
- Queensland Cancer Control Safety and Quality Partnership, Radiation Oncology Sub-Committee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- William Osler Health System, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dominic P Lunn
- Queensland Cancer Control Safety and Quality Partnership, Radiation Oncology Sub-Committee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ICON, Gold Coast University Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ICON, Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nathan Am Dunn
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bryan H Burmeister
- Queensland Cancer Control Safety and Quality Partnership, Radiation Oncology Sub-Committee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- GenesisCare, St Stephen's Hospital (Oncology), Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
- University of Queensland Rural Clinical School, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
| | - Parvati Dadwal
- Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nancy Tran
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tanya R Holt
- Queensland Cancer Control Safety and Quality Partnership, Radiation Oncology Sub-Committee, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ICON, Greenslopes Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital - ROPART, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Golob N, Oblak T, Čavka L, Kušar M, Šeruga B. Aggressive anticancer treatment in the last 2 weeks of life. ESMO Open 2024; 9:102937. [PMID: 38471241 PMCID: PMC10944113 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2024.102937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a concern that terminally ill cancer patients may be aggressively treated due to the rapidly growing possibilities of anticancer treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of anticancer treatment at the end of life (EoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included adult patients with advanced solid cancers who were treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana and died of cancer between January 2015 and December 2019. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess an association between the aggressiveness of anticancer treatment (i.e. systemic therapy, radiotherapy and surgery) in the last 2 weeks of life and year of death, age at death, sex, prognosis of cancer and enrolment into the specialist palliative care (SPC). RESULTS We included 1736 patients in our analysis. Overall, 13.7% of patients were enrolled into the SPC and 14.4% received anticancer treatment in the last 2 weeks of life. The odds of receiving anticancer treatment significantly increased over time [odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.27]. There was an increased use of novel systemic therapy (e.g. small-molecule targeted therapy and immunotherapy) at the EoL. Older patients had significantly lower odds to receive anticancer treatment in the last 2 weeks of life as compared to younger patients (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98). As compared to patients receiving only a standard oncology care, those also enrolled into the SPC had significantly lower odds for anticancer treatment in the last 2 weeks of life (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.12-0.43). CONCLUSIONS Terminally ill cancer patients have increased odds for receiving anticancer treatment, especially novel systemic therapies, in the last 2 weeks of life. Younger patients and those not enrolled into the SPC are at particular risk for anticancer treatment at the EoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Golob
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana; Department of Acute Palliative Care, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana
| | - T Oblak
- Epidemiology and Cancer Registry, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana
| | - L Čavka
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana; Department of Oncology, University Medical Center Maribor, Maribor
| | - M Kušar
- Institute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana
| | - B Šeruga
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana; Division of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Vargas A. Audit of 30-day mortality following palliative radiotherapy: are we able to improve patient care at the end of life? Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2024; 28:720-727. [PMID: 38515815 PMCID: PMC10954262 DOI: 10.5603/rpor.97734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Several measurements defining the expected 30-day mortality (30-DM) to use in audit of radiation oncology departments have been proposed. However, its external validity is limited because of the lack of data from non-English speaking countries. This study assessed 30-DM in patients treated with palliative radiotherapy (PRT) in a Chilean-reference radiotherapy centre and explored if there had been tailored treatment at the end of life. Materials and methods Retrospective data collection was carried out for all patients treated at our institution between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2021. Individual factors were modelled first to check for univariate association with 30-DM, those variables with a significance level of < 0.05 were considered for the final multivariable model. Results 3,357 patients were included. The most common primary malignancies were breast (22%) and lung (16.1%). The most common treatment sites were bone (47.7%) and brain (12.2%). Overall, 30-DM was 14.7%, this rate was higher in patients treated for brain metastases (25.7%) and thoracic palliation (22.1%). 30-DM was associated with poor performance status (p < 0.01), lung and esophageal-gastric cancer (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively), metastases other than bone (p < 0.01), brain metastases (p < 0.01) and private health insurance (p <0.01). Conclusions In patients treated for brain metastasis and thoracic palliation 30-DM was higher than suggested benchmarks. Moreover, in these groups long courses of PRT were often performed. Audit data should be useful for planning interventions that improve selection of patients and prompting review of policies for indication and fractionation schedules of PRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Vargas
- Radiation Oncology Department, Clínica Instituto de Radiomedicina (IRAM), Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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Rizvi F, Korst MR, Young M, Habib MH, Kra JA, Shah A, Mayer TM, Saraiya B, Jarrín OF, Mattes MD. Pilot Study Evaluating Cross-Disciplinary Educational Material to Improve Patients' Knowledge of Palliative Radiation Therapy. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER EDUCATION 2023; 38:1466-1470. [PMID: 36905555 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-023-02283-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Palliative radiation therapy (PRT) is underutilized, partially due to misconceptions about its risks, benefits, and indications. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if patients with metastatic cancer would gain knowledge from educational material describing PRT and perceive it as useful in their care. A one-page handout conveying information about the purpose, logistics, benefits, risks, and common indications for PRT was offered to patients undergoing treatment for incurable, metastatic solid tumors in one palliative care clinic and four medical oncology clinics. Participants read the handout, then completed a questionnaire assessing its perceived value. Seventy patients participated between June and December 2021. Sixty-five patients (93%) felt they learned from the handout (40% learned "lots"), and 69 (99%) felt the information was useful (53% "very useful"). Twenty-one patients (30%) were previously unaware that PRT can relieve symptoms, 55 (79%) were unaware that PRT can be delivered in five treatments or less, and 43 (61%) were unaware that PRT usually has few side effects. Sixteen patients (23%) felt they currently had symptoms not being treated well enough, and 34 (49%) felt they had symptoms that radiation might help with. Afterwards, most patients felt more comfortable bringing symptoms to a medical oncologist's (n = 57, 78%) or radiation oncologist's (n = 51, 70%) attention. Patient-directed educational material about PRT, provided outside of a radiation oncology department, was perceived by patients as improving their knowledge and adding value in their care, independent of prior exposure to a radiation oncologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faryal Rizvi
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Mark R Korst
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | | | - Muhammad Hamza Habib
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Joshua A Kra
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ankit Shah
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Tina M Mayer
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Biren Saraiya
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Olga F Jarrín
- School of Nursing, Rutgers, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Malcolm D Mattes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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Silva SB, Barreto RB, de Oliveira FCG, Martin GSD, Takiguchi OMY, Chirichela IA, Miranda MHF, Bodnar D, Alves Reis LA, Pereira GCB, Miranda IL, Pereira BR, Arruda GV, Peria FM. Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases Near the End of Life: Characterizing Patients and Tumor Features. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300143. [PMID: 37883725 PMCID: PMC10664862 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with brain metastases are often referred for brain radiotherapy (BrRT) when exclusive palliative management would be more appropriate. To assess the indication of BrRT during end-of-life (EOL) care and evaluate the characteristics of the patients who underwent the treatment. METHODS This retrospective study comprised patients from four independent oncology centers who had undergone BrRT for metastases. The variables included were Karnofsky performance status (KPS), primary tumor site, metastatic status, neurologic symptomatic status, the number and size of metastases, posterior fossa or meningeal involvement, type of BrRT, having undergone brain metastasectomy, and the availability of systemic therapies after BrRT. Patients were allocated into three subgroups with ≤30, 31-60, and 61-90 days of survival, and a control group of patients who survived >90 days. RESULTS A total of 546 patients were included in the study. A KPS of <70 (P = .021), the number of brain metastases (P = .001), the lack of brain metastasectomy (P = .006), and the lack of systemic therapies after BrRT (P = .047) were significantly associated with the EOL subgroups. Multivariate analysis showed that a KPS of <70 (P < .001), the lack of brain metastasectomy (P = .015), and the lack of systemic therapies after BrRT (P = .027) were significantly associated with worse survival. In all, 241 (44.1%) patients died within 90 days-120 (22.0%) within 30 days, 75 (13.7%) within 31-60 days, and 46 (8.4%) within 61-90 days of BrRT. Patients with colorectal cancer were significantly more likely to die within 90 days of BrRT than >90 days. CONCLUSION Considering patients' performance status and whether they are candidates for brain metastasectomy or systemic therapies after BrRT is critical to improving BrRT benefits in scenarios of EOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saulo Brito Silva
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gabriela Schmidt Defende Martin
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ofelia Maria Yukie Takiguchi
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Iasmin Alves Chirichela
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Denize Bodnar
- Centro de Pesquisas Oncológicas—CEPON, Florianópolis, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Gustavo Viani Arruda
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Maris Peria
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology, and Oncology; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Thabet C, Wheatley-Price P, Moore S. Medical Assistance in Dying in Patients With Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract 2023; 19:819-827. [PMID: 37582243 DOI: 10.1200/op.22.00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in 2016. To date, patients with cancer account for 69% of MAiD deaths, yet little information is available about these patients. We reviewed disease and treatment characteristics of patients with cancer who underwent MAiD to better understand this population and identify gaps in our current system of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with cancer who underwent MAiD through the Champlain Regional MAiD Network from June 2016 to November 2020 were reviewed. Baseline demographic, diagnostic, and treatment details were collected by retrospective review. RESULTS During the study period, 255 patients with cancer underwent MAiD. At the time of MAiD, 201 patients (79%) had metastatic disease. Most prevalent solid organ tumors were gastrointestinal (30%), lung (18%) and genitourinary (14%). MAiD was primarily provided in the home (48%) or an acute inpatient facility (40%). One hundred eighty-nine (74%) patients were evaluated by medical oncology, 23 by gynecology oncology (9%), 11 by hematology oncology (4%), and 177 (69%) by radiation oncology. One hundred fifty-eight (62%) patients were not seen by oncology specialists in the 30 days prior to MAiD. One hundred fifty-nine patients (62%) had at least one line of systemic therapy, 138 patients (54%) received radiotherapy, and 61 patients (24%) did not receive cancer-directed treatment. Palliative care assessed at least 213 patients (84%). Common reasons for pursuing MaiD included disease-related symptoms (33%), fear of future suffering or disability (19%), and the ability to control the time and manner of death (17%). In 36% of cases, the reason was not documented. CONCLUSION Although formal oncology consultation is not required before MAiD, with an ever-increasing number of novel cancer therapies, oncologists, cancer centers, and MAiD providers should consider collaborating to ensure a streamlined assessment process for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Thabet
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Wheatley-Price
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Moore
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Radiotherapy and palliative care outpatient clinic: a new healthcare integrated model in Italy. Support Care Cancer 2023; 31:174. [PMID: 36809496 PMCID: PMC9943947 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-07584-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND On the basis of substantial evidence demonstrate that palliative care combined with standard care improves patient, caregiver, and society outcomes, we have developed a new healthcare model called radiotherapy and palliative care (RaP) outpatient clinic were a radiation oncologist and a palliative care physician make a joint evaluation of advanced cancer patients. METHODS We performed a monocentric observational cohort study on advanced cancer patients referred for evaluation at the RaP outpatient clinic. Measures of quality of care were carried out. RESULTS Between April 2016 and April 2018, 287 joint evaluations were performed and 260 patients were evaluated. The primary tumor was lung in 31.9% of cases. One hundred fifty (52.3%) evaluations resulted in an indication for palliative radiotherapy treatment. In 57.6% of cases was used a single dose fraction of radiotherapy (8 Gy). All the irradiated cohort completed the palliative radiotherapy treatment. An 8% of irradiated patients received the palliative radiotherapy treatment in the last 30 days of life. A total of 80% of RaP patients received palliative care assistance until the end of life. CONCLUSION At the first descriptive analysis, the radiotherapy and palliative care model seem to respond to the need of multidisciplinary approach in order to obtain an improvement on quality of care for advanced cancer patients.
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10
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Layer JP, Layer K, Sarria GR, Röhner F, Dejonckheere CS, Friker LL, Zeyen T, Koch D, Scafa D, Leitzen C, Köksal M, Schmeel FC, Schäfer N, Landsberg J, Hölzel M, Herrlinger U, Schneider M, Giordano FA, Schmeel LC. Five-Fraction Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases-A Retrospective Analysis. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:1300-1313. [PMID: 36826062 PMCID: PMC9955428 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the safety and outcome profile of five-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for brain metastases (BM), either as a definitive or adjuvant treatment. METHODS We assessed clinical data of patients receiving five fractions of 7 Gy each (cumulative physical dose of 35 Gy) to BM or surgical cavities. The primary endpoints were toxicity and radiation necrosis (RN) rates. Secondary endpoints were 1-year cumulative local control rate (LCR) and estimated overall survival (OS). RESULTS A total of 36 eligible patients receiving FSRT to a total of 49 targets were identified and included. The median follow up was 9 (1.1-56.2) months. The median age was 64.5 (34-92) years, the median ECOG score was 1, and the median Diagnostic-Specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (DS-GPA) score was 2. Treatment was well tolerated and there were no grade 3 adverse events or higher. The overall RN rate was 14.3% and the median time to RN was 12.9 (1.8-23.8) months. RN occurrence was associated with immunotherapy, young age (≤45 years), and large PTV. The cumulative 1-year local control rate was 83.1% and the estimated median local progression free-survival was 18.8 months. The estimated median overall survival was 11 (1.1-56.2) months and significantly superior in those patients presenting with RN. CONCLUSIONS FSRT with 5 × 7 Gy represents a feasible, safe, and efficient fast track approach of intensified FSRT with acceptable LC and comparable RN rates for both the adjuvant and definitive RT settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian P. Layer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Katharina Layer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Gustavo R. Sarria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Fred Röhner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cas S. Dejonckheere
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Lea L. Friker
- Institute of Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Zeyen
- Division of Clinical Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - David Koch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Davide Scafa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christina Leitzen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Mümtaz Köksal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Niklas Schäfer
- Division of Clinical Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jennifer Landsberg
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Hölzel
- Institute of Experimental Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrich Herrlinger
- Division of Clinical Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Schneider
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank A. Giordano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Leonard Christopher Schmeel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Correspondence:
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11
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Cellini F, Di Rito A, Siepe G, Pastore F, Lattanzi E, Meaglia I, Tozzi A, Manfrida S, Longo S, Saldi S, Cassese R, Arcidiacono F, Fiore M, Masiello V, Mazzarella C, Diroma A, Miccichè F, Maurizi F, Dominici L, Scorsetti M, Santarelli M, Fusco V, Aristei C, Deodato F, Gambacorta MA, Maranzano E, Muto P, Valentini V, Morganti AG, Marino L, Donati CM, Di Franco R. Prognostic Score in Radiotherapy Practice for Palliative Treatments (PROPHET) Study for Bone Metastases: An Investigation Into the Clinical Effect on Treatment Prescription. Adv Radiat Oncol 2022; 8:101134. [PMID: 36632087 PMCID: PMC9827357 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2022.101134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Bone metastases frequently occur during malignant disease. Palliative radiation therapy (PRT) is a crucial part of palliative care because it can relieve pain and improve patients' quality of life. Often, a clinician's survival estimation is too optimistic. Prognostic scores (PSs) can help clinicians tailor PRT indications to avoid over- or undertreatment. Although the PS is supposed to aid radiation oncologists (ROs) in palliative-care scenarios, it is unclear what type of support, and to what extent, could impact daily clinical practice. Methods and Materials A national-based investigation of the prescriptive decisions on simulated clinical cases was performed in Italy. Nine clinical cases from real-world clinical practice were selected for this study. Each case description contained complete information regarding the parameters defining the prognosis class according to the PS (in particular, the Mizumoto Prognostic Score, a validated PS available in literature and already applied in some clinical trials). Each case description contained complete information regarding the parameters defining the prognosis class according to the PS. ROs were interviewed through questionnaires, each comprising the same 3 questions per clinical case, asking (1) the prescription after detailing the clinical case features but not the PS prognostic class definition; (2) whether the RO wanted to change the prescription once the PS prognostic class definition was revealed; and (3) in case of a change of the prescription, a new prescriptive option. Three RO categories were defined: dedicated to PRT (RO-d), nondedicated to PRT (RO-nd), and resident in training (IT). Interviewed ROs were distributed among different regions of the country. Results Conversion rates, agreements, and prescription trends were investigated. The PS determined a statistically significant 11.12% of prescription conversion among ROs. The conversion was higher for the residents and significantly higher for worse prognostic scenario subgroups, respectively. The PS improved prescriptive agreement among ROs (particularly for worse-prognostic-scenario subgroups). Moreover, PS significantly increased standard prescriptive approaches (particularly for worse-clinical-case presentations). Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, the PROPHET study is the first to directly evaluate the potential clinical consequences of the regular application of any PS. According to the Prophet study, a prognostic score should be integrated into the clinical practice of palliative radiation therapy for bone metastasis and training programs in radiation oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cellini
- Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author: Cellini Francesco, MD
| | - Alessia Di Rito
- Radiotherapy Unit - IRCCS Istituto Tumori 'Giovanni Paolo II' Bari - Italy
| | - Giambattista Siepe
- Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Ilaria Meaglia
- Department of Radiotherapy, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Angelo Tozzi
- Department of Radiotherapy, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Manfrida
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Longo
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Saldi
- Section of Radiation Oncology, Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Arcidiacono
- Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria di Terni, Terni, Italy
| | - Michele Fiore
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
- Operative Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico
| | - Valeria Masiello
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ciro Mazzarella
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Diroma
- Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Miccichè
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Maurizi
- Radiation Oncology, A.O. Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Pesaro, Italy
| | - Luca Dominici
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Scorsetti
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Fusco
- Radiotherapy Oncology Department, IRCCS CROB, Rionero In Vulture, Italy
| | - Cynthia Aristei
- Radiation Oncology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia and Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Deodato
- Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Radiotherapy Unit, Gemelli Molise Hospital, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Maria A. Gambacorta
- Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernesto Maranzano
- Radiotherapy Oncology Centre, Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Muto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori–IRCCS–Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Valentini
- Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio G. Morganti
- Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum–Bologna University, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenza Marino
- Radiation Oncology Department, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Misterbianco, Catania, Italy
| | - Costanza M. Donati
- Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine–DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum Bologna University, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Franco
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori–IRCCS–Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
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12
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Howdon D, van den Hout W, van der Linden Y, Spencer K. Replacing performance status with a simple patient-reported outcome in palliative radiotherapy prognostic modelling. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2022; 37:137-144. [PMID: 36247687 PMCID: PMC9554755 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Prognostication is key to determining care in advanced incurable cancer. Although performance status (PS) has been shown to be a strong prognostic predictor, inter-rater reliability is limited, restricting models to specialist settings. This study assessed the extent to which a simple patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), the EQ-5D, may replace PS for prognosis of patients with bone metastases. Materials and methods Data from 1,011 patients in the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study were used. Cox proportional hazards models were developed to investigate the prognostic value of models incorporating PS alone, the EQ-5D SC dimension alone, all EQ-5D dimensions and EQ-VAS, and finally all dimensions and PS. Three prognostic groups were identified and performance assessed using the Harrell's C-index and Altman-Royston index of separation. Results Replacing performance status (PS) with the self-care (SC) dimension of the EQ-5D provides similar model performance. In our SC-based model, three groups are identified with median survival of 86 days (95 % CI 76-101), 174 days (95 % CI 145-213), and 483 days (95 % CI 431-539). Whilst not statistically significantly different, the C-index was 0.706 for the PS-only model, 0.718 for SC-only and 0.717 in our full model, suggesting patient-report outcome models perform as well as that based on PS. Conclusion Prognostic performance was similar across all models. The SC model provides prognostic value similar to that of PS, particularly where a prognosis of<6 months is considered. Larger, more contemporaneous studies are needed to assess the extent to which PROMs may be of prognostic value, particularly where specialist assessment is less feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Howdon
- Academic Unit of Health Economics, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Clarendon Way, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK
| | | | - Yvette van der Linden
- Dept of Radiotherapy/Centre of Expertise in Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
| | - Katie Spencer
- Academic Unit of Health Economics, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Clarendon Way, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK
- Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
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13
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Alcorn SR, LaVigne AW, Elledge CR, Fiksel J, Hu C, Kleinberg L, Levin A, Smith T, Cheng Z, Kim K, Rao AD, Sloan L, Page B, Stinson SF, Voong KR, McNutt TR, Bowers MR, DeWeese TL, Zeger S, Wright JL. Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of the Bone Metastases Ensemble Trees for Survival Decision Support Platform (BMETS-DSP): A Case-Based Pilot Assessment. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2022; 6:e2200082. [PMID: 36306499 PMCID: PMC9848564 DOI: 10.1200/cci.22.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Bone Metastases Ensemble Trees for Survival Decision Support Platform (BMETS-DSP) provides patient-specific survival predictions and evidence-based recommendations to guide multidisciplinary management for symptomatic bone metastases. We assessed the clinical utility of the BMETS-DSP through a pilot prepost design in a simulated clinical environment. METHODS Ten Radiation Oncology physicians reviewed 55 patient cases at two time points: without and then with the use of BMETS-DSP. Assessment included 12-month survival estimate, confidence in and likelihood of sharing estimates with patients, and recommendations for open surgery, systemic therapy, hospice referral, and radiotherapy (RT) regimen. Paired statistics compared pre- versus post-DSP outcomes. Reported statistical significance is P < .05. RESULTS Pre- versus post-DSP, overestimation of true minus estimated survival time was significantly reduced (mean difference -2.1 [standard deviation 4.1] v -1 month [standard deviation 3.5]). Prediction accuracy was significantly improved at cut points of < 3 (72 v 79%), ≤ 6 (64 v 71%), and ≥ 12 months (70 v 81%). Median ratings of confidence in and likelihood of sharing prognosis significantly increased. Significantly greater concordance was seen in matching use of 1-fraction RT with the true survival < 3 months (70 v 76%) and < 10-fraction RT with the true survival < 12 months (55 v 62%) and appropriate use of open surgery (47% v 53%), without significant changes in selection of hospice referral or systemic therapy. CONCLUSION This pilot study demonstrates that BMETS-DSP significantly improved physician survival estimation accuracy, prognostic confidence, likelihood of sharing prognosis, and use of prognosis-appropriate RT regimens in the care of symptomatic bone metastases, supporting future multi-institutional validation of the platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R. Alcorn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN,Sara R. Alcorn, MD, MPH, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota, Phillips‐Wangensteen Building, 516 Delaware Street SE, PWB-1, Minneapolis, MN 55455;
| | - Anna W. LaVigne
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Christen R. Elledge
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Jacob Fiksel
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Chen Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lawrence Kleinberg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Adam Levin
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Thomas Smith
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Zhi Cheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Kibem Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Avani D. Rao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lindsey Sloan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Brandi Page
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Susan F. Stinson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - K. Ranh Voong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Todd R. McNutt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Michael R. Bowers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Theodore L. DeWeese
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Scott Zeger
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jean L. Wright
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
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14
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Rades D, Segedin B, Schild SE, Lomidze D, Veninga T, Cacicedo J. Identifying patients with malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) near end of life who can benefit from palliative radiotherapy. Radiat Oncol 2022; 17:143. [PMID: 35978340 PMCID: PMC9387005 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-022-02117-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A previous score predicted death ≤ 2 months following radiotherapy for MSCC. For patients with a high probability of early death, best supportive care was recommended. However, some of these patients may benefit from radiotherapy regarding preservation or improvement of motor function. To identify these patients, an additional score was developed. METHODS Pre-treatment factors plus radiotherapy regimen were retrospectively evaluated for successful treatment (improved motor function or remaining ambulatory without aid) and post-treatment ambulatory status in 545 patients who died ≤ 2 months. Factors included age, interval from tumor diagnosis until MSCC, visceral metastases, further bone metastases, primary tumor type, sex, time developing motor deficits, pre-treatment ambulatory status, and number of affected vertebrae. Factors significant on both multivariable analyses were included in the score (worse outcomes 0 points, better outcomes 1 point). RESULTS On multivariable analyses, myeloma/lymphoma, time developing motor deficits > 14 days, and pre-treatment ambulatory status were significantly associated with both successful treatment and ambulatory status, affection of 1-2 vertebrae with successful treatment only. On univariable analyses, 1 × 8 and 5 × 4 Gy were not inferior to 5 × 5 Gy and longer-course regimens. Considering the three factors significant for both endpoints, three groups were designed (0, 1, 2-3 points) with treatment success rates of 4%, 15% and 39%, respectively (p < 0.0001), and post-treatment ambulatory rates of 4%, 43% and 86%, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This score helps identify patients with MSCC who appear to benefit from palliative radiotherapy in terms of improved motor function or remaining ambulatory in spite of being near end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Rades
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Barbara Segedin
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana and University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Steven E Schild
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Darejan Lomidze
- Radiation Oncology Department, Ingorokva High Medical Technology University Clinic and Tbilisi State Medical Univiversity, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Theo Veninga
- Department of Radiotherapy, Dr. Bernard Verbeeten Institute, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jon Cacicedo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute and Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain
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15
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Maltoni M, Scarpi E, Dall’Agata M, Micheletti S, Pallotti MC, Pieri M, Ricci M, Romeo A, Tenti MV, Tontini L, Rossi R. Prognostication in palliative radiotherapy—ProPaRT: Accuracy of prognostic scores. Front Oncol 2022; 12:918414. [PMID: 36052228 PMCID: PMC9425085 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.918414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundPrognostication can be used within a tailored decision-making process to achieve a more personalized approach to the care of patients with cancer. This prospective observational study evaluated the accuracy of the Palliative Prognostic score (PaP score) to predict survival in patients identified by oncologists as candidates for palliative radiotherapy (PRT). We also studied interrater variability for the clinical prediction of survival and PaP scores and assessed the accuracy of the Survival Prediction Score (SPS) and TEACHH score.Materials and methodsConsecutive patients were enrolled at first access to our Radiotherapy and Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic. The discriminating ability of the prognostic models was assessed using Harrell’s C index, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained by bootstrapping.ResultsIn total, 255 patients with metastatic cancer were evaluated, and 123 (48.2%) were selected for PRT, all of whom completed treatment without interruption. Then, 10.6% of the irradiated patients who died underwent treatment within the last 30 days of life. The PaP score showed an accuracy of 74.8 (95% CI, 69.5–80.1) for radiation oncologist (RO) and 80.7 (95% CI, 75.9–85.5) for palliative care physician (PCP) in predicting 30-day survival. The accuracy of TEACHH was 76.1 (95% CI, 70.9–81.3) and 64.7 (95% CI, 58.8–70.6) for RO and PCP, respectively, and the accuracy of SPS was 70 (95% CI, 64.4–75.6) and 72.8 (95% CI, 67.3–78.3).ConclusionAccurate prognostication can identify candidates for low-fraction PRT during the last days of life who are more likely to complete the planned treatment without interruption.All the scores showed good discriminating capacity; the PaP had the higher accuracy, especially when used in a multidisciplinary way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Maltoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuela Scarpi
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
- *Correspondence: Emanuela Scarpi,
| | - Monia Dall’Agata
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Simona Micheletti
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Pallotti
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Martina Pieri
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Marianna Ricci
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Antonino Romeo
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | | | - Luca Tontini
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
| | - Romina Rossi
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola, Italy
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16
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Defining the expected 30-day mortality for patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy: a meta-analysis. Radiother Oncol 2022; 168:147-210. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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17
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Haaser T, Constantinides Y, Huguet F, De Crevoisier R, Dejean C, Escande A, Ghannam Y, Lahmi L, Le Tallec P, Lecouillard I, Lorchel F, Thureau S, Lagrange JL. [Ethical stakes in palliative care in radiation oncology]. Cancer Radiother 2021; 25:699-706. [PMID: 34400087 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In 2021, the Ethics Commission of the SFRO has chosen the issue of the practice of palliative care in radiotherapy oncology. Radiation oncology plays a central role in the care of patients with cancer in palliative phase. But behind the broad name of palliative radiotherapy, we actually find a large variety of situations involving diverse ethical issues. Radiation oncologists have the delicate task to take into account multiple factors throughout a complex decision-making process. While the question of the therapeutic indication and the technical choice allowing it to be implemented remains central, reflection cannot be limited to these decision-making and technical aspects alone. It is also a question of being able to create the conditions for a singularity focused care and to build an authentic care relationship, beyond technicity. It is through this daily ethical work, in close collaboration with patients, and under essential conditions of multidisciplinarity and multiprofessionalism, that our fundamental role as caregiver can be deployed.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Haaser
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital Haut Lévêque, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, avenue Magellan, 33600 Pessac, France.
| | - Y Constantinides
- Espace Éthique Ile de France, Paris Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France
| | - F Huguet
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital Tenon, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine UMR_S 938, Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - R De Crevoisier
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Centre Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - C Dejean
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Unité de Physique Médicale, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - A Escande
- Service universitaire d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Centre Oscar Lambret, Faculté de médecine Henri Warembourg, Laboratoire CRIStAL, UMR9189, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Y Ghannam
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital Tenon, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine UMR_S 938, Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - L Lahmi
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Hôpital Tenon, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine UMR_S 938, Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - P Le Tallec
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Quantis Litis EA 4108, Centre Henri Becquerel, Rouen, France
| | - I Lecouillard
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Centre Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - F Lorchel
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Lyon-Sud, Lyon, France; Centre d'Oncologie Radiothérapie et Oncologie de Mâcon - ORLAM, Mâcon, France
| | - S Thureau
- Service d'Oncologie Radiothérapie, Quantis Litis EA 4108, Centre Henri Becquerel, Rouen, France
| | - J L Lagrange
- Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne, Paris, France
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Single-institution analysis of the prevalence, indications and outcomes of end-of-life radiotherapy. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2021; 30:26-30. [PMID: 34286114 PMCID: PMC8273096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Survival prognostication and patient selection remain challenging tasks. End-of-life radiotherapy until one week before death showed a patient benefit. Treatment prescribed within one week of death often had to be discontinued. Therapy needs to take into account patient preferences for the last phase of life.
Background Radiotherapy plays an important role for symptom control in advanced stage cancer patients. Yet patients need to be carefully selected, and its use and benefits must be weighed against time spent under treatment and patient priorities in the last phase of life. In this study, we assess prevalence, indications and outcomes of radiotherapy close to death. Methods We screened all radiotherapy treatments performed at the Department of Radiation Oncology of the University Hospital Zurich between January 2010 and December 2019 to identify those which occurred near patients’ end-of-life. Analyzed data was extracted from the database of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich, the treatment planning system Aria® and the electronical medical records system KISIM®. Results Within 60 days of death, 377 radiotherapy courses were prescribed to 280 patients, which constitutes 3.4% of all radiotherapy courses administered over the last decade at our department. Within 60–31, 30–8, and 7–0 days to death 164, 159, and 54 radiotherapy courses were prescribed, respectively. The most frequent treatment sites were brain (N = 122, 32%) and bone (N = 119, 32%), and there was no statistically significant difference in treatment site between the three sub-groups. The most common regimen was 10x3Gy (N = 130, 35%) in all three sub-groups (p = 0.23). Radiotherapy finished more than one week before death was associated with high completion rates (>80%) and treatment benefit (>55%). Conclusion Patient selection and survival prognostication remains challenging for radiation oncologists. While radiotherapy achieved high completion and success rates until one week before death, treatment within one week of death should be restricted to carefully selected patients or avoided altogether.
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19
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Vázquez M, Altabas M, Moreno DC, Geng AA, Pérez-Hoyos S, Giralt J. 30-Day Mortality Following Palliative Radiotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:668481. [PMID: 33968775 PMCID: PMC8103895 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.668481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose 30-day mortality (30-DM) is a parameter with widespread use as an indicator of avoidance of harm used in medicine. Our objective is to determine the 30-DM followed by palliative radiation therapy (RT) in our department and to identify potential prognosis factors. Material/Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients treated with palliative RT in our center during 2018 and 2019. Data related to clinical and treatment characteristics were collected. Results We treated 708 patients to whom 992 palliative irradiations were delivered. The most frequent primary tumor sites were lung (31%), breast (14.8%), and gastrointestinal (14.8%). Bone was the predominant location of the treatment (56%), and the use of single doses was the preferred treatment schedule (34.4%). The 30-DM was 17.5%. For those who died in the first month the median survival was 17 days. Factors with a significant impact on 30-DM were: male gender (p < 0.0001); Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 2–3 (p = 0.0001); visceral metastases (p = 0.0353); lung, gastrointestinal or urinary tract primary tumors (p = 0.016); and single dose RT (p = <0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, male gender, ECOG PS 2–3, gastrointestinal and lung cancer were found to be independent factors related to 30-DM. Conclusion Our 30-DM is similar to previous studies. We have found four clinical factors related to 30-DM of which ECOG was the most strongly associated. This data may help to identify terminally ill patients with poor prognosis in order to avoid unnecessary treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Vázquez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Altabas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana C Moreno
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abraham A Geng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Pérez-Hoyos
- Unit of Statistics and Bioinformatics, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Giralt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Ning MS, Das P, Rosenthal DI, Dabaja BS, Liao Z, Chang JY, Gomez DR, Klopp AH, Gunn GB, Allen PK, Nitsch PL, Natter RB, Briere TM, Herman JM, Wells R, Koong AC, McAleer MF. Early and Midtreatment Mortality in Palliative Radiotherapy: Emphasizing Patient Selection in High-Quality End-of-Life Care. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021; 19:805-813. [PMID: 33878727 DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2020.7664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative radiotherapy (RT) is effective, but some patients die during treatment or too soon afterward to experience benefit. This study investigates end-of-life RT patterns to inform shared decision-making and facilitate treatment consistent with palliative goals. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients who died ≤6 months after initiating palliative RT at an academic cancer center between 2015 and 2018 were identified. Associations with time-to-death, early mortality (≤30 days), and midtreatment mortality were analyzed. RESULTS In total, 1,620 patients died ≤6 months from palliative RT initiation, including 574 (34%) deaths at ≤30 days and 222 (14%) midtreatment. Median survival was 43 days from RT start (95% CI, 41-45) and varied by site (P<.001), ranging from 36 (head and neck) to 53 days (dermal/soft tissue). On multivariable analysis, earlier time-to-death was associated with osseous (hazard ratio [HR], 1.33; P<.001) and head and neck (HR, 1.45; P<.001) sites, multiple RT courses ≤6 months (HR, 1.65; P<.001), and multisite treatments (HR, 1.40; P=.008), whereas stereotactic technique (HR, 0.77; P<.001) and more recent treatment year (HR, 0.82; P<.001) were associated with longer survival. No difference in time to death was noted among patients prescribed conventional RT in 1 to 10 versus >10 fractions (median, 40 vs 47 days; P=.272), although the latter entailed longer courses. The 30-day mortality group included 335 (58%) inpatients, who were 27% more likely to die midtreatment (P=.031). On multivariable analysis, midtreatment mortality among these inpatients was associated with thoracic (odds ratio [OR], 2.95; P=.002) and central nervous system (CNS; OR, 2.44; P=.002) indications, >5-fraction courses (OR, 3.27; P<.001), and performance status of 3 to 4 (OR, 1.63; P=.050). Conversely, palliative/supportive care consultation was associated with decreased midtreatment mortality (OR, 0.60; P=.045). CONCLUSIONS Earlier referrals and hypofractionated courses (≤5-10 treatments) should be routinely considered for palliative RT indications, given the short life expectancies of patients at this stage in their disease course. Providers should exercise caution for emergent thoracic and CNS indications among inpatients with poor prognoses due to high midtreatment mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel R Gomez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Paige L Nitsch
- Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Tina M Briere
- Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Joseph M Herman
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Lake Success, New York
| | - Rebecca Wells
- Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Houston, Texas; and
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21
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Fisher S. The role of the Consultant Radiographer in facilitating rapid access to palliative radiotherapy. Radiography (Lond) 2021; 27:994-999. [PMID: 33865693 DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The fast track pathway for palliative radiotherapy was created to facilitate rapid access to radiotherapy for symptom relief and improved quality of life. The fast track pathway has a target of 5 days from the decision to treat to starting treatment. METHODS This study is a quantitative analysis of all patients referred and treated with palliative radiotherapy between the 1st September 2018 and 30th September 2019. The number of working days overall from referral to treatment and at each stage of the radiotherapy pathway was recorded and evaluated. The electronic referral system was amended to include the treatment priority option of 'fast track' for all patients with the selected treatment intent of 'palliative'. The data was acquired using the electronic referral system reporting tool. RESULTS Results demonstrate a reduction in average pathway timing from 14 days to 3 days for volume planned patients, and 13 days to 2 days for virtual simulation patients referred into the fast track pathway. The routine priority palliative pathway also demonstrated a decrease in time from decision to treat to treatment, despite this not being an initial objective. CONCLUSION Reducing pathway time from referral to treatment is achievable through the introduction of a fast track treatment priority pathway. Rapid access to treatment was facilitated through the electronic referral system fast track option, the creation of a separate fast track care path in Aria, the use of fast track alerts in Aria, and reserved planning scan and treatment appointments. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Rapid access to palliative radiotherapy facilitates alleviation of symptoms and improved quality of life. To improve the efficiency of the palliative radiotherapy service, a streamlined pathway and the commitment of the radiotherapy team is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fisher
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Radiotherapy Department, Level 0, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, UK.
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22
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Wu SY, Yee E, Chan JW, Chapman CH, Boreta L, Braunstein SE. Timing of Urgent Inpatient Palliative Radiation Therapy. Adv Radiat Oncol 2021; 6:100670. [PMID: 33817413 PMCID: PMC8005735 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2021.100670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Urgent indications for palliative radiation therapy (RT) include malignant spinal cord compression, symptomatic brain metastases, pain, airway obstruction, and bleeding. Data on the timing of palliative RT in the inpatient setting are limited. We report our experience with inpatient palliative RT at a tertiary academic center and evaluate the effect of a dedicated inpatient palliative RT nurse practitioner (NP) on treatment timelines. Methods and Materials We performed a retrospective, single-institution review of 219 inpatients consulted for RT to sites of metastatic disease between May 2012 and May 2018. We compared time-to-treatment intervals before and after integrating an NP for palliative RT in August 2017. Results The median age of the 219 patients receiving RT was 61 years (interquartile range [IQR], 51-69 years). The most frequent indications were symptomatic brain metastases (73 patients [33%]), pain (61 patients [28%]), and cord/cauda compression (48 patients [22%]). The median time from consultation request to consult was 1 day (IQR, 0-2 days), and the median time from consultation request to first RT fraction was 3 days (IQR, 2-6 days). The median time from consultation request to RT was shorter for cord compression (2 [IQR, 1-4] days) than for pain (5 [IQR, 2-7] days) (P = .001) or symptomatic brain metastases (3 [IQR, 1-6] days; P = .037). With an NP, patients were more likely to undergo same-day consultation and simulation (75% vs 60%; P = .045), which was associated with shorter median duration from consultation to initiation of RT (1 [IQR, 0-3] days vs 4 [IQR, 2-7] days; P <.001). After the integration of an NP for palliative RT, patients had a higher median Karnofsky Performance Score (70 [IQR, 60-80] vs 50 [IQR, 40-60]; P < .001) and were more likely to complete their prescribed RT course (93% vs 82%; P = .05) Conclusions Time from consultation request to RT is necessarily short for urgent inpatient palliative RT. Advanced practice providers may facilitate and potentially expedite treatment, with significantly shorter times to treatment among patients who undergo same-day consultation and simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Y Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Emily Yee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Jason W Chan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Christopher H Chapman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Lauren Boreta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Steve E Braunstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Cotogni P, Stragliotto S, Ossola M, Collo A, Riso S. The Role of Nutritional Support for Cancer Patients in Palliative Care. Nutrients 2021; 13:306. [PMID: 33498997 PMCID: PMC7911232 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care is still a controversial topic, in part because there is no consensus on the definition of a palliative care patient because of ambiguity in the common medical use of the adjective palliative. Nonetheless, guidelines recommend assessing nutritional deficiencies in all such patients because, regardless of whether they are still on anticancer treatments or not, malnutrition leads to low performance status, impaired quality of life (QoL), unplanned hospitalizations, and reduced survival. Because nutritional interventions tailored to individual needs may be beneficial, guidelines recommend that if oral food intake remains inadequate despite counseling and oral nutritional supplements, home enteral nutrition or, if this is not sufficient or feasible, home parenteral nutrition (supplemental or total) should be considered in suitable patients. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify in these cancer patients the area of overlapping between the two therapeutic approaches consisting of nutritional support and palliative care in light of the variables that determine its identification (guidelines, evidence, ethics, and law). However, nutritional support for cancer patients in palliative care may be more likely to contribute to improving their QoL when part of a comprehensive early palliative care approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cotogni
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Palliative Care, Intensive Care and Emergency, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Stragliotto
- Medical Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy;
| | - Marta Ossola
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Molinette Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Collo
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Sergio Riso
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.R.); (A.C.)
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Abdelhakiem MK, Johnstone C, Bergom C, Currey A, Robbins JR. The influence of breast cancer subtype on survival after palliative radiation for osseous metastases. Cancer Med 2020; 9:8979-8988. [PMID: 33146466 PMCID: PMC7724488 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Among patients with osseous metastases, breast cancer (BC) patients typically have the best prognosis. In the palliative setting, BC is often considered a single disease, but based on receptor status there are four distinct subtypes: luminal A (LA), luminal B (LB), triple negative (TN), and HER2‐enriched (HER2). We hypothesize that survival and palliative outcomes following palliative RT for osseous metastases correlate with breast cancer subtype (BCS). Methods We identified 3,895 BC patients with known receptor status who received palliative RT for osseous metastases from 2004–2013 in the National Cancer Database. Kaplan–Meier method with log‐rank testing and univariate/multivariate Cox‐regression was used to identify survival factors. Incomplete radiation courses, 30‐day mortality rate, and percentage remaining life spent receiving RT (PRLSRT) were calculated. Results Subtypes were 54% LA, 33% LB, 8% TN, and 5% HER2 with median survival of 34.1, 28.2, 5.3, and 15.7 months, respectively (p < 0.001). Overall 82% of patients received ≥10 fractions. Although BCS had limited effect on radiation regimens, TN received nearly twice as many single or hypofractionated (≤5 fractions) treatments, but the overall rate of these fraction schemes was low at 3.7 and 13.7%, respectively. Compared to LA and LB, TN and HER2 patients had worse palliative outcomes; higher rates of incomplete courses at 18.8% and 18.3% versus 12.7%–14.4%; higher 30‐day mortality post‐radiotherapy at 21.5% and 16.0% versus 6.3%–7.9%, and higher median PRLSRT of 7.7% and 3.7% versus 2.2%–2.4% for LA and LB. On multivariate analysis, BCS was associated with overall survival with TN (HR 3.7), HER2 (HR 1.75), and LB (HR 1.28) fairing worse than LA (p < 0.001). Conclusions BCS correlated with survival and palliative outcome following radiation to osseous metastases. BCS should be considered by physicians when planning palliative RT to maximize quality‐of‐life, avoid unnecessary treatment, and ensure palliative benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed K. Abdelhakiem
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of PittsburghUPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Candice Johnstone
- Department of Radiation OncologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | - Carmen Bergom
- Department of Radiation OncologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | - Adam Currey
- Department of Radiation OncologyMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWIUSA
| | - Jared R. Robbins
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZUSA
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25
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Mojica‐Márquez AE, Rodríguez‐López JL, Patel AK, Ling DC, Rajagopalan MS, Beriwal S. External validation of life expectancy prognostic models in patients evaluated for palliative radiotherapy at the end-of-life. Cancer Med 2020; 9:5781-5787. [PMID: 32592315 PMCID: PMC7433812 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TEACHH and Chow models were developed to predict life expectancy (LE) in patients evaluated for palliative radiotherapy (PRT). We sought to validate the TEACHH and Chow models in patients who died within 90 days of PRT consultation. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted on patients evaluated for PRT from 2017 to 2019 who died within 90 days of consultation. Data were collected for the TEACHH and Chow models; one point was assigned for each adverse factor. TEACHH model included: primary site of disease, ECOG performance status, age, prior palliative chemotherapy courses, hospitalization within the last 3 months, and presence of hepatic metastases; patients with 0-1, 2-4, and 5-6 adverse factors were categorized into groups (A, B, and C). The Chow model included non-breast primary, site of metastases other than bone only, and KPS; patients with 0-1, 2, or 3 adverse factors were categorized into groups (I, II, and III). RESULTS A total of 505 patients with a median overall survival of 2.1 months (IQR: 0.7-2.6) were identified. Based on the TEACHH model, 10 (2.0%), 387 (76.6%), and 108 (21.4%) patients were predicted to live >1 year, >3 months to ≤1 year, and ≤3 months, respectively. Utilizing the Chow model, 108 (21.4%), 250 (49.5%), and 147 (29.1%) patients were expected to live 15.0, 6.5, and 2.3 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Neither the TEACHH nor Chow model correctly predict prognosis in a patient population with a survival <3 months. A better predictive tool is required to identify patients with short LE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua L. Rodríguez‐López
- Department of Radiation OncologyUPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPAUSA
| | - Ankur K. Patel
- Department of Radiation OncologyUPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPAUSA
| | - Diane C. Ling
- Department of Radiation OncologyUPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPAUSA
| | | | - Sushil Beriwal
- Department of Radiation OncologyUPMC Hillman Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPAUSA
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Haukland EC, von Plessen C, Nieder C, Vonen B. Adverse events in deceased hospitalised cancer patients as a measure of quality and safety in end-of-life cancer care. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:76. [PMID: 32482172 PMCID: PMC7265218 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00579-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anticancer treatment exposes patients to negative consequences such as increased toxicity and decreased quality of life, and there are clear guidelines recommending limiting use of aggressive anticancer treatments for patients near end of life. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between anticancer treatment given during the last 30 days of life and adverse events contributing to death and elucidate how adverse events can be used as a measure of quality and safety in end-of-life cancer care. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of 247 deceased hospitalised cancer patients at three hospitals in Norway in 2012 and 2013. The Global Trigger Tool method were used to identify adverse events. We used Poisson regression and binary logistic regression to compare adverse events and association with use of anticancer treatment given during the last 30 days of life. RESULTS 30% of deceased hospitalised cancer patients received some kind of anticancer treatment during the last 30 days of life, mainly systemic anticancer treatment. These patients had 62% more adverse events compared to patients not being treated last 30 days, 39 vs. 24 adverse events per 1000 patient days (p < 0.001, OR 1.62 (1.23-2.15). They also had twice the odds of an adverse event contributing to death compared to patients without such treatment, 33 vs. 18% (p = 0.045, OR 1.85 (1.01-3.36)). Receiving follow up by specialist palliative care reduced the rate of AEs per 1000 patient days in both groups by 29% (p = 0.02, IRR 0.71, CI 95% 0.53-0.96). CONCLUSIONS Anticancer treatment given during the last 30 days of life is associated with a significantly increased rate of adverse events and related mortality. Patients receiving specialist palliative care had significantly fewer adverse events, supporting recommendations of early integration of palliative care in a patient safety perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellinor Christin Haukland
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, PO Box 1480, 8092, Bodø, Norway. .,Institute of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway, PO Box 6, 9038, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Christian von Plessen
- Direction Générale de la Santé, Canton Vaud, Switzerland.,Unisanté, Direction Générale de la santé, Avenue de Casèrnes 2, 1018, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Carsten Nieder
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, PO Box 1480, 8092, Bodø, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Barthold Vonen
- Institute of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway, PO Box 6, 9038, Tromsø, Norway.,Centre for Clinical Documentation and Evaluation, Northern Norway Regional Health Authority, PO Box 6, 9038, Tromsø, Norway
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27
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Rinaldi CG, Ippolito E, Greco C, Matteucci P, D'Angelillo RM, Ramella S. Radiotherapy for pain relief from bone metastases during Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Eur J Pain 2020; 24:1211-1212. [PMID: 32418297 PMCID: PMC7276873 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Edy Ippolito
- Department of Radiotherapy, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Greco
- Department of Radiotherapy, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteucci
- Department of Radiotherapy, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sara Ramella
- Department of Radiotherapy, Università Campus Biomedico di Roma, Rome, Italy
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28
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Rossi R, Scarpi E, Dall'Agata M, Tontini L, Pieri M, Micheletti S, Romeo A, Ricci M, Pallotti MC, Maltoni M. The challenge of prognostication in palliative radiotherapy: the way forward is shared decision-making. Support Care Cancer 2020; 28:1545-1546. [PMID: 31758320 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-05157-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Romina Rossi
- Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, Meldola, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Scarpi
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Monia Dall'Agata
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Luca Tontini
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Martina Pieri
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Simona Micheletti
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Antonino Romeo
- Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Marianna Ricci
- Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, Meldola, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Pallotti
- Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, Meldola, Italy
| | - Marco Maltoni
- Palliative Care Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, Meldola, Italy
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Lee SF, Luk H, Wong A, Ng CK, Wong FCS, Luque-Fernandez MA. Prediction model for short-term mortality after palliative radiotherapy for patients having advanced cancer: a cohort study from routine electronic medical data. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5779. [PMID: 32238885 PMCID: PMC7113237 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62826-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a predictive score system for 30-day mortality after palliative radiotherapy by using predictors from routine electronic medical record. Patients with metastatic cancer receiving first course palliative radiotherapy from 1 July, 2007 to 31 December, 2017 were identified. 30-day mortality odds ratios and probabilities of the death predictive score were obtained using multivariable logistic regression model. Overall, 5,795 patients participated. Median follow-up was 39.6 months (range, 24.5-69.3) for all surviving patients. 5,290 patients died over a median 110 days, of whom 995 (17.2%) died within 30 days of radiotherapy commencement. The most important mortality predictors were primary lung cancer (odds ratio: 1.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.47-2.04) and log peripheral blood neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (odds ratio: 1.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.52-1.92). The developed predictive scoring system had 10 predictor variables and 20 points. The cross-validated area under curve was 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.82). The calibration suggested a reasonably good fit for the model (likelihood-ratio statistic: 2.81, P = 0.094), providing an accurate prediction for almost all 30-day mortality probabilities. The predictive scoring system accurately predicted 30-day mortality among patients with stage IV cancer. Oncologists may use this to tailor palliative therapy for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shing Fung Lee
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hollis Luk
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Aray Wong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chuk Kwan Ng
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Frank Chi Sing Wong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Miguel Angel Luque-Fernandez
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease and Cancer Epidemiology, Institute de Investigacion Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), University of Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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Ghiassi-Nejad Z, Sindhu KK, Moshier E, Zubizarreta N, Mazumdar M, Goldstein NE, Dharmarajan KV. Factors associated with the receipt and completion of whole brain radiation therapy among older adults in the United States from 2010-2013. J Geriatr Oncol 2020; 11:1096-1102. [PMID: 32245729 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is widely used to treat patients with brain metastases. However, there is debate regarding its utility in patients with poor prognoses. In this study, we sought to characterize the use of WBRT in the United States, especially in adults aged 55 and above. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with brain metastases were identified using the National Cancer Database between 2010 and 2013. The receipt and completion of WBRT with various patient factors were correlated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS 28,422 patients with brain metastases were identified, 23,362 of whom were aged 55 or above. 14,845 patients received WBRT and 12,310 patients completed treatment. Among adults aged 55 and above, 11,945 patients received WBRT, and 9812 patients completed treatment. Patients aged 60 and above were less likely to receive WBRT, while those aged 65 and above were less likely to complete WBRT. DISCUSSION These results suggest that WBRT may be over-utilized in the United States, especially among older adults. Better interventions to improve pre-WBRT decision-making in this population are needed to select patients who might derive benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Ghiassi-Nejad
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1184 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kunal K Sindhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1184 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Erin Moshier
- Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue (Box 1077), New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nicole Zubizarreta
- Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue (Box 1077), New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Madhu Mazumdar
- Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue (Box 1077), New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nathan E Goldstein
- Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kavita V Dharmarajan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1184 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA; Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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Dharmarajan KV, Walters CB, Levin TT, Milazzo CA, Monether C, Rawlins-Duell R, Tickoo R, Spratt DE, Lovie S, Giannantoni-Ibelli G, McCormick B. A Video Decision Aid Improves Informed Decision Making in Patients With Advanced Cancer Considering Palliative Radiation Therapy. J Pain Symptom Manage 2019; 58:1048-1055.e2. [PMID: 31472276 PMCID: PMC8132595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Advanced cancer patients have unrecognized gaps in their understanding about palliative radiation therapy (PRT). OBJECTIVES To build a video decision aid for hospitalized patients with advanced cancer referred for PRT and prospectively test its efficacy in reducing decisional uncertainty, improving knowledge, increasing treatment readiness and readiness for palliative care consultation, and its acceptability among patients. METHODS Forty patients with advanced cancer hospitalized at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center watched a video decision aid about PRT and palliative care. Patients' conceptual and logistical knowledge of PRT, decisional uncertainty, treatment readiness, and readiness for palliative care consultation were assessed before and after watching the video with a six-item knowledge survey, the decisional uncertainty subscale of the Decisional Conflict Scale, and Likert instruments to assess readiness to accept radiation treatment and/or palliative care consultation, respectively. A postvideo survey assessed the video's acceptability among patients. RESULTS After watching the video, decisional uncertainty was reduced (28.3 vs. 21.7; P = 0.02), knowledge of PRT improved (60.4 vs. 88.3; P < 0.001), and PRT readiness increased (2.0 vs. 1.3; P = 0.04). Readiness for palliative care consultation was unchanged (P = 0.58). Patients felt very comfortable (70%) watching the video and would highly recommend it (75%) to others. CONCLUSION Among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer, a video decision aid reduced decisional uncertainty, improved knowledge of PRT, increased readiness for PRT, and was well received by patient viewers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita V Dharmarajan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Chasity B Walters
- Department of Patient & Caregiver Education, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tomer T Levin
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Psychiatry Collaborative Care Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carol Ann Milazzo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Robin Rawlins-Duell
- Division of Pain and Palliative Care, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Roma Tickoo
- Division of Pain and Palliative Care, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel E Spratt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shona Lovie
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gina Giannantoni-Ibelli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Beryl McCormick
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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Arscott WT, Emmett J, Ghiam AF, Jones JA. Palliative Radiotherapy: Inpatients, Outpatients, and the Changing Role of Supportive Care in Radiation Oncology. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2019; 34:253-277. [PMID: 31739947 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Palliative radiotherapy is an effective treatment in alleviating many symptoms of advanced cancer. Short courses of radiotherapy provide rapid symptom relief and minimize impact on patients. Patients referred for palliative radiotherapy have many concerns beyond radiotherapy; often, these concerns are not fully addressed in traditional radiotherapy clinics. Discussions of prognosis, patient goals, and concerns are areas for improved collaboration. Innovative, dedicated palliative radiotherapy programs have developed over the past 20 years to provide holistic care to patients referred for palliative radiotherapy and have improved patient-focused outcomes. Advanced radiotherapy techniques may provide opportunities to further improve palliative radiotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn Emmett
- Inpatient Oncology, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alireza Fotouhi Ghiam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA), University of British Columbia, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia V8R 6V5, Canada
| | - Joshua A Jones
- Palliative Radiotherapy Service, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Parker SM, Wei RL, Jones JA, Mattes MD. A targeted needs assessment to improve referral patterns for palliative radiation therapy. ANNALS OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 8:516-522. [PMID: 31594377 PMCID: PMC7444431 DOI: 10.21037/apm.2019.08.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) can effectively palliate a variety of symptoms in patients with metastatic cancer, using relatively low doses that infrequently cause major side effects. However, palliative radiation is often underutilized and sub-optimally implemented. In this study, we surveyed the Society of Palliative Radiation Oncology (SPRO) membership to identify barriers to appropriate referral for palliative RT that they encounter in their practice, and identify specific groups of physicians who radiation oncologists believed would benefit most from further education on when to refer patients. A total of 28 radiation oncologists responded to the survey with a response rate of 20.5%. On average, participants felt that referrals for palliative RT were inappropriately delayed 46.5% [standard deviation (STD) 20.2%] of the time. The most common barrier to referral for medical oncologists was thought to be potential interference with systemic therapy (33%); for primary care physicians and surgeons it was a lack of knowledge about the benefit (42%), and for palliative care physicians it was concern for patient convenience (25%). For brain metastases and spinal cord compression radiation oncology was felt to be part of the initial referral sequence more than 50% of the time, but less so for thoracic airway obstruction/bleeding (38%), esophageal obstruction (16%), or urinary obstruction/bleeding (8%), where another subspecialist was more often consulted first. Primary care, geriatric medicine, and emergency medicine were considered among the least knowledgeable specialties about palliative radiation. These hypothesis-generating findings can guide approaches to improve referral patterns for this important aspect of supportive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Parker
- School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Randy L Wei
- Memorial Radiation Oncology Medical Group, Fountain Valley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua A Jones
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Malcolm D Mattes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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Clément-Zhao A, Luu M, Bibault JE, Daveau C, Kreps S, Jaulmes H, Dessard-Diana B, Housset M, Giraud P, Durdux C. Effective delivery of palliative radiotherapy: A prospective study. Cancer Radiother 2019; 23:365-369. [PMID: 31300329 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The main goal of palliative radiotherapy is to reduce patient's discomfort. But sometimes patients do not receive any benefits from this treatment because of rapid worsening of their general condition. This prospective monocentric study assessed the effective delivery of palliative radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1st December 2015 to 29th February 2016, all consecutive patients receiving palliative radiotherapy in our hospital were included. The primary endpoint was the effective delivery of palliative radiotherapy according to the initial prescription (total dose, overall treatment time and fractionation). The secondary endpoints were the number of treatment breaks, the clinical benefit, the number of deaths and the delays for admission in the palliative care unit. RESULTS Fifty-nine patients were included and 64 treatments were analysed. The treatment sites were: bone (70.3%) and brain (21.9%). The treatment goals were: pain control only (43.8%), decompression only (21.9%), pain control and decompression (32.8%), haemostatic aim (1.6%). Palliative treatment was achieved in 57 cases (89%). Temporary interruption of the radiotherapy treatment was necessary in six cases (9.4%; three for medical reason, three for logistic reason). The main reason of permanent interruption was worsening of performance status (seven cases). Palliation of symptoms (complete or partial responses) was obtained in 44 cases (68.8%). Seven patients (11.9%) died during the month after the end of the treatment. No delay or cancellation for admission in the palliative care unit were observed. CONCLUSION Palliative radiotherapy was completed as originally planned in 51 cases (79.9%) with a clinical benefit for 44 cases (68.8%). Radiation therapy must not be neglected as a palliative treatment at the end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Clément-Zhao
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; Department of radiotherapy, institut Curie, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France.
| | - M Luu
- Mobile palliative care unit, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - J-E Bibault
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - C Daveau
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - S Kreps
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - H Jaulmes
- Mobile palliative care unit, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - B Dessard-Diana
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - M Housset
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - P Giraud
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
| | - C Durdux
- Department of radiotherapy, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France
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Wu SY, Singer L, Boreta L, Garcia MA, Fogh SE, Braunstein SE. Palliative radiotherapy near the end of life. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:29. [PMID: 30904024 PMCID: PMC6431041 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0415-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A significant proportion of patients with advanced cancer undergo palliative radiotherapy (RT) within their last 30 days of life. This study characterizes palliative RT at our institution and aims to identify patients who may experience limited benefit from RT due to imminent mortality. Methods Five hundred and-eighteen patients treated with external beam RT to a site of metastatic disease between 2012 and 2016 were included. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests were used to identify factors associated with RT within 30 days of death (D30RT). Results Median age at RT was 63 years (IQR 54–71). Median time from RT to death was 74 days (IQR 33–174). One hundred and twenty-five patients (24%) died within 30 days of RT. D30RT was associated with older age at RT (64 vs. 62 years, p = 0.04), shorter interval since diagnosis (14 vs. 31 months, p < 0.001), liver metastasis (p = 0.02), lower KPS (50 vs. 70, p < 0.001), lower BMI (22 vs. 24, p = 0.001), and inpatient status at consult (56% vs. 26%, p < 0.001). Patients who died within 30 days of RT were less likely to have hospice involved in their care (44% vs. 71%, p = 0.001). D30RT was associated with higher Chow and TEACHH scores at consult (p < 0.001 for both). Conclusions Twenty-four percent of patients received palliative RT within 30 days of death. Additional tools are necessary to help physicians identify patients who would benefit from short treatment courses or alternative interventions to maximize quality at the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Y Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, L-75, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Lisa Singer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Lauren Boreta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, L-75, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Michael A Garcia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, L-75, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Shannon E Fogh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, L-75, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Steve E Braunstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, L-75, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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Sborov K, Giaretta S, Koong A, Aggarwal S, Aslakson R, Gensheimer MF, Chang DT, Pollom EL. Impact of Accuracy of Survival Predictions on Quality of End-of-Life Care Among Patients With Metastatic Cancer Who Receive Radiation Therapy. J Oncol Pract 2019; 15:e262-e270. [DOI: 10.1200/jop.18.00516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE: For patients treated with palliative radiation, we examined the association between life expectancy predictions by radiation oncologists and aggressive end-of-life care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included decedents from a study that assessed the ability of oncologists to predict survival of patients with metastatic cancer who received radiation. We identified patients who died within 12 months of study enrollment to assess accuracy of predictions. Aggressive end-of-life care was defined by the National Quality Forum, ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative metrics, and advanced radiation modalities in the last month of life. Survival predictions were categorized as follows: correct (< 12 months), 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, and more than 24 months. We assessed association between prediction and aggressive end-of-life care using a generalized estimation equation. RESULTS: Of 489 decedents, we identified 467 encounters with survival estimates. Overall, 156 decedents (32%) met at least one metric of aggressive end-of-life care. Factors associated with aggressive end-of-life care included younger age, female sex, primary cancer diagnosis, no brain metastases, and private insurance. In each encounter when an oncologist predicted survival, 363 predictions (78%) were correct (< 12 months), 54 (11%) incorrectly predicted 12 to 18 months, 27 (6%) predicted 18 to 24 months, and 23 (5%) predicted more than 24 months. Compared with patients who had encounters that had correct survival predictions, patients predicted to live more than 24 months were more likely to meet at least one metric of aggressive end-of-life care (odds ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.09 to 5.99; P = .03). CONCLUSION: Inaccurate survival predictions by oncologists are associated with more aggressive end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer.
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Palliative thoracic radiotherapy near the end of life in lung cancer: A population-based analysis. Lung Cancer 2019; 135:97-103. [PMID: 31447009 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Palliative thoracic radiotherapy (RT) can improve quality of life for patients with advanced lung cancer, but treatment can be associated with acute toxicity and symptomatic relief may take several weeks. The optimal fractionation schedule is not known. Delivery of RT near the end of life (EOL) is an emerging indicator of poor quality care. The aim of this study was to determine utilization of palliative thoracic RT in the last 4 weeks of life, and factors associated with its use, in patients with incurable lung cancer in a population-based healthcare system. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients with lung cancer in British Columbia treated with palliative thoracic RT in 2014 and 2015 were identified. Associations between starting a course of palliative thoracic RT within 4 weeks of death and patient/treatment characteristics were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS 1676 courses of palliative thoracic RT were delivered to 1584 lung cancer patients. Median survival was 20 weeks. 12% of palliative thoracic RT courses were delivered in the last 4 weeks of life, with short fractionation schedules and simple RT planning techniques used more frequently near EOL. Of RT courses delivered in the last 4 weeks of life 89% were courses of 1 - 5 fractions, 75% were completed as prescribed and 94% involved simple 1-2 field RT techniques. Receipt of RT in the last 4 weeks of life was associated with male gender, younger age, poor performance status, metastatic disease, small cell carcinoma histology and no prior chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Further study and standardization of quality indicators for palliative RT utilization near EOL is required. Whilst clarification occurs, physicians should consider the prognosis of patients with incurable lung cancer and the realistic expectation of benefit from palliative thoracic RT when considering treatment indications and fractionation schedules.
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Grade M, Koenig J, Qian Y, Sandhu N, Liu Y, Turner B, von Eyben R, Knox S, Dudley S. Outcomes and Characteristics of Patients Treated with Emergent Palliative Radiation Therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol 2018; 9:e203-e209. [PMID: 30529795 DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Emergent palliative radiation therapy (PRT) of symptomatic metastases can significantly increase the quality of life of patients with cancer. In some contexts, this treatment may be underused, but in others PRT may represent an excessively aggressive intervention. The characterization of the current use of emergent PRT is warranted for optimized value and patient-centered care. METHODS AND MATERIALS This study is a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of all emergent PRT courses at a single academic tertiary institution across 1 year. RESULTS A total of 214 patients received a total of 238 treatment courses. The most common indications were bone (39%) and brain (14%) metastases. Compared with outpatients, inpatients had lower mean survival rates (2 months vs 6 months; P < .001), higher rates of stopping treatment early (19.1% vs 9.0%; P = .034), and greater involvement of palliative care (44.8% vs 24.1%; P < .001), but the same mean planned fractions (9.10 vs 9.40 fractions; P = .669). In a multiple predictor survival analysis, palliative care involvement (P = .025), male sex (P = .001), ending treatment early (P = .011), and having 1 of 3 serious indications (airway compromise, leptomeningeal disease, and superior/inferior vena cava involvement; P = .007) were significantly associated with worse overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Survival is particularly poor in patients who receive emergent PRT, and patient characteristics such as functional status and indication should be considered when determining fractionation schedule and dosing. A multi-institutional study of practice patterns and outcomes is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Grade
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Julie Koenig
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Yushen Qian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
| | - Navjot Sandhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
| | - Yufei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Brandon Turner
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Rie von Eyben
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
| | - Susan Knox
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
| | - Sara Dudley
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Yap WK, Shih MC, Kuo C, Pai PC, Chou WC, Chang KP, Tsai MH, Tsang NM. Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Assessing Survival in Patients With Metastatic Lung Cancer Referred for Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases. JAMA Netw Open 2018; 1:e183242. [PMID: 30646236 PMCID: PMC6324455 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance A survival prediction model for patients with bone metastases arising from lung cancer would be highly valuable. Objective To develop and validate a nomogram for assessing the survival probability of patients with metastatic lung cancer receiving radiotherapy for osseous metastases. Design, Setting, Participants In this prognostic study, the putative prognostic indicators for constructing the nomogram were identified using multivariable Cox regression analysis with backward elimination and model selection based on the Akaike information criterion. The nomogram was subjected to internal (bootstrap) and external validation; its calibration and discriminative ability were evaluated with calibration plots and the Uno C statistic, respectively. The training and validation set cohorts were from a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan and a tertiary institution in southern Taiwan, respectively. The training set comprised 477 patients with metastatic lung cancer who received radiotherapy for osseous metastases between January 2000 and December 2013. The validation set comprised 235 similar patients treated between January 2011 and December 2017. Data analysis was conducted May 2018 to July 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures The nomogram end points were death within 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Of 477 patients in the training set, 292 patients (61.2%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 62.86 (11.66) years. Of 235 patients in the validating set, 113 patients (48.1%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 62.65 (11.49) years. In the training set, 186 (39%), 291 (61%), and 359 (75%) patients died within 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, and the median overall survival was 4.21 (95% CI, 3.68-4.90) months. In the validating set, 84 (36%), 120 (51%), and 144 (61%) patients died within 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, and the median overall survival was 5.20 (95% CI, 4.07-7.17) months. Body mass index (18.5 to <25 vs ≥25: hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14-1.78 and <18.5 vs ≥25: HR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.56-3.44), histology (non-small cell vs small cell lung cancer: HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41-0.86), epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (positive vs unknown: HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.93 and negative vs unknown: HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.66-1.45), smoking status (ever smoker vs never smoker: HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.24-1.83), age, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were incorporated. The HRs of age and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were modeled nonlinearly with restricted cubic splines (both P < .001). The nomogram's discriminative ability was good in the training set (C statistic, ≥0.77; P < .001) and was validated using both an internal bootstrap method (C statistic, ≥0.76; P < .001) and an external validating set (C statistic, ≥0.75; P < .001). The calibration plots for the end points showed optimal agreement between the nomogram's assessment and actual observations. Conclusions and Relevance The nomogram (with web-based tool) can be useful for assessing the probability of survival at 3, 6, and 12 months in patients with metastatic lung cancer referred for radiotherapy to treat bone metastases, and it may guide radiation oncologists in treatment decision making and engaging patients in end-of-life discussions and/or hospice referrals at appropriate times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing-Keen Yap
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chieh Shih
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin Kuo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Ching Pai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Chou
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Ping Chang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head, and Neck Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Hung Tsai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ngan-Ming Tsang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
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Tseng YD, Gouwens NW, Lo SS, Halasz LM, Spady P, Mezheritsky I, Loggers E. Use of Radiation Therapy Within the Last Year of Life Among Cancer Patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018; 101:21-29. [PMID: 29487025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.01.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We examined radiation therapy (RT) use within the last year of life (LYOL). As palliative RT (PRT) has been well studied in patients with ≥6-week life expectancies, we hypothesized that PRT use would be constant over the LYOL, except for the last 30 days, when use would decline given lack of prospective data supporting it. MATERIALS AND METHODS At a single institution, 870 cancer patients died between October 2, 2014, and September 30, 2015, and had ≥3 evaluation and management visits within the LYOL. Claims and RT data were extracted and linked. Over the LYOL, we evaluated RT use by intent (curative vs palliative) and indications. RESULTS Within the LYOL, one-third of patients underwent RT in the last 365 days of life to 444 sites, which decreased to 24.3% and 8.5% in the last 180 and 30 days of life, respectively. Patients who received any RT in the last 365 days of life were younger at death and had a higher proportion of lung, sarcoma, and transplant disease groups. One-quarter of sites were irradiated with curative intent, which remained constant over the LYOL. In contrast, PRT was used at a supralinear rate, in which treatment of bone metastases and use of single-fraction PRT increased closer to death. CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be disproportionately used closer to death, with an increasing proportion of irradiated sites being bone metastases. This may be secondary to increased symptoms from advanced cancer toward the end of life. As patients with very poor prognoses (eg, within 30 days of death) are generally not included in RT clinical trials, further studies are warranted to assess whether PRT for bone metastases at the end of life is efficacious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda D Tseng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | | | - Simon S Lo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lia M Halasz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Phil Spady
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Elizabeth Loggers
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington; Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington; Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Dosani M, Tyldesley S, Bakos B, Hamm J, Kong T, Lucas S, Wong J, Liu M, Hamilton S. The TEACHH model to predict life expectancy in patients presenting for palliative spine radiotherapy: external validation and comparison with alternate models. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26:2217-2227. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Habermehl D, Haase K, Rieken S, Debus J, Combs SE. Defining the role of palliative radiotherapy in bone metastasis from primary liver cancer: An analysis of survival and treatment efficacy. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 97:609-13. [DOI: 10.1177/030089161109700512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aims and background Primary liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is still associated with a poor prognosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are known to cause bone metastasis resulting in pain, neurologic impairment and risk of fracture. Palliative radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in symptomatic bone lesions and is usually performed as percutaneous fractionated radiotherapy. Methods and study design From June 1987 to December 2009, 41 patients (median age, 64 years) with bone metastasis received radiotherapy in our department. The analyzed patients were treated for 67 sites of bone lesions. We analyzed the applied fractionation schedules and the preferred sites of metastasis and symptoms, evaluated the therapeutic outcome in terms of symptomatic improvement, and described the prognosis of these patients. Results Main indication for palliative radiotherapy was pain in 94% of all cases. Most frequent radiation protocols were 10 × 3 Gy (20 patients) and 20 × 2 Gy (19 patients). Median applied overall dose was 39 Gy (range, 4–48 Gy) and median single dose was 2.5 Gy (range, 1.8–4 Gy). The median duration of the radiotherapeutic treatment was 15 days (range, 2–24 days) and in 12 cases treatment was discontinuated. The overall response rate to palliative radiotherapy in bone metastasis was 77%. Median overall survival in both cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma patients was 4.2 months after initiation of radiotherapy (range, 0.2–38.9). Conclusions Considering the poor prognosis of patients with bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, with a poor median survival of 3.7–5.0 months according to our study and existing literature, shorter radiotherapy schedules or even single-fraction irradiation can be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Habermehl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina Haase
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Rieken
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Debus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie E Combs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zucker A, Tsai CJ, Loscalzo J, Calves P, Kao J. The NEAT Predictive Model for Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Cancer Res Treat 2018; 50:1433-1443. [PMID: 29361815 PMCID: PMC6192914 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2017.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We previously developed a model to more accurately predict life expectancy for stage IV cancer patients referred to radiation oncology. The goals of this study are to validate this model and to compare competing published models. Materials and Methods From May 2012 to March 2015, 280 consecutive patientswith stage IV cancerwere prospectively evaluated by a single radiation oncologist. Patients were separated into training, validation and combined sets. TheNEAT model evaluated number of active tumors ("N"), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ("E"), albumin ("A") and primary tumor site ("T"). The Odette Cancer Center model validated performance status, bone only metastases and primary tumor site. The Harvard TEACHH model investigated primary tumor type, performance status, age, prior chemotherapy courses, liver metastases, and hospitalization within 3 months. Cox multivariable analyses and logisticalregressionwere utilized to compare model performance. RESULTS Number of active tumors, performance status, albumin, primary tumor site, prior hospitalizationwithin the last 3 months, and liver metastases predicted overall survival on uinvariate and multivariable analysis (p < 0.05 for all). The NEAT model separated patients into four prognostic groups with median survivals of 24.9, 14.8, 4.0, and 1.2 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The NEAT model had a C-index of 0.76 with a Nagelkerke's R2 of 0.54 suggesting good discrimination, calibration and total performance compared to competing prognostic models. CONCLUSION The NEAT model warrants further investigation as a clinically useful approach to predict survival in patients with stage IV cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Zucker
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY, USA.,New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Chiaojung Jillian Tsai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Loscalzo
- Divisions of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY, USA
| | - Pedro Calves
- Divisions of Supportive and Palliative Care, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY, USA
| | - Johnny Kao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY, USA
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Støchkel Frank M, Schou Nørøxe D, Nygård L, Fredberg Persson G. Fractionated palliative thoracic radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer - futile or worth-while? BMC Palliat Care 2018; 17:15. [PMID: 29304789 PMCID: PMC5756366 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-017-0270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Palliative thoracic radiotherapy (PTR) can relieve symptoms originating from intra-thoracic disease. The optimal timing and fractionation of PTR is unknown. Time to effect is 2 months. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to investigate survival after PTR, hypothesizing that a significant number of patients received futile fractionated PTR. The secondary aim was to find prognostic factors to guide treatment decisions. Methods Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) planned for PTR in the period of 2010-2011 at the University Hospital of Copenhagen were included. We noted pathology, tumor, node and metastasis (TNM) classification of malignant tumors, stage, indication, start date, schedule for PTR, completed y/n, performance status (PS) and time of death. Analyses were performed as an intention-to-treat using Cox regression, Fishers exact test and Kaplan Meier. Results A total of 159 patients were included. Median overall survival (OS) was 4.2 months. Sixteen patients (10%) did either not begin or finish PTR. Of these, eight (5%) died prior to or during PTR. Of the 151 patients receiving PTR, sixteen patients (11%) died within 14 days, thirty-three (22%) within 30 days and fifty (33%) within 2 months. PS 0-1 and squamous cell carcinoma were correlated with a better survival. Conclusions Our study show that a significant number of patients who received PTR died before they could achieve optimal effect of the treatment. PS and histology were significant prognostic factors favoring PS 0-1 and squamous cell carcinoma. Based on our study, we suggest that patients with PS 0-1 should be considered for fractionated PTR whereas patients with PS ≥ 2 should be considered for high dose single fraction only or supportive palliative care. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12904-017-0270-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malene Støchkel Frank
- Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorte Schou Nørøxe
- Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Lotte Nygård
- Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Section of Radiotherapy, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte Fredberg Persson
- Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abstract
Metastatic disease to the bone is a common manifestation of advanced cancer, and can result in pain, pathologic fractures, hypercalcemia, and overall functional compromise. External beam radiation is a proven, highly efficacious, and noninvasive therapy that can provide symptomatic relief from painful osseous lesions. When deciding upon the best treatment regimen, it is important to consider patient factors such as overall life expectancy, performance status, disease burden, and site of osseous metastatic pain. Determination of best treatment ideally requires multidisciplinary input from radiologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, pain management, and palliative care specialists together with radiation oncologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Kang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Silvia C. Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York
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Park KR, Lee CG, Tseng YD, Liao JJ, Reddy S, Bruera E, Yennurajalingam S. Palliative radiation therapy in the last 30 days of life: A systematic review. Radiother Oncol 2017; 125:193-199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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47
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Prospective analysis of patient reported symptoms and quality of life in patients with incurable lung cancer treated in a rapid access clinic. Lung Cancer 2017; 112:35-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2017.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Puckett LL, Luitweiler E, Potters L, Teckie S. Preventing Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: Predictive Factors to Improve Patient Selection for Palliative Treatment. J Oncol Pract 2017; 13:e782-e791. [PMID: 28759295 DOI: 10.1200/jop.2017.021220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Approximately one third of patients with cancer require palliative radiation therapy (PRT), yet no guidelines exist for optimal patient selection. We have observed that many patients who begin PRT do not complete their prescribed treatment. Our study sought to identify factors associated with discontinuation of PRT, assess for a relationship with survival, and inform patient selection. METHODS We performed an institutional review board-approved retrospective analysis of patients with cancer treated in a multicenter radiation oncology department in 2014. Of 297 patients who began PRT, 60 discontinued and 237 completed treatment. Primary end points included discontinuation and overall survival. RESULTS Patient factors were analyzed for association with discontinuation of PRT and overall survival, respectively, using logistic regression and Cox proportional regression models. Factors associated with discontinuation were low Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, high number of fractions prescribed, and treatment site other than bone metastasis. The odds of discontinuing PRT decreased by approximately 52% for every 10-point increase in KPS score (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.63; P < .001). Factors associated with shorter survival included discontinuation of PRT, low KPS score, community practice location, multiple comorbidities, and treatment of brain metastases. Patients who discontinued treatment were more likely to die than patients who completed treatment, independent of other factors (hazard ratio, 3.67; 95% CI, 2.41 to 5.61; P < .001). CONCLUSION Patients with low KPS scores, long treatment courses, and those treated to sites other than bone metastasis were significantly more likely to discontinue treatment. Discontinuation was predictive for poor survival. Pretreatment evaluation of KPS, comorbidities, and brain metastases can help guide appropriate patient selection for PRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay L Puckett
- Northwell Health, Lake Success; and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Eric Luitweiler
- Northwell Health, Lake Success; and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Louis Potters
- Northwell Health, Lake Success; and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
| | - Sewit Teckie
- Northwell Health, Lake Success; and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY
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Ong WL, Khor R, Bressel M, Tran P, Tedesco J, Tai KH, Ball D, Duchesne G, Foroudi F. Patterns of health services utilization in the last two weeks of life among cancer patients: Experience in an Australian academic cancer center. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2017; 13:400-406. [DOI: 10.1111/ajco.12701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wee Loon Ong
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine; Monash University; Victoria Australia
- Department of Radiation Oncology; Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre/Austin Health; Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Richard Khor
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Radiation Oncology; Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre/Austin Health; Heidelberg Victoria Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Mathias Bressel
- Department of Biostatistics and Clinical Trial; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
| | - Phillip Tran
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
| | - Jo Tedesco
- Department of Medical Radiations; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | - Keen Hun Tai
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
| | - David Ball
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Gillian Duchesne
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Medical Radiations; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | - Farshad Foroudi
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Radiation Oncology; Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre/Austin Health; Heidelberg Victoria Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
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Nieder C, Mannsåker B, Dalhaug A, Pawinski A, Haukland E. The Glasgow prognostic score: Useful information when prescribing palliative radiotherapy. Mol Clin Oncol 2017; 6:811-816. [PMID: 28588769 PMCID: PMC5451880 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2017.1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present retrospective study was to investigate whether a score reflecting systemic inflammatory processes [the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS)] provides relevant information for radiation oncologists. GPS is a three-tiered score [0: normal C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin; 1: one abnormal result; 2: increased CRP and low albumin]. Correlations between disease type and extent, resource utilization, survival and GPS were analyzed in 703 patients. In the subgroup with GPS 2, significantly higher rates of lung, adrenal gland and liver metastases were observed. An increasing GPS score was associated with a higher likelihood of anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis. Comparable findings were made regarding utilization of palliative care resources, need for blood transfusion and intravenous administration of antibiotics. Compared with GPS 0 or 1, more patients with GPS 2 did not complete their prescribed course of radiotherapy. One-third of patients with GPS 2 received treatment during the final month of life. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GPS was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (median, 479, 136, and 61 days, for GPS 0, 1 and 2, respectively). In patients with GPS 2 and additional leukocytosis, the median survival was 38 days. In conclusion, GPS provides important prognostic information. This biomarker-based score may be considered for deciding fractionation, and should be validated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Nieder
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, N-8092 Bodø, Norway
| | - Bård Mannsåker
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, N-8092 Bodø, Norway
| | - Astrid Dalhaug
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, N-8092 Bodø, Norway
| | - Adam Pawinski
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, N-8092 Bodø, Norway
| | - Ellinor Haukland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, N-8092 Bodø, Norway
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