Acute radiation oesophagitis associated with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose uptake on positron emission tomography/CT during chemo-radiation therapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Functional and patient-reported changes in swallowing and voice after combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to describe the nature and impact of dysphagia and dysphonia in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) before and after chemoradiation.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for limited-stage SCLC. Patients received either 40, 45 or 50 Gy, commencing the second cycle of chemotherapy. Outcomes included: videofluoroscopy (VFSS) to investigate aspiration, swallowing function and oesophageal motility; oral intake limitations; patient-reported dysphagia; and patient-reported dysphonia. Data were collected before treatment and one, three and six months post-treatment.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were enrolled. Oropharyngeal swallowing was safe and functional at all times. Three patients exhibited oesophageal motility disorders before treatment, and a further three post-treatment. Oral intake was most compromised one month post-treatment with five patients either tube dependent or eating very limited diets. At all other times patients were eating normal or near-normal diets. Despite normal oropharyngeal swallowing on VFSS, three patients reported moderate or severe dysphagia one month post-treatment. Three additional patients reported moderate or severe difficulties three and six months post-treatment. Patients who reported dysphagia one month post-treatment all received a mean and maximum oesophageal dose of ≥15.7 Gy and ≥42 Gy, respectively. Dose-response relationships were not apparent three and six months post-treatment. Voice problems varied, with worst scores reported one month post-treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified discordance between observed swallowing function and patient-reported problems, which has clinical implications for patient management, and highlights future research needs. Ongoing efforts to reduce mucosal toxicity in patients with lung cancer are essential.

Generation of biological hypotheses by functional imaging links tumor hypoxia to radiation induced tissue inflammation/glucose uptake in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging modality which is able to deliver tracer specific biological information, e.g. about glucose uptake, inflammation or hypoxia of tumors. We performed a proof-of-principle study that used different tracers and expanded the analytical scope to non-tumor structures to evaluate tumor-host interactions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on a previously reported prospective imaging study on 50 patients treated with curative intent chemoradiation (CRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, PET-based hypoxia and normal tissue inflammation measured by repeat 18F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET and 18F-fluorodesoxyglucose (FDG) PET, respectively, were correlated using the Spearman correlation coefficient R. PET parameters determined before and during CRT (week 1, 2 and 5), were associated with local tumor control and overall survival.

RESULTS

Tumor hypoxia at all measured times showed an inverse correlation with mid-treatment FDG-uptake of non-tumor affected oral (sub-)mucosa with R values between -0.35 and -0.6 (all p < 0.05). Mucosal FDG-uptake and mucosal hypoxia correlated positively but weaker (R values between 0.2 and 0.45). More tumor hypoxia in FMISO-PET (week 2) and less FDG-uptake of (sub-)mucosa in FDG-PET (week 4) were significantly associated with worse LC (FMISO TBR_peak: HR = 1.72, p = 0.030; FDG SUV_mean: HR = 0.23, p = 0.025) and OS (FMISO TBR_peak: HR = 1.71, p = 0.007; FDG SUV_mean: HR = 0.30, p = 0.003). Multivariable models including both parameters showed improved performance, suggesting that these modalities still bear distinct biological information despite their strong inter-correlation.

CONCLUSION

We report first clinical evidence that tumor hypoxia is inversely correlated with increased FDG-uptake during radiation, potentially expressing inflammation. This observation merits further research and may have important implication for future research on tumor hypoxia and radio-immunology. Our study demonstrates that functional imaging can be utilized to assess complex tumor-host interactions and generate novel biological insights in vivo vero.

Early Skeletal Muscle Loss in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemoradiation and Relationship to Survival

PURPOSE

Sarcopenia is associated with reduced survival in cancer. Currently, data on sarcopenia at presentation and muscle loss throughout treatment are unknown in patients receiving chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study evaluated skeletal muscle changes in NSCLC patients receiving CRT and relationship with survival.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of 41 patients with NSCLC treated with CRT assessed for skeletal muscle area and muscle density by computed tomography pre-treatment and 3 months post-treatment. Images at week 4 of treatment were available for 32 (78%) patients. Linear mixed models were applied to determine changes in skeletal muscle over time and related to overall survival using Kaplan-Meier plots.

RESULTS

Muscle area and muscle density decreased significantly by week 4 of CRT (- 6.6 cm², 95% CI - 9.7 to - 3.1, p < 0.001; - 1.3 HU, 95% CI - 1.9 to - 0.64, p < 0.001, respectively), with minimal change between week 4 of CRT and 3 months post-CRT follow-up (- 0.2 cm², 95% CI - 3.6-3.1, p = 0.91; - 0.27, 95% CI - 0.91-0.36, p = 0.36, respectively). Sarcopenia was present in 25 (61%) and sarcopenic obesity in 6 (14%) of patients prior to CRT, but not associated with poorer survival. Median survival was shorter in patients with low muscle density prior to treatment although not statistically significant (25 months + 8.3 vs 53 months + 13.0, log-rank p = 0.17).

CONCLUSION

Significant loss of muscle area and muscle density occurs in NSCLC patients early during CRT. A high proportion of patients are sarcopenic prior to CRT; however, this was not significantly associated with poorer survival.