Focused Ultrasound and RadioTHERapy for non-invasive palliative pain treatment in patients with bone metastasis: a study protocol for the three armed randomized controlled FURTHER trial

Update on musculoskeletal applications of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive, incisionless, radiation-free technology used to ablate tissue deep within the body. This technique has gained increased popularity following FDA approval for treatment of pain related to bone metastases and limited approval for treatment of osteoid osteoma. MRgFUS delivers superior visualization of soft tissue targets in unlimited imaging planes and precision in targeting and delivery of thermal dose which is all provided during real-time monitoring using MR thermometry. This paper provides an overview of the common musculoskeletal applications of MRgFUS along with updates on clinical outcomes and discussion of future applications.

FLASH radiotherapy for the treatment of symptomatic bone metastases in the thorax (FAST-02): protocol for a prospective study of a novel radiotherapy approach

BACKGROUND

FLASH therapy is a treatment technique in which radiation is delivered at ultra-high dose rates (≥ 40 Gy/s). The first-in-human FAST-01 clinical trial demonstrated the clinical feasibility of proton FLASH in the treatment of extremity bone metastases. The objectives of this investigation are to assess the toxicities of treatment and pain relief in study participants with painful thoracic bone metastases treated with FLASH radiotherapy, as well as workflow metrics in a clinical setting.

METHODS

This single-arm clinical trial is being conducted under an FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) approved for 10 patients with 1-3 painful bone metastases in the thorax, excluding bone metastases in the spine. Treatment will be 8 Gy in a single fraction administered at ≥ 40 Gy/s on a FLASH-enabled proton therapy system delivering a single transmission proton beam. Primary study endpoints are efficacy (pain relief) and safety. Patient questionnaires evaluating pain flare at the treatment site will be completed for 10 consecutive days post-RT. Pain response and adverse events (AEs) will be evaluated on the day of treatment and on day 7, day 15, months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12, and every 6 months thereafter. The outcomes for clinical workflow feasibility are the occurrence of any device issues as well as time on the treatment table.

DISCUSSION

This prospective clinical trial will provide clinical data for evaluating the efficacy and safety of proton FLASH for palliation of bony metastases in the thorax. Positive findings will support the further exploration of FLASH radiation for other clinical indications including patient populations treated with curative intent.

REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05524064.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Surgery for Tumor Ablation: A Review of Current Applications

The management of cancer with alternative approaches is a matter of clinical interest worldwide. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) surgery is a noninvasive technique performed under US or MRI guidance. The most studied therapeutic uses of HIFU involve thermal tissue ablation, demonstrating both palliative and curative potential. However, concurrent mechanical bioeffects also provide opportunities in terms of augmented drug delivery and immunosensitization. The safety and efficacy of HIFU integration with current cancer treatment strategies are being actively investigated in managing primary and secondary tumors, including cancers of the breast, prostate, pancreas, liver, kidney, and bone. Current primary HIFU indications are pain palliation, complete ablation of localized earlystage tumors, or debulking of unresectable late-stage cancers. This review presents the latest HIFU applications, from investigational to clinically approved, in the field of tumor ablation. Keywords: Ultrasound, Ultrasound-High Intensity Focused (HIFU), Interventional-MSK, Interventional-Body, Oncology, Technology Assessment, Tumor Response, MR Imaging © RSNA, 2023.

An Update on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Interventional Radiology: The Future Measure of Our Success

The field of interventional radiology continues to expand rapidly, offering an increasing range of alternatives to open surgical procedures. This minimally invasive imaging-guided approach promises faster recovery times and a theoretically improved patient experience; however, there is limited evidence documenting that these promises are actually delivered. Patient-reported outcomes are a way of collecting data on the patient experience increasingly used in clinical trials and the provision of surgical services and informing clinical practice across a range of elective procedures. Currently underutilised in interventional radiology, patient-reported outcomes have the potential to significantly impact how we deliver care by allowing evaluation of the perceived benefit derived by a patient after undergoing a procedure and to permit comparison with more invasive open procedures from the patient perspective.

Current therapies and future prospective for locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors

Locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of soft tissue and bone tumors with intermediate histology, incompletely understood biology, and highly variable natural history. Despite having a limited to absent ability to metastasize and excellent survival prognosis, locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors can be symptomatic, require prolonged and repeat treatments including surgery and chemotherapy, and can severely impact patients' quality of life. The management of locally aggressive tumors has evolved over the years with a focus on minimizing morbid treatments. Extensive oncologic surgeries and radiation are pillars of care for high grade sarcomas, however, play a more limited role in management of locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors, due to propensity for local recurrence despite resection, and the risk of transformation to a higher-grade entity following radiation. Patients should ideally be evaluated in specialized sarcoma centers that can coordinate complex multimodal decision-making, taking into consideration the individual patient's clinical presentation and history, as well as any available prognostic factors into customizing therapy. In this review, we aim to discuss the biology, clinical management, and future treatment frontiers for three representative locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors: desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF), tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TSGCT) and giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB). These entities challenge clinicians with their unpredictable behavior and responses to treatment, and still lack a well-defined standard of care despite recent progress with newly approved or promising experimental drugs.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Painful Bone Metastases in Europe, A Group Concept Mapping Study

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is an innovative treatment for patients with painful bone metastases. The adoption of MR-HIFU will be influenced by several factors beyond its effectiveness. To identify contextual factors affecting the adoption of MR-HIFU, we conducted a group concept mapping (GCM) study in four European countries. The GCM was conducted in two phases. First, the participants brainstormed statements guided by the focus prompt "One factor that may influence the uptake of MR-HIFU in clinical practice is...". Second, the participants sorted statements into categories and rated the statements according to their importance and changeability. To generate a concept map, multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were conducted, and average ratings for each (cluster of) factors were calculated. Forty-five participants contributed to phase I and/or II (56% overall participation rate). The resulting concept map comprises 49 factors, organized in 12 clusters: "competitive treatments", "physicians' attitudes", "alignment of resources", "logistics and workflow", "technical disadvantages", "radiotherapy as first-line therapy", "aggregating knowledge and improving awareness", "clinical effectiveness", "patients' preferences", "reimbursement", "cost-effectiveness" and "hospital costs". The factors identified echo those from the literature, but their relevance and interrelationship are case-specific. Besides evidence on clinical effectiveness, contextual factors from 10 other clusters should be addressed to support adoption of MR-HIFU.