Habitat escalated adaptive therapy (HEAT): a phase 2 trial utilizing radiomic habitat-directed and genomic-adjusted radiation dose (GARD) optimization for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS), have significant inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, with poor response to standard neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Achieving a favorable pathologic response (FPR ≥ 95%) from RT is associated with improved patient outcome. Genomic adjusted radiation dose (GARD), a radiation-specific metric that quantifies the expected RT treatment effect as a function of tumor dose and genomics, proposed that STS is significantly underdosed. STS have significant radiomic heterogeneity, where radiomic habitats can delineate regions of intra-tumoral hypoxia and radioresistance. We designed a novel clinical trial, Habitat Escalated Adaptive Therapy (HEAT), utilizing radiomic habitats to identify areas of radioresistance within the tumor and targeting them with GARD-optimized doses, to improve FPR in high-grade STS.

METHODS

Phase 2 non-randomized single-arm clinical trial includes non-metastatic, resectable high-grade STS patients. Pre-treatment multiparametric MRIs (mpMRI) delineate three distinct intra-tumoral habitats based on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) sequences. GARD estimates that simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) doses of 70 and 60 Gy in 25 fractions to the highest and intermediate radioresistant habitats, while the remaining volume receives standard 50 Gy, would lead to a > 3 fold FPR increase to 24%. Pre-treatment CT guided biopsies of each habitat along with clip placement will be performed for pathologic evaluation, future genomic studies, and response assessment. An mpMRI taken between weeks two and three of treatment will be used for biological plan adaptation to account for tumor response, in addition to an mpMRI after the completion of radiotherapy in addition to pathologic response, toxicity, radiomic response, disease control, and survival will be evaluated as secondary endpoints. Furthermore, liquid biopsy will be performed with mpMRI for future ancillary studies.

DISCUSSION

This is the first clinical trial to test a novel genomic-based RT dose optimization (GARD) and to utilize radiomic habitats to identify and target radioresistance regions, as a strategy to improve the outcome of RT-treated STS patients. Its success could usher in a new phase in radiation oncology, integrating genomic and radiomic insights into clinical practice and trial designs, and may reveal new radiomic and genomic biomarkers, refining personalized treatment strategies for STS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT05301283.

TRIAL STATUS

The trial started recruitment on March 17, 2022.

Novel Postoperative Hypofractionated Accelerated Radiation Dose-Painting Approach for Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Purpose

Hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) offers benefits in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS), including exploitation of the lower α/β, patient convenience, and cost. This study evaluates the acute toxicity of a hypofractionated accelerated RT dose-painting (HARD) approach for postoperative treatment of STS.

Methods and Materials

This is a retrospective review of 53 consecutive patients with STS who underwent resection followed by postoperative RT. Standard postoperative RT dosing for R0/R1/gross disease with sequential boost (50 Gy + 14/16/20 Gy in 32-35 fractions) were replaced with dose-painting, which adapts dose based on risk of disease burden, to 50.4 and 63, 64.4, 70 Gy in 28 fractions, respectively. The first 10 patients were replanned with a sequential boost RT approach and dosimetric indices were compared. Time-to-event outcomes, including local control, regional control, distant control, and overall survival, were estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

Median follow-up was 25.2 months. Most patients had high-grade (59%) STS of the extremity (63%) who underwent resection with either R1 (40%) or close (36%) margins. Four patients experienced grade 3 acute dermatitis which resolved by the 3-month follow-up visit. The 2-year local control, regional control, distant control, and overall survival were 100%, 92%, 68%, and 86%, respectively. Compared with the sequential boost plan, HARD had a significantly lower field size (total V50 Gy; P = .002), bone V50 (P = .031), and maximum skin dose (P = .008). Overall treatment time was decreased by 4 to 7 fractions, which translated to a decrease in estimated average treatment cost of $3056 (range, $2651-$4335; P < .001).

Conclusions

In addition to benefits in cost, convenience, and improved biologic effect in STS, HARD regimen offers a safe treatment approach with dosimetric advantages compared with conventional sequential boost, which may translate to improved long-term toxicity.

Association between Tumor Volume Change on MRI with Surgical Margin Status, Pathological Response, and Local Control Following Pre-Operative Radiation Therapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The clinical significance of radiographic progression during pre-operative radiation therapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate associations between radiographic change on T1 post-contrast (T1c) and T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with percent pathological response (PR%), positive surgical margins (+SM), and local control (LC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with STS undergoing neoadjuvant RT who had both pre- and post-RT MRI prior to surgical resection. Gross tumor volumes were contoured on pre- and post-RT T1c and T2 MRI sequences and relative change in volume from baseline was calculated. Radiographic classification was defined as response (>30% reduction), progression (>30% increase), or stable (≤30% reduction or ≤30% increase). Chi squared, Fishers Exact, and Kruskal Wallis (KW) tests were used to assess differences between groups. Linear and binary logistic regression models used to assess associations between MRI response and PR% and +SM, respectively. LC was modeled with Kaplan Meier methods and log rank tests.

RESULTS

A total of 68 STS patients were identified, with a median follow up of 49 months (range 7-229). With a median age of 60.5 years (25-88) and tumor size of 10.8cm (2.7-25.7), the most common histologies were undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS; 32.4%) and myxoid liposarcoma (ML; 16.2%), and were primarily grade 2-3 disease (89.7%). With a median RT dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions (44-60Gy), the median radiographic volume change was 2% (-86.4 to 953.6%) and -2.1% (-89.6 to 962.5%) for T1c and T2, respectively. Radiographic classification of response/stable/progression was 25.4%/49.2%/25.4% and 27.9%/52.5%/19.7% for T1c and T2, respectively. Histology (ML vs. UPS) and grade (1 vs. 3) were predictors for radiographic response on both T1c (72.7% vs 18.8%, p = 0.03 and 71.4% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.03) and T2 (71.5% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.02 and 71.4% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.002), respectively. With 6 +SM (8.8%), the rate of +SM for response/stable/progression was 20%/10.3%/0% in T1c (p = 0.2) and 5.9%/12.5%/0% in T2 (p = 0.5). As a continuous variable, neither relative change on T1c (p = 0.2) or T2 (p = 0.4) were associated with +SM. With an overall median PR% of 64% (0-100%), the median PR% was significantly different for response/stable/progression for both T1c (95%/42%/73%, p = 0.02) and T2 (95%/50%/87.5%, p = 0.04). Radiographic change on neither T1c (p = 0.4) or T2 (p = 0.5) were associated with PR% on a continuous basis. With a total of 4 local recurrences, there was no significant difference in LC by radiographic classification on either T1c (p = 0.65) or T2 (p = 0.85).

CONCLUSION

While radiographic response may be correlated with pathological response, radiographic progression on either T1c or T2 following neoadjuvant RT was not associated with a detriment in surgical margins or local control. These findings suggest that STS radiographic "pseudoprogression" is not associated with worse outcome.

Accurate, repeatable, and geometrically precise diffusion-weighted imaging on a 0.35 T magnetic resonance imaging-guided linear accelerator

Background and purpose

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) allows for the interrogation of tissue cellularity, which is a surrogate for cellular proliferation. Previous attempts to incorporate DWI into the workflow of a 0.35 T MR-linac (MRL) have lacked quantitative accuracy. In this study, accuracy, repeatability, and geometric precision of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps produced using an echo planar imaging (EPI)-based DWI protocol on the MRL system is illustrated, and in vivo potential for longitudinal patient imaging is demonstrated.

Materials and methods

Accuracy and repeatability were assessed by measuring ADC values in a diffusion phantom at three timepoints and comparing to reference ADC values. System-dependent geometric distortion was quantified by measuring the distance between 93 pairs of phantom features on ADC maps acquired on a 0.35 T MRL and a 3.0 T diagnostic scanner and comparing to spatially precise CT images. Additionally, for five sarcoma patients receiving radiotherapy on the MRL, same-day in vivo ADC maps were acquired on both systems, one of which at multiple timepoints.

Results

Phantom ADC quantification was accurate on the 0.35 T MRL with significant discrepancies only seen at high ADC. Average geometric distortions were 0.35 (±0.02) mm and 0.85 (±0.02) mm in the central slice and 0.66 (±0.04) mm and 2.14 (±0.07) mm at 5.4 cm off-center for the MRL and diagnostic system, respectively. In the sarcoma patients, a mean pretreatment ADC of 910x10-6 (±100x10-6) mm2/s was measured on the MRL.

Conclusions

The acquisition of accurate, repeatable, and geometrically precise ADC maps is possible at 0.35 T with an EPI approach.

Hypofractionated Accelerated Radiation Dose-Painting (HARD) vs. Standard Radiotherapy for Unresected Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) offers modest local control (LC) for unresected soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Although STS has a low α/β (∼2 - 6) that may benefit from a hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen, it is often limited due to the toxicity risk to surrounding organs. A simultaneous integrated boost to gross disease (2.5 - 3 Gy/fraction), with lower doses to the intermediate and low risk target volume, may offer a safe isotoxic dose escalation approach. We hypothesize that this hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy dose-painting (HARD) will improve local control compared to CFRT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We performed a single institution retrospective analysis of patients who received external beam radiotherapy with definitive intent (≥50 Gy) for unresected STS. CFRT was defined as 1.8 - 2 Gy/fraction (Gy/fx). HARD regimens consisted of 60 - 66 Gy at 3 Gy/fx or 70 Gy at 2.5 Gy/fx to gross disease, with 1.8 - 2.4 Gy/fx to intermediate and low risk regions. All anatomical sites and histologies were included. Local control (LC) was defined from date of current diagnosis, estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods via log-rank tests or Cox regression for univariate analysis (UVA), when appropriate. Cox regression multivariate analysis (MVA) included regimen, biological effective dose (α/β 6; BED6), lesion size, age, and grade.

RESULTS

We identified 77 patients with primary and metastatic STS treated with HARD (n = 40) or CFRT (n = 37) between 1990 and 2022, with a median follow up of 24 months in surviving patients. The mean dose for CFRT and HARD are 56.8 Gy (50 - 77.4 Gy) and 64.9 Gy (60 - 70 Gy), respectively. HARD was comprised of 65% for 3 Gy/fx and 35% for 2.5 Gy/fx regimens. At the time of RT, grade 3 (69%) and extremity (39%) tumors were the most common. Tumor histology was very heterogenous across both cohorts, with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma being the most common for HARD (33%) and CFRT (19%). HARD was more often utilized in stage IV patients (55% vs. 19%, p = 0.001) and had a higher mean BED6 (96 vs. 74.2 Gy, p < 0.001) than CFRT, but without differences in age (67 vs. 59 years), tumor size (8 vs. 10 cm), concurrent chemotherapy (35% vs. 30%), Karnofsky performance status (86 vs. 85), follow-up (19 vs. 28 months), and grade (all p > 0.1). On UVA, there was a LC benefit associated with higher BED6 (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.9 - 0.98, p = 0.002) and the HARD regimen (2-year LC 95% vs. 62%, p < 0.001). On MVA, only HARD (HR 0.07, 95% CI 0.006 - 0.729, p = 0.027) was independently associated with LC.

CONCLUSION

Although the HARD regimen and higher BED6 were both associated with significant improvement in LC, only the HARD regimen independently associated with a local control benefit for unresected STS. These results suggest biologic dose-intensification exploiting the low α/β of STS with an isotoxic hypofractionated regimen may be a favorable strategy for unresectable STS. Future prospective studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Neoadjuvant Simultaneous Integrated Boost Radiation Therapy Improves Clinical Outcomes for Retroperitoneal Sarcoma

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT) with standard techniques (ST) offers a modest benefit in retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). As the high-risk region (HRR) at risk for a positive surgical margin and recurrence is posterior and away from radiosensitive organs at risk, using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) allows targeted dose escalation to the HRR while sparing these organs. We hypothesized that neoadjuvant SIB RT can improve disease control compared with ST, without increasing toxicity.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We retrospectively identified patients with resectable nonmetastatic RPS from 2000 to 2021 who received neoadjuvant RT of 180 to 200 cGy/fraction to standard volumes. SIB patients received 205 to 230 cGy/fraction to the appropriate HRR. Clinical endpoints included abdominopelvic control (APC), recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and acute toxicity.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 57 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 50-64), there were 103 patients with RPS who received either ST (n = 69) or SIB (n = 34) RT. Median standard volume dose was 5000 cGy (ST) and 4500 cGy (SIB), with a median HRR SIB dose of 5750 cGy. Liposarcomas (79% vs 53%; P = .004) and cT4 tumors (59% vs 19%; P < .001) were more common in the SIB cohort, without a significant difference in the rate of resection (82% vs 81%; P = .88) or R1 margin (53.5% vs 50%; P = .36); there were no R2 resections. SIB was associated with a significant improvement in 5-year APC (96% vs 70%; P = .046) and RFS (60.2% vs 36.3%; P = .036), with a nonsignificant OS difference (90.1% vs 67.5%; P = .164). On multivariable analysis, SIB remained a predictor for APC (hazard ratio, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01-0.74; P = .027) and RFS (hazard ratio, 0.036; 95% CI, 0.13-0.98; P = .045). SIB showed no significant detriment in toxicity, albeit with a lower rate of overall grade 3 acute toxicity (3% vs 22%; P = .023) compared with ST.

CONCLUSIONS

In RPS, dose escalation with neoadjuvant SIB RT may be independently associated with improved APC and RFS, without a detriment in toxicity, compared with ST. With the addition of standard RT having only a modest benefit compared with surgery alone, our study suggests that future prospective studies evaluating for the benefit of SIB RT should be considered.

Comparison of outcome after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy of patients with metachronous lung versus primary lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Early-stage lung cancer, primarily treated with surgery, often occur in poor surgical candidates (impaired respiratory function, prior thoracic surgery, severe comorbidities). Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is a non-invasive alternative that provides comparable local control. This technique is particularly relevant for surgically resectable metachronous lung cancer, in patients unable to undergo surgery.. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients treated with SABR for stage I metachronous lung cancer (MLC) versus stage I primary lung cancer (PLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

137 patients treated with SABR for stage I non-small cell lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed, of which 28 (20.4%) were MLC and 109 (79.6%) were PLC. Cohorts were evaluated for differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), metastasis-free survival, local control (LC), and toxicity.

RESULTS

After SABR, patients treated for MLC have comparable median age (76.6 vs 78.6, p = 0.2), 3-year LC (83.6% vs. 72.6%, p = 0.2), PFS (68.7% vs. 50.9%, p = 0.9), and OS (78.6% vs. 52.1%, p = 0.9) as PLC, along with similar rates of total (54.1% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.6) and grade 3 + toxicity (3.7% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.9). Previous treatment of MLC patients was either surgery (21/28, 75%) or SABR (7/28, 25%). The median follow-up was 53 months.

CONCLUSION

SABR is a safe and effective approach for localized metachronous lung cancer.

Updates in the use of radiotherapy in the management of primary and locally-advanced penile cancer

Objective

Penile cancer is a rare malignancy in most developed countries, but may represent a significant oncologic challenge in certain African, Asian, and South American regions. Various treatment approaches have been described in penile cancer, including radiotherapy. This review aimed to provide a synopsis of radiotherapy use in penile cancer management and the associated toxicities. In addition, we aimed to discuss palliative radiation for metastases to the penis and provide a brief overview of how tumor biology may assist with treatment decision-making.

Methods

Peer-reviewed manuscripts related to the treatment of penile cancer with radiotherapy were evaluated by a PubMed search (1960–2021) in order to assess its role in the definitive and adjuvant settings. Selected manuscripts were also evaluated for descriptions of radiation-related toxicity.

Results

Though surgical resection of the primary is an excellent option for tumor control, select patients may be treated with organ-sparing radiotherapy by either external beam radiation or brachytherapy. Data from randomized controlled trials comparing radiotherapy and surgery are lacking, and thus management is frequently determined by institutional practice patterns and available expertise. Similarly, this lack of clinical trial data leads to divergence in opinion regarding lymph node management. This is further complicated in that many cited studies evaluating lymph node radiotherapy used non-modern radiotherapy delivery techniques. Groin toxicity from either surgery or radiotherapy remains a challenging problem and further risk assessment is needed to guide intensification with multi-modal therapy. Intrinsic differences in tumor biology, based on human papillomavirus infection, may help aid future prognostic and predictive models in patient risk stratification or treatment approach.

Conclusion

Penile cancer is a rare disease with limited clinical trial data driving the majority of treatment decisions. As a result, the goal of management is to effectively treat the disease while balancing the importance of quality of life through integrated multidisciplinary discussions. More international collaborations and interrogations of penile cancer biology are needed to better understand this disease and improve patient outcomes.

Genomic identification of sarcoma radiosensitivity and the clinical implications for radiation dose personalization

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Soft tissue sarcomas have traditionally been treated with a one-size fits all approach, despite a wide range of histologies and clinical outcomes.

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The radiosensitivity index has demonstrated that soft tissue sarcomas are in general radioresistant, however exhibit a wide range of radiosensitivity.

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These differences in radiosensitivity are associated with decreased locoregional control in patients with radioresistant histologies.

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Using the radiosensitivity index we identify specific histologies of soft tissue sarcoma that may be more radioresistant, and suggest a genomic-based radiation dosing framework.

Background

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are heterogeneous with variable response to radiation therapy (RT). Utilizing the radiosensitivity index (RSI) we estimated the radiobiologic ratio of lethal to sublethal damage (α/β), genomic-adjusted radiation dose(GARD), and in-turn a biological effective radiation dose (BED).

Methods

Two independent cohorts of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma were identified. The first cohort included 217 genomically-profiled samples from our institutional prospective tissue collection protocol; RSI was calculated for these samples, which were then used to dichotomize the population as either highly radioresistant (HRR) or conventionally radioresistant (CRR). In addition, RSI was used to calculate α/β ratio and GARD, providing ideal dosing based on sarcoma genomic radiosensitivity. A second cohort comprising 399 non-metastatic-STS patients treated with neoadjuvant RT and surgery was used to validate our findings.

Results

Based on the RSI of the sample cohort, 84% would historically be considered radioresistant. We identified a HRR subset that had a significant difference in the RSI, and clinically a lower tumor response to radiation (2.4% vs. 19.4%), 5-year locoregional-control (76.5% vs. 90.8%), and lower estimated α/β (3.29 vs. 5.98), when compared to CRR sarcoma. Using GARD, the dose required to optimize outcome in the HRR subset is a BED_α/β=3.29 of 97 Gy.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that on a genomic scale, that although STS is radioresistant overall, they are heterogeneous in terms of radiosensitivity. We validated this clinically and estimated an α/β ratio and dosing that would optimize outcome, personalizing dose.

TMPRSS2-ERG fusion impacts anterior tumor location in men with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

In prostate cancer (PCa), lack of androgen receptor (AR) regulated TMPRSS2-ETS-related gene (ERG) gene fusion (ERG^negative ) status has been associated with African American race; however, the implications of ERG status for the location of dominant tumors within the prostate remains understudied.

METHODS

An African American-enriched multiinstitutional cohort of 726 PCa patients consisting of both African American men (AAM; n = 254) and European American men (EAM; n = 472) was used in the analyses. Methods of categorical analysis were used. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression differences between anterior and posterior tumor lesions were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests with multiple comparison corrections.

RESULTS

Anti-ERG immunohistochemistry staining showed that the association between ERG status and anterior tumors is independent of race and is consistently robust for both AAM (ERG^negative 81.4% vs. ERG^positive 18.6%; p = .005) and EAM (ERG^negative 60.4% vs. ERG^positive 39.6%; p < .001). In a multivariable model, anterior tumors were more likely to be IHC-ERG^negative (odds ratio [OR]: 3.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.14-4.78; p < .001). IHC-ERG^negative were also more likely to have high-grade tumors (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.06-2.82; p = .02). In the exploratory genomic analysis, mRNA expression of location-dependent genes is highly influenced by ERG status and African American race. However, tumor location did not impact the expression of AR or the major canonical AR-target genes (KLK3, AMACR, and MYC).

CONCLUSIONS

ERG^negative tumor status is the strongest predictor of anterior prostate tumors, regardless of race. Furthermore, AR expression and canonical AR signaling do not impact tumor location.

Early Toxicities After High Dose Rate Proton Therapy in Cancer Treatments

Background

The conventional dose rate of radiation therapy is 0.01–0.05 Gy per second. According to preclinical studies, an increased dose rate may offer similar anti-tumoral effect while dramatically improving normal tissue protection. This study aims at evaluating the early toxicities for patients irradiated with high dose rate pulsed proton therapy (PT).

Materials and Methods

A single institution retrospective chart review was performed for patients treated with high dose rate (10 Gy per second) pulsed proton therapy, from September 2016 to April 2020. This included both benign and malignant tumors with ≥3 months follow-up, evaluated for acute (≤2 months) and subacute (>2 months) toxicity after the completion of PT.

Results

There were 127 patients identified, with a median follow up of 14.8 months (3–42.9 months). The median age was 55 years (1.6–89). The cohort most commonly consisted of benign disease (55.1%), cranial targets (95.1%), and were treated with surgery prior to PT (56.7%). There was a median total PT dose of 56 Gy (30–74 Gy), dose per fraction of 2 Gy (1–3 Gy), and CTV size of 47.6 ml (5.6–2,106.1 ml). Maximum acute grade ≥2 toxicity were observed in 49 (38.6%) patients, of which 8 (6.3%) experienced grade 3 toxicity. No acute grade 4 or 5 toxicity was observed. Maximum subacute grade 2, 3, and 4 toxicity were discovered in 25 (19.7%), 12 (9.4%), and 1 (0.8%) patient(s), respectively.

Conclusion

In this cohort, utilizing high dose rate proton therapy (10 Gy per second) did not result in a major decrease in acute and subacute toxicity. Longer follow-up and comparative studies with conventional dose rate are required to evaluate whether this approach offers a toxicity benefit.

Chemotherapy improves distant control in localized high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity/trunk

Background

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare and heterogeneous tumors making chemotherapy use controversial. Our goal was to identify a subset of patients with primary STS that benefit with the addition of chemotherapy.

Methods

A retrospective chart review included intermediate to high-grade localized primary STS of the extremity/trunk, and tumor size > 5 cm. The effect of chemotherapy was evaluated for local control (LC), distant control (DC), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

In this cohort (n = 273), patients were treated with surgery (98%), radiation (81%), and chemotherapy (24.5%). With a median follow-up of 51 months, the entire cohort’s 5-year LC, DC, PFS, and OS are 79.1%, 59.9%, 43.8%, and 68.7%, respectively. The addition of chemotherapy did not provide a DC benefit (p = 0.238) for the entire cohort. High-grade disease (n = 210) experienced a 5-year benefit in DC (68% vs. 54.4%, p = 0.04), which was more pronounced with MAI (Mesna, Adriamycin, Ifosfamide) based regimens (74.2%, p = 0.016), and a 5-year PFS (50.8% vs 45%, p = 0.025) and OS benefit (76.2% vs 70%, p = 0.067) vs. no chemotherapy. On multivariate analysis of the high-grade subset, chemotherapy independently predicted for a DC benefit (HR 0.48 95% CI 0.26–89, p = 0.019). The benefit of chemotherapy was more pronounced with MAI, showing a significant benefit in DC (HR 0.333 95% CI 0.145–0.767, p = 0.01) and PFS (HR 0.52 95% CI 0.28–0.99, p = 0.047).

Conclusion

In patients with localized STS > 5 cm, the high-grade subset had a distant control benefit with the addition of chemotherapy, leading to improved progression free survival. This is more pronounced with the use of MAI and should be considered in patients eligible for this regimen.

Stereotactic Pelvic Reirradiation for Locoregional Cancer Relapse

AIMS

Up to 40% of patients who have received radiation for a pelvic malignancy will develop locoregional recurrence in the previously irradiated volume. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been used in the oligometastatic setting, and provides an ablative approach ideal for reirradiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after SBRT reirradiation of extraosseous recurrences in the pelvis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single institution retrospective study evaluated patients treated with SBRT reirradiation in the pelvis from January 2011 to February 2018. Patients with more than five oligometastatic lesions, >7 cm in size, and recurrence within the prostate were excluded.

RESULTS

In total, 30 patients were treated with SBRT with a median follow-up of 29.4 months. The primary tumour sites were most commonly rectum (30.8%) and prostate (30.8%). The median time interval between irradiation for the primary and SBRT reirradiation was 48 months (3-245). The typical reirradiation treatment was 35 Gy in five fractions, the median gross tumour volume size was 10.2 (0.3-110.5) ml and the most common target was the iliac nodes (40%). There were three (10%) acute grade 3 toxicities and no late grade 3 or more toxicities. At 12/24 months, local relapse-free survival, metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival and overall survival were 67.7%/50.7%, 67%/41.7%, 34.8%/14.9% and 83.2%/62.5%, respectively. On univariate analysis, improved local control was associated with low gross tumour volume (<10 ml) (P = 0.003) and prostate primary (P = 0.02), but was no longer significant on multivariate analysis. The proximity of organ at risk to the target did not significantly correlate with worse toxicity (P = 0.14) or tumour coverage (gross tumour volume: P = 0.8, planning target volume: P = 0.4).

CONCLUSION

SBRT pelvic reirradiation in oligometastatic patients is a safe and effective treatment modality. Careful consideration should be taken with larger tumour size, as it may be associated with worse oncological and toxicity outcome.

Using the revised Edmonton symptom assessment scale during neoadjuvant radiotherapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma

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Patent-reported outcomes guide managment for retroperitoneal sarcoma.

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All patients completed treatment uninterrupted with improvements in anxiety and pain.

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Symptom reporting helps personalize patient care in the era of precision medicine.

Background and purpose

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare, complex disease requiring multidisciplinary management. We have previously reported that use of the Revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS-r-CSS) allows for proactive symptom management, and we sought to report the results of ESAS-r-CSS screening during pre-operative radiotherapy (RT) for a cadre of patients with RPS.

Materials and methods

We reviewed records of 47 patients with RPS evaluated at our institution between 2015 and 2018. Of this group, 29 non-metastatic patients were treated with definitive intent neoadjuvant RT with at least 2 weekly ESAS-r-CSS reports. A generalized estimating equation model was used to compare 13 symptoms during weekly on-treatment visits compared to baseline scores at week 1 of RT. Additionally, covariate effects of age, gender, dose, tumor size and location were assessed.

Results

The population was predominantly male (66%) with median age of 65 years, KPS of 90, and tumor size of 12.8 cm. ESAS scores significantly decreased for anxiety at week 3 (P = 0.01), and pain at week 5 (P = 0.01). Worse constipation was reported at week 2 (P = 0.02). In an exploratory covariate analysis, female gender, age, high dose, and larger tumor size were associated with worse ESAS scores across all time points.

Conclusion

Patient reporting of symptoms during radiotherapy through weekly ESAS-r-CSS facilitates timely management in patients with this unique tumor type. Expectant care during RT offers the opportunity to minimize symptom progression or treatment interruptions in a population that generally has worsening side effects.

Alterations in genetic pathways following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral component in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC).We hypothesized there would be alterations in gene-expression and pathway activity in HNC samples obtained in recurrent HNC that were previously treated with RT, when compared to RT-naïve disease.

METHODS

Patient data was abstracted from a prospectively maintained database. Linear-microarray analysis and supervised gene-set enrichment-analysis were employed to compare RT-naive and recurrent disease after prior-RT.

RESULTS

A total of 157 patients were analyzed, 96 (61%) were RT-naive and 61 (39%) had RT.After radiation, there was upregulation of genes associated with angiogenesis, protein-translation-machinery, cell-cycle regulation, and growth factors, and downregulation associated with Myc activity, and hypoxic response (all P < .001).Previously irradiated HNC was associated with downregulation in 19/42 genes in the Wnt/B-catenin-pathway (P = .045)and 119/199 genes involved in the MYC target pathway (P = .024).

CONCLUSION

Patients with recurrences salvaged surgically post-RT had significant alterations in gene-expression and in Wnt/B-catenin and MYC-target pathways. These pathways may represent potential targets to prevent development of resistance to RT.

Contemporary Radiation Treatment of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Ghanaian Experience

Purpose

Data on prostate cancer (PCa) treatment in Africa remains under-reported. We present a review of the management of PCa at the cancer center of the largest tertiary referral facility in Ghana, with emphasis on curative treatment.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data on 1,074 patients seen at the National Center for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine from 2003 to 2016. Patient and disease characteristics at presentation are presented using descriptive statistics. The χ² and Fisher’s exact tests and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze differences between categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Methods of survival analysis were used to evaluate the relative risk of biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS).

Results

Seventy percent of the study population presented with localized disease. High-risk disease presentation accounted for 64.4% of these patients. Only 57.6% of patients with localized disease received curative radiotherapy. The 5-year overall survival for the curative cohort was 96% (interquartile range, 93% to 98%). The 5-year bDFS rates for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 95%, 70%, and 48%, respectively. Both Gleason score and pretreatment prostate-specific antigen were significant predictors for bDFS in multivariable analysis.

Conclusion

We show that the majority of patients with PCa have locally advanced disease at the time of presentation for radiotherapy. bDFS was significantly better for low- and intermediate-risk than for high-risk disease. These data emphasize the dire need to re-evaluate screening and patient education of PCa in regions of the world with high incidence and mortality as well as the need for improved access to care and treatment delivery.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy at high-volume centers improves survival in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma receiving trimodality therapy

The standard of care trimodality therapy for resectable locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma is complex and necessitates multidisciplinary care and expertise. In this work, it is hypothesized that facility clinical volume and utilization of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may influence outcomes. The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients with cT1-4-N0-3 M0 esophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing trimodality therapy from 2004 to 2013 (n = 2445). All patients received chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy at a Commission on Cancer facility. The facility volume was categorized into tertiles: high-volume centers (HVCs) in the highest 25th percentile of cases per year, intermediate-volume centers (IVCs) with the next highest 25th percentile of cases, and low- and very low-volume centers (LVCs) in the lowest 50th percentile. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard regression. Propensity score matching to balance patient characteristics between volume centers was performed. Subgroup analysis was done comparing IMRT versus 3D conformal radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 26 months. Treatment at an HVC (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81, P < 0.001) was found to be independently associated with improved overall survival in multivariable analysis. Three-year OS was 58.4%, 46.2%, and 47.5% for HVCs, IVCs, and LVCs, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients at HVCs were more likely to receive IMRT over 3D chemoradiation (CRT; OR 3.45, 95% CI 2.4-5.0, P < 0.001). Patients treated using IMRT at HVCs had improved OS compared to those treated at IVCs or LVCs (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.90, P < 0.01), while patients treated with 3D CRT at HVCs had no survival advantage over those at IVCs or LVCs (P = 0.28). Patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with IMRT and at HVCs appear to have improved survival.

The role of dose escalation and proton therapy in perioperative or definitive treatment of chondrosarcoma and chordoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Data Base

BACKGROUND

Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are a rare but challenging subset of tumors to treat; however, previous studies have shown benefits from proton therapy, which are thought to be primarily driven by prescription conformality permitting homogeneous tumor dosing and the allowance of higher doses. No retrospective studies to date have directly compared the outcomes of conventional and particle therapy or examined the role of high doses (specifically ≥70 Gy) in definitive radiotherapy (DRT) or perioperative radiotherapy (PRT) for both types of malignancies.

METHODS

A total of 863 patients with chondrosarcoma and 715 patients with chordoma treated with nonpalliative proton or conventional radiation therapy with a dose range of 20 to 80 Gy and at least 15 months of follow-up were identified from the National Cancer Data Base for the years 2003-2014. The primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) was evaluated, and clinical features, including age, sex, grade, clinical stage, and Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index, were compared.

RESULTS

Patients receiving DRT were older and had more advanced disease. In DRT for chondrosarcoma, a high dose (40.6% vs 16.9%; P = .006) and proton therapy (75.0% vs 19.1%; P = .046) were associated with improved OS at 5 years in a multivariate analysis. In DRT for chordoma, proton therapy was associated with improved OS at 5 years in a multivariate analysis (100% vs 34.1%; P = .031), and a high dose for chordoma was significant for improved OS in a univariate analysis with both DRT (79.0% vs 54.1%; P = .027) and PRT (83.3% vs 77.4%; P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest retrospective series to date, dose escalation and proton radiotherapy were associated with improved OS in patients with chondrosarcoma and chordoma despite limited follow-up and access to particle therapy.

The Future of Radiation Oncology in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Radiotherapy (RT) is an important component of the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and has been traditionally incorporated with a homogenous approach despite the reality that STS displays a known heterogeneity in clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes. In this article, we explore the principle components of personalized medicine, including genomics, radiomics, and treatment response, along with their impact on the future of radiation therapy for STS. We propose a shift in the treatment paradigm for STS from a one-size-fits-all technique to one that implements the tenets of personalized medicine and includes the framework for a potential clinical trial technique in this heterogeneous disease.

Clinical Utility of Genomic Profiling in the Treatment of Advanced Sarcomas: A Single-Center Experience

Purpose

Sarcomas are a diverse group of malignant tumors that arise from soft tissues or bone. For most advanced cases, there is a substantial need for improved therapeutic options and, therefore, a desire to more precisely tailor therapy in individual cases. In this study, we review our institutional experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based molecular profiling for non–GI stromal tumors sarcomas, with a focus on the clinical utility of the results.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed results of NGS performed on tumors from 114 patients with a diagnosis of sarcoma. A chart review was conducted to review the clinical impact of NGS findings.

Results

A median of three putatively oncogenic gene alterations were identified per tumor sample (range, 0 to 19) and at least one mutation was detected in 96.7% of tumors. Fifty-six patients (49.1%) harbored a finding that was felt to be actionable after review by a molecular tumor board. Five patients (4.4%) had a diagnosis change as a result of NGS findings. In 15 patients (13.2%), therapeutic selection was influenced by NGS findings. Four of 15 (26.7%) of the NGS-influenced systemic therapies resulted in clinical benefit.

Conclusion

Putatively oncogenic mutations are readily detected in the majority of sarcomas. Genetic profiling affected the diagnosis and/or treatment approach in a sizeable minority of patients with sarcoma treated at our center. Additional study is required to determine if genetic profiling leads to improved clinical outcomes.

Patient choice for high-volume center radiation impacts head and neck cancer outcome

Background

Studies suggest treatment outcomes may vary between high (HVC)‐ and low‐volume centers (LVC). Radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) requires weeks of treatment, the inconvenience of which may influence a patient's choice for treatment location. We hypothesized that receipt of RT for HNC at a HVC would influence outcomes compared to patients evaluated at a HVC, but who chose to receive RT at a LVC.

Methods

From 1998 to 2011, 1930 HNC patients were evaluated at a HVC and then treated with RT at either a HVC or LVC. Time‐to‐event outcomes and treatment factors were compared.

Results

Median follow‐up was 34 months. RT was delivered at a HVC for 1368 (71%) patients and at a LVC in 562 (29%). Patients were more likely to choose HVC‐RT if they resided in the HVC's county or required definitive RT (all P < 0.001). HVC‐RT was associated with a significant improvement in 3‐year LRC (84% vs 68%), DFS (68% vs 48%), and OS (72% vs 57%) (all P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis (MVA), HVC‐RT independently predicted for improved LRC, DFS, and OS (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients evaluated at a HVC, the choice of RT location was primarily influenced by their residing distance from the HVC. HVC‐RT was associated with improvements in LRC, DFS, and OS in HNC. As treatment planning and delivery are technically demanding in HNC, the choice to undergo treatment at a HVC may result in more optimal delivered dose, RT duration, and outcome.

Analysis of Relapse Events After Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

The appropriate follow-up frequency after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients is unknown. Although surveillance guidelines have been proposed, very few data support current recommendations. Here we analyze relapse events after CRT and investigate whether symptomatic relapses versus those detected by surveillance imaging influences outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with CRT at our institution between 2005 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Relapse events were grouped into posttreatment intervals and analyzed with cumulative tables. Time to relapse and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with relapse detection via symptomatic presentation versus surveillance imaging.

RESULTS

A total of 211 patients were identified for analysis. The median follow-up was 43 months for patients alive at the time of analysis. The median age was 63 years, and equal proportions had IIIA or IIIB disease. A total of 135 patients (64%) experienced disease relapse, and of these, 74% did so within 12 months. In those who did not experience relapse at ≤ 12 months, 16%, 6%, and < 5% experienced relapse during 12 to 24, 24 to 36, and > 36 months of follow-up, respectively. In patients with relapse, 56% presented symptomatically, which led to inferior median OS compared to those identified by surveillance imaging (23 vs. 36 months; P = .013).

CONCLUSION

This study identified that most relapses occur within 1 year of completing CRT, and approximately half of these occur within 6 months. A symptomatic relapse led to inferior OS. More aggressive surveillance imaging may therefore identify asymptomatic relapses that are amenable to earlier salvage therapy.

Extracranial metastatic burden in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: implications for prophylactic cranial irradiation

Background

Patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) often develop brain metastases. There is significant controversy regarding the benefit of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for patients with ES-SCLC. Our objective is to identify ES-SCLC patients who might be most likely to benefit from PCI.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 173 patients with ES-SCLC treated between 2010-2015. Of these, 117 patients were initially diagnosed without brain metastases and received systemic chemotherapy. Following exclusion of patients who received PCI and less than 2 cycles of platinum doublet therapy, 93 patients remained. Patient records were reviewed for clinical and radiographic features previously identified as relevant risk factors. Primary outcome was brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS). Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank tests and Cox multivariate models were used to compare outcomes.

Results

Median follow-up was 10.7 months (range, 3-58 months). Thirty-eight (40.9%) patients developed brain metastases. Three or more metastatic sites was associated with inferior BMFS on univariable (1-year estimate 43.8% vs. 61.3%; P=0.020) and multivariable (MVA) analysis [hazard ratio (HR) 2.33, 95% CI: 1.08-5.01; P=0.03).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that extracranial metastatic burden is associated with an increased risk for brain metastases in patients with ES-SCLC. As there is no clear standard regarding delivery of PCI in this patient population, utilizing the number of metastatic disease sites as a clinical indicator may help to improve selection of patients who benefit from PCI.

Viral hepatitis associated hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes with yttrium-90 radioembolization

Background

Viral associated (VA) malignancies have recently been correlated with improved outcomes. We sought to evaluate outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with and without viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C) treated with lobar yttrium-90 radioembolization (Y-90 RE).

Methods

After IRB approval, an institutional database of patients with HCC who received RE between 2009-2014 was queried and 99 patients were identified that received a total of 122 lobar RE. Charts were reviewed to capture previous treatments, viral hepatitis status, α-fetoprotein values (AFP), Child-Pugh class (CP), albumin-bilirubin score (ALBI), portal vein thrombosis (PVT), volumes treated and doses delivered. Comparison was made with Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test. Intrahepatic control (IHC), extrahepatic control (EHC), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method stratified by cause of underlying liver disease (viral vs. non-viral) and survival differences were assessed via the log-rank test. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression.

Results

Median follow up for VA HCC and non-VA (NVA) HCC patients was 10.9 months (range, 0.8-46.7 months) and 11.8 months (range, 1.1-62.8 months), respectively. Patients with VA HCC (n=44) were younger (P<0.001) and had smaller pretreatment liver volumes (P<0.001); however, there was no difference with respect to gender, pre-treatment AFP, CP, ALBI, PVT, extrahepatic disease, previous treatment, or dose delivered. Median doses for VA and NVA HCC patients were 129.5 Gy (range, 90-215.8 Gy) and 131 Gy (range, 100.9-265 Gy), respectively (P=0.75). One year IHC showed a strong trend to better control for VA HCC at 67% versus 34% for NVA HCC (P=0.067) but 1 year EHC was significantly worse at 63% for VA HCC versus 86% for NVA HCC (P=0.027). There were no significant differences in survival, with a 1-year PFS of 45% for VA HCC versus 31% for NVA HCC (P=0.56) and 1 year OS of 46% versus 55% (P=0.55). Patients that received salvage treatments, CP A, no PVT, and those without extrahepatic disease had improved OS.

Conclusions

Patients with VA HCC had a trend to improved IHC and significantly worse EHC. Prospective investigation of novel systemic therapies following Y-90 RE in patients with VA HCC is warranted to potentially further extend survival in VA HCC patients by addressing extra-hepatic disease.

Radiosensitivity of Lung Metastases by Primary Histology and Implications for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Using the Genomically Adjusted Radiation Dose

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the radiosensitivity of lung metastases on the basis of primary histologic type by using a validated gene signature and model lung metastases for the gnomically adjusted radiation dose (GARD).

METHODS

Tissue samples were identified from our prospective observational protocol. The radiosensitivity index (RSI) 10-gene assay was run on samples and calculated alongside the GARD by using the previously published algorithms. A cohort of 105 patients with 137 lung metastases treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) at our institution was used for clinical correlation.

RESULTS

A total of 138 unique metastatic lung lesions from our institution's tissue biorepository were identified for inclusion. There were significant differences in the RSI of lung metastases on the basis of histology. In order of decreasing radioresistance, the median RSIs for the various histologic types of cancer were endometrial adenocarcinoma (0.49), soft-tissue sarcoma (0.47), melanoma (0.44), rectal adenocarcinoma (0.43), renal cell carcinoma (0.33), head and neck squamous cell cancer (0.33), colon adenocarcinoma (0.32), and breast adenocarcinoma (0.29) (p = 0.002). We modeled the GARD for these samples and identified the biologically effective dose necessary to optimize local control. The 12- and 24-month Kaplan-Meier rates of local control for radioresistant versus radiosensitive histologic types from our clinical correlation cohort after lung SBRT were 92%/87% and 100%, respectively (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In this analysis, we have noted significant differences in radiosensitivity on the basis of primary histologic type of lung metastases and have modeled the biologically effective dose necessary to optimize local control. This study suggests that primary histologic type may be an additional factor to consider in selection of SBRT dose to the lung and that dose personalization may be feasible.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy after concomitant chemoradiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: A TITE-CRM phase 1 trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Platinum based chemoradiotherapy is the standard of care for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With evidence that NSCLC can have a dose dependent response with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), we hypothesize that a SABR boost on residual tumor treated with chemoradiotherapy could increase treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine feasibility of such an approach.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective phase I trial was performed including 26 patients. Time-to-event continual reassessment method (TITE-CRM) was used for dose escalation which ranged from 3 × 7 to 3 × 12 Gy for the stereotactic boost, after 46 Gy (2 Gy per day) of chemoradiotherapy.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was of 37.1 months (1.7-60.7), and 3, 4, 3, 3, 9 and 4 patients were included at the dose levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. During chemoradiotherapy, 9 patients experienced grade 3 toxicity. After stereotactic radiotherapy, 1 patient experienced an esophageal fistula (with local relapse) at the 3 × 11 Gy level, and 1 patient died from hemoptysis at the 3 × 12 Gy level. The 2-year rate of local control, locoregional free survival, metastasis-free survival, and overall survival was 70.3%, 55.5%, 44.5% and 50.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of NSCLC with chemoradiotherapy followed by a stereotactic boost, the safe recommended dose in our protocol was a boost dose of 3 × 11 Gy.

Interferon is associated with improved survival for node-positive cutaneous melanoma: a single-institution experience

Aim:

We assessed the role of adjuvant interferon on relapse-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) in node-positive melanoma patients.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 385 node-positive patients without distant metastatic disease treated from 1998 to 2015. The surgery was therapeutic lymph node dissection (LND, n = 86) or sentinel lymph node biopsy ± completion LND (n = 270). 128 patients (33.2%) received adjuvant interferon.

Results:

After a median follow-up of 70 months, interferon was associated with improved RFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.55; p < 0.001), DMFS (HR: 0.59; p < 0.001) and OS (HR: 0.61; p = 0.003), controlling for tumor and nodal stage, node size, sex, primary site, adjuvant therapy and extracapsular extension. In an exploratory age-matched comparison of patients treated with (n = 67) and without (n = 233) adjuvant immunotherapy, interferon still showed improved RFS, DMFS and OS.

Conclusion:

Adjuvant interferon appears to improve OS among node-positive melanoma patients in a modern experience, providing context for comparison in the adjuvant therapy landscape.

The relationship between HPV status and chemoradiotherapy in the locoregional control of penile cancer

BACKGROUND

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare, aggressive malignancy often associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The practice of a personalized risk-adapted approach is not yet established. This study is to assess the relationship between HPV tumor status and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in PeCa locoregional control (LRC).

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with HPV status who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and treated with surgical resection between 1999 and 2016. The relationship between tumor/treatment characteristics and LRC were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis (UVA and MVA, respectively). Time-to-event outcomes were estimated with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared via log-rank tests.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients were identified. The median follow-up was 36.6 months. Patients were primarily HPV-negative (HPV-) (n = 28, 55%), and pathologic node positive (pN+) (55%). The 2 year LRC rate was 54%. pN+ patients had a significantly lower 2 year LRC (37 vs. 81%, p = 0.002). In the subgroup analysis of pN+ patients (n = 28), there was a LRC benefit associated with the addition of CRT (HR 0.19; 95% CI 0.05-0.70, p = 0.012) and HPV-positive (HPV+) disease (HR 0.18; 95% CI 0.039-0.80, p = 0.024) using MVA. HPV+ patients treated with CRT had improved 2 year LRC compared to HPV- patients (83 vs. 38%, p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant CRT and HPV+ disease independently predicted for improved LRC in pN+ PeCa. In HPV+ PeCa, the LRC benefit was primarily observed in patients treated with adjuvant CRT. Prospective investigation of HPV+ and CRT is required to further delineate their roles in optimizing PeCa treatment.

Quantitatively Excessive Normal Tissue Toxicity and Poor Target Coverage in Postoperative Lung Cancer Radiotherapy Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A previous meta-analysis (MA) found postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in lung cancer patients to be detrimental in N0/N1 patients and equivocal in the N2 setting. We hypothesized that treatment plans generated using MA protocols had worse dosimetric outcomes compared to modern plans.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrieved plans for 13 patients who received PORT with modern planning. A plan was recreated for each patient using the 8 protocols included in MA. Dosimetric values were then compared between the modern and simulated MA plans.

RESULTS

A total of 104 MA plans were generated. Median prescribed dose was 50.4 (range, 50-60) Gy in the modern plans and 53.2 (30-60) Gy in the MA protocols. Median planning volume coverage was 96% (93%-100%) in the modern plans, versus 58% (0%-100%) in the MA plans (P < .001). Internal target volume coverage was 100% (99%-100%) versus 65% (0%-100%), respectively (P < .001). Organs at risk received the following doses: spinal cord maximum dose, 36.8 (4.6-50.4) Gy versus 46.8 (2.9-74.0) Gy (P < .001); esophageal mean dose, 22.9 (5.5-35) Gy versus 30.5 (11.1-52.5) Gy (P = .003); heart V30 (percentage of volume of an organ receiving at least a dose of 30 Gy), 16% (0%-45%) versus 35% (0%-79%) (P = .047); mean lung dose, 12.4 (3.4-24.3) Gy versus 14.8 (4.1-27.4) Gy (P = .008); and lung V20, 18% (4%-34%) versus 25% (8%-67%) (P = .023).

CONCLUSION

We quantitatively confirm the inferiority of the techniques used in the PORT MA. Our analysis showed a lower therapeutic ratio in the MA plans, which may explain the poor outcomes in the MA. The findings of the MA are not relevant in the era of modern treatment planning.

Dose escalated neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with dose-painting intensity-modulated radiation therapy and improved pathologic complete response in locally advanced esophageal cancer

We compared pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, toxicity, and postoperative complications between patients treated preoperatively with 50.4 Gy versus dose escalation with dose-painting intensity-modulated radiation therapy (dp-IMRT) to 56 Gy in locally advanced esophageal cancer. We evaluated esophageal cancer patients treated between 2006 and 2014 with preoperative IMRT chemoradiation to a dose of 50.4 Gy versus 56 Gy. The endpoints were pCR and toxicity. We identified 113 patients (50.4 Gy: n = 40; 56 Gy: n = 73). There were no significant differences in tumor or patient characteristics. Patients treated with 56 Gy demonstrated a higher pCR rate (56.2% vs. 30.0%) and lower pathologic nonresponse rate (4.1% vs. 20.0%) compared to patients treated to 50.4 Gy (P = 0.008). This remained significant on multivariate analysis (OR 3.375 95%CI 1.3-8.8, P = 0.013). Patients treated to 56 Gy also had an improved 3-year locoregional control rate compared to those treated to 50.4 Gy (93.8% vs. 78.5%; P = 0.022). The estimated 3-year freedom from failure was also superior in the 56 Gy arm (73.7% vs. 52.2%; P = 0.051), approaching significance. There were no differences in treatment related grade ≥3 toxicities, hospital admissions, feeding tube, esophageal stent placement, or dilation. There was, however, a statistically significant increase in postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients treated with 56 Gy (30.1% vs. 12.5%; P = 0.036). There was no difference in postoperative 30 or 60 day mortality. Dose escalation to 56 Gy with dp-IMRT is safe and results in significantly higher complete pathologic response rates in esophageal cancer without an increase in treatment-related toxicity. Prospective trials using dp-IMRT are needed to address the role of dose escalation on pCR rate and survival in esophageal cancer.

Quality of Life after post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiation therapy to the prostate bed with or without the use of gold fiducial markers for image guidance or higher total radiotherapy doses

Purpose

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) after post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the “adjuvant” setting starting within 4 months of radical prostatectomy for adverse features; and “salvage” setting for a PSA≥0.2ng/mL.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective review of 130 patients who underwent IMRT to the prostate bed±gold fiducial marker placement for image guidance to 64.8-72.0Gy (median, 70.2Gy) between 2004 and 2013. Higher doses were defined as 70.2-72.0Gy and lower doses were defined as 64.8-68.4Gy. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was given to 4/48 (8%) adjuvant patients and 9/82 (11%) salvage patients. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), and Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26-bowel (EPIC-26-bowel) questionnaires were used to assess urinary, sexual, and bowel QoL, respectively.

Results

Median follow-up was 46 months. There were better urinary (p=0.03) and sexual (p=0.002) QoL scores with adjuvant IMRT relative to salvage IMRT. The use of prostate bed fiducial markers did not significantly affect urinary, sexual, or bowel QoL (p=0.39, p=0.49, and p=0.40, respectively). Higher total radiotherapy doses did not significantly affect urinary, sexual, or bowel QoL (p=0.21, p=0.61, and p=0.36, respectively).

Conclusions

There was no significant change in urinary, sexual, and bowel sexual QoL with post-prostatectomy IMRT regardless of whether prostate bed fiducial markers or higher total radiotherapy doses were used. QoL with IMRT in the present study compares favorably with prior reports for three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.

Regional Radiation Therapy Impacts Outcome for Node-Positive Cutaneous Melanoma

Background: Regional radiation therapy (RT) has been shown to reduce the risk of regional recurrence with node-positive cutaneous melanoma. However, risk factors for regional recurrence, especially in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), are less clear. Our goals were to identify risk factors associated with regional recurrence and to determine whether a radiosensitivity index (RSI) gene expression signature (GES) could identify patients who experience a survival benefit with regional RT. Methods: A single-institution, Institutional Review Board-approved study was performed including 410 patients treated with either SLNB with or without completion lymph node dissection (LND; n=270) or therapeutic LND (n=91). Postoperative regional RT was delivered to the involved nodal basin in 83 cases (20.2%), to a median dose of 54 Gy (range, 30-60 Gy) in 27 fractions (range, 5-30). Primary outcomes were regional control and overall survival by RSI GES status. Results: Median follow-up was 69 months (range, 13-180). Postoperative regional RT was associated with a reduced risk of regional recurrence among all patients on univariate (5-year estimate: 95.0% vs 83.3%; P=.036) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio[HR], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.43; P<.001). Among higher-risk subgroups, regional RT was associated with a lower risk of regional recurrence among patients with clinically detected lymph nodes (n=175; 5-year regional control: 94.1% vs 69.5%; P=.003) and extracapsular extension (ECE) present (n=138; 5-year regional control: 96.7% vs 62.2%; P<.001). Among a subset of radiated patients with gene expression data available, a low RSI GES (radiosensitive) tumor status was associated with improved survival compared with a high RSI GES (5-year: 75% vs 0%; HR, 10.68; 95% CI, 1.24-92.14). Conclusions: Regional RT was associated with a reduced risk of regional recurrence among patients with ECE and clinically detected nodal disease. Gene expression data show promise for better predicting radiocurable patients in the future. In the era of increasingly effective systemic therapies, the value of improved regional control potentially takes on greater significance.

Prognostic value of pre-treatment F-18-FDG PET-CT in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radioembolization

AIM

To evaluate the value of pre-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with HCC following liver radioembolization.

METHODS

We identified 34 patients with HCC who underwent an FDG PET/CT scan prior to hepatic radioembolization at our institution between 2009 and 2013. Patients were seen in clinic one month after radioembolization and then at 2-3 mo intervals. We assessed the influence of FDG tumor uptake on outcomes including local liver control (LLC), distant liver control (DLC), time to distant metastases (DM), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The majority of patients were males (n = 25, 74%), and had Child Pugh Class A (n = 31, 91%), with a median age of 68 years (46-84 years). FDG-avid disease was found in 19 (56%) patients with SUVmax ranging from 3 to 20. Female patients were more likely to have an FDG-avid HCC (P = 0.02). Median follow up of patients following radioembolization was 12 months (1.2-62.8 mo). FDG-avid disease was associated with a decreased 1 year LLC, DLC, DM and PFS (P < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, FDG avidity predicted for LLC, DLC, and PFS (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective study, pre-treatment HCC FDG-avidity was found to be associated with worse LLC, DLC, and PFS following radioembolization. Larger studies are needed to validate our initial findings to assess the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT scans as biomarker for patients with HCC following radioembolization.

Increased acute mortality with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer in patients ≥70years

PURPOSE

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard of care for many sites of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (LAHNC). However, on meta-analysis, the addition of chemotherapy did not improve survival for patients >70years. We hypothesized that elderly patients treated with CRT would have increased toxicity without similar improvements in survival.

METHODS

A single-institution, IRB-approved retrospective study took place from 2005 to 2012 including 369 patients treated with CRT for LAHNC. Multivariate models for death at 3months and death over time were developed using logistic regression and Cox modeling, respectively.

RESULTS

Patients ≥70years were treated less often with concurrent cisplatin dosed every 3weeks (25.5% vs. 71.4%, respectively) and more often with weekly carboplatin (31.9% vs. 3.4%) than patients <70years (n=322; p<0.001). Patients ≥70years experienced increased toxicity during treatment with more frequently hospitalizations (36.2% vs. 21.1%; p=0.02) and a lower rate of PEG removal at last follow-up or death (77.1% vs. 92.9%; p=0.004). A higher proportion of patients ≥70years died within 3months (12.8% vs. 2.8%; p=0.001) following CRT. Patients ≥70 had an increased risk of death at 3months following CRT (odds ratio 5.19, 95% CI 1.64-16.41; p=0.005) and worse survival over time (hazard ratio 2.30, 95% CI 1.34-3.93; p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients ≥70years were more often treated with less toxic chemotherapy, yet experienced higher rates of hospitalization during treatment and increased rates of acute mortality following CRT. The efficacy of chemoradiotherapy for elderly patients should be evaluated in a prospective setting.

Clinical outcomes of melanoma brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and anti-PD-1 therapy, anti-CTLA-4 therapy, BRAF/MEK inhibitors, BRAF inhibitor, or conventional chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The effect of immunologic and targeted agents on intracranial response rates in patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBMs) is not yet clearly understood. This report analyzes outcomes of intact MBMs treated with single-session stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and anti-PD-1 therapy, anti-CTLA-4 therapy, BRAF/MEK inhibitors(i), BRAFi, or conventional chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were included if MBMs were treated with single-session SRS within 3 months of receiving systemic therapy. The primary end point of this study was distant MBM control. Secondary end points were local MBM control defined as a >20% volume increase on follow-up MRI, systemic progression-free survival, overall survival (OS) from both SRS and cranial metastases diagnosis, and neurotoxicity. Images were reviewed alongside two neuro-radiologists at our institution.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients were treated to 314 MBMs over 119 SRS treatment sessions between January 2007 and August 2015. No significant differences were noted in age (P = 0.27), gender (P = 0.85), treated gross tumor volume (P = 0.26), or the diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (P = 0.51) between the treatment cohorts. Twelve-month Kaplan-Meier (KM) distant MBM control rates were 38%, 21%, 20%, 8%, and 5% (P = 0.008) for SRS with anti-PD-1 therapies, anti-CTLA-4 therapy, BRAF/MEKi, BRAFi, and conventional chemotherapy, respectively. No significant differences were noted in the KM local MBM control rates among treatment groups (P = 0.25). Treatment with anti-PD-1 therapy, anti-CTLA-4 therapy, or BRAF/MEKi significantly improved OS on both univariate and multivariate analyses when compared with conventional chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

In our institutional analysis of patients treated with SRS and various systemic immunologic and targeted melanoma agents, significant differences in distant MBM control and OS are noted. Prospective evaluation of the potential synergistic effect between these agents and SRS is warranted.

Having Medicaid insurance negatively impacts outcomes in patients with head and neck malignancies

BACKGROUND

Patients covered by Medicaid insurance appear to have poorer cancer outcomes. Herein, the authors sought to test whether Medicaid was associated with worse outcomes among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

METHODS

The records of 1698 patients with squamous cell HNC without distant metastatic disease were retrospectively reviewed from an institutional database between 1998 and 2011. At the time of diagnosis, insurance status was categorized as Medicaid, Medicare/other government insurance, or private insurance. Outcomes including locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression multivariate analysis (MVA).

RESULTS

The median follow-up for all patients was 35 months. Medicaid patients comprised 11% of the population; the remaining patients were privately insured (56%) or had Medicare/government insurance (34%). On MVA, Medicaid patients were younger, were current smokers, had higher tumor T and N classifications, and experienced a longer time from diagnosis to treatment initiation (all P<.005). Medicaid insurance status was associated with a deficit of 13% in LRC (69% vs 82%) and 26% in OS (46% vs 72%) at 3 years (all with P<.001). A time from diagnosis to treatment initiation of >45 days was found to be associated with worse 3-year LRC (77% vs 83%; P = .009) and OS (68% vs 71%; P = .008). On MVA, Medicaid remained associated with a deficit in LRC (P = .002) and OS (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Medicaid insurance more often present with locally advanced HNC and experience a higher rate of treatment delays compared with non-Medicaid patients. Medicaid insurance status appears to be independently associated with deficits in LRC and OS. Improvements in the health care system, such as expediting treatment initiation, may improve the outcomes of patients with HNC. Cancer 2016;122:3529-3537. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Management of Oropharyngeal Cancer in the HPV Era

Background

Historically, oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) has been attributed to risk factors such as smoking and alcohol use. The increased incidence of OPC has been driven by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Methods

A search of the literature involving HPV infection and OPC was performed, along with a search of ongoing clinical trials regarding HPV-positive OPC.

Results

This review summarizes the differences in epidemiology and prognosis of HPV-positive OPC compared with non–HPV-related OPC. It will also discuss use of de-escalating treatment to minimize toxicity while maintaining excellent outcomes. Disease management is also addressed, including prevention and follow-up recommendations for this cohort of patients.

Conclusions

HPV-positive OPC is a distinct disease, and efforts should be made to personalize its management. Preventive measures and vaccinations, along with de-escalation of treatment, may help optimize outcomes in this population.

Implications of staged reconstruction and adjuvant brachytherapy in the treatment of recurrent soft tissue sarcoma

PURPOSE

Prior studies illustrated a reduction in wound complications with the use of staged reconstruction (SR) and negative pressure wound therapy when treating soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with surgical resection followed by high-dose-rate adjuvant brachytherapy. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of SR and immediate reconstruction (IR) brachytherapy in recurrent STS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective review of 40 patients with recurrent STS of the local extremity and trunk treated with resection followed by adjuvant brachytherapy alone. Margin status was defined as positive (SM(+)) if there was microscopic involvement (R1) or ≤1 mm margin and negative (SM(-)) if >1 mm margin was obtained. SR and IR were compared regarding toxicity, local control, and limb preservation.

RESULTS

Median followup was 27 months. When comparing the SR (n = 22) and IR (n = 18) cohorts, there was a significantly lower final SM(+) rate in SR (32% vs. 83%, p < 0.01). A 2-year local control benefit seen with SR (80% vs. 34%; p = 0.012) and a final SM(-) (81% vs. 39%; p = 0.023). SR was associated with less toxicity on multivariate analysis, including a 90% decrease in persistent edema, an 80% decrease in wound dehiscence, and a 94% decrease in nonhealing wounds, when compared to IR. Ten of 31 (32%) extremity cases required eventual amputation from either chronic wound complications (n = 4) or local recurrence (n = 6). SR predicted for a benefit in 2-year limb preservation (88% vs. 50%; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

In our series, the treatment with SR brachytherapy resulted in less morbidity and an improved final SM(-) rate. This technique translated to an improvement in both local control and limb preservation of recurrent STS.

Radiosensitivity Differences Between Liver Metastases Based on Primary Histology Suggest Implications for Clinical Outcomes After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

Evidence from the management of oligometastases with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) reveals differences in outcomes based on primary histology. We have previously identified a multigene expression index for tumor radiosensitivity (RSI) with validation in multiple independent cohorts. In this study, we assessed RSI in liver metastases and assessed our clinical outcomes after SBRT based on primary histology.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients were identified from our prospective, observational protocol. The previously tested RSI 10 gene assay was run on samples and calculated using the published algorithm. An independent cohort of 33 patients with 38 liver metastases treated with SBRT was used for clinical correlation.

RESULTS

A total of 372 unique metastatic liver lesions were identified for inclusion from our prospective, institutional metadata pool. The most common primary histologies for liver metastases were colorectal adenocarcinoma (n=314, 84.4%), breast adenocarcinoma (n=12, 3.2%), and pancreas neuroendocrine (n=11, 3%). There were significant differences in RSI of liver metastases based on histology. The median RSIs for liver metastases in descending order of radioresistance were gastrointestinal stromal tumor (0.57), melanoma (0.53), colorectal neuroendocrine (0.46), pancreas neuroendocrine (0.44), colorectal adenocarcinoma (0.43), breast adenocarcinoma (0.35), lung adenocarcinoma (0.31), pancreas adenocarcinoma (0.27), anal squamous cell cancer (0.22), and small intestine neuroendocrine (0.21) (P<.0001). The 12-month and 24-month Kaplan-Meier rates of local control (LC) for colorectal lesions from the independent clinical cohort were 79% and 59%, compared with 100% for noncolorectal lesions (P=.019), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this analysis, we found significant differences based on primary histology. This study suggests that primary histology may be an important factor to consider in SBRT radiation dose selection.

Outcomes of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck

INTRODUCTION

Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is a rare disease with limited data available on outcomes; therefore, we reviewed our institutional experience.

METHODS

An institutional database was queried and 38 patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma were identified. Charts were abstracted and local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated.

RESULTS

Most patients had T4 disease (86%), although nodes were positive in 11%. En bloc or endoscopic resection was performed on 93%. Adjuvant or definitive radiotherapy to a median dose of 60 Gy was utilized in 90%. Chemotherapy was given in 21%, and 16% received interferon. Three-year LC, PFS and OS were 90%, 48% and 59%, respectively. Median OS was 4.6 years. Site of first failure was distant in 52% of cases.

CONCLUSION

With aggressive therapy median OS was 4.6 years in this cohort. Distant recurrence remains the primary mode of failure. It may be reasonable to include mucosal melanoma patients in trials of systemic agents along with high-risk cutaneous melanomas.