Improved delineation with diffusion weighted imaging for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors validated with pathology

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the added value of a geometrically accurate diffusion-weighted (DW-) MRI sequence on the accuracy of gross tumor volume (GTV) delineations, using pathological tumor delineations as a ground truth.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma were included. After total laryngectomy, the specimen was cut into slices. Photographs of these slices were stacked to create a 3D digital specimen reconstruction, which was registered to the in vivo imaging. The pathological tumor (tumorHE) was delineated on the specimen reconstruction. Six observers delineated all tumors twice: once with only anatomical MR imaging, and once (a few weeks later) when DW sequences were also provided. The majority voting delineation of session one (GTVMRI) and session two (GTVDW-MRI), as well as the clinical target volumes (CTVs), were compared to the tumorHE.

RESULTS

The mean tumorHE volume was 11.1 cm3, compared to a mean GTVMRI volume of 18.5 cm3 and a mean GTVDW-MRI volume of 15.7 cm3. The median sensitivity (tumor coverage) was comparable between sessions: 0.93 (range: 0.61-0.99) for the GTVMRI and 0.91 (range: 0.53-1.00) for the GTVDW-MRI. The CTV volume also decreased when DWI was available, with a mean CTVMR of 47.1 cm3 and a mean CTVDW-MRI of 41.4 cm3. Complete tumor coverage was achieved in 15 and 14 tumors, respectively.

CONCLUSION

GTV delineations based on anatomical MR imaging tend to overestimate the tumor volume. The availability of the geometrically accurate DW sequence reduces the GTV overestimation and thereby CTV volumes, while maintaining acceptable tumor coverage.

A multicentric randomized controlled phase III trial of adaptive and 18F-FDG-PET-guided dose-redistribution in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (ARTFORCE)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This multicenter randomized phase III trial evaluated whether locoregional control of patients with LAHNSCC could be improved by fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)-guided dose-escalation while minimizing the risk of increasing toxicity using a dose-redistribution and scheduled adaptation strategy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with T3-4-N0-3-M0 LAHNSCC were randomly assigned (1:1) to either receive a dose distribution ranging from 64-84 Gy/35 fractions with adaptation at the 10thfraction (rRT) or conventional 70 Gy/35 fractions (cRT). Both arms received concurrent three-cycle 100 mg/m2cisplatin. Primary endpoints were 2-year locoregional control (LRC) and toxicity. Primary analysis was based on the intention-to-treat principle.

RESULTS

Due to slow accrual, the study was prematurely closed (at 84 %) after randomizing 221 eligible patients between 2012 and 2019 to receive rRT (N = 109) or cRT (N = 112). The 2-year LRC estimate difference of 81 % (95 %CI 74-89 %) vs. 74 % (66-83 %) in the rRT and cRT arm, respectively, was not found statistically significant (HR 0.75, 95 %CI 0.43-1.31,P=.31). Toxicity prevalence and incidence rates were similar between trial arms, with exception for a significant increased grade ≥ 3 pharyngolaryngeal stenoses incidence rate in the rRT arm (0 versus 4 %,P=.05). In post-hoc subgroup analyses, rRT improved LRC for patients with N0-1 disease (HR 0.21, 95 %CI 0.05-0.93) and oropharyngeal cancer (0.31, 0.10-0.95), regardless of HPV.

CONCLUSION

Adaptive and dose redistributed radiotherapy enabled dose-escalation with similar toxicity rates compared to conventional radiotherapy. While FDG-PET-guided dose-escalation did overall not lead to significant tumor control or survival improvements, post-hoc results showed improved locoregional control for patients with N0-1 disease or oropharyngeal cancer treated with rRT.

The course of health-related quality of life in the first 2 years after a diagnosis of head and neck cancer: the role of personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, disease-related, and biological factors

PURPOSE

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to estimate the relationship between the course of HRQOL in the first 2 years after diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) and personal, clinical, psychological, physical, social, lifestyle, HNC-related, and biological factors.

METHODS

Data were used from 638 HNC patients of the NETherlands QUality of life and BIomedical Cohort study (NET-QUBIC). Linear mixed models were used to investigate factors associated with the course of HRQOL (EORTC QLQ-C30 global quality of life (QL) and summary score (SumSc)) from baseline to 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Baseline depressive symptoms, social contacts, and oral pain were significantly associated with the course of QL from baseline to 24 months. Tumor subsite and baseline social eating, stress (hyperarousal), coughing, feeling ill, and IL-10 were associated with the course of SumSc. Post-treatment social contacts and stress (avoidance) were significantly associated with the course of QL from 6 to 24 months, and social contacts and weight loss with the course of SumSc. The course of SumSc from 6 to 24 months was also significantly associated with a change in financial problems, speech problems, weight loss, and shoulder problems between baseline and 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Baseline clinical, psychological, social, lifestyle, HNC-related, and biological factors are associated with the course of HRQOL from baseline to 24 months after treatment. Post-treatment social, lifestyle, and HNC-related factors are associated with the course of HRQOL from 6 to 24 months after treatment.

Unmet supportive care needs among informal caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer in the first 2 years after diagnosis and treatment: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Informal caregivers of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients have a high caregiver burden and often face complex practical caregiving tasks. This may result in unmet supportive care needs, which can impact their quality of life (QoL) and cause psychological distress. In this study, we identify caregivers' unmet needs during long-term follow-up and identify caregivers prone to unmet supportive care needs.

METHODS

Data were used from the multicenter prospective cohort study NETherlands QUality of life and Biomedical cohort studies In Cancer (NET-QUBIC). The unmet supportive care needs, psychological distress, caregiver burden, and QoL were measured for 234 informal caregivers and their related patients at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after. Mixed effect models for repeated measurements were used.

RESULTS

At baseline, most caregivers (70.3%) reported at least one unmet supportive care need, with most of the identified needs in the "healthcare & illness" domain. During the follow-up period, caregivers' unmet needs decreased significantly in all domains. Nevertheless, 2 years after treatment, 28.3% were still reporting at least one unmet need. Financial problems were increasingly associated with unmet needs over time. Furthermore, caring for a patient who themselves had many unmet needs, an advanced tumor stage, or severe comorbidity was associated with significantly more unmet needs in caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study shows the strong likelihood of caregivers of HNC patients facing unmet supportive care needs and the interaction between the needs of patients and caregivers. It is important to optimally support informal caregivers by involving them from the start when counseling patients, by providing them with relevant and understandable information, and by referring vulnerable caregivers for (psychosocial) support.

Self-efficacy and coping style in relation to psychological distress and quality of life in informal caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

In order to understand how informal caregivers of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients deal with the consequences of the disease, we investigated their self-efficacy and coping style in relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression (distress) and quality of life (QoL) over time. In addition, factors associated with self-efficacy and coping style were investigated.

METHODS

A total of 222 informal caregivers and their related HNC patients were prospectively followed as part from the multicenter cohort NETherlands QUality of life and Biomedical cohort studies In Cancer (NET-QUBIC). Self-efficacy and coping style were measured at baseline, and distress and QoL at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Informal caregivers had a high level of self-efficacy comparable with patients. Caregivers used "seeking social support," "passive reacting," and "expression of emotions" more often than patients. Factors associated with self-efficacy and coping were higher age and lower education. Higher self-efficacy was related with better QoL and "active tackling" was associated with less depression symptoms. "Passive reacting" and "expression of emotions" were associated with higher psychological distress and reduced QoL.

CONCLUSION

Among informal caregivers of HNC patients, higher self-efficacy and "active tackling" were associated with better functioning over time, while "passive reacting" and "expression of negative emotions" were associated with worse functioning. Awareness of the differences in self-efficacy skills and coping and their relationship with QoL and psychological distress will help clinicians to identify caregivers that may benefit from additional support that improve self-efficacy and "active tackling" and reduce negative coping styles.

Caregiver Burden, Psychological Distress and Quality of Life among Informal Caregivers of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate caregiver burden among informal caregivers of head and neck cancer patients, in relation to distress and quality of life (QoL), and the relationship between informal caregivers and patients. (2) Methods: Data of 234 dyads from the multicenter prospective cohort study Netherlands Quality of life and Biomedical Cohort studies in cancer was used. Caregiver burden, psychological distress, global QoL, physical and social functioning were measured from baseline until 24 months after treatment. (4) Conclusions: This prospective cohort study shows the high burden of caring for HNC patients, the impact of this burden and the interaction between caregiver and patient. We suggest that healthcare professionals include caregivers in counseling and support.

The course of swallowing problems in the first 2 years after diagnosis of head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION

Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment often negatively impact swallowing function. The aim was to investigate the course of patient-reported swallowing problems from diagnosis to 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment, in relation to demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

Data were used of the Netherlands Quality of Life and Biomedical Cohort Study in head and neck cancer research (NET-QUBIC). The primary outcome measures were the subscales of the Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL). Linear mixed-effects models (LMM) were conducted to investigate changes over time and associations with patient, clinical, and lifestyle parameters as assessed at baseline.

RESULTS

Data were available of 603 patients. There was a significant change over time on all subscales. Before treatment, 53% of patients reported swallowing problems. This number increased to 70% at M3 and decreased to 59% at M6, 50% at M12, and 48% at M24. Swallowing problems (i.e., longer eating duration) were more pronounced in the case of female, current smoking, weight loss prior to treatment, and stage III or IV tumor, and were more prevalent at 3 to 6 months after treatment. Especially patients with an oropharynx and oral cavity tumor, and patients receiving (C)RT following surgery or CRT only showed a longer eating duration after treatment, which did not return to baseline levels.

CONCLUSION

Half of the patients with HNC report swallowing problems before treatment. Eating duration was associated with sex, smoking, weight loss, tumor site and stage, and treatment modality, and was more pronounced 3 to 6 months after treatment.

Psychoneurological Symptoms and Biomarkers of Stress and Inflammation in Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Network Analysis

Psychoneurological symptoms are commonly reported by newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, yet there is limited research on the associations of these symptoms with biomarkers of stress and inflammation. In this article, pre-treatment data of a multi-center cohort of HNC patients were analyzed using a network analysis to examine connections between symptoms (poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and oral pain), biomarkers of stress (diurnal cortisol slope), inflammation markers (c-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), and covariates (age and body mass index [BMI]). Three centrality indices were calculated: degree (number of connections), closeness (proximity of a variable to other variables), and betweenness (based on the number of times a variable is located on the shortest path between any pair of other variables). In a sample of 264 patients, poor sleep quality and fatigue had the highest degree index; fatigue and CRP had the highest closeness index; and IL-6 had the highest betweenness index. The model yielded two clusters: a symptoms-cortisol slope-CRP cluster and a IL-6-IL-10-TNF-α-age-BMI cluster. Both clusters were connected most prominently via IL-6. Our findings provide evidence that poor sleep quality, fatigue, CRP, and IL-6 play an important role in the interconnections between psychoneurological symptoms and biomarkers of stress and inflammation in newly diagnosed HNC patients.

Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA

Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I-IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I-III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening.

Psychological Problems among Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Relation to Utilization of Healthcare and Informal Care and Costs in the First Two Years after Diagnosis

Background: To investigate associations between psychological problems and the use of healthcare and informal care and total costs among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Method: Data were used of the NETherlands QUality of Life and Biomedical Cohort study. Anxiety and depression disorder (diagnostic interview), distress, symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS), and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and cancer worry scale (CWS) were measured at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Care use and costs (questionnaire) were measured at baseline, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-up. Associations between psychological problems and care use/costs were investigated using logistic and multiple regression analyses. Results: Data of 558 patients were used. Distress, symptoms of anxiety or depression, FCR, and/or anxiety disorder at baseline were significantly associated with higher use of primary care, supportive care, and/or informal care (odds ratios (ORs) between 1.55 and 4.76). Symptoms of anxiety, FCR, and/or depression disorder at 12-month follow-up were significantly associated with use of primary care, supportive care, and/or informal care (ORs between 1.74 and 6.42). Distress, symptoms of anxiety, and FCR at baseline were associated with higher total costs. Discussion: HNC patients with psychological problems make more use of healthcare and informal care and have higher costs. This is not the result of worse clinical outcomes.

Assessing the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating CD57+ cells in advanced stage head and neck cancer using QuPath digital image analysis

This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of intratumoral CD57+ cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to examine the reproducibility of these analyses using QuPath. Pretreatment biopsies of 159 patients with HPV-negative, stage III/IV HNSCC treated with chemoradiotherapy were immunohistochemically stained for CD57. The number of CD57+ cells per mm² tumor epithelium was quantified by two independent observers and by QuPath, software for digital pathology image analysis. Concordance between the observers and QuPath was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The correlation between CD57 and clinicopathological characteristics was assessed; associations with clinical outcome were estimated using Cox proportional hazard analysis and visualized using Kaplan-Meier curves. The patient cohort had a 3-year OS of 65.8% with a median follow-up of 54 months. The number of CD57+ cells/mm² tumor tissue did not correlate to OS, DFS, or LRC. N stage predicted prognosis (OS: HR 0.43, p = 0.008; DFS: HR 0.41, p = 0.003; LRC: HR 0.24, p = 0.007), as did WHO performance state (OS: HR 0.48, p = 0.028; LRC: 0.33, p = 0.039). Quantification by QuPath showed moderate to good concordance with two human observers (ICCs 0.836, CI 0.805–0.863, and 0.741, CI 0.692–0.783, respectively). In conclusion, the presence of CD57+ TILs did not correlate to prognosis in advanced stage, HPV-negative HNSCC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. Substantial concordance between human observers and QuPath was found, confirming a promising future role for digital, algorithm driven image analysis.

Factors associated with swallowing dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate swallowing function in relation to personal and clinical factors among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) from diagnosis up to 2 years after treatment.

METHODS

The 100 mL water swallow test was measured before treatment, and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment. Linear mixed-effects model analysis was conducted to investigate changes over time and the association with personal (sex, age) and clinical (tumor site, tumor stage, treatment modality) factors.

RESULTS

Among 128 included patients, number of swallows increased from baseline to 3 months after treatment and decreased to baseline again at 6 months after treatment. The number of swallows was associated with age and treatment modality.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HNC, swallowing (dys)function changes over time with the worst score 3 months after treatment. A higher age and being treated with surgery are factors associated with swallowing dysfunction over time.

Magnetic resonance guided elective neck irradiation targeting individual lymph nodes: A new concept

•

Individual elective lymph nodes can be identified using multiple Dixon T2-weighted turbo spin echo with fat suppression.

•

Magnetic Resonance guided individual lymph node irradiation results in lower dose to the organs at risk.

•

Especially the submandibular glands, carotid arteries and thyroid can be spared.

•

The magnetic field on the magnetic resonance imaging - linear accelerator did not lead to increased skin dose depositions.

Background and purpose

Conventional elective neck irradiation (ENI) in head and neck cancer consists of radiotherapy (RT) to the regional lymph node (LN) levels contoured on computed tomography. Hybrid Magnetic Resonance (MR) - RT modalities, such as combined magnetic resonance imaging - linear accelerators (MRLs), might enable new ENI strategies in which individual non-suspect lymph nodes (i-LNs) are targeted. In this treatment planning study, new MR-based strategies targeting i-LNs (i-ENI) were compared to conventional treatment.

Materials and methods

All i-LNs were delineated on MR images of ten retrospectively selected patients with T2-4aN0M0 laryngeal cancer. Three strategies were considered. Strategy A: Conventional ENI delivered with a conventional linear accelerator (35x 1.55 Gy). Strategy B: MRL-based i-ENI (35x 1.55 Gy) to the individual lymph nodes including a background dose to the conventional elective neck volumes (35x 1.03 Gy). Strategy C: Same as Strategy B, but without background dose. In all plans the dose prescription to the primary tumor was 35x 2 Gy. Mean dose (D_mean) reductions in the organs at risk (OAR) were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

Compared to conventional ENI (strategy A), significant D_mean reductions of 6.0 Gy and 8.0 Gy were observed in the submandibular glands, of 9.4 Gy and 13 Gy in the carotid arteries and of 9.9 Gy and 19.4 Gy in the thyroid for strategy B and C, respectively. Large inter-patient variations of D_mean reductions were observed in all OARs.

Conclusion

MRL-based i-ENI is a new promising concept that could reduce the mean dose to OARs in the neck significantly for patients with laryngeal cancer.

Factors associated with masticatory function as measured with the Mixing Ability Test in patients with head and neck cancer before and after treatment: a prospective cohort study

Purpose

After treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC), patients often experience major problems in masticatory function. The aim of this prospective cohort study among patients with HNC was to investigate which personal and clinical factors are associated with masticatory function from diagnosis up to 2 years after treatment with curative intent.

Methods

Masticatory function was measured using the Mixing Ability Test (MAT) before treatment (baseline), and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment. A linear mixed-effects model with a random intercept and slope was conducted to investigate changes over time and the association with personal (sex, age) and clinical (tumor site, tumor stage, treatment modality) factors as measured at baseline.

Result

One-hundred-twenty-five patients were included. The prevalence of masticatory dysfunction was estimated at 29% at M0, 38% at M3, 28% at M6, 26% at M12, and 36% at M24. A higher (worse) MAT score was associated with age, tumor stage, tumor site, timing of assessment, and the interaction between assessment moment and tumor site.

Conclusion

In patients with HNC, masticatory function changed over time and dysfunction was associated with a higher age, a tumor in the oral cavity, a higher tumor stage, and a shorter time since treatment. The prevalence of masticatory dysfunction ranged from 26 to 38%.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-022-06867-0.

Prospective longitudinal study on fear of cancer recurrence in patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer: Course, trajectories, and associated factors

Background

This study assessed the course of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC), identified FCR trajectories and factors associated with FCR trajectories.

Methods

Six hundred and seventeen HNC patients from the NET‐QUBIC cohort study completed the Cancer Worry Scale‐6 at diagnosis, 3 and 6 months post‐treatment. FCR trajectories were identified using Latent Class Growth Analysis. Associations were explored between FCR trajectories and baseline demographic and medical variables, coping and self‐efficacy.

Results

Overall, FCR decreased slightly between baseline and 3 months post‐treatment and remained stable up to 6 months. Two FCR trajectories were identified: “high stable” (n = 125) and “low declining” (n = 492). Patients with high stable FCR were younger, reported more negative adjustment, passive coping, and reassuring thoughts, and less avoidance.

Conclusions

The majority of HNC patients have low declining FCR after diagnosis, but one in five patients experience persistent high FCR up to 6 months post‐treatment.

Study retention and attrition in a longitudinal cohort study including patient-reported outcomes, fieldwork and biobank samples: results of the Netherlands quality of life and Biomedical cohort study (NET-QUBIC) among 739 head and neck cancer patients and 262 informal caregivers

Background

Longitudinal observational cohort studies in cancer patients are important to move research and clinical practice forward. Continued study participation (study retention) is of importance to maintain the statistical power of research and facilitate representativeness of study findings. This study aimed to investigate study retention and attrition (drop-out) and its associated sociodemographic and clinical factors among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and informal caregivers included in the Netherlands Quality of Life and Biomedical Cohort Study (NET-QUBIC).

Methods

NET-QUBIC is a longitudinal cohort study among 739 HNC patients and 262 informal caregivers with collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), fieldwork data (interview, objective tests and medical examination) and biobank materials. Study retention and attrition was described from baseline (before treatment) up to 2-years follow-up (after treatment). Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with retention in NET-QUBIC components at baseline (PROMs, fieldwork and biobank samples) and retention in general (participation in at least one component) were investigated using Chi-square, Fisher exact or independent t-tests (p< 0.05).

Results

Study retention at 2-years follow-up was 80% among patients alive (66% among all patients) and 70% among caregivers of patients who were alive and participating (52% among all caregivers). Attrition was most often caused by mortality, and logistic, physical, or psychological-related reasons. Tumor stage I/II, better physical performance and better (lower) comorbidity score were associated with participation in the PROMs component among patients. No factors associated with participation in the fieldwork component (patients), overall sample collection (patients and caregivers) or PROMs component (caregivers) were identified. A better performance and comorbidity score (among patients) and higher age (among caregivers) were associated with study retention at 2-years follow-up.

Conclusions

Retention rates were high at two years follow-up (i.e. 80% among HNC patients alive and 70% among informal caregivers with an active patient). Nevertheless, some selection was shown in terms of tumor stage, physical performance, comorbidity and age, which might limit representativeness of NET-QUBIC data and samples. To facilitate representativeness of study findings future cohort studies might benefit from oversampling specific subgroups, such as patients with poor clinical outcomes or higher comorbidity and younger caregivers.

Development and external validation of a prediction model for tube feeding dependency for at least four weeks during chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients who receive chemoradiotherapy or bioradiotherapy (CRT/BRT) for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) often experience high toxicity rates interfering with oral intake, causing tube feeding (TF) dependency. International guidelines recommend gastrostomy insertion when the expected use of TF exceeds 4 weeks. We aimed to develop and externally validate a prediction model to identify patients who need TF ≥ 4 weeks and would benefit from prophylactic gastrostomy insertion.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter cohort study was performed in four tertiary head and neck cancer centers in the Netherlands. The prediction model was developed using data from University Medical Center Utrecht and the Netherlands Cancer Institute and externally validated using data from Maastricht University Medical Center and Radboud University Medical Center. The primary endpoint was TF dependency ≥4 weeks initiated during CRT/BRT or within 30 days after CRT/BRT completion. Potential predictors were extracted from electronic health records and radiotherapy dose-volume parameters were calculated.

RESULTS

The developmental and validation cohort included 409 and 334 patients respectively. Multivariable analysis showed predictive value for pretreatment weight change, texture modified diet at baseline, ECOG performance status, tumor site, N classification, mean radiation dose to the contralateral parotid gland and oral cavity. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for this model was 0.73 and after external validation 0.62. Positive and negative predictive value for a risk of 90% or higher for TF dependency ≥4 weeks were 81.8% and 42.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and externally validated a prediction model to estimate TF-dependency ≥4 weeks in LAHNSCC patients treated with CRT/BRT. This model can be used to guide personalized decision-making on prophylactic gastrostomy insertion in clinical practice.

Prevalence of neurocognitive and perceived speech deficits in patients with head and neck cancer before treatment: Associations with demographic, behavioral, and disease-related factors

Background

Neurocognition and speech, relevant domains in head and neck cancer (HNC), may be affected pretreatment. However, the prevalence of pretreatment deficits and their possible concurrent predictors are poorly understood.

Methods

Using an HNC prospective cohort (Netherlands Quality of Life and Biomedical Cohort Study, N ≥ 444) with a cross‐sectional design, we investigated the estimated prevalence of pretreatment deficits and their relationship with selected demographic, behavioral, and disease‐related factors.

Results

Using objective assessments, rates of moderate‐to‐severe neurocognitive deficit ranged between 4% and 8%. From patient‐reported outcomes, 6.5% of patients reported high levels of cognitive failures and 46.1% reported speech deficits. Patient‐reported speech functioning was worse in larynx compared to other subsites. Other nonspeech outcomes were unrelated to any variable. Patient‐reported neurocognitive and speech functioning were modestly correlated, especially in the larynx group.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that a subgroup of patients with HNC shows pretreatment deficits, possibly accentuated in the case of larynx tumors.

Associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients before and six months after treatment: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate associations between testosterone and patient reported sexual problems and need for sexual care in head and neck cancer patients at time of diagnosis and 6 months after treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data and samples were used of 40 patients (20 men, 20 women) before and 6 months after treatment. Outcome measures were total testosterone level (TT) and free testosterone index (FTI), testosterone insufficiency (TI), the EORTC QLQ-HN35 Sexuality subscale, the subscales of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Sexuality subscale of the Short-Form Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34).

RESULTS

In men, higher FTI before treatment was significantly associated with better IIEF Orgasm (p = 0.020) and at 6 months follow-up with IIEF Desire (p = 0.019). Before treatment, insufficient testosterone was present in 5 males (25%) and in 3 at follow-up (15%) (2 patients who had TI before treatment plus one). In women, higher TT at follow-up was significantly associated with better EORTC Sexuality (p = 0.031) and FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.020); FTI at follow-up was associated with FSFI Satisfaction (p = 0.012). Before treatment, TI was present in 2 women (10%) and in 3 (15%) at follow-up (the same 2 patients plus one).

CONCLUSION

This pilot study showed that testosterone seems to be associated with patient reported sexual outcomes among male and female head and neck cancer patients. It is estimated that 10-25% of HNC patients may have testosterone insufficiency before treatment and/or at 6 months after treatment.

National Protocol for Model-Based Selection for Proton Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

In the Netherlands, the model-based approach is used to identify patients with head and neck cancer who may benefit most from proton therapy in terms of prevention of late radiation-induced side effects in comparison with photon therapy. To this purpose, a National Indication Protocol Proton therapy for Head and Neck Cancer patients (NIPP-HNC) was developed, which has been approved by the health care authorities. When patients qualify according to the guidelines of the NIPP-HNC, proton therapy is fully reimbursed. This article describes the procedures that were followed to develop this NIPP-HNC and provides all necessary information to introduce model-based selection for patients with head and neck cancer into routine clinical practice.

Mastication, swallowing, and salivary flow in patients with head and neck cancer: objective tests versus patient-reported outcomes

Purpose

Before and after treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC), many patients have problems with mastication, swallowing, and salivary flow. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between objective test outcomes of mastication, swallowing, and salivary flow versus patient-reported outcomes (PROs) measuring mastication-, swallowing-, and salivary flow–related quality of life.

Methods

Data of the prospective cohort “Netherlands Quality of Life and Biomedical Cohort Study” was used as collected before treatment, and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Spearman’s rho was used to test the association between objective test outcomes of the mixing ability test (MAT) for masticatory performance, the water-swallowing test (WST) for swallowing performance, and the salivary flow test versus PROs (subscales of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35, Swallow Quality of Life questionnaire (SWAL-QoL-NL) and Groningen Radiation-Induced Xerostomia (GRIX)).

Results

Data of 142 patients were used, and in total, 285 measurements were performed. No significant correlations were found between the MAT or WST and subscales of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35. Significant but weak correlations were found between the MAT or WST and 4 subscales of the SWAL-QoL-NL. Weak to moderate correlations were found between the salivary flow test and GRIX at 3 and 6 months after treatment, with the highest correlation between salivary flow and xerostomia during the day (Spearman’s rho =  − 0.441, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

The association between objective test outcomes and PROs is weak, indicating that these outcome measures provide different information about masticatory performance, swallowing, and salivary flow in patients with HNC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-021-06368-6.

Reliability of the 100 mL water swallow test in patients with head and neck cancer and healthy subjects

Background

Dysphagia may occur in up to 44% of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiation therapy and up to 84% of patients treated with surgery. To test the extent of dysphagia, the 100 mL water swallow test (WST) was developed. In this study, reliability of the 100 mL WST was determined in patients with HNC and healthy subjects.

Methods

Thirty‐three patients and 40 healthy subjects performed the WST twice on the same day. To assess reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_2,1), standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change, and limits of agreement were calculated.

Results

Good to excellent correlations were found for patients with HNC (number of swallows; ICC = 0.923, duration; ICC = 0.893), and excellent correlations for healthy subjects (number of swallows; ICC = 0.950, duration; ICC = 0.916).

Conclusion

The 100 mL WST has a good to excellent reliability in patients with HNC and healthy subjects.

Initial Feasibility and Clinical Implementation of Daily MR-Guided Adaptive Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Therapy on a 1.5T MR-Linac System: Prospective R-IDEAL 2a/2b Systematic Clinical Evaluation of Technical Innovation

PURPOSE

This prospective study is, to our knowledge, the first report of daily adaptive radiation therapy (ART) for head and neck cancer (HNC) using a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging-linear accelerator (MR-linac) with particular focus on safety and feasibility and dosimetric results of an online rigid registration-based adapt to position (ATP) workflow.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Ten patients with HNC received daily ART on a 1.5T/7MV MR-linac, 6 using ATP only and 4 using ATP with 1 offline adapt-to-shape replan. Setup variability with custom immobilization masks was assessed by calculating the mean systematic error (M), standard deviation of the systematic error (Σ), and standard deviation of the random error (σ) of the isocenter shifts. Quality assurance was performed with a cylindrical diode array using 3%/3 mm γ criteria. Adaptive treatment plans were summed for each patient to compare the delivered dose with the planned dose from the reference plan. The impact of dosimetric variability between adaptive fractions on the summation plan doses was assessed by tracking the number of optimization constraint violations at each individual fraction.

RESULTS

The random errors (mm) for the x, y, and z isocenter shifts, respectively, were M = -0.3, 0.7, 0.1; Σ = 3.3, 2.6, 1.4; and σ = 1.7, 2.9, 1.0. The median (range) γ pass rate was 99.9% (90.9%-100%). The differences between the reference and summation plan doses were -0.61% to 1.78% for the clinical target volume and -11.74% to 8.11% for organs at risk (OARs), although an increase greater than 2% in OAR dose only occurred in 3 cases, each for a single OAR. All cases had at least 2 fractions with 1 or more constraint violations. However, in nearly all instances, constraints were still met in the summation plan despite multiple single-fraction violations.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily ART on a 1.5T MR-linac using an online ATP workflow is safe and clinically feasible for HNC and results in delivered doses consistent with planned doses.

Sleep quality trajectories from head and neck cancer diagnosis to six months after treatment

OBJECTIVES

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) often report disturbances in their sleep quality, impairing their quality of life. This study aims to examine the trajectories of sleep quality from diagnosis up to 6-month after treatment, as well as the pre-treatment risk factors for poor sleep trajectories.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index) was measured shortly after diagnosis (pre-treatment), and at 3 and 6 months after finishing treatment. Patients were categorized into 5 trajectory groups. We examined the association of sleep quality trajectories with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, coping style, HNC symptoms, and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Among 412 included patients, about a half either had a persistent good sleep (37.6%) or an improving (16.5%) trajectory. About a third had a persistent poor sleep (21.8%) or worsening (10.9%) sleep trajectory. The remaining patients (13.1%), alternated between good and poor sleep. Using persistent good sleep as a reference outcome, persistent poor sleepers were more likely to be woman (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-3.90), use painkillers prior to treatment (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.33-4.77), and have more pre-treatment anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.15-1.38).

CONCLUSION

Unfavorable sleep quality trajectories are prevalent among HNC patients from pre-treatment to 6-month after treatment. A periodic sleep evaluation starting shortly after HNC diagnosis is necessary to identify persistent sleep problems, especially among high-risk group.

Poor sleep quality among newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients: prevalence and associated factors

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients often suffer from distress attributed to their cancer diagnosis which may disturb their sleep. However, there is lack of research about poor sleep quality among newly diagnosed HNC patients. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the prevalence and the associated factors of poor sleep quality among HNC patients before starting treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the baseline data from NET-QUBIC study, an ongoing multi-center cohort of HNC patients in the Netherlands. Poor sleep quality was defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score of > 5. Risk factors examined were sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education level, living situation), clinical characteristics (HNC subsite, tumor stage, comorbidity, performance status), lifestyle factors, coping styles, and HNC symptoms.

RESULTS

Among 560 HNC patients, 246 (44%) had poor sleep quality before start of treatment. Several factors were found to be significantly associated with poor sleep: younger age (odds ratio [OR] for each additional year 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00), being female (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.1), higher passive coping style (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.28), more oral pain (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.19), and less sexual interest and enjoyment (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.20).

CONCLUSION

Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent among HNC patients before start of treatment. Early evaluation and tailored intervention to improve sleep quality are necessary to prepare these patients for HNC treatment and its consequences.

Impaired Geriatric 8 Score is Associated with Worse Survival after Radiotherapy in Older Patients with Cancer

AIMS

To investigate whether the Geriatric 8 (G8) score and the Timed Get Up and Go Test (TGUGT), together with clinical and demographic patient characteristics, are associated with survival and late toxicity after (chemo)radiation therapy, administered with curative intent in older patients with cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred and two patients aged ≥65 years (median age 72 years, range 65-96 years), diagnosed with either breast, non-small cell lung, prostate, head and neck, rectal or oesophageal cancer, and referred for curative (chemo)radiation therapy, took part in a multicentre prospective cohort study in eight radiotherapy centres in the Netherlands. The G8 and TGUGT scores were assessed before starting treatment. Other potential predictors and late toxicity were also recorded. Survival status and date of death, if applicable, were ascertained at the Dutch national death registry.

RESULTS

After 2.5 years, the overall survival was 83%. Survival was 87% for patients with high G8 scores and 55% for patients with low G8 scores (Log-rank P value < 0.0001). Survival was 77% for patients with good TGUGT results and 50% for patients with poor TGUGT results (Log-rank P value < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, in addition to age and type of primary tumour, the association of the G8 score with overall survival remained, with a hazard ratio of 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.2-3.8) for low versus high scores.

CONCLUSIONS

G8 was associated with overall survival in older patients with cancer irradiated with curative intent. This association was independent of the predictive value of age and primary tumour.

Reliability of the mixing ability test testing masticatory performance in patients with head and neck cancer and healthy controls

Background

Treatment of patients with head and neck cancer can result in disrupted mastication. To measure masticatory performance in people with compromised mastication, the mixing ability test (MAT) was developed.

Objective

In this study, the reliability of the MAT was evaluated in patients with head and neck cancer and healthy controls.

Methods

Thirty‐four patients with head and neck cancer and 42 healthy controls performed the MAT twice on the same day. To assess reliability, the intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC_2,1), standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change (SDC) and limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated.

Results

A good (ICC = 0.886) and moderate correlation (ICC = 0.525) were found for patients and healthy controls, respectively. Patients had a worse mixing ability (mean = 19.12, SD = 4.56) in comparison with healthy controls (mean = 16.42, SD = 2.04). The SEM was 0.76 in patients and 1.45 in healthy controls, with a SDC of 2.12 and 4.02, respectively. The LoA was −4.46 to 4.42 in patients and −3.65 to 4.59 in healthy controls.

Conclusion

The MAT has a good reliability in patients with head and neck cancer and a moderate reliability in healthy controls.

Privacy-preserving distributed learning of radiomics to predict overall survival and HPV status in head and neck cancer

A major challenge in radiomics is assembling data from multiple centers. Sharing data between hospitals is restricted by legal and ethical regulations. Distributed learning is a technique, enabling training models on multicenter data without data leaving the hospitals ("privacy-preserving" distributed learning). This study tested feasibility of distributed learning of radiomics data for prediction of two year overall survival and HPV status in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Pretreatment CT images were collected from 1174 HNC patients in 6 different cohorts. 981 radiomic features were extracted using Z-Rad software implementation. Hierarchical clustering was performed to preselect features. Classification was done using logistic regression. In the validation dataset, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were compared between the models trained in the centralized and distributed manner. No difference in ROC was observed with respect to feature selection. The logistic regression coefficients were identical between the methods (absolute difference <10-7). In comparison of the full workflow (feature selection and classification), no significant difference in ROC was found between centralized and distributed models for both studied endpoints (DeLong p > 0.05). In conclusion, both feature selection and classification are feasible in a distributed manner using radiomics data, which opens new possibility for training more reliable radiomics models.

Pretreatment ADC is not a prognostic factor for local recurrences in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma when clinical T-stage is known

Objectives

Pretreatment identification of radio-insensitive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) would affect treatment modality selection. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of a tumor could be a predictor of local recurrence. However, little is known about its prognostic value next to known factors such as clinical T-stage. The aim of the present study is to determine the added value of pretreatment ADC to clinical T-stage as a prognostic factor for local recurrence.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 217 patients with HNSCC treated with (chemo)radiotherapy between April 2009 and December 2015. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted MRI prior to treatment. Median ADC values of all tumors were obtained using a semi-automatic delineation method. Univariate models containing ADC and T-stage were compared with a multivariable model containing both variables.

Results

Fifty-eight patients experienced a local recurrence within 3 years. On average, the ADC value in the group of patients with a recurrence was 1.01 versus 1.00 (10⁻³ mm²/s) in the group without a recurrence. Univariate analysis showed no significant association between tumor ADC and local recurrence within 3 years after (chemo)radiotherapy (p = 0.09). Cox regression showed that clinical T-stage was an independent predictor of local recurrence and adding ADC to the model did not increase its performance.

Conclusion

Pretreatment ADC has no added value as a prognostic factor for local recurrence to clinical T-stage.

Key Points

• Pretreatment identification of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients who do not benefit from (chemo)radiotherapy could improve personalized cancer care.

• The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained from diffusion-weighted MRI has been reported to be a prognostic factor for local recurrence.

• In this study, ADC has no added value as a prognostic factor compared with clinical T-stage.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00330-019-06426-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

18F-FDG-PET/CT-based treatment planning for definitive (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma improves regional control and survival

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Multimodality imaging including ¹⁸F-FDG-PET has improved the detection threshold of nodal metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this retrospective analysis is to investigate the impact of FDG-PET/CT-based nodal target volume definition (FDG-PET/CT-based NTV) on radiotherapy outcomes, compared to conventional CT-based nodal target volume definition (CT-based NTV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six-hundred-thirty-three patients treated for HNSCC with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy using IMRT/VMAT techniques between 2008 and 2017 were analyzed. FDG-PET/CT-based NTV was performed in 46% of the patients. The median follow-up was 31 months. Diagnostic imaging depicting the regional recurrence was co-registered with the initial CT-scan to reconstruct the exact site of the recurrence. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with radiotherapy outcome.

RESULTS

FDG-PET/CT-based NTV improved control of disease in the CTV_{elective-nodal} (HR: 0.33, p = 0.026), overall regional control (HR: 0.62, p = 0.027) and overall survival (HR: 0.71, p = 0.033) compared to CT-based NTV. The risk for recurrence in the CTV_{elective-nodal} was increased in case of synchronous local recurrence of the primary tumor (HR: 12.4, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT-based NTV significantly improved control of disease in the CTV_{elective-nodal}, overall regional control and overall survival compared to CT-based NTV. A significant proportion of CTV_{elective-nodal} recurrences are potentially new nodal manifestations from a synchronous local recurrent primary tumor. These results support the concept of target volume transformation and give an indication of the potential of FDG-PET to guide gradual radiotherapy dose de-escalation in elective neck treatment in HNSCC.

Advancing interdisciplinary research in head and neck cancer through a multicenter longitudinal prospective cohort study: the NETherlands QUality of life and BIomedical Cohort (NET-QUBIC) data warehouse and biobank

Background

Worldwide, over 500,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year, a disease with major impact on life expectancy and quality of life. The purpose of the Netherlands Quality of life and Biomedical Cohort study (NET-QUBIC) is to advance interdisciplinary research that aims to optimize diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care for head and neck cancer patients and their informal caregivers.

Methods

Using an extensive assessment protocol (electronic clinical record form, patient reported outcome measures and fieldwork (interviews and physical tests)), clinical data and data on quality of life, demographic and personal factors, psychosocial (depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, sleep, mental adjustment to cancer, posttraumatic stress), physical (speech, swallowing, oral function, malnutrition, physical fitness, neurocognitive function, sexual function), lifestyle (physical activity, nutrition, smoking, alcohol, drugs), and social factors (social function, social support, work, health care use, and costs) are collected and stored in the data warehouse. A longitudinal biobank is built with tumor tissue, blood and blood components, saliva samples, and oral rinses. An infrastructure for fieldwork and laboratory protocols is established at all participating centers. All patients fill out patient reported outcome measures before treatment and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months follow-up. The interviews, physical tests and biological sample collection are at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months follow-up. The protocol for caregivers includes blood sampling and oral rinses at baseline and a tailored list of questionnaires, administered at the same time points as the patients. In total, 739 HNC patients and 262 informal caregivers have been included in 5 out of the 8 HNC centers in the Netherlands.

Discussion

By granting access to researchers to the NET-QUBIC data warehouse and biobank, we enable new research lines in clinical (e.g. treatment optimization in elderly patients), biological (e.g. liquid biopsy analysis for relapse detection), health related quality of life (e.g. the impact of toxicity on quality of life), and interrelated research (e.g. health related quality of life in relation to biomarkers and survival).

Prevalence and clinical and psychological correlates of high fear of cancer recurrence in patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer

Background

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are vulnerable to fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and psychiatric morbidity. We investigated the prevalence of high FCR and demographic, clinical, psychological, and psychiatric factors associated with high FCR prior to the start of the treatment.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional substudy of the large ongoing prospective NET‐QUBIC study questionnaires and psychiatric interviews of 216 patients newly diagnosed with HNC were analyzed.

Results

High FCR was observed in 52.8% of patients and among those 21.1% also had a lifetime history of selected anxiety or major depressive disorder. FCR was not related to any clinical characteristics; however, younger age, higher anxiety symptoms, introversion, greater needs for support regarding sexuality, and being an exsmoker were significantly associated with higher FCR.

Conclusion

Factors associated with high FCR provide us with a better conceptual understanding of FCR in patients newly diagnosed with HNC.

Assessment of Neurocognitive Impairment and Speech Functioning Before Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

Importance

Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment may negatively alter neurocognitive and speech functioning. However, the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment among patients with HNC before treatment is poorly studied, and the association between neurocognitive and speech functioning is unknown, which hampers good interpretability of the effect of HNC treatment on neurocognitive and speech function.

Objectives

To document neurocognitive functioning in patients with HNC before treatment and to investigate the association between neurocognitive and speech functioning.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed patients with HNC before treatment using a large sample obtained in a nationwide, multicenter setting (Netherlands Quality of Life and Biomedical Cohort Study in Head and Neck Cancer [NET-QUBIC] project).

Main Outcome and Measures

Objective neuropsychological measures of delayed recall, letter fluency, and executive functioning, as well as patient-reported outcome measures on neurocognitive speech and functioning, were collected before treatment.

Results

In total, 254 patients with HNC participated (71.7% male), with a mean (SD) age of 62 (10) years. The response rate ranged from 81.9% (208 of 254) to 84.6% (215 of 254). Objective neurocognitive measures indicated that 4.7% (10 of 212) to 15.0% (32 of 214) of patients were initially seen with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Mild to moderate impairment was found in 12.3% (26 of 212) to 26.2% (56 of 214) of patients. The most altered domains were delayed recall and letter fluency. Seven percent (15 of 208) of the patients reported high levels of everyday neurocognitive failure, and 42.6% (89 of 209) reported speech problems. Objective neurocognitive function was not significantly associated with patient-reported neurocognitive or speech functioning, but the results from patient-reported outcome measures were significantly correlated.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study demonstrate a high prevalence of impaired speech functioning among patients with HNC before treatment, which is in line with previous findings. A novel finding is that neurocognitive impairment is also highly prevalent as objectively measured and as self-perceived. Understanding the reason why patients with HNC are initially seen with neurocognitive impairment before the start of treatment is important because this impairment may complicate patient-clinician interaction and alter treatment adherence and because treatment itself may further worsen cognitive functioning. In addition, low self-perceived neurocognitive and speech functioning before treatment may decrease a patient's confidence in communicative participation and perceived quality of life. Disentangling the associations between objective and patient-reported neurocognitive and speech functions is an important area for future research.

Prospective comparative study of MRI including diffusion-weighted images versus FDG PET-CT for the detection of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas after (chemo)radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

This prospective study aims to test if MRI including diffusion weighted images can replace FDG PET-CT in the diagnosis of patients with suspicion of local recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas after (chemo)radiation.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients suspected of local recurrence underwent a MRI and a FDG PET-CT. Qualitative assessment of the images was performed. Reference standard was the results of biopsy or the absence of a recurrence during follow up.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included. Fifty percent had local recurrence. FDG PET-CT had accuracy of 71% compared to 73% for MRI. The sensitivity and specificity were 97% compared to 69% and 46% compared to 77% for FDG PET-CT and MRI respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI showed similar diagnostic accuracy, superior specificity but inferior sensitivity compared to FDG PET-CT. Based on current results, we consider MRI including diffusion weighted sequences unable to replace FDG PET-CT as a single imaging modality when local recurrent disease of HNSCC after (C)RT is suspected.

Prediction of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology results by FDG PET-CT for lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

INTRODUCTION

Accurate assessment of cervical lymph node status is essential in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as it influences prognosis and treatment decisions. During patient workup, lymph node status is often examined by ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (USgFNAC). ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) is frequently used to assess primary tumor and distant metastases but provides information on lymph node status as well. It is possible that FDG PET-CT (if already made for abovementioned indications) can predict the results of USgFNAC in subgroups of lymph nodes based on FDG-uptake and size. The objective of this study is to identify maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) and short axis diameter cutoff values of lymph nodes at which FDG PET-CT can reliably predict USgFNAC results.

METHODS

One hundred and seventeen patients with HNSCC were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were included when FDG PET-CT and USgFNAC were available. SUVmax measurements were performed and compared to the USgFNAC results.

RESULTS

Using USgFNAC as a reference standard, the area under the curve of the receiver operating curve was 0.91. At an SUVmax cutoff value of 4.9, the accuracy of FDG PET-CT was the highest (85%). Lymph nodes with short axis diameter ≥1.0 cm and SUVmax ≥4.9 were in 91% positive on USgFNAC. If SUVmax was below 2.2, no nodes were positive on USgFNAC. Of all lymph nodes 52% either had a short axis diameter ≥1.0 cm and SUVmax ≥4.9 or an SUVmax <2.2. FDG PET-CT and USgFNAC results were very similar in these nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

By measuring SUVmax values and minimal axial diameters of lymph nodes and using appropriate cutoff values, FDG PET-CT can predict the results of USgFNAC examinations in half of the examined lymph nodes. This information may lead to a reduction of USgFNAC examinations in HNSCC patients if FDG PET-CT is already performed for other indications.

Intrafraction motion quantification and planning target volume margin determination of head-and-neck tumors using cine magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE

To quantify intrafractional motion to determine population-based radiotherapy treatment margins for head-and-neck tumors.

METHODS

Cine MR imaging was performed in 100 patients with head-and-neck cancer on a 3T scanner in a radiotherapy treatment setup. MR images were analyzed using deformable image registration (optical flow algorithm) and changes in tumor contour position were used to calculate the tumor motion. The tumor motion was used together with patient setup errors (450 patients) to calculate population-based PTV margins.

RESULTS

Tumor motion was quantified in 84 patients (12/43/29 nasopharynx/oropharynx/larynx, 16 excluded). The mean maximum (95th percentile) tumor motion (swallowing excluded) was: 2.3 mm in superior, 2.4 mm in inferior, 1.8 mm in anterior and 1.7 mm in posterior direction. PTV margins were: 2.8 mm isotropic for nasopharyngeal tumors, 3.2 mm isotropic for oropharyngeal tumors and 4.3 mm in inferior-superior and 3.2 mm in anterior-posterior for laryngeal tumors, for our institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrafractional head-and-neck tumor motion was quantified and population-based PTV margins were calculated. Although the average tumor motion was small (95th percentile motion <3.0 mm), tumor motion varied considerably between patients (0.1-12.0 mm). The intrafraction motion expanded the CTV-to-PTV with 1.7 mm for laryngeal tumors, 0.6 mm for oropharyngeal tumors and 0.2 mm for nasopharyngeal tumors.

Tumor to cervical spinal cord standardized uptake ratio (SUR) improves the reproducibility of 18F-FDG-PET based tumor segmentation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a multicenter setting

BACKGROUND

In quantitative FDG-PET data analysis, normalization of the standardized uptake value (SUV) with an internal image-derived standard improves its reproducibility. In this study, the cervical spinal cord is proposed as an internal standard that is within the field of view of the radiotherapy planning PET/CT-scan in head and neck cancer. The aim is to evaluate if the tumor to cervical spinal cord standardized uptake ratio (SUR) can improve the reproducibility of a model to determine the metabolic tumor volume (MTV) on FDG-PET/CT in a multicenter setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-five radiotherapy planning FDG-PET/CT-scans of patients with head and neck cancer were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method to evaluate differences in FDG-uptake in the cervical spinal cord and the mediastinal blood pool. Non-linear regression analysis was used to determine the optimal MTV using the gross tumor volume (GTV) as ground truth and a spatial overlap-index as statistical validation metric. Reproducibility was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method and external validation was performed in an independent dataset consisting of 62 patients.

RESULTS

Bland-Altman's analyses demonstrated equivalence of FDG-uptake in the mediastinal blood pool and the cervical spinal cord. Reproducibility of the models improved when using SUR instead of SUV. These results were confirmed in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

The use of the tumor to cervical spinal cord SUR instead of SUV improves the reproducibility of a model to determine the MTV on FDG-PET/CT in a multicenter setting. This study indicates that SUR may be preferred over SUV based approaches.

Target Volume Delineation Using Diffusion-weighted Imaging for MR-guided Radiotherapy: A Case Series of Laryngeal Cancer Validated by Pathology

In radiotherapy treatment planning, tumor delineation based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising technique. MR-only-based target definition becomes important with the recent development of MRI integrated radiotherapy treatment modalities. In this case series, DWI-based gross tumor volume (GTV) was validated using pathology and compared with a clinical GTV based on computed tomography (CT) imaging and MRI.

This case series includes three patients with a laryngeal tumor. Prior to total laryngectomy (TLE), imaging was performed on CT and MRI, including a DWI scan. After TLE, the surgical specimen was processed and cut into 3-mm thick slices. The tumor was delineated on hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained sections by a pathologist (tumor_HE). This pathological imaging, including the tumor_HE delineation, was three-dimensionally reconstructed and registered to the imaging. The GTV was delineated by a radiation oncologist based on CT and MR imaging (GTV_clinical) and semi-automatically delineated based on DWI (GTV_DWI).

The microscopic tumor extent outside the GTV_DWI contour was 3.0 mm, 2.7 mm, and 11.3 mm for cases I, II, and III, respectively. The microscopic tumor extent outside the GTV_clinical was 7.5 mm, 2.1 mm, and 1.5 mm for cases I, II, and III, respectively. The tumor, on histology, was covered by the GTVs for 80%, 74%, and 31% (GTV_DWI) and 73%, 72%, and 89% (GTV_clinical) for the three subsequent cases, respectively. The GTV_DWI resembled the tumor_HE more than the GTV_clinical in case I and case II. In case III, GTV_DWI missed the caudal part of the tumor that was included in the clinical delineation due to a lack of contrast and the heterogeneous signal intensity of the tumor in DWI.

In this case series, we showed the potential of DWI for MR-guided radiotherapy treatment if a clear contrast is visible. DWI-based GTV delineation might be a fast alternative to manual delineation, which could speed up the on-table target definition using an MRI-linac system. A larger case series is needed to verify these results.

Technical Note: Diffusion-weighted MRI with minimal distortion in head-and-neck radiotherapy using a turbo spin echo acquisition method

PURPOSE

Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI, showing high contrast between tumor and background tissue, is a promising technique in radiotherapy for tumor delineation. However, its use for head-and-neck patients is hampered by poor geometric accuracy in conventional echo planar imaging (EPI) DW-MRI. An alternative turbo spin echo sequence, DW-SPLICE, is implemented and demonstrated in patients.

METHODS

The DW-SPLICE sequence was implemented on a 3.0 T system and evaluated in 10 patients. The patients were scanned in treatment position, using a customized head support and immobilization mask. Image distortions were quantified at the gross tumor volume (GTV) using field map analysis. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was evaluated using an ice water phantom.

RESULTS

The DW images acquired by DW-SPLICE showed no image distortions. Field map analysis at the gross tumor volumes resulted in a median distortion of 0.2 mm for DW-SPLICE, whereas for the conventional method this was 7.2 mm. ADC values, measured using an ice water phantom were in accordance with literature values.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of DW-SPLICE allows for diffusion-weighted imaging of patients in treatment position with excellent geometrical accuracy. The images can be used to facilitate target volume delineation in RT treatment planning.

Uniform FDG-PET guided GRAdient Dose prEscription to reduce late Radiation Toxicity (UPGRADE-RT): study protocol for a randomized clinical trial with dose reduction to the elective neck in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

In definitive radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, clinically uninvolved cervical lymph nodes are irradiated with a so-called 'elective dose' in order to achieve control of clinically occult metastases. As a consequence of high-resolution diagnostic imaging, occult tumor volume has significantly decreased in the last decades. Since the elective dose is dependent on occult tumor volume, the currently used elective dose may be higher than necessary. Because bilateral irradiation of the neck contributes to dysphagia, xerostomia and hypothyroidism in a dose dependent way, dose de-escalation to these regions can open a window of opportunity to reduce toxicity and improve quality of life after treatment.

METHODS

UPGRADE-RT is a multicenter, phase III, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Patients to be treated with definitive radiation therapy for a newly diagnosed stage T2-4 N0-2 M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx are eligible. Exclusion criteria are recurrent disease, oncologic surgery to the head and neck area, concomitant chemotherapy or epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. In total, 300 patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to a treatment arm with or without de-escalation of the elective radiation dose and introduction of an intermediate dose-level for selected lymph nodes. Radiation therapy planning FDG-PET/CT-scans will be acquired to guide risk assessment of borderline-sized cervical nodes that can be treated with the intermediate dose level. Treatment will be given with intensity-modulated radiation therapy or volumetric arc therapy with simultaneous-integrated boost using an accelerated fractionation schedule, 33 fractions in 5 weeks. The primary endpoint is 'normalcy of diet' at 1 year after treatment (toxicity). The secondary endpoint is the actuarial rate of recurrence in electively irradiated lymph nodes at 2 years after treatment (safety).

DISCUSSION

The objective of the UPGRADE-RT trial is to investigate whether de-escalation of elective radiation dose and the introduction of an intermediate dose-level for borderline sized lymph nodes in the treatment of head and neck cancer will result in less radiation sequelae and improved quality of life after treatment without compromising the recurrence rate in the electively treated neck.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02442375 .

Variation in head and neck cancer care in the Netherlands: A retrospective cohort evaluation of incidence, treatment and outcome

BACKGROUND

To explore variation in numbers and treatment between hospitals that treat head and neck cancer (HNC) in the Netherlands.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were collected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, while histopathological features were obtained by linkage to the national pathology record register PALGA. Inter-hospital variation in volume, stage, treatment, pathologically confirmed loco-regional recurrence and overall survival rate was evaluated by tumor site.

RESULTS

In total, 2094 newly diagnosed patients were included, ranging from 65 to 417 patients in participating hospitals treating HNC in 2008. Oral cavity cancer was mainly treated by surgery only, ranging from 46 to 82% per hospital, while the proportion of surgery with (chemo)radiotherapy ranged from 18 to 40%. Increasing age, male sex, and high stage were associated with a higher hazard of dying. In oropharynx cancer, the use of (chemo)radiotherapy varied from 31 to 82% between hospitals. We found an indication that higher volume was associated with a lower overall hazard of dying for the total group, but not by subsite. Low numbers, e.g. for salivary gland, nasopharynx, nasal cavity and paranasal sinus, did not permit all desired analyses.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed significant interhospital variation in numbers and treatment of especially oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancer. This study is limited because we had to rely on data recorded in the past for a different purpose. To understand whether this variation is unwanted, future research should be based on prospectively collected data, including detailed information on recurrences, additional case-mix information and cause of death.

Modality-specific target definition for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer on FDG-PET, CT and MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to improve target definition by deriving modality-specific margins for clinical target volumes (CTV) for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer on CT, MRI and 18-FDG-PET.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients with T3/T4 laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer underwent CT, MRI and 18-FDG-PET scans before laryngectomy. HE-sections were obtained from the surgical specimen and tumor was delineated (tumor_HE). The GTVs on CT and MRI were delineated in consensus. PET-based GTVs were automatically segmented. The three-dimensionally reconstructed specimen was registered to the various images. Modality-specific CTV margins were derived and added to the GTVs to achieve adequate tumor coverage. The resulting CTVs were compared with each other, to tumor_HE, and to CTV_CT10 constructed on CT with the clinical margin of 10mm.

RESULTS

CTV margins of 4.3mm (CT), 6.1mm (MRI) and 5.2mm (PET) were needed to achieve adequate tumor coverage. The median volumes of the resulting modality-specific CTVs were 44ml (CT), 48ml (MRI) and 39ml (PET), while the CTV_10mm was 80ml.

CONCLUSION

For laryngohypopharyngeal tumors, 45-52% target volume reduction compared with CTV_10mm is achievable when modality-specific CTV margins are used. PET-based CTVs were significantly smaller compared to CT- and MRI-based CTVs.

Correlation of human papillomavirus status with apparent diffusion coefficient of diffusion-weighted MRI in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Identification of prognostic patient characteristics in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is of great importance. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive HNSCCs have favorable response to (chemo)radiotherapy. Apparent diffusion coefficient, derived from diffusion-weighted MRI, has also shown to predict treatment response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between HPV status and apparent diffusion coefficient.

METHODS

Seventy-three patients with histologically proven HNSCC were retrospectively analyzed. Mean pretreatment apparent diffusion coefficient was calculated by delineation of total tumor volume on diffusion-weighted MRI. HPV status was analyzed and correlated to apparent diffusion coefficient.

RESULTS

Six HNSCCs were HPV-positive. HPV-positive HNSCC showed significantly lower apparent diffusion coefficient compared to HPV-negative. This correlation was independent of other patient characteristics.

CONCLUSION

In HNSCC, positive HPV status correlates with low mean apparent diffusion coefficient. The favorable prognostic value of low pretreatment apparent diffusion coefficient might be partially attributed to patients with a positive HPV status. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E613-E618, 2016.

Treatment of T3 laryngeal cancer in the Netherlands: a national survey

Background

Treatment strategies for T3 laryngeal carcinoma include radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy (CT) and sometimes surgery. We conducted a national survey to determine how T3 laryngeal carcinoma is currently being managed in the Netherlands.

Methods

A questionnaire on general treatment policy, also inquiring details on RT and CT, was sent to all 13 radiotherapy departments accredited for treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) in the Netherlands.

Results

Twelve centers completed the questionnaire. All centers reported using RT with or without CT. Upfront laryngectomy is rarely performed.

At 9/12 centers, CT is added to RT in cases with large tumors in T3N0 disease. Three centers use a volume criterion (3–6 cc); 6 centers don’t specify “large” with such criteria. CT consists of cisplatin 3-weekly (7 centers) or weekly (2 centers), unless contra-indicated or age; 6 centers use an age limit of 70 years. RT is given concomitantly with CT 5×/week except at the 2 centers where cisplatin weekly is combined with 6 fractions/week. In case of RT only, treatment is accelerated. Lymph node levels II-IV are treated electively.

In T3N+ disease, 11/12 centers treat non-bulky T3N1 with RT only. Volume criteria for combined CT-RT are the same as above. Two centers perform an upfront neck dissection in case of (resectable) N3 disease; 10 centers treat T3N2-3 cancer with primary CT-RT, 2 centers don’t use the N-stage criterion.

Total RT dose is 68–70 Gy, the elective dose varies between 46 and 57.75 Gy. Eight centers use a simultaneous integrated boost technique.

Conclusions

Treatment of T3 laryngeal cancer in the Netherlands is generally comparable, with CT-RT for voluminous T3N0 and most T3N+ tumors, but there are some differences between the centers in the use of chemotherapy and the dose-fractionation schemes. Therefore, the aim of the National Platform RT HNC is further standardization of RT dose, fractionation and delivery techniques.

The accuracy of target delineation in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To determine the spatial correspondence between the gross tumor volume (GTV) delineated on computer tomography (CT) and the actual tumor on histopathology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixteen patients with T3 or T4 laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer underwent a CT scan before total laryngectomy. The GTV was delineated on CT by three independent observers and by consensus between the three observers. After surgery, whole-mount hematoxylin-eosin stained (H&E) sections were obtained. One pathologist delineated the tumor in the H&E sections (tumorH&E). The reconstructed specimen was registered to the CT scan in order to compare the GTV to the tumorH&E in three dimensions. The overlap between the GTV and the tumorH&E was calculated and the distance between the volumes was determined.

RESULTS

Tumor tissue was delineated in 203 of 516 H&E sections. For 14 patients a detailed analysis could be performed. The GTV volume was on average 1.7 times larger than the volume of the tumorH&E. The mean coverage of the tumorH&E by the consensus GTV was 88%. tumorH&E tissue was found at 1.6 mm to 12.9 mm distance outside the GTV depending on observer and patient.

CONCLUSIONS

GTVs delineated on CT for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer were 1.7 times larger than the tumor. Complete coverage of the tumor by the GTV was, however, not obtained.

GTV delineation in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma: interobserver agreement of CT versus CT-MR delineation

Background

GTV delineation is the first crucial step in radiotherapy and requires high accuracy, especially with the growing use of highly conformal and adaptive radiotherapy techniques. If GTV delineations of observers concord, they are considered to be of high accuracy.

The aim of the study is to determine the interobserver agreement for GTV delineations of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma on CT and on CT combined with MR-images and to determine the effect of adding MR images to CT-based delineation on the delineated volume and the interobserver agreement.

Methods

Twenty patients with biopsy proven T1-T4 supraglottic laryngeal cancer, treated with curative intent were included. For all patients a contrast enhanced planning CT and a 1.5-T MRI with gadolinium were acquired in the same head-and-shoulder mask for fixation as used during treatment. For MRI, a two element surface coil was used as a receiver coil. Three dedicated observers independently delineated the GTV on CT. After an interval of 2 weeks, a set of co-registered CT and MR-images was provided to delineate the GTV on CT. Common volumes (C) and encompassing volumes (E) were calculated and C/E ratios were determined for each pair of observers. The conformity index general (CIgen) was used to quantify the interobserver agreement. Results: In general, a large variation in interobserver agreement was found for CT (range: 0.29-0.77) as well as for CT-MR delineations (range: 0.17-0.80). The mean CIgen for CT (0.61) was larger compared to CT-MR (0.57) (p = 0.032). Mean GTV volume delineated on CT-MR (6.6 cm³) was larger compared to CT (5.6 cm³) (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Delineation on CT with co-registered MR-images resulted in a larger mean GTV volume and in a decrease in interobserver agreement compared to CT only delineation for supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13014-014-0321-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.