Whole Brain Irradiation or Stereotactic RadioSurgery for five or more brain metastases (WHOBI-STER): A prospective comparative study of neurocognitive outcomes, level of autonomy in daily activities and quality of life

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The main aim of MBM treatment is to palliate neurological symptoms and to maintain an adequate QoL.

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SRT could be the “new standard” over WBI in the management of MBM patients.

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Neurocognitive functions could deteriorate more after WBI than after SRT.

Aims

To evaluate neurocognitive performance, daily activity and quality of life (QoL), other than usual oncologic outcomes, among patients with brain metastasis ≥5 (MBM) from solid tumors treated with Stereotactic Brain Irradiation (SBI) or Whole Brain Irradiation (WBI).

Methods

This multicentric randomized controlled trial will involve the enrollment of 100 patients (50 for each arm) with MBM ≥ 5, age ≥ 18 years, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70, life expectancy > 3 months, known primary tumor, with controlled or controllable extracranial disease, baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 20/30, Barthel Activities of Daily Living score ≥ 90/100, to be submitted to SBI by LINAC with monoisocentric technique and non-coplanar arcs (experimental arm) or to WBI (control arm). The primary endpoints are neurocognitive performance, QoL and autonomy in daily-life activities variations, the first one assessed by MoCa Score and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, the second one through the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and QLQ-BN-20 questionnaires, the third one through the Barthel Index, respectively. The secondary endpoints are time to intracranial failure, overall survival, retreatment rate, acute and late toxicities, changing of KPS. It will be considered significant a statistical difference of at least 30% between the two arms (statistical power of 80% with a significance level of 95%).

Discussion

Several studies debate what is the decisive factor accountable for the development of neurocognitive decay among patients undergoing brain irradiation for MBM: radiation effect on clinically healthy brain tissue or intracranial tumor burden? The answer to this question may come from the recent technological advancement that allows, in a context of a significant time saving, improved patient comfort and minimizing radiation dose to off-target brain, a selective treatment of MBM simultaneously, otherwise attackable only by WBI. The achievement of a local control rate comparable to that obtained with WBI remains the fundamental prerequisite.

Trial registration

NCT number: NCT04891471.

Interrater agreement of contouring of the neurovascular bundles and internal pudendal arteries in neurovascular-sparing magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer

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Interrater DSC of the NVB was 0.60 and 0.61 for the left and right side respectively.

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Interrater DSC of the IPA was 0.59 for the left and right side.

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Agreement was best for the inferior half (i.e. prostate apex to midgland) of the NVB.

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Agreement improved with MRI optimization and rater training.

Background and purpose

Radiation damage to neural and vascular tissue, such as the neurovascular bundles (NVBs) and internal pudendal arteries (IPAs), during radiotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa) may cause erectile dysfunction. Neurovascular-sparing magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgRT) aims to preserve erectile function after treatment. However, the NVBs and IPAs are not routinely contoured in current radiotherapy practice. Before neurovascular-sparing MRgRT for PCa can be implemented, the interrater agreement of the contouring of the NVBs and IPAs on pre-treatment MRI needs to be assessed.

Materials and methods

Four radiation oncologists independently contoured the prostate, NVB, and IPA in an unselected consecutive series of 15 PCa patients, on pre-treatment MRI. Dice similarity coefficients (DSCs) for pairwise interrater agreement of contours were calculated. Additionally, the DCS of a subset of the inferior half of the NVB contours (i.e. approximately prostate midgland to apex level) was calculated.

Results

Median overall interrater DSC for the left and right NVB was 0.60 (IQR: 0.54 – 0.68) and 0.61 (IQR: 0.53 – 0.69) respectively and for the left and right IPA 0.59 (IQR: 0.53 – 0.64) and 0.59 (IQR: 0.52 – 0.64) respectively. Median overall interrater DSC for the inferior half of the left NVB was 0.67 (IQR: 0.58 – 0.74) and 0.67 (IQR: 0.61 – 0.71) for the right NVB.

Conclusion

We found that the interrater agreement for the contouring of the NVB and IPA improved with enhancement of the MRI sequence as well as further training of the raters. The agreement was best in the subset of the inferior half of the NVB, where a good agreement is clinically most relevant for neurovascular-sparing MRgRT for PCa.

A brief review and case report of urothelial carcinoma and metachronous leiomyosarcoma of the bladder at the same anatomic region

One patient with bladder leiomyosarcoma and urothelial carcinoma is very rare. Only 10 cases have been reported in the literature. A 70-year-old patient was admitted due to bladder tumor. Two TURBTs were performed confirming the patient was free of tumor, and pathology reported low-grade urothelial carcinoma. Three years later, a tumor was also found on the right anterolateral wall of urinary bladder and was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma by pathological examination. Radical cystectomy was performed. With 45 months follow-up, the patient has no recurrence. Two malignancies in the same anatomic region at different time has never been reported to date.

Early outcomes of high-dose-rate brachytherapy combined with ultra-hypofractionated radiation in higher-risk prostate cancer

PURPOSE

This study evaluated outcomes associated with a high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost combined with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for patients with higher-risk localized prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 101 patients with National Comprehensive Cancer Network high-risk, unfavorable intermediate-risk, or favorable intermediate-risk with probable extra-prostatic extension treated with HDR brachytherapy (15 Gy x 1 fraction) followed by SBRT (5 Gy x 5 daily fractions to the prostate and/or seminal vesicles and/or pelvic lymph nodes). Androgen deprivation therapy was used in 55.4% of all patients (90% of high-risk, 33% of intermediate-risk). Toxicities according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0 and International Prostate Symptom Scores were prospectively documented at each followup visit. Biochemical relapse was defined as PSA nadir +2ng/mL.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time after SBRT was 24.1 months. No grade ≥3 toxicities were observed. The incidence of acute and late grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicities was both 0.99%. Acute and late grade 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicities were observed in 5.9% and 9.9%, respectively. Median time to a grade 2 GU toxicity was 6 months with a 14% 2-year actuarial rate of grade 2 GU toxicity. Median International Prostate Symptom Scores at 24 months was not significantly different than baseline (6 vs. 5; p = 0.24). Inclusion of pelvic lymph nodes and absence of a rectal spacer were significantly associated with more frequent grade ≥1 GU toxicity, but not grade ≥2 GU or gastrointestinal toxicity. The 2-year biochemical relapse free survival was 97%.

CONCLUSIONS

HDR brachytherapy combined with SBRT was associated with a favorable early toxicity profile and encouraging cancer control outcomes.

Topical treatments for early-stage mycosis fungoides using Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria: A systematic review

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous lymphoma; most patients present with early, skin-limited disease and are managed by dermatologists.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to systematically review and assess the evidence on topical treatments for early-stage (IA, IB, IIA) MF.

Methods

We performed a literature search via MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria were used to assess the certainty of the data.

Results

Two searches yielded 1252 references; 26 met the inclusion criteria and included literature on nitrogen mustard, retinoids, corticosteroids, carmustine, fluorouracil, methotrexate-laurocapram, hexadecylphosphocholine, peldesine, ingenol mebutate, topical methotrexate with oxygen flow-assisted LP3 carrier, and resiquimod. Most studies were single intervention, observational series. Nitrogen mustard, with the most published reports, was effective with 12%-82% early-stage MF patients (total n > 1000) achieving complete remission (CR) (low certainty evidence). Clinical CR was achieved among 10%-60% treated with topical retinoids (low certainty evidence). Two moderate-sized retrospective case series on topical steroids had 18%-63% CR (low certainty evidence). Only single studies were available for the other therapies.

Conclusions

For most outcomes of interest, the GRADE certainty for topical therapies for early-stage MF was low. Further randomized controlled trials and inclusion of quality of life indicators are needed.

Development of small-molecule tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors for NTRK fusion cancers

Tropomyosin receptor kinase A, B and C (TRKA, TRKB and TRKC), which are well-known members of the cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, are encoded by the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1, 2 and 3 (NTRK1, NTRK2 and NTRK3) genes, respectively. TRKs can regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and even apoptosis through the RAS/MAPKs, PI3K/AKT and PLCγ pathways. Gene fusions involving NTRK act as oncogenic drivers of a broad diversity of adult and pediatric tumors, and TRKs have become promising antitumor targets. Therefore, achieving a comprehensive understanding of TRKs and relevant TRK inhibitors should be urgently pursued for the further development of novel TRK inhibitors for potential clinical applications. This review focuses on summarizing the biological functions of TRKs and NTRK fusion proteins, the development of small-molecule TRK inhibitors with different chemotypes and their activity and selectivity, and the potential therapeutic applications of these inhibitors for future cancer drug discovery efforts.

Pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy for unfavorable cancer of unknown primary site: Case report

Introduction

We report a case of sustained complete response in unfavorable cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) successfully treated with chemotherapy combining pembrolizumab, pemetrexed and platinum.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old man was presented with weight loss and cough for 3 months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) confirmed a mass in the superior anterior mediastinum and multiple enlarged mediastinal and axillary lymph nodes. Positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) showed abnormal uptake in the corresponding lesions. Histopathological analysis of the left axillary nodule revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin 7 and thyroid transcription factor-1 and negative for cytokeratin 20. Thus, the patient was diagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, and treated as non-small-cell lung cancer. Additional genetic testing revealed the patient was negative for EGFR, ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization, ROS1, BRAF, and PD-L1 22C3 IHC with Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) was less than 1%. The patient received six cycles of pembrolizumab, platinum, and pemetrexed intravenously. Cisplatin was switched to carboplatin because of cisplatin nephrotoxicity in one course. PET-CT after six cycles showed all lesions disappeared; complete response was considered to have been achieved. Maintenance therapy of pembrolizumab and pemetrexed has been continued for 6 months after the induction therapies to prevent progressive disease. Complete response has been maintained.

Discussion

Chemotherapy with pembrolizumab, platinum and pemetrexed could be valuable for treating unfavorable CUP.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy with pembrolizumab, platinum, and pemetrexed helped achieved sustained complete response in a patient with unfavorable CUP.

Limb-salvage surgery offers better five-year survival rate than amputation in patients with limb osteosarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma. Currently, the main treatment option for high-grade osteosarcomas is neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection of the lesion and adjuvant chemotherapy. Limb salvage surgery (LSS) and amputation are the main surgical techniques; however, controversy still exists concerning the best surgical method. Our meta-analysis compared the effectiveness of LSS and amputation combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with limb osteosarcoma, in terms of 5-year overall survival (OS), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence rate.

Methods

Following the established methodology of PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar from 1975 until January 2020. Two independent reviewers evaluated the study quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of the OS, DFS and local recurrence rate were calculated.

Results

Thirteen studies were finally included with a total of 2884 patients; 1986 patients undergone LSS and 898 amputations. Five-year overall survival was almost 2-fold in patients treated with LSS than those treated with amputation (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.35-2.93; I² = 74%, p < 0.001). No difference was found in 5-year DFS between LSS patients and amputees (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.55-2.79; I² = 67%, p = 0.01). The odds of local recurrence was numerically higher in LSS compared to amputation but not statistically significant (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 0.95-5.53; I² = 47%, p = 0.05). However, the included studies did not clearly define differences in the stages of patients of the two groups.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that in patients with limb osteosarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, LSS is associated with a higher 5-year overall survival and the odds of local recurrence may be increased but these results should be interpreted with caution due to high heterogeneity.

Transitioning from conformal radiotherapy to intensity-modulated radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy: Clinical benefit, oncologic outcomes and incidence of gastrointestinal and urinary toxicities

Aim

The purpose of this study was to review genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity associated with high-dose radiotherapy (RT) delivered with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Background

RP is a therapeutic option for the management of prostate cancer (PrCa). When assessing postoperative RT techniques for PrCa, the published literature focuses on patients treated with 2-dimensional conventional methods without reflecting the implementation of 3D-CRT, IMRT, or VMAT.

Materials and methods

A total of 83 patients were included in this analysis; 30 patients received 3D-CRT, and 53 patients received IMRT/VMAT. Acute and late symptoms of the GU and lower GI tract were retrospectively graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer radiation toxicity grading systems. The relapse failure-free rate and overall survival were also evaluated.

Results

The rate of acute GU toxicity was 9.4% vs. 13.3% for the IMRT/VMAT and 3D-CRT groups (p = 0.583). The 5-year actuarial rates of late GI toxicity for IMRT/VMAT and 3D-CRT treatments were 1.9% and 6.7%, respectively. The rate of late GU toxicity for the IMRT/VMAT and 3D-CRT treatment groups was 7.5% and 16.6%, respectively (p = 0.199). We found no association between acute or late toxicity and the RT technique in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Conclusion

Postprostatectomy IMRT/VMAT and 3D-CRT achieved similar morbidity and cancer control outcomes. The clinical benefit of highly conformal techniques in this setting is unclear although formal analysis is needed.

Multi-disciplinary and shared decision-making approach in the management of organ-confined prostate cancer

Decision-making in the management of organ-confined prostate cancer is complex as it is based on multi-factorial considerations. It is complicated by a multitude of issues, which are related to the patient, treatment, disease, availability of equipment(s), expertise, and physicians. Combination of all these factors play a major role in the decision-making process and provide for an interactive decision-making preferably in the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting. MDT decisions are comprehensive and are often based on all factors including patients' biological status, disease and its aggressiveness, and physician and centres' expertise. However, one important and often under rated factor is patient-related factors. There is considerable evidence that patients and physicians have different goals for treatment and physicians' understanding of their own patients' preferences is not accurate. Several patient-related key factors have been identified such as age, religious beliefs, sexual health, educational background, and cognitive impairment. We have focused on these areas and highlight some key factors that need to be taken considered whilst counselling a patient and understanding his choice of treatment, which might not always be match with the clinicians' recommendation.

Methodology for tissue sample collection within a translational sub-study of the CHHiP trial (CRUK/06/016), a large randomised phase III trial in localised prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

This article presents the methodology for tissue sample collection in Trans-CHHiP, the main translational study within the CHHiP (Conventional or Hypofractionated High dose intensity modulated radiotherapy in Prostate cancer, ISRCTN 97182923) trial. The CHHiP trial randomised 3216 men with localised prostate cancer to 3 different radiotherapy fractionation schedules. Trans-CHHiP aims to identify biomarkers of fraction sensitivity.

METHODS

We outline the process of tissue collection, including central review by a study-specific specialist uropathologist and comparison of the centrally-assigned Gleason grade group with that assigned by the recruiting-centre pathologist.

RESULTS

2047 patients provided tissue from 107 pathology departments between August 2012 and April 2014. A highly motivated Clinical Trials Unit chasing samples and a central Trans-CHHiP group that regularly reviewed progress were important for successful sample collection. Agreement in Gleason grade group assigned by the recruiting centre pathologist and the central study-specific uropathologist occurred in 886 out of 1854 (47.8%) cases. Key lessons learned were the need for prospective consent for tissue collection when recruiting patients to the main trial, and the importance of Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) integration into the initial trial site agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

This methodology enabled collection of 2047 patient samples from a large randomised radiotherapy trial. Central pathological review is important to minimise subjectivity in Gleason grade grouping and the impact of grade shift.

Prognostic score for life expectancy evaluation of lung cancer patients after bone metastasis

BACKGROUND

This study identifies the overall survival status of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis and metastasis patterns. Poor prognostic factors were identified to develop a scoring system for estimating survival period after bone metastasis.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed at Chiang Mai University for the period January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2013. Time-to-event analysis was performed to estimate survival rate. The primary end point was death related to lung cancer. Univariate and multivariate analysis of the prognostic variables was done using the Cox's regression model. The score was derived from the corresponding estimated regression coefficients of significantly poor prognostic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 505 lung cancer with bone metastasis patients were analyzed. Four hundred two cases (79.6%) were concurrent diagnosis and 103 (20.4%) were subsequent diagnosis. The median survival time of lung cancer after bone metastasis 148 days. Male gender and ECOG 3-4 were significant poor prognostic factors for lung cancer after bone metastasis, with hazard ratios of 1.42 (95% CI 1.17-1.73), and 1.30 (95% CI 1.06-1.60), respectively. Prognosis score was determined using the binary term present/not-present for those factors. The curve from prognostic score summations of 2, 1 and 0 presented a good discrimination of survival expectancy, showing an expected median survival time of approximately 109, 146, and 225 days, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic score is a clinically simple and easy method for estimating life expectancy and for guiding interventions in bone metastasis of lung cancer.

Management of penile cancer in a Singapore tertiary hospital

Objectives

To present our experience of managing penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a tertiary hospital in Singapore and to evaluate the prognostic value of the inflammatory markers neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte–monocyte ratio (LMR).

Patients and methods

We reviewed our prospectively maintained Institutional Review Board-approved urological cancer database to identify men treated for penile SCC at our centre between January 2007 and December 2015. For all the patients identified, we collected epidemiological and clinical data.

Results

In all, 39 patients were identified who were treated for penile SCC in our centre. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] follow-up was 34 (16.5–66) months. Although very few (23%) of our patients with high-risk clinical node-negative underwent prophylactic inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND), they still had excellent 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS; 90%) and cancer-specific survival (CSS; 90%). At multivariate analysis, higher N stage was significantly associated with worse RFS and CSS. Patients with a high NLR (≥2.8) had significantly higher T-stage (P = 0.006) and worse CSS (P < 0.001) than those with a low NLR. Patients with a low LMR (<3.3) had significantly higher T-stage (P = 0.013) and worse RFS (P = 0.009) and CSS (P < 0.022) than those with a high LMR.

Conclusions

Although very few of our patients with intermediate- and high-risk clinical node-negative SCC underwent prophylactic ILND, they still had excellent 5-year RFS and CSS. However, survival was poor in patients with node-positive disease. The pre-treatment NLR and LMR could serve as biomarkers to predict the prognosis of patients with penile cancer.

Molecular techniques for the personalised management of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is the paradigm for targeted cancer therapy. RT-qPCR is the gold standard for monitoring response to tyrosine kinase-inhibitor (TKI) therapy based on the reduction of blood or bone marrow BCR-ABL1. Some patients with CML and very low or undetectable levels of BCR-ABL1 transcripts can stop TKI-therapy without CML recurrence. However, about 60 percent of patients discontinuing TKI-therapy have rapid leukaemia recurrence. This has increased the need for more sensitive and specific techniques to measure residual CML cells. The clinical challenge is to determine when it is safe to stop TKI-therapy. In this review we describe and critically evaluate the current state of CML clinical management, different technologies used to monitor measurable residual disease (MRD) focus on comparingRT-qPCR and new methods entering clinical practice. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of new methods.

Metachronous Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of Kidney: Case Report and Review of Literature

Solitary fibrous tumors are well described in the pleura, but rare extra-pleural neoplasms have been reported. We describe a patient with a solitary left renal fibrous tumor who after undergoing a nephrectomy, presented 8 years later with a contralateral metachronous solitary fibrous tumor. Malignant metastatic extra-pleural solitary fibrous tumors are extremely rare, and to our knowledge, this is the first case of contralateral recurrence of solitary renal fibrous tumor. The patient underwent a robotic assisted partial nephrectomy of the right renal mass. Both tumors showed overlapping histopathology.

Treatment algorithms for managing hepatocellular carcinoma

Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy improves outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several potentially curative as well as palliative treatment options are available for patients. The choice of therapy is influenced by factors such as extent of tumor and severity of underlying liver dysfunction as well as availability of resources and of expertise. A systematic, algorithmic approach would ensure optimal therapy for each patient and is likely to improve outcomes. Even after receiving therapy for HCC, patients remain at risk for recurrent HCC as well as progression of underlying cirrhosis. Proper assessment and monitoring is needed for the underlying liver disease, which may progress to liver failure and have a major impact on long-term survival. Comprehensive care for patients with cirrhosis includes interventions such as antiviral therapy for HBV and HCV, abstention from alcohol, management of fatty liver disease, endoscopic surveillance and treatment for complications of portal hypertension and, if indicated, immunization against HAV and HBV. An algorithmic approach is useful for choosing the most appropriate treatment option for the individual patient from among the various options that are available. The general consensus is that the BCLC system should be preferred for staging HCC as it is useful in predicting outcomes and planning treatment. The BCLC system classifies patients with HCC into five categories: very early, early, intermediate, advanced, and terminal. It incorporates data on tumor status (number and size of nodules, vascular invasion, extra-hepatic spread), liver function (CTP status, presence of portal hypertension) and overall health status (constitutional symptoms, cancer symptoms, performance status). Treatment allocation according to sub-class of patients is a merit of the BCLC system; a few limitations have been noted, particularly with respect to patients with BCLC stage B and C disease. The treatment algorithm as per BCLC system is summarized in this review.