Brachytherapy: An overview for clinicians Chargari, Cyrus; Deutsch, Eric; Blanchard, Pierre ...
CA: a cancer journal for clinicians,
September/October 2019, Letnik:
69, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Brachytherapy is a specific form of radiotherapy consisting of the precise placement of radioactive sources directly into or next to the tumor. This technique is indicated for patients affected by ...various types of cancers. It is an optimal tool for delivering very high doses to the tumor focally while minimizing the probability of normal tissue complications. Physicians from a wide range of specialties may be involved in either the referral to or the placement of brachytherapy. Many patients require brachytherapy as either primary treatment or as part of their oncologic care. On the basis of high‐level evidence from randomized controlled trials, brachytherapy is mainly indicated: 1) as standard in combination with chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer; 2) in surgically treated patients with uterine endometrial cancer for decreasing the risk of vaginal vault recurrence; 3) in patients with high‐risk prostate cancer to perform dose escalation and improve progression‐free survival; and 4) in patients with breast cancer as adjuvant, accelerated partial breast irradiation or to boost the tumor bed. In this review, the authors discuss the clinical relevance of brachytherapy with a focus on indications, levels of evidence, and results in the overall context of radiation use for patients with cancer.
Background
Right hemicolectomy (RHC) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the appendix has been advocated for tumors more than 2 cm, or with mesoappendix/vessel invasion, or with raised ...mitotic activity. No study demonstrated prolonged survival with RHC over appendectomy alone. The aim of this study was to contribute to define guidelines for secondary surgery in children or adolescents with NET of the appendix.
Procedure
We contacted all French pediatric surgeons and oncologists by mail, and reviewed the records of patients under 18 with NET of the appendix from 1988 until 2012.
Results
A total of 114 patients were recorded with a female/male ratio of 1.6. Median age at presentation was 12 years (range: 5–17 years). Ten patients had a tumor more than 2 cm. Twenty patients had evidence of extension into the mesoappendix, including five with blood or lymph vessels’ invasion. Solely, one patient had a tumor with a high proliferative index. Incomplete resection was observed in three cases. Eighty‐five patients had no criterion for secondary surgery. Twenty‐nine patients had criteria for RHC but only 10 underwent surgery. None of the resected specimens showed carcinoid tumor. Three patients had positive lymph nodes. At the last follow‐up, all patients were alive and disease free.
Conclusion
Appendectomy alone seems to be curative of these tumors with no influence on life expectancy. Follow‐up is not only unnecessary, but its means, whether clinical, radiological or biological, are ineffective.
Vaginal malignant germ cell tumors (MGCT) are rare, occurring in children less than 2 years old and raise the question of the optimal local treatment.
We included children treated for vaginal MGCT ...according to the French TGM-95/2013 regimen. Patients were classified as standard risk (SR: localized disease and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) < 10,000 ng/mL) or high risk (HiR: metastatic and/or AFP > 10,000 ng/mL) and were treated, respectively, with three to five VBP (vinblastine-bleomycin-cisplatin) or four to six VIP (etoposide-ifosfamide-cisplatin), followed by conservative surgery and/or brachytherapy in case of post-chemotherapy residuum.
Fourteen patients were included (median age = 12 months), of which six (43%) were classified as HiR. AFP levels were normalized after first-line chemotherapy in all cases but one. A vaginal post-chemotherapy residuum (median size = 8 mm, range: 1-24 mm) was observed in 13/14 patients, treated by complete resection in seven of 13 (viable cells in three of seven), incomplete resection in four of 13 (viable cells in two of four), with adjuvant brachytherapy in two of 13, and exclusive brachytherapy in two of 13 (viable cells in one of six). Among the six patients with viable disease, four patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. One patient (SR) experienced immediate postoperative relapse despite presenting no viable residual cells and was treated with four VIP cycles and brachytherapy. At last follow-up (median = 4.6 years, range: 0.5-16), all patients were alive in complete remission. Five patients suffered from vaginal sequelae with synechiae and/or stenosis (of whom four had undergone brachytherapy).
Childhood vaginal MGCTs show a highly favorable prognosis with risk-adapted chemotherapy and local treatment of post-chemotherapy residuum (preferably by conservative surgery with partial vaginectomy). Brachytherapy could be an alternative when conservative surgery is not deemed possible or in cases of incomplete resection with residual viable cells.
Background: Brachytherapy (BT) has a major role in pediatric cancers of the lower genital tract, as part of a multimodal organ conservative strategy. Scarce data are available on the location of ...image-guided BT. Methods: Medical records of all consecutive girls treated in our center between 2005 and 2020 for a vaginal tumor with exclusive image-guided PDR-BT were retrospectively examined, with a focus on treatment parameters, patient compliance, and clinical outcome, including analysis of local control, survival and late toxicity rates. Results: Twenty-six patients were identified, with a median age of 25 months. Histological types were rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant germ cell tumor (MGCT) and clear cell adenocarcinoma in 18 (69%), 7 (27%) and 1 (4%) patients, respectively. Ten (33%) patients had prior surgery and 25 (96%) received chemotherapy prior to BT. The median prescribed dose was 60 Gy through pulses of 0.42 Gy. Global compliance was satisfactory, but three (12%) patients required replanning because of applicator displacement. After a median follow-up of 47.5 months, one patient with MGCT referred for salvage treatment of a local recurrence had a local and metastatic relapse. The local control rate probability was 96% at the last follow-up. Late toxicity rates ≥ grade 2 and ≥ grade 3 were reported in 23% and 11%, respectively, with gynecological toxicities being the most frequent side effect. Two patients required dilatation for vaginal stenosis. Conclusions: PDR-BT allowed similar local control compared to the historical low-dose rate technique. An indirect comparison suggests fewer treatment-related toxicities by integrating image guidance and optimization capabilities, but longer follow-up is necessary. Due to the rarity of the disease and the technical aspects of BT in these very young patients, referral to specialized high-volume centers is recommended.
Purpose
To examine the clinical presentation, treatment and results in children and adolescents with primary mediastinal (PM) and retroperitoneal (RP) germ cell tumors (GCTs).
Methods
The TGM95 trial ...for malignant GCTs was conducted in France between 1995 and 2005 to evaluate a strategy adapted to prognostic factors with cisplatin‐based chemotherapy and surgical management. We reviewed patients with TGCTs at PM and RP sites.
Results
Among 239 patients, there were 16 patients with PM and 5 with RP tumors, which represent 9% of all patients, highlighting the rarity of these extragonadal locations. A bimodal demographic distribution was observed (11/21 patients <5 years old and 7/21 patients >12 years old). A majority of patients presented with bulky tumors that required urgent care with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In all patients, elevation of alpha‐fetoprotein indicated a yolk sac tumor component. Human chorionic gonadotrophin was elevated in five patients (four adolescents), suggesting a choriocarcinoma or seminoma component. The diagnosis was based on elevation of these tumor markers in addition to imaging. Chemosensitivity was observed for a majority of patients. An aggressive surgical approach allowed a microscopic complete resection in 12/15 patients with PM tumors and 4/5 with RP tumors. Overall, 14/16 and 4/5 patients survived, respectively. Three adolescents died of tumor progression.
Conclusion
In children with mediastinal or RP GCTs, the prognosis is favorable when a strategy of delayed aggressive surgery is performed after cisplatin‐based chemotherapy. Younger patients have a better prognosis. Relapses were observed only in adolescents and could not be cured.
OBJECTIVES:Angiogenic defects secondary to gene mutations of JAG1 and NOTCH2, causing arterial anomalies in Alagille syndrome (AGS), are well described in the literature. The study analyzes the ...frequency of abdominal arterial anomalies in children with AGS with an emphasis on outcomes following liver transplantation (LT).
METHODS:Between 1988 and 2013, 242 children with AGS were treated at our institution. We performed a retrospective analysis of 55 who underwent LT during the study period. Preoperative abdominal arterial findings, operative reports, arterial reconstruction technique, as well as early and late complications following LT were reviewed specifically focusing on arterial thrombosis.
RESULTS:Twenty-five patients had pre-operative imaging available for analysis. Twelve of these patients showed celiac trunk stenosis (48.0%), two, a superior mesenteric artery stenosis (8.0%) and one a stenosis of both renal arteries. Twenty patients (36.3%) underwent standard hepatic reconstruction using the native recipient hepatic artery (HA). Thirty-five patients (63.7%) underwent aortic conduit reconstruction (ACR) from the infrarenal aorta using donor arterial conduits. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in nine patients (16.3%). This number was higher in the standard arterial anastomosis group 7/20 (35.0%) than in those with ACR 2/35 (5.7%, p = 0.0079).
CONCLUSIONS:In this series children with AGS pre-transplant have a high prevalence of abdominal arterial anomalies. Preoperative abdominal vascular imaging makes it possible to anticipate whether or not a classical arterial revascularization can be performed or whether an ACR is required.
There is limited evidence to define the role of radiation therapy in children with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (mRMS). In the international BERNIE study, children with mRMS or non-RMS soft tissue ...sarcoma were randomized to receive standard chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab, with radiation therapy to all disease sites recommended after chemotherapy cycle 6. We retrospectively evaluated the impact of radiation therapy on survival in the mRMS cohort.
Patients were grouped according to the radiation therapy they received: radical, partial, or none. Radical irradiation was defined as radiation therapy delivered to all disease sites, unless a site was completely surgically resected. Partial irradiation was defined as radiation therapy to ≥1, but not all, disease sites. Landmark analysis excluded patients with an event before day 221. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were modeled using Cox proportional hazards models.
Of 102 patients with mRMS, 97 were included in the analysis for OS and 85 for EFS. Overall, 27 patients received radical irradiation, 46 partial irradiation, and 24 no irradiation. EFS was not significantly different among patient groups after adjustment for prognostic factors (hazard ratio HR = 0.520; P = .054 for any vs no irradiation). Radiation therapy was associated with improved OS compared with no radiation therapy (adjusted HR = 0.249; P = .00025), with OS being greater for radical versus partial irradiation (HR = 0.245; P = .039). The 3-year OS rate was 84%, 54%, and 23% for patients receiving radical, partial, and no irradiation, respectively. Radical treatment (surgery, irradiation, or both) of the primary site improved EFS and OS compared with no treatment.
These findings demonstrate variability in the application of radiation therapy for mRMS and support the routine use of radical treatment to the primary site. Radical irradiation to metastatic sites may further improve OS. The burden of such treatment should be balanced against prognosis; further studies are needed.
Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) of the liver are rare, aggressive and nonsecreting malignancies occurring mainly during the first year of life. Definition of RT relies on characteristic morphology and on the ...inactivation of the SMARCB1 tumor suppressor gene. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical data, treatments and outcomes in our patients.
6 cases of patients treated in our institution for RT of the liver between January 2007 and January 2015 are reported. Variables examined included age at diagnosis, tumor stage, treatment and long-term survival.
Median age at diagnosis was 5months (range: 4–23). Normal for age serum AFP levels was observed in all patients. No patient presented with metastasis at diagnosis. The diagnosis of RT based on the loss of SMARCB1 was made early in 4 patients. The 2 others were initially diagnosed as nonsecreting hepatoblastomas. Median follow-up was 6years (range: 2–9). All patients received chemotherapy, with variable regimens depending on initial diagnosis, followed by surgical resection. Three patients (50%) died of disease. Two of them were mistaken for nonsecreting hepatoblastomas at diagnosis and had recurrence shortly after completion of treatment. The third one presented a cardiac right atrium thrombus. Three patients (50%) are long-term survivors; they received multimodal therapy including chemotherapy according to protocol EpSSG NRSTS consisting of doxorubicin and surgical removal of the tumor performed within 3months after diagnosis. One patient had adjuvant radiotherapy.
According to our results, search of SMARCB1 mutation or alternatively immunohistochemical assay for SMARCB1 in nonsecreting hepatoblastomas is mandatory to exclude RT. Chemotherapy according to EpSSG NRSTS protocol together with a surgical treatment seems justified to improve long-term survival.
Retrospective study.
Level IV.
French patients (≤18years) treated for dysgerminoma between 1985 and 2005 in TGM-85, 90, 95 protocols were included. Treatment was based on primary unilateral oophorectomy followed by prophylactic ...lymph node irradiation (1985–1998) or a wait-and-see strategy (1998–2005) for localised completely resected tumours (pS1) or by platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced diseases.
Forty-eight patients (median age 12.8 years) were included. Six patients had gonadal dysgenesis. Two had bilateral dysgerminoma. Twenty-eight patients had loco-regional dissemination, seven with para-aortic lymph nodes. None had distant metastases. Primary surgery was performed in 47/48 patients. Among the 15 patients with pS1 tumour: seven did not receive adjuvant treatment, six had lymph node irradiation and two received chemotherapy. Among the 32 patients with advanced tumour, 31 received cisplatinum-based (n = 25) or carboplatin-based (n = 8) regimen with lymph node irradiation for one of them and one did not receive adjuvant treatment. With a median follow-up of 14 years, all patients are alive in complete remission. Five events occurred: 2 contralateral dysgerminomas, 1 peritoneal relapse and 2 second neoplasms (teratoma and melanoma). Bilateral oophorectomy was necessary for 12 patients. Desire of pregnancy was expressed for 17/36 patients with unilateral oophorectomy, which succeeded in 13 cases (5 medically assisted). 2/17 had ovarian failure. The renal function was normal in 24/25 evaluated patients treated with platinum, ifosfamide or irradiation. The hearing function was evaluated on 17/36 patients treated with platinum: 12 Brock grade-0, 3 brock grade-1 and 2 grade-4.
Dysgerminoma has an excellent prognosis even in advanced cases with conservative surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. However the disease and/or treatment resulted in a high rate of bilateral oophorectomies and a significant impact on future fertility.
•Description of the largest series of children with dysgerminoma.•Very good prognosis of this disease whatever the stage.•Advanced stages are well treated with conservative surgery and chemotherapy.•Long-term follow-up, some issues in gonadal function after conservative surgery.
Background
To assess the outcomes of pediatric patients with undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) and treatment including at least surgery and systemic chemotherapy.
Methods
This ...study included patients aged up to 21 years with a pathological diagnosis of UESL prospectively enrolled from 1995 to 2016 in three European trials focusing on the effects of surgical margins, preoperative chemotherapy, use of radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy.
Results
Out of 65 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 8.7 years (0.6–20.8), 15 had T2 tumors, and one had lymph node spread, 14 were Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) I, nine IRS II, 38 IRS III, and four IRS IV. Twenty‐eight upfront surgeries resulted in five operative spillages and 11 infiltrated surgical margins, whereas 37 delayed surgeries resulted in no spillages (p = .0119) and three infiltrated margins (p = .0238). All patients received chemotherapy, including anthracyclines in 47. RT was administered in 15 patients. With a median follow‐up of 78.6 months, 5‐year overall and event‐free survivals (EFS) were 90.1% (95% confidence interval CI: 79.2–95.5) and 89.1% (95% CI: 78.4–94.6), respectively. Two out four local relapses had previous infiltrated margins and two out of three patients with metastatic relapses received reduced doses of alkylating agents. Infiltrated margins (p = .1607), T2 stage (p = .3870), use of RT (p = .8731), and anthracycline‐based chemotherapy (p = .1181) were not correlated with EFS.
Conclusions
Multimodal therapy improved the outcome of UESL. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pediatric patients increases the probability of complete surgical resection. The role of anthracyclines and RT for localized disease remains unclear.
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