Unity Elekta is a unique magnetic resonance (MR)-linac that conjugates a 1.5 Tesla MR unit with a 7 MV flattening filter free accelerator.A prospective observational study for the clinical use of ...Elekta Unity is currently ongoing in our department. Herein, we present our preliminary report on the feasibility, quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) for localized prostate cancer (PC) treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
The SBRT protocol consisted of a 35 Gy schedule delivered in 5 fractions within 2 weeks. Toxicity and quality of life (QoL) were assessed at baseline and after treatment using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0, International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS), ICIQ-SF, IIEF-5, and EORTC-QLQ-C30 and PR-25 questionnaires.
Between October 2019 and January 2020, 25 patients with localized PC were recruited. The median age was 68 years (range, 54-82); 4 were low risk, 11 favorable intermediate risk (IR) and 10 unfavorable IR. Median iPSA was 6.8 ng/ml (range, 1-19), and 9 of these patients (36%) received concurrent androgen deprivation therapy. Median prostate volume was 36 cc (range, 20-61); median baseline IPSS was 5 (range, 0-10). Median time for fraction was 53 min (range, 34-86); adaptive strategy with daily critical structure and target re-contouring and daily replanning (adapt to shape) was performed in all cases. No grade ≥ 3 adverse event was observed, three patients (12%) reported grade 2 acute genitourinary toxicity (urinary frequency, urinary tract pain and urinary retention), while only one patient reported mild rectal pain. No relevant deteriorations were reported in PROMs.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experience reporting feasibility, clinician-reported outcome measurements, and PROMs for 1.5 T MR-guided adaptive SBRT for localized prostate cancer. The preliminary data collected here report optimal safety and excellent tolerability, as also confirmed by PROMs questionnaires. Moreover, the data on technical feasibility and timing of online daily adapted planning and delivery are promising. More mature data are warranted.
Date of approval April 2019 and numbered MRI/LINAC n°23,748.
We conducted a prospective phase II multicentric trial to determine if radical radiation therapy to all metastatic sites might improve the progression-free survival (PFS) in oligometastatic breast ...cancer patients. Secondary endpoints were local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and toxicity.
Inclusion criteria were the following: oligometastatic breast cancer with ≤5 metastatic sites, FDG-PET/CT staging, no brain metastases, primary tumor controlled. Radiotherapy could be delivered using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) technique or fractionated intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). SBRT consisted of 30–45Gy in 3 fractions, while IMRT was delivered to a total dose of 60Gy in 25 fractions. We hypothesized that radical radiation therapy could increase the PFS from 30% (according to the published literature) to 50% at two years.
54 Patients with 92 metastatic lesions were enrolled. Forty-four were treated with SBRT, and 10 with IMRT. Forty-eight (89%) patients received a form of systemic therapy concomitantly to radiation therapy. Sites of metastatic disease were the following: bones 60 lesions, lymph nodes 23 lesions, lung 4 lesions, liver 5 lesions. After a median follow-up of 30months (range, 6–55months), 1- and 2-year PFS was 75% and 53%, respectively. Two-year LC and OS were 97% and 95%, respectively. Radiation therapy was well tolerated, and no Grade ≥3 toxicity was documented. Grade 2 toxicity were pain and fatigue in 2 cases.
Patients with oligometastatic breast cancer treated with radical radiotherapy to all metastatic sites may achieve long-term progression-free survival, without significant treatment-related toxicity. While waiting for data from randomized trials, the use of radical radiation therapy to all metastatic sites in patients with oligometastatic breast cancer should be considered a valuable option, and its recommendation should be individualized.
Improved outcome has been shown in patients with synchronous oligometastatic (sOM) NSCLC when treated with radical intent. As a uniform definition of sOM NSCLC is lacking, we developed a definition ...and diagnostic criteria by a consensus process.
A pan-European multidisciplinary consensus group was established. Consensus questions were built on the basis of current controversies, and definitions were extracted from a survey, cases and a systematic review. This statement was formulated during a consensus meeting.
It was determined that definition of sOM NSCLC is relevant when a radical treatment that may modify the disease course (leading to long-term disease control) is technically feasible for all tumor sites with acceptable toxicity. On the basis of the review, a maximum of five metastases and three organs was proposed. Mediastinal lymph node involvement was not counted as a metastatic site. Fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography–computed tomography and brain imaging were considered mandatory. A dedicated liver magnetic resonance imaging scan was advised for a solitary liver metastasis, and thoracoscopy and biopsies of distant ipsilateral pleural sites were recommended for a solitary pleural metastasis. For mediastinal staging, fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography–computed tomography was deemed the minimum requirement, with pathological confirmation recommended if this influences the treatment strategy. Biopsy of a solitary metastatic location was mandated unless the multidisciplinary team is of the opinion that the risks outweigh the benefits.
A multidisciplinary consensus statement on the definition and staging of sOM NSCLC has been formulated. This statement will help to standardize inclusion criteria in future clinical trials.
Synchronous oligometastatic (sOM) disease is an oncological concept characterized by a limited cancer burden. Patients with oligometastasis could potentially benefit from local radical treatments. ...Despite the fact that the sOM condition is well recognized, a universal definition, including a specific definition for NSCLC, is not yet available. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the definitions of and staging requirements for use of the term synchronous oligometastatic in the context of NSCLC.
The key issue was formulated in one research question according to the population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes strategy. The question was introduced in MEDLINE (OvidSP). All articles dealing with sOM NSCLC and providing a definition of synchronous oligometastasis in NSCLC were selected and analyzed.
A total of 21 eligible articles focusing on sOM NSCLC were retrieved and analyzed. In 17 studies (81%), patients had to be staged with magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography of the brain, thoracic and abdominal computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. The total number of metastases allowed in the definitions ranged from one to eight, but in 38.1% of studies the maximum number was 5. Most of the publications did not define the number of involved organs or the maximum number of metastases per organ. For mediastinal lymph node involvement, only five articles (27.8%) counted this as a metastatic site.
No uniform definition of sOM NSCLC could be retrieved by this systematic review. However, extended staging was mandated in most of the studies. An accepted oncological definition of synchronous oligometastasis is essential for patient selection to define prospective clinical trials.
Purpose
SBRT demonstrated to increase survival in oligometastatic patients. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the natural history of oligometastatic disease (OMD) and how SBRT may impact the ...transition to the polymetastatic disease (PMD).
Methods
97 liver metastases in 61 oligometastatic patients were treated with SBRT. Twenty patients (33%) had synchronous oligometastases, 41 (67%) presented with metachronous oligometastases. Median number of treated metastases was 2 (range 1–5).
Results
Median follow-up was 24 months. Median tPMC was 11 months (range 4–17 months). Median overall survival (OS) was 23 months (range 16–29 months). Cancer-specific survival predictive factors were having further OMD after SBRT (21 months versus 15 months;
p
= 0.00), and local control of treated metastases (27 months versus 18 months;
p
= 0.031). Median PFS was 7 months (range 4–12 months). Patients with 1 metastasis had longer median PFS as compared to those with 2–3 and 4–5 metastases (14.7 months versus 5.3 months versus 6.5 months;
p
= 0.041). At the last follow-up, 50/61 patients (82%) progressed, 16 of which (26.6%) again as oligometastatic and 34 (56%) as polymetastatic.
Conclusion
In the setting of oligometastatic disease, SBRT is able to delay the transition to the PMD. A proportion of patients relapse as oligometastatic and can be eventually evaluated for a further SBRT course. Interestingly, those patients retain a survival benefit as compared to those who had PMD. Further studies are needed to explore the role of SBRT in OMD and to identify treatment strategies able to maintain the oligometastatic state.
Abstract
Background
The assessment of organ motion is a crucial feature for prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Rectal spacer may represent a helpful device in order to outdistance rectal ...wall from clinical target, but its impact on organ motion is still a matter of debate. MRI-Linac is a new frontier in radiation oncology as it allows a superior visualization of the real-time anatomy of the patient and the current highest level of adaptive radiotherapy.
Methods
We present data regarding a total of 100 fractions in 20 patients who underwent MRI-guided prostate SBRT for low-to-intermediate risk prostate cancer with or without spacer. Translational and rotational shifts were computed on the pre- and post-treatment MRI acquisitions referring to the delivery position for antero-posterior, latero-lateral and cranio-caudal direction, and assessed using the Mann-Whitney U-Test.
Results
All patients were treated with a five sessions schedule (35 Gy/5fx) using MRI-Linac for a median fraction treatment time of 50 min (range, 46–65). In the entire study sample, median rotational displacement was 0.1° in cranio-caudal, − 0.002° in latero-lateral and 0.01° in antero-posterior direction; median translational shift was 0.11 mm in cranio-caudal, − 0.24 mm in latero-lateral and − 0.22 mm in antero-posterior. A significant difference between spacer and no-spacer patients in terms of rotational shifts in the antero-posterior direction (
p
= 0.033) was observed; also for translational shifts a positive trend was detected in antero-posterior direction (
p
= 0.07), although with no statistical significance. We observed statistically significant differences in the pre-treatment planning phase in favor of the spacer cohort for several rectum dose constraints: rectum V32Gy < 5% (
p
= 0.001), V28 Gy < 10% (
p
= 0.001) and V18Gy < 35% (
p
= 0.039). Also for bladder V35 Gy < 1 cc, the use of spacer provided a dosimetric advantage compared to the no-spacer subpopulation (
p
= 0.04). Furthermore, PTV V33.2Gy > 95% was higher in the spacer cohort compared to the no-spacer one (
p
= 0.036).
Conclusion
In our experience, the application of rectal hydrogel spacer for prostate SBRT resulted in a significant impact on rotational antero-posterior shifts contributing to limit prostate intra-fraction motion. Further studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are required to confirm this ideally favorable effect and to assess any potential impact on clinical outcomes.
The main aim of the current analysis was to explore the hypothetical advantages using rectal spacer during 1.5T MR-guided and daily adapted prostate cancer stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) ...compared to a no-rectal spacer hydrogel cohort of patients.
The SBRT-protocol consisted of a 35 Gy schedule delivered in 5 fractions. Herein, we present a dosimetric analysis between spacer and no-spacer patients. Furthermore, treatment tolerability and feasibility were preliminarily assessed according to clinicians-reported outcomes at the end of treatment and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in both arms. Toxicity and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after treatment using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v. 5.0, International Prostatic Symptoms Score, ICIQ-SF, IIEF-5, and EORTC-QLQ-C30 and PR-25 questionnaires.
120 plans (pre- and daily adaptive SBRT planning) were analyzed in 20 patients (10 patients in spacer group and 10 patients in no-spacer group) treated using 1.5T MR-guided adaptive SBRT. Statistically significant dosimetric advantages were observed in favor of the spacer insertion, improving the planning target volume coverage in terms of V33.2Gy >95% and planning target volume 37.5 Gy <2% mainly during daily-adapted SBRT. Also, rectum V32, V28 and V18Gy and bladder V35Gy <1 cc were significantly reduced in the spacer cohort. Concerning the PROMS, all questionnaires showed no difference between the pre- and post-SBRT evaluation in both arms, excepting the physical functioning item of EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire that was declined in the no-spacer group.
These preliminary results strongly suggest the adoption of perirectal spacer due to dosimetric advantages not only for rectal sparing but also for target coverage. Longer follow-up is required to validate the clinical impact in terms of clinicians-reported toxicity and PROMs.
This the first experience reporting preliminary data concerning the potential dosimetric impact of rectal hydrogel spacer on MR-guided SBRT for prostate cancer.
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has a consolidated role in the treatment of bone oligometastases from prostate cancer (PCa). While the evidence for spinal oligometastases SBRT was robust, its ...role in non-spinal-bone metastases (NSBM) is not standardized. In fact, there was no clear consensus about dose and target definition in this setting. The aim of our study was to evaluate efficacy, toxicity, and the pattern of relapse in SBRT delivered to NSBM from PCa.
From 2016 to 2021, we treated a series of oligo-NSBM from PCa with
Ga-PSMA PET/CT-guided SBRT. The primary endpoint was local progression-free survival (LPFS). The secondary endpoints were toxicity, the pattern of intraosseous relapse, distant progression-free survival (DPFS), polimetastases-free survival (PMFS), and overall survival (OS).
a total of 150 NSBM in 95 patients were treated with 30-35 Gy in five fractions. With a median follow-up of 26 months, 1- and 3 years LPFS was 96.3% and 89%, respectively. A biologically effective dose (BED) ≥ 198 Gy was correlated with improved LPFS (
= 0.007). Intraosseous relapse occurred in eight (5.3%) cases. Oligorecurrent disease was associated with a better PMFS compared to de novo oligometastatic disease (
= 0.001) and oligoprogressive patients (
= 0.007). No grade ≥ 3 toxicity occurred.
SBRT is a safe and effective tool for NSBM from PCa in the oligometastatic setting. Intraosseous relapse was a relatively rare event. Predictive factors of the improved outcomes were defined.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment option for multiple brain metastases (BMs). Modern mono-isocentric techniques allow the delivery of multiple stereotactic courses, in the ...event of intracranial failure. Nevertheless, limited data on effectiveness and toxicity have been reported in comparison to WBRT. Aim of this retrospective matched-pair analysis was to compare patients affected by limited BMs treated with multiple SRS courses using a mono-isocentric, non-coplanar technique (HyperArc™, Varian Medical System) to upfront WBRT. One hundred and two patients accounting for 677 BMs were treated with HyperArc™. In case of further intracranial progression, 44 treatment courses of 201 metastases in 19 patients, were treated by subsequent HyperArc™ courses. This population was matched with 38 patients treated with WBRT. The median BMs number was 4 (range 2–10) for HyperArc™ and 5 (range 2–10) for WBRT. Overall survival (OS) and toxicity were evaluated. The median follow-up was 9 months (range 3–40 months). The median OS was not reached (range 5–22 months) for HyperArc™ patients and 8 months (range 3–40 months) for WBRT patients, while the 1-year OS was 77% and 34.6% for HyperArc™ and WBRT, respectively (p = 0.001; HR 4.77, 95% CI 1.62–14.00). There was one case of radionecrosis. HyperArc™ is an effective and safe technique for the treatment of multiple BMs. In selected cases of intracranial oligorecurrence, further subsequent courses can be safely delivered with the same technical approach. Moreover, in patients with a limited number of BMs, SRS showed an improved survival outcome when compared to WBRT.