Outcome and Toxicity Modelling after Stereotactic Radiotherapy of Central Lung Tumors

To improve decision making in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of centrally located lung tumors by modelling the outcome in terms of overall survival, local disease control and toxicity probabilitie

Survival and Prognostic Factors of Ultra-Central Tumors Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

Introduction: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) reported excellent outcomes and a good tolerability profile in case of central lung tumors, as long as risk-adapted schedules were adopted. High grade toxicity was more frequently observed for tumors directly touching or overlapping the trachea, proximal bronchial tree (PBT), and esophagus. We aim to identify prognostic factors associated with survival for Ultra-Central (UC) tumors. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients treated with SBRT for primary or metastatic UC lung tumors. SBRT schedules ranged from 45 to 60 Gy. Results: A total number of 126 ultra-central lung tumors were reviewed. The Median follow-up time was 23 months. Median Overall Survival (OS) and Progression Free Survival (PFS) was 29.3 months and 16 months, respectively. Local Control (LC) rates at 1 and 2 were 86% and 78%, respectively. Female gender, age < 70 years, and tumor size < 5 cm were significantly associated with better OS. The group of patients with tumors close to the trachea but further away from the PBT also correlated with better OS. The acute G2 dysphagia, cough, and dyspnea were 11%, 5%, and 3%, respectively. Acute G3 dyspnea was experienced by one patient. Late G3 toxicity was reported in 4% of patients. Conclusion: risk-adaptive SBRT for ultra-central tumors is safe and effective, even if it remains a high-risk clinical scenario

Dose and Volume of the Irradiated Main Bronchi and Related Side Effects in the Treatment of Central Lung Tumors With Stereotactic Radiotherapy

High radiation dose to the main bronchi can result in stenosis, occlusion or fistula formation, and death. Only 8 articles have reported side effects to the main bronchi from stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRD, mostly with only one symptomatic complication per article. Therefore, we calculated the dose to the bronchial structures, such as trachea; mainstem bronchi; intermediate bronchus; upper-, middle-, and lower-lobe bronchus; and the segmental bronchi in 134 patients with central tumors and calculated the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for each of these structures, with toxicity determination based upon computed tomography imaging. No side effects were found in the trachea, and only stenosis occurred in the main bronchus and bronchus intermedius. Higher grades of side effects, such as occlusion and atelectasis, were only seen in the upper-, middle-, and lower bronchi and the segmental bronchi. When 0.5 cc of a segmental bronchi was irradiated to 50 Gy in 5 fractions, it was about 50% likely to be occluded radiographically. For grade 1 radiographically evident side effects, the 50% risk level for a 5-fraction D-max was 55 Gy for mid-bronchi and 65 Gy for mainstem bronchi. To assure the relationship between clinical toxicity and side effects to the bronchi, further investigation is needed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for oligometastatic soft tissue sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is emerging as a novel treatment option in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exclusive SBRT on disease control and survival in oligometastatic (≤ 3 synchronous lesions) STS.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 16 consecutive patients, accounting for 26 metastases (including 21 lung and 5 lymph node or soft tissue metastases), were treated at our institution with SBRT. Patient- and treatment-related characteristics were collected. Local control (LC), overall survival (OS), distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), and time to initiation of chemotherapy or best supportive care (corrected disease-free survival, cDFS) were assessed.RESULTS: Four-year OS was 54% and median OS was 69 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 20-118 months]. LC of 26 lesions at 4 years was 78%. Median DMFS and cDFS were 17 (95% CI 5-30 months) and 28 months (95% CI 5-52 months), respectively. Disease-free interval &lt; 24 months from primary tumor treatment to first metastasis was the only predictor of reduced LC, cDFS, and OS (p = 0.022, 0.023, and 0.028, respectively). No acute or chronic grade ≥ 3 toxicity was observed. Median follow-up was 36 months (IQR 18-71 months).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with oligometastatic STS, SBRT yields satisfying local control with minimal toxicity. Median OS was 69 months. Repeated SBRT may be considered to extend disease-free and systemic therapy-free interval. Increased time from primary tumor to first metastasis identifies patients with potentially greater benefit from SBRT.</p