Recommendations of the Spanish brachytherapy group of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology and the Spanish Society of Medical Physics for interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy for gynaecologic malignancies

The present document includes consensus-based recommendations from the Brachytherapy Group (GEB) of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) and the Spanish Society of Medical Physics (SEFM) for interstitial high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) for gynaecologic malignancies. A nine-item survey-which included questions on experience with interstitial BT; indications and technique; applicator type; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based planning; dose; fractionation schedule; and treatment planning-was sent to all radiation oncology departments (n = 174) in Spain in 2021. Responses were received from 36 centres (50% of all centres [n = 72] with a BT unit). The consensus-based recommendations presented here are based on a review of the available literature, professional experience among the group of experts, and in-person discussions held during the annual meeting of these two societies. We describe the results of the survey and the following: indications; contraindications; patient selection; description of applicators; role of imaging in planning; contouring; dose prescription; dosimetric reconstruction; optimisation; and dose indications for cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. The various clinical scenarios in which interstitial BT is used in the treatment of gynaecological tumours are described in detail, including cervix intracavitary/interstitial hybrid HDR-BT; cervix perineal templates/freehand implants; primary vaginal malignancies/vaginal recurrences; and vulvar interstitial implants

SIMBOSPROST: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy: A multicentre, cross-sectional study

AimTo assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoporosis in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with radical radiotherapy (RT) with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).BackgroundWorldwide, the prevalence of MetS is estimated to range from 20% to 25% of the adult population. However, prevalence rates are much higher in PCa patients (pts) who undergo ADT.Materials and methodsMulticentre cross-sectional study of 270 pts in Spain with PCa. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the duration of ADT (6, 12–18, ≥24 months) and compared to a control group without ADT. MetS was defined according to NCEP ATP III criteria. Osteoporosis was assessed by DEXA.ResultsA total of 270 pts, treated from November 2011 to October 2012, were included. Of these, 122 pts (47%) fulfilled the criteria for MetS. The median age of this group was significantly higher (71.3 vs. 69.38 years, p[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.028). MetS prevalence was 50% in the control group. In pts who received ADT, prevalence was 44.8% after 6 months of ADT, 45.3% after 12–18 months, and 50% after ≥24 months (pns). Most pts (168/270; 62%) underwent DEXA. Of those tested, 78 (46.4%) had osteopenia and only 11 (6.5%) had osteoporosis.ConclusionsThe prevalence of MetS in pts with PCa treated with radical RT was higher (47%) than in the general population. However, there were no significant differences in the duration of ADT administration. The prevalence of osteoporosis was low. These findings suggest that the prevalence of MetS in PCa patients may be higher than previously reported

Consensus statement from the Spanish Brachytherapy Group (GEB) on accelerated partial breast irradiation using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy

AimTo establish consensus guidelines for a safe clinical practice of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy (BT).BackgroundAPBI with interstitial multicatheter BT has proved to be effective in the treatment of early stage breast cancer. This paradigm shift in the approach to early breast cancer conservative treatment, along with the existing controversies on the clinical practice of APBI, prompted the Spanish Brachytherapy Group (GEB) of the Spanish Societies of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) and Medical Physics (SEFM) to address BT APBI in a consensus meeting.Materials and methodsPrior to the meeting, a survey with 27 questions on indication, inclusion criteria, BT modality, implant technique, image guidance and simulation, CTV and OAR definition, dose prescription and fractionation, dose calculation, implant quality metrics and OAR dose constrains was distributed. Items not reaching a level of agreement of 70% were discussed and voted during the meeting.Results26 Institutions completed the survey, 60% of them perform APBI procedures. The analysis of the survey showed consensus reached on approximately half the questions. An expert panel discussed the remaining items; thereafter, a voting established the definite consensus.ConclusionsThis document summarizes the consensus guidelines agreed during the meeting of the Spanish Brachytherapy Group SEOR-SEFM. Institutions with BT facilities available should offer interstitial BT APBI as a treatment option to patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Institutions willing to implement interstitial BT APBI are encouraged to follow the consensus guidelines established herein

PEACE V-Salvage Treatment of OligoRecurrent nodal prostate cancer Metastases (STORM): Acute Toxicity of a Randomized Phase 2 Trial.

BACKGROUND Treatment recommendations for patients with limited nodal recurrences are lacking, and different locoregional treatment approaches are currently being used. OBJECTIVE The aim of this trial is to compare metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) with or without elective nodal pelvic radiotherapy (ENRT). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS PEACE V-Salvage Treatment of OligoRecurrent nodal prostate cancer Metastases (STORM) is an international, phase 2, open-label, randomized, superiority trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03569241). Patients diagnosed with positron emission tomography-detected pelvic nodal oligorecurrence (five or fewer nodes) following radical local treatment for prostate cancer were randomized in a 1:1 ratio between arm A (MDT and 6 mo of androgen deprivation therapy [ADT]) and arm B (ENRT [25 × 1.8 Gy] with MDT and 6 mo of ADT). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS We report the secondary endpoint acute toxicity, defined as worst grade ≥2 Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) toxicity within 3 mo of treatment. The chi-square test was used to compare toxicity between treatment arms. We also compare the quality of life (QoL) using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ C30 and PR25 questionnaires. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS Between June 2018 and April 2021, 196 patients were assigned randomly to MDT or ENRT. Ninety-seven of 99 patients allocated to MDT and 93 of 97 allocated to ENRT received per-protocol treatment. Worst acute GI toxicity proportions were as follows: grade ≥2 events in three (3%) in the MDT group versus four (4%) in the ENRT group (p = 0.11). Worst acute GU toxicity proportions were as follows: grade ≥2 events in eight (8%) in the MDT group versus 12 (13%) in the ENRT group (p = 0.95). We observed no significant difference between the study groups in the proportion of patients with a clinically significant QoL reduction from baseline for any subdomain score area. CONCLUSIONS No clinically meaningful differences were observed in worst grade ≥2 acute GI or GU toxicity or in QoL subdomains between MDT and ENRT. PATIENT SUMMARY We found no evidence of differential acute bowel or urinary side effects using metastasis-directed therapy and elective nodal radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with a pelvic lymph node recurrence