Usos y aplicaciones actuales de la radioterapia corporal estereotáctica / Current uses and applications of stereotactic body radiation therapy

Resumen La radioterapia corporal estereotáctica es una modalidad que con alta precisión administra dosis alta de radiación a un objetivo tumoral bien definido, en una o en pocas fracciones, y reduce significativamente la dosis que reciben los tejidos sanos circundantes. Está indicada en cáncer primario de pulmón de células no pequeñas en estadios tempranos (T1 y T2) no operable, metástasis pulmonares con un tumor primario controlado, tumores prostáticos y enfermedad oligometastásica. A pesar de la falta de estudios a largo plazo o fase III, los resultados de su eficacia en el control local es superior a 90 %, con toxicidad similar a la reportada con fraccionamientos convencionales de radioterapia. Este artículo describe la tecnología y la técnica de radioterapia corporal estereotáctica, con las aplicaciones clínicas, indicaciones y limitaciones de esta modalidad terapéutica.

Abstract Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a modality that delivers high doses of radiation to a well-defined tumor target in a single or a few fractions and with high precision, which significantly reduces the dose received by surrounding normal tissues. SBRT is indicated for inoperable, early stage (T1 and T2) primary non-small cell lung cancer, lung metastases with a controlled primary tumor, prostate tumors and oligometastatic disease. Despite the lack of long-term or phase III studies, efficacy results in local control are higher than 90%, with similar toxicity to that reported with conventional fractionated radiotherapy. This article describes SBRT technology and technique, along with clinical applications, indications and limitations of this therapeutic modality.

Radiotherapy strategy for advanced esophageal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Advanced esophageal cancer accounts for a large proportion of all esophageal cancer cases, and the treatment modality recommended by the current guidelines is systemic treatment. Radiotherapy is an important treatment option for malignant tumors, which is widely applied in clinical practice. Retrospective analysis and small-sample prospective studies have shown that combination of radiotherapy with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy has the advantages of improving disease control rate, symptom remission rate and prolonging survival of advanced esophageal cancer patients. Therefore, it is an important clinical topic issue to make better use of the advantages of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, such as rapid relief of symptoms, durable efficacy, and stimulation of immune neoantigens, etc. To optimize the treatment strategy of advanced esophageal cancer, the radiotherapy strategy for esophageal cancer with oligometastases or multiple metastases, and the screening method for the eligible population for radiotherapy were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for improving the status of radiotherapy in comprehensive treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

Clinical effect of surgical treatment for lung metastasis and prognostic risk factor analysis: A single-center cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To compare the clinical effects of lobectomy and sublobar resection in the treatment of lung metastasis and to analyze the factors affecting patient prognosis. Methods    A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 165 patients with pulmonary metastasis who underwent thoracic surgery at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2010 and May 2021, including 67 males and 98 females, with a median age of 52 (44, 62) years. According to the operation methods, patients were divided into a lobectomy group and a sublobar resection group. The clinical data of the patients were compared between the two groups. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results    The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 60.0% and 34.3%, respectively, and the median survival time was 24 months. The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 39.4% and 23.7%, respectively. Compared with the lobectomy group, the sublobar resection group had shorter operation time for pulmonary metastases (P<0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.001), less drainage volume on the first day after surgery (P<0.001), less incidence of prolonged air leak (P=0.004), shorter drainage tube indwelling time (P=0.002), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (P=0.023). The disease-free survival time after sublobar resection and lobectomy was 26 months and 24 months, respectively, with no statistical difference (P=0.970). The total survival time of the two groups was 73 months and 69 months, respectively, with no significant difference (P=0.697). Multivariate analysis showed that sex [HR=0.616, 95%CI (0.390, 0.974), P=0.038], disease-free interval [HR=1.753, 95%CI (1.082, 2.842), P=0.023], and postoperative adjuvant therapy [HR=2.638, 95%CI (1.352, 5.147), P=0.004] were independent influencing factors for disease-free survival of patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy. Disease-free interval [HR=2.033, 95%CI (1.062, 3.894), P=0.032] and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level [HR=2.708, 95%CI (1.420, 5.163), P=0.002] were independent factors influencing the overall survival of patients in this group. Conclusion    Sublobar resection provides a safe and effective treatment option for patients with pulmonary metastasis on the premise of ensuring R0 resection of lung metastasis. Sex, disease-free interval, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level, and adjuvant therapy after pulmonary metastasectomy are the independent influencing factors for the prognosis.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for patients with lung and liver oligometastases from colorectal cancer: a phase Ⅱ trial / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the safety and effectiveness of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for oligometastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: This is a prospective, single-arm phase Ⅱ trial. Patients who had histologically proven CRC, 1 to 5 detectable liver or lung metastatic lesions with maximum diameter of any metastases ≤5 cm were eligible. SBRT was delivered to all lesions. The primary endpoint was 3-year local control (LC). The secondary endpoints were treatment-related acute toxicities of grade 3 and above, 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test. Results: Petients from 2016 to 2019 who were treated in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. Forty-eight patients with 60 lesions were enrolled, including 37 liver lesions and 23 lung lesions. Forty-six patients had 1 or 2 lesions, with median diameter of 1.3 cm, the median biologically effective dose (BED(10)) was 100.0 Gy. The median follow-up was 19.5 months for all lesions. Twenty-five lesions developed local failure, the median local progression free survival was 15 months. The 1-year LC, OS and PFS was 70.2% (95% CI, 63.7%~76.7%), 89.0% (95% CI, 84.3%~93.7%) and 40.4% (95%CI, 33.0%~47.8%). The univariate analysis revealed that planning target volume (PTV) and total dose were independent prognostic factors of LC (P<0.05). For liver and lung lesions, the 1-year LC, OS and PFS was 58.7% and 89.4% (P=0.015), 89.3% and 86.5% (P=0.732), 30.5% and 65.6% (P=0.024), respectively. No patients developed acute toxicity of grade 3 and above. Conclusion: SBRT is safe and effective treatment method for oligometastases from CRC under precise respiratory motion management and robust quality assurance.

Survival outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy among the patients with colorectal cancers

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary metastasectomy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer is essential, but high ranked evidence of survival benefit is lacking. Here, we aimed to examine the prognostic factors after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective hospital-based observational case series study. We reviewed data for 607 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who were treated and observed from 2012 to 2019. Of the 607 patients with mCRC, 87 were with solitary lung metastases. Of the 87 patients, 39 were not appropriate for metastasectomy, while 15 patients recognized as suitable candidates by the multidisciplinary thoracic tumor board rejected metastasectomy. Consequently, only 33 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: Rectum was detected as the primary site in 16 (48.5%) patients. Over 80% of patients had metachronous lung metastases, with a median of 29.0 months from initial diagnosis. Video-assisted thoracic surgery with wedge resection was performed in 20 (60.6%) patients. Over 90% of patients had solitary metastasis resected, with 97% of R0 resection. Median tumor size was 23.0 mm (min: 10; max: 90). Adjuvant treatment was given to 31 (93.9%) patients, while neoadjuvant treatment was given only to 8 (25%) patients. Of the 33 patients, there were 25 (75.7%) relapses. The most frequent site of relapse was lung in 15 (45.5%) patients. Interestingly, there were only 4 (12.2%) patients who had a relapse in the liver after lung metastasectomy. We found that median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 43.0 (13.0-73.0) and 55.0 (31.6-78.4) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastasectomy was associated with significantly long-time survival rates in mCRC (43 months of DFS and 55 months of OS). The second relapse occurred in 25 (75.7%) patients, with isolated lung metastases in nearly half of the patients (45.5%). Therefore, lung metastases in mCRC were unique and a multidisciplinary team including a thoracic surgeon should manage these patients.

Clinical efficacy and prognosis of stereotactic body radiation therapy for pulmonary oligometastases / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy and prognosis of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for pulmonary oligometastases.Methods Medical records of 104 patients with SBRT for pulmonary oligometastases in our hospital between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.SBRT was performed by intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique before December 2015,and by helical tomotherapy (HT) technique in others.The local control (LC),progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Cox-regression was used for univariate analyses and multivariate analyses.The radiotherapy-related adverse events were evaluated by NCICTCAE V4.0.Results The 1-,2-and 3-year LC rates were 86.6％,75.9％ and 72.3％,respectively.The 1-,2-and 3-year PFS rates were 40.9％,28.4％ and 22.1％,respectively.The 1-,2-and 3-year OS rates were 75.9％,53.2％ and 43.53％,respectively.The median OS time was 26.6 months.Multivariate analyses showed that the pathologic type of primary tumor,the volume of lung oligometastases and the carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) level before SBRT were the independent prognostic factors of LC (x2 =28.66,P＜0.05).The way of tumor progression after SBRT was the independent prognostic factor of OS (x2=40.01,P＜0.05).Meanwhile,there were no significant differences in the LC and OS between HTSBRT and IMRT-SBRT.Radiation pneumonitis was the major adverse event of SBRT (n =25,24.04％).Less than 7％ patients experienced grade 2 and above radiation pneumonitis.Conclusions SBRT shows high local control rates and tolerable adverse events in the treatment of pulmonary oligometastases.There were no significant differences in the clinical efficacy and adverse events between HT-SBRT and IMRT-SBRT,which means they are all suitable for clinical application.

Local ablative radiotherapy for oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer

In metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the role of radiotherapy (RT) has been limited to palliation to alleviate the symptoms. However, with the development of advanced RT techniques, recent advances in immuno-oncology therapy targeting programmed death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and targeted agents for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocation allowed new roles of RT in these patients. Within this metastatic population, there is a subset of patients with a limited number of sites of metastatic disease, termed as oligometastasis that can achieve long-term survival from aggressive local management. There is no consensus on the definition of oligometastasis; however, most clinical trials define oligometastasis as having 3 to 5 metastatic lesions. Recent phase II randomized clinical trials have shown that ablative RT, including stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) and hypofractionated RT, to primary and metastatic sites improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. The PEMBRO-RT study, a randomized phase II study comparing SABR prior to pembrolizumab therapy and pembrolizumab therapy alone, revealed that the addition of SABR improved the overall response, PFS, and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC. The efficacy of RT in oligometastatic lung cancer has only been studied in phase II studies; therefore, large-scale phase III studies are needed to confirm the benefit of local ablative RT in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC. Local intensified RT to primary and metastatic lesions is expected to become an important treatment paradigm in the near future in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

Analysis of radiotherapy curative effect and prognostic factors in 164 patients with extracranial oligometastases / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy,as well as the prognostic factors of survival in patients with extracranial oligometastases. Methods A total of 164 patients who underwent intensity-modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT ) of the extracranial oligometastases, from January 2013 to December 2016, were enrolled in the study. The short-term efficacy, local control rate, overall survival, progression free survival and adverse effects of treatment were observed. Results Short-term efficacy was assessed within the first 1-3 months after the end of radiotherapy. The objective response rate (CR+PR) was 78. 7% and the short-term efficacy is mainly related to the T stage of primary tumor ( P＝0. 004).Until the last follow-up,all patients with 1-,2-and 3-year LC were 89. 8%,82. 5% and 74. 9% respectively.Univariate analysis showed that the influencing factors of LC include tumor size and gross tumor volume dose ( all P＜0. 05),multivariate analysis found no significant influence factors. The 1-,2- and 3-year OS were 83. 4%, 69. 6% and 54. 6% respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the primary tumor sources, metastasis organs,whether synchronous or adjuvant chemotherapy and short-term efficacy were independent prognostic factors in patients of OS ( P＜0. 05 ).Main toxicity-associated events were grade 1-2 acute reactions,with only 6 patients experiencing grade 3 toxicity;no grade≥4 toxic reactions or treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions Radiation therapy for the treatment of extracranial oligometastases can achieve good curative effect,is well-tolerated and has low toxicity.

The detecting value of CTCs in peripheral venous blood of patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer / 实用医学杂志

Objective To detect the value of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in peripheral venous blood in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Methods 50 female patients with advanced advanced metastatic breast can-cer hospitalized in our hospital from May 2016 to December 2016 were enrolled in the research. Patients were divid-ed into oligometastases group and extensive metastasis group through multi-department comprehensive analysis andimaging diagnosis. 10 cases with early stage breast cancer were selected randomly. 10 healthy female volunteers were recruited as control group. After obtaining written informed consent from research subjects ,7.5 mL peripheral blood was drew from patients and volunteers prior to starting a new line of chemotherapy ,surgery or other treat-ment. CTCs counts from Blood samples were detected density gradient centrifugation associate with flow cytometry. Results The base line was formulated as CTCs≥5/7.5 mL positive and CTCs<5/7.5 mL negative. By comparing the positive expression of CTCs in early and advanced metastatic breast cancer(Pa = 0.01,P < 0.05),positive CTCs was associated with advanced metastatic breast cancer. Comparision of the positive expression of CTCs between oligometastases group and the extensive transfer group showed significant difference in the CTCs count be-tween the two groups(Pb = 0.018,P < 0.05). In the corresponding period,no positive CTCs was detected in all healthy volunteers. Conclusion CTCs count was associated with metastatic breast cancer. There was a correlation between tumor metastasis and CTCs count (the more widely metastasis ,the higher the detection rate of CTCs). CTCs may be of relevant value in the diagnosis and treatment ,and prognosis evaluation of metastatic breast cancer.

Progress in radiotherapy for the treatment of oligometastasis / 肿瘤

Tumor metastasis is an evolution process from local lesion to systemic diseases, in which there are many intermediate states. Oligometastasis is a milder stage of tumor biological invasiveness, and also a state model in the process of tumor metastasis. With the limited less metastases, oligometastasis is a transitional stage between local primary tumor and extensive distant metastasis, and does not have the genetic tendency of systemic spread. Local therapy is mainly used for oligometastasis. Due to the development of radiation and imaging technology, the radiotherapy has gradually become an important treatment. Especially, the stereotactic radiotherapy has been proved to be safe and effective, with less adverse reactions, high local control rate and long-term survival. Despite of its good results and effects, the stereotactic radiotherapy is still facing various clinical challenges, especially in the selection criteria of candidate patients and therapeutic strategies. This paper reviews the clinical progress in tumor oligometastasis and the application of radiation therapy in the treatment of tumor oligometastasis, in order to provide a better treatment for the patients with oligometastasis.

Surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Current status and perspectives / 肿瘤

Lung is the most common metastatic site of head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Systemic chemotherapy is still the standard treatment for metastatic HNSCC patients, and the prognosis is poor. Pulmonary metastasectomy has been regarded as the stardard treatment modality for selected pulmonary metastases from certain cancers including colorectal cancer and sarcoma. However, present studies about pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic HNSCC are retrospective and no consensus has been reached on the value of pulmonary metastasectomy. This review focuses on the efficiency, indication, operative mode and method and the prognostic factors of pulmonary metastasectomy for pulmonary metastases from HNSCC. The limitations of current studies and the challenges and perspectives of pulmonary metastasectomy are also discussed.

Clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of stereotactic body radiotherapy for pulmonary oligometastases / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)for pulmonary oligometastases,and to further explore the patients most suitable for SBRT. Methods From 2012 to 2105,51 patients with 76 oligometastatic lung tumors were treated with SBRT.In those patients,27 had primary lung tumors and the others had extrapulmonary tumors. Seven patients had squamous cell carcinoma,thirty-five had adenocarcinoma, and the rest had other types of cancer. The patients received radiotherapy at a dose of 50 Gy in five fractions or 60 Gy in three fractions. Survival analysis was made by the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate analysis was made by the Cox model. Results The 1-and 2-year local control rates were 86%(65/76)and 80%(61/76),respectively. The 1-and 2-year overall survival(OS)rates were 80%(41/51)and 55%(28/51),respectively. The median survival time was 30(2-57)months,while the median progression-free survival time was 8(1-32)months. Twenty-one patients had grade 1 radiation pneumonitis(RP),while one patient had grade 2 RP. The multivariate analysis revealed that no more than 2 oligometastatic lung tumors,progression-free interval(PFI), and a performance score(PS)no higher than 1 were independent factors for OS(all P<0.05). Conclusions SBRT is effective and safe for treating pulmonary oligometastases. The number of oligometastatic lung tumors,PFI,and PS are independent prognostic factors for OS. Suitable patients and the appropriate timing of treatment are key to the efficacy of SBRT.

An 87-year-old patient with repeated oligorecurrences over six years whose disease were treated with radiotherapy alone

In the clinical state of oligometastases or oligorecurrence, a transitional state between localized and widespread systemic disease, local control of the disease may yield improved systemic control. Radiotherapy may be a good means for controlling oligometastatic tumors, particularly in very old patients for whom surgery may be infeasible. A combination of systemic therapy and local therapy is necessary to prevent systemic progression. Some kinds of cancers found in the elderly are known to be somewhat indolent for systemic progression. So, for very old patients who refuse or cannot tolerate chemotherapy, the use of radical radiotherapy alone to treat oligorecurrences may be very helpful. We successfully treated an 87-year-old patient who had been diagnosed with oligorecurrences three times over six years with radiotherapy alone. The patient is now, about four years after his first radiotherapy for liver metastasis, alive without any evidence of cancer and with fully active performance status.

The role of local therapy in liver oligometastases of breast cancer / 中国癌症杂志

The liver is one of the most common metastatic sites in patients with breast cancer. Systemic therapy is the standard treatment for breast cancer with liver metastasis, but the results are far from satisfaction. A distinctive subset of metastatic breast cancer is oligometastatic disease. Local therapy including metastasectomy, radiofrequency ablation and radiation therapy combined with systemic therapy can provide survival beneift. This review introduced the latest research results of local therapy in liver oligometastases of breast cancer.

A Case Report of a Gastric Cancer Patient with a Good Quality of Life after Radiotherapies to 17 Metastases for 4 Years / 대한방사선종양학회지

Five and half years ago, a 45-year-old female metastatic gastric cancer patient underwent a metastatectomy and chemotherapy. Over the last 4 years and 2 months, she received radiotherapy for every new distant metastasis with intermittent TS-1 oral chemotherapy. She received 8 courses of radiotherapy at 17 metastatic sites for more than 4 years. Metastatic sites which received a curative radiation dose achieved and maintained local control. The patient is now 51 years of age and lives without difficulty in performing her daily activities.