Feasible Optimization of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy Dose by Tumor Size for Stage I Non-small-cell Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dose escalation of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) by investigating the long-term clinical outcomes of SABR for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 169 patients with 178 lesions of stage I NSCLC treated with SABR at a single institution from June 2000 to May 2015. The standard dose scheme for SABR was 48 Gy in 4 fractions during the early period of the analysis, but it was escalated to 60 Gy in 4 fractions from June 2009. All failures were recorded over the follow-up period. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 32 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 46.7%, and the actuarial local control rate was 79.3%. Tumor size was an independent prognostic factor for survival. No relapse occurred in tumors ≤ 2 cm irrespective of SABR dose. Escalated doses of approximately 60 Gy in 4 fractions (biologically effective dose [BED] = 150 Gy10) achieved higher local control compared with 48 Gy in 4 fractions (BED = 106 Gy10) (76.2% vs. 60.6%) at 5-year follow-up (P = .022) in tumors > 2 cm. There were no differences in treatment-related toxicities between the dose groups. Major failures consisted of distant metastasis to another lung parenchyma. CONCLUSION: SABR provides satisfactory long-term local control and high overall survival in medically inoperable stage I NSCLC. Tumors ≤ 2 cm had no local recurrence regardless of dose; whereas for tumors > 2 cm, an escalated BED of approximately 150 Gy10 provided significantly higher local tumor control.

A 10-year clinical outcome of radiotherapy as an adjuvant or definitive treatment for primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of radiotherapy (RT) as an adjuvant or definitive treatment in primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) for local tumor control and survival. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in 22 patients treated with adjuvant or definitive RT for primary tracheal ACC at a single center between November 1994 and December 2008. RESULTS: Thirteen and 9 patients received adjuvant and definitive RT, respectively. Microscopic residual disease after surgery was pathologically reported in 11 patients. The median RT dose was 59.4 Gy for adjuvant and 74.4 Gy for definitive RT. The overall response rate for definitive RT was 77.8%. Six patients in the definitive RT group exhibited local progression (LP), whereas 14 patients in both groups exhibited distant metastasis. The most common recurrence site in cases of treatment failure was the lung parenchyma. The median follow-up duration was 123 months, and the 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was 54.2%. Although LP was the most common cause of death (4 patients), two-thirds of the patients treated with definitive RT lived for >5 years. The 5-year and 10-year LP-free survival (LPFS) rates in the definitive RT group were 66.7 and 26.7%, respectively. Patients with higher RT dose by brachytherapy boost had good 5-year OS, 83.3%, and showed no local progression till 5-years. Most of the RT-induced side-effects were mild and tolerable, but 2 patients died of tracheal stenosis without any tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant RT may be suitable for controlling microscopic residual disease, whereas definitive RT may yield appropriate long-term survival in >50% patients with unresectable tracheal ACC. Dose escalation should be considered to warrant long-term survival in definitive RT.

Preliminary results of a phase I/II study of simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy for nondisseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To present preliminary results of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with the simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy (SMART) boost technique in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients who underwent IMRT for nondisseminated NPC at the Asan Medical Center between September 2001 and December 2003 were prospectively evaluated. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy was delivered with the "step and shoot" SMART technique at prescribed doses of 72 Gy (2.4 Gy/day) to the gross tumor volume, 60 Gy (2 Gy/day) to the clinical target volume and metastatic nodal station, and 46 Gy (2 Gy/day) to the clinically negative neck region. Eighteen patients also received cisplatin once per week. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 27 months. Nineteen patients completed the treatment without interruption; the remaining patient interrupted treatment for 2 weeks owing to severe pharyngitis and malnutrition. Five patients (25%) had Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grade 3 mucositis, whereas 9 (45%) had Grade 3 pharyngitis. Seven patients (35%) lost more than 10% of their pretreatment weight, whereas 11 (55%) required intravenous fluids and/or tube feeding. There was no Grade 3 or 4 xerostomia. All patients showed complete response. Two patients had distant metastases and locoregional recurrence, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy with the SMART boost technique allows parotid sparing, as shown clinically and by dosimetry, and might also be more effective biologically. A larger population of patients and a longer follow-up period are needed to evaluate ultimate tumor control and late toxicity.