Significance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of outcome in head and neck cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation.

Background: The role of host immune system in carcinogenesis and response to treatment is increasingly studied, including predictive potential of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pre- and post-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) for treatment outcome in patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) treated with definitive chemoradiation. Materials and methods: Electronic medical records of patients were evaluated and NLR was calculated. Cox regression was used to assess the impact of selected variables on overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS), progression free survival (PFS) and distant failure free survival (DFFS). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios of complete response with NLR. Results: 317 patients' records were included in the study. Increases in both pre-and post-NLR were associated with decreased OS in univariable analysis [hazard ratio (HR): 2.26 (1.25-4.07), p = 0.0068 and HR: 1.57 (1.03-2.37), p = 0.035 respectively). Post-NLR remained significant for OS in multivariable analysis [HR: 1.93 (1.22-3.1), p = 0.005] as well as for unfavorable DSS [HR: 2.31 (1.22-4.4), p = 0.01]. Pre-treatment NLR and nodal status correlated with shorter DFFS in multivariable analysis [HR 4.1 (1.14-14), p = 0.03 and HR 5.3: (1.62-18), p = 0.0062, respectively]. Strong correlation of increased both pre- and post-NLR with probability of clinical tumor response (CR) was found [odds ratio (OR): 0.23 (0.08-0.6), p = 0.003, and OR: 0.39 (0.2-0.8), p = 0.01 respectively]. Conclusion: NLR evaluated before and post treatment was a strong predictor of unfavorable treatment outcome and can be used for risk evaluation and clinical decision about treatment and post-treatment surveillance.

Prediction of Incomplete Response of Primary Tumour Based on Clinical and Radiomics Features in Inoperable Head and Neck Cancers after Definitive Treatment.

Radical treatment of patients diagnosed with inoperable and locally advanced head and neck cancers (LAHNC) is still a challenge for clinicians. Prediction of incomplete response (IR) of primary tumour would be of value to the treatment optimization for patients with LAHNC. Aim of this study was to develop and evaluate models based on clinical and radiomics features for prediction of IR in patients diagnosed with LAHNC and treated with definitive chemoradiation or radiotherapy. Clinical and imaging data of 290 patients were included into this retrospective study. Clinical model was built based on tumour and patient related features. Radiomics features were extracted based on imaging data, consisting of contrast- and non-contrast-enhanced pre-treatment CT images, obtained in process of diagnosis and radiotherapy planning. Performance of clinical and combined models were evaluated with area under the ROC curve (AUROC). Classification performance was evaluated using 5-fold cross validation. Model based on selected clinical features including ECOG performance, tumour stage T3/4, primary site: oral cavity and tumour volume were significantly predictive for IR, with AUROC of 0.78. Combining clinical and radiomics features did not improve model's performance, achieving AUROC 0.77 and 0.68 for non-contrast enhanced and contrast-enhanced images respectively. The model based on clinical features showed good performance in IR prediction. Combined model performance suggests that real-world imaging data might not yet be ready for use in predictive models.

The comparison of acute toxicity in 2 treatment courses: Three-weekly and weekly cisplatin treatment administered with radiotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The most appropriate cisplatin treatment schedule delivered with radiotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the acute toxicity and its impact on the course of the treatment, administered cisplatin and radiation doses, the length of hospitalization and supportive drugs administration in patients with HNSCC receiving 2 different cisplatin treatment schedules administered with radiotherapy.In this retrospective analysis, 104 patients with HNSCC were enrolled. Patients received radiation concurrently with 100 mg/m cisplatin administered 3-weekly (n = 50; group A) or 35 to 40 mg/m cisplatin administered weekly (n = 54; group B). Chemoradiotherapy was performed in locally and/or regionally advanced disease (stage III-IV), in a definitive radical upfront setting (71.1%) or after surgical resection in patients with high-risk factors (28.8%).Both study groups were equally distributed in terms of age, gender, stage of the disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score, chronic diseases and primary tumor site. The schedule of cisplatin dosing did not influence the duration of hospitalization, the number of additional supportive drugs (antibiotics, opioids) administered or total doses of received radiotherapy. However, postponement of radiotherapy due to adverse events was significantly more frequent in patients treated with 35/40 mg/m (55.56% vs 32%; P = .015). Furthermore, patients treated with weekly treatment schedule received lower total cisplatin dose (160 mg/m) in comparison to those treated with the 3-weekly schedule (200 mg/m). Grade 3 and 4 mucositis occurred more frequently in patients treated in group A (70% vs 50%; P = .037). Leukopenia was also observed more frequently in group A (88% vs 72.2%; P = .04), however there was no difference in grade 3/4 leukopenia between both study arms. There was no statistically significant difference in any other adverse effects.These results do not demonstrate the advantage of modified weekly schedule over standard 3-weekly cisplatin treatment plan. However, severe mucositis occurred more frequently in patients receiving 3-weekly cisplatin, both chemotherapy schedules seemed to present similar toxicity. Due to conflicting efficacy and toxicity, the results and compliance of weekly and 3-weekly cisplatin schedules should be evaluated in further randomized, controlled trials and retrospective studies.

Comparative analysis of image guidance in two institutions for prostate cancer patients.

AIM/BACKGROUND: The analysis of systematic and random errors obtained from the pooled data on inter-fraction prostate motion during radiation therapy in two institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 6085 observations for 216 prostate cancer patients treated on tomotherapy units in two institutions of position correction shifts obtained by co-registration of planning and daily CT studies were investigated. Three independent variables: patient position (supine or prone), target (prostate or prostate bed), and imaging mode (normal or coarse) were analyzed. Systematic and random errors were evaluated and used to calculate the margins for different options of referencing based on the position corrections observed with one, three, or five imaging sessions. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that only the difference between normal and coarse modes of imaging was significant, which allowed to merge the supine and prone position sub-groups as well as the prostate and prostate bed patients. In the normal and coarse imaging groups, the margins calculated using systematic and random errors in the medio-lateral and cranio-caudal directions (5.5 mm and 4.5 mm, respectively) were similar, but significantly different (5.3 mm for the normal mode and 7.1 mm for the coarse mode) in the anterio-posterior direction. The reference scheme based on the first three fractions (R3) was found to be the optimal one. CONCLUSIONS: The R3 reference scheme effectively reduced systematic and random errors. Larger margins in the anterio-posterior direction should be used during prostate treatment on the tomotherapy unit, as coarse imaging mode is chosen in order to reduce imaging time and dose.

Comparison of dose volume histograms for supine and prone position in patients irradiated for prostate cancer-A preliminary study.

AIM: To compare DVHs for OARs in two different positions - prone and supine - for prostate cancer patients irradiated with a Tomotherapy unit. BACKGROUND: In the era of dose escalation, the choice of optimal patient immobilization plays an essential role in radiotherapy of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 24 patients who were allocated to 3 risk groups based on D'Amico criteria; 12 patients represented a low or intermediate and 12 a high risk group. FOR EACH PATIENT TWO TREATMENT PLANS WERE PERFORMED: one in the supine and one in the prone position. PTV included the prostate, seminal vesicles and lymph nodes for the high risk group and the prostate and seminal vesicles for the intermediate or low risk groups. DVHs for the two positions were compared according to parameters: Dmean, D70, D50 and D20 for the bladder and rectum and Dmean, D10 for the intestine. The position accuracy was verified using daily MVCT. RESULTS: Prone position was associated with lower doses in OARs, especially in the rectum. Despite the fact that in the entire group the differences between tested parameters were not large, the Dmean and D10 for the intestine were statistically significant. In the case of irradiation only to the prostate and seminal vesicles, the prone position allowed for substantial reduction of all tested DVH parameters in the bladder and rectum, except D20 for bladder. Moreover, the Dmean and D50 parameter differences for the bladder were statistically significant. No significant differences between positions reproducibility were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: In patients irradiated to prostate and seminal vesicles, the prone position may support sparing of the rectum and bladder. The reproducibility of position arrangement in both positions is comparable.