Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer: consensus guidelines of the GINECOR working group of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology. Part 1: clinical recommendations.

PURPOSE: The present consensus statement was developed by the GINECOR working group on behalf of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR). Given the lack of prospective data on the management of vulvar carcinoma, this document provides an up-to-date review of radiotherapy treatment in vulvar cancer and a series of consensus-based recommendations from a group of experts. METHODS: A two-round, online modified Delphi study was conducted to reach consensus treatment recommendations in three clinical settings: 1) adjuvant treatment, 2) locally-advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC), and 3) recurrent disease. After the first round, we comprehensively reviewed the available medical literature from peer-reviewed journals to assess and define the evidence-based treatment options. In the second round, participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with the preliminary recommendations according to the GRADE (Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) criteria, as follows: strongly agree; agree; neither agree nor disagree; disagree; strongly disagree. RESULTS: The main recommendations were as follows: 1) following surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended with the presence of adverse risk factors (primarily positive margins and lymph node involvement); 2) radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) should be considered in LAVC; and 3) in recurrent disease, radiotherapy should be individualised on a case-by-case basis. A high level of agreement over 80% was reached. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of robust clinical data, these final recommendations may help to select the optimal radiotherapy approach for this relatively rare cancer.

Radiation therapy for vulvar cancer: consensus technical guidelines of the GINECOR working group of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology. Part 2: radiotherapy recommendations.

PURPOSE: The present consensus statement was developed by the GINECOR working group on behalf of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR). This document provides an up-to-date review of the technical aspects in radiation treatment of vulvar cancer. METHODS: A two-round modified Delphi study was conducted to reach consensus on the appropriateness of technical aspects of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Three clinical scenarios were proposed: adjuvant treatment of vulvar cancer, radiation treatment of locally advanced vulvar carcinoma and locoregional recurrences. After the first round, an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer-reviewed journal was performed to define evidence-based treatment options. In the second round, participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with the preliminary recommendations according to the GRADE (Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) criteria, as follows: strongly agree; agree; neither agree nor disagree; disagree and strongly disagree. RESULTS: The main recommendations on external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy, both in adjuvant setting and local advanced disease are summarized. Recommendations include treatment technique, treatment volume, and doses in target and organs at-risk. Taking into consideration the different clinical scenarios of recurrent disease, the radiation treatment should be individualized. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of robust clinical data, these recommendations may help to select the optimal radiotherapy approach for this relatively rare cancer.

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.

Quality of Life assessment through the EORTC questionnaires of locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemo-radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To assess the quality of life in a group of rectal cancer patients during the treatment period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 83 rectal cancer patients in Dukes' stages B2 or C who started a chemoradiotherapy treatment followed by surgery, have filled in the EORTC core questionnaire QLQC30 and the colorectal module QLQ-CR38, in three moments during the treatment and follow-up periods: at the beginning of the treatment, at the end of the chemoradiotherapy, and after surgery. Clinical and demographic data have also been recorded. Quality of Life scores and changes in them among the three assessments have been calculated. RESULTS: Quality of life scores of patients who have followed the treatment has been good in most dimensions, and has shown similar to the clinical data. Soft and moderate alterations have appeared in the areas of disease symptoms, treatment toxicity, fatigue, emotional and sexual functioning, and also in functional areas after surgery. Quality of life has been stable or has had small changes in most dimensions. A worsening in toxicity areas has appeared after the neoadyuvant treatment. After surgery there has been a worsening in functional areas, fatigue and appetite loss, and an improvement in diarrhoea. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life scores and clinical data indicate that the situation of the patients who have received the treatments has been good. Patients under treatment stood it adequately.