Salvage surgery after radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer. Treatment complications and oncological results.

AIMS: Surgery is the only available curative treatment option following failure of radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. This study was designed to analyse the postoperative morbidity and survival rate in patents undergoing salvage surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Single-centre retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients were included, with tumour recurrence in 72 cases, and disease progression in 33 cases, despite radiotherapy. Seventy-seven tumours were located in the tonsillar fossa or glossotonsillar sulcus. Ninety-four tumours were classified as rT2-T3 and 83 were classified as rN0. Segmental mandibulectomy was performed in 77 cases. Cervical lymph node dissection was performed in 96 cases. Pharyngeal reconstruction was performed with a myocutaneous flap in 90 cases. Forty-one local complications were observed, including 12 orocutaneous fistulae and/or neck abscesses, associated with carotid artery rupture in three cases. Twenty patients experienced general complications. The mean decannulation and feeding times were 20 and 30 days, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival was 21%. On univariate analysis, survival was poorer in patients with disease progression (P=0.01); survival was also correlated with tumour site (P=0.02), rT status (P=0.03), rN (P=0.048), and quality of resection (P=0.04). On multivariate analysis, tumour size (P=0.03) and the interval between the end of radiotherapy and surgery (P=0.02) were the two main prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm the high local complication rate of salvage surgery for oropharyngeal cancer and the poor overall survival.

[Combination of external irradiation and androgen suppression for prostate cancer: facts and questions]. / Radiothérapie et hormonothérapie pour le cancer de la prostate: acquis et interrogations.

The combination of radiotherapy and androgen suppression with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist is mainly devoted to locally advanced prostate cancer and intermediate or poor risk localized prostate cancer. They are based on phase III randomized trials which have shown that for locally advanced prostate cancer, a four-month complete androgen blockade initiated two months prior radiotherapy and stopped at the completion of radiotherapy increased overall survival in patients with Gleason scores 2-6, meanwhile, an adjuvant long-term androgen suppression (2.5 to three years) improved significantly the overall survival. Complete androgen blockade with a four to six months duration, combined with external irradiation, enhanced the overall survival in patients with intermediate or poor risk localized prostate cancer.

[Comparison of three dosimetric techniques for lung tumor irradiation]. / Analyse des contraintes dosimétriques obtenues par trois techniques d'irradiation de tumeurs pulmonaires.

PURPOSE: Comparison of three dosimetric techniques of lung tumor delineation to integrate tumor motion during breathing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with T1-3N0M0 malignant lung tumor were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (14 cases) or pre-surgery chemoradiation. Doses were, respectively, 66 and 46Gy. CT-scan for delineation was performed during three phases of breathing: free breathing and deep breath-hold inspiration and expiration. GTV (gross tumor volume) was delineated on the three sequences. The classic technique included GTV from the free-breathing sequence plus a CTV (clinical target volume) margin of 5 to 8mm plus a PTV (planning target volume) margin of 7 to 10mm (including ITV [internal target volume] margin and set-up margin). The gating-like technique included GTV from the deep breath-hold inspiration sequence plus a CTV margin of 5 to 8mm plus a PTV margin of 2mm. The three-volume technique, included GTV as a result of the fusion of GTVs from the three sequences plus a CTV margin of 5 to 8mm plus a PTV margin of 2mm. Dosimetry was calculated for the three PTVs, if possible, with the same fields number and position. Dose constraints and rules were imposed to accept dosimetries: firstly spinal cord maximal dose less than 45Gy, followed by V95 % for PTV greater than or equal to 95 %, and V20 GY(Gy) for lung less than or equal to 30 %, V30 GY(Gy) for lung less than or equal to 20 %. RESULTS: GTVs were not statistically different between the three methods of delineation. PTVs were significantly lower with the gating-like technique. V95% of the PTV were not different between the three techniques. With the classic-, the gating-like- and the 3-volume techniques, dosimetry was considered as acceptable, respectively in 15, 18 and 15 cases. Comparisons of constraint values showed that the gating-like method gave the best results. In the case of pre-operative management, the gating-like method allowed the best results even for the V95% values. However, in the absence of gating device or without the possibility to use it, the 3-volume method allowed to take into account more precisely the organ motion than the classical technique. CONCLUSION: The 3-volume method can be done. It is a good method to take into account the organ motions. However, the gating-like method gives the best results leading to propose its use even for pre-operative patients with upper tumors.

[Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for cancers in childhood]. / Radiothérapie conformationnelle par modulation d'intensité des tumeurs pédiatriques.

Approximately 40-50% of children with cancer will be irradiated during their treatment. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) by linear accelerator or helical tomotherapy improves dose distribution in target volumes and normal tissue sparing. This technology could be particularly useful for pediatric patients to achieve an optimal dose distribution in complex volumes close to critical structures. The use of IMRT can increase the volume of tissue receiving low-dose radiation, and consequently carcinogenicity in childhood population with a good overall survival and long period of life expectancy. This review will present the current and potential IMRT indications for cancers in childhood, and discuss the benefits and problems of this technology aiming to define recommendations in the use of IMRT and specific doses constraints in pediatry.

[New technologies in lung cancer radiotherapy]. / Techniques innovantes en radiothérapie des cancers bronchopulmonaires.

Since ten years, lung cancer radiotherapy improved thanks to capacities of imagery, softwares, hardwares which allowed developing and transforming drastically radiotherapy procedures. Improvements were performed in all steps of the lung treatment, immobilization, three dimensional imagery, delineation of the targets and organs at risk, simulation and ballistic, dose calculation, daily set-up, breathing control, and treatment verifications. Furthermore, new technology implies technical adjustments but also a change of physicians and physicists minds.