Urinary organs-at-risk for prostate cancer external beam radiotherapy: contouring guidelines on behalf of the Francophone Group of Urological Radiation Therapy (GFRU).

PURPOSE: Occurrence of genitourinary (GU) toxicity is a common adverse event observed after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer (PCa). Recent findings suggest that the dose delivered to specific urinary organs-at-risk (OARs) such as ureters, bladder trigone, and urethra is involved in the development of GU toxicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A multidisciplinary task force including three radiation oncologists, a uroradiologist, and a urologist was created in 2022. First, OARs potentially involved in GU toxicity were identified and discussed. A literature review was performed, addressing several questions relative to urinary OARs: anatomical and radiological definition, radiation-induced injury, dose-volume parameters. Secondly, results were presented and discussed with a panel of radiation oncologists, members of the "Francophone Group of Urological Radiation Therapy" (GFRU). Thereafter, GFRU experts were asked to answer a dedicated questionnaire, including 35 questions on the controversial issues related to the delineation of urinary OARs. RESULTS: The following structures were identified as critical for PCa EBRT: ureters, bladder, bladder neck, bladder trigone, urethra (intraprostatic, membranous, spongious), striated sphincter, and post-enucleation or post-transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) cavity. A consensus was obtained for 32 out of 35 items. CONCLUSION: This consensus highlights contemporary urinary structures in both upper and lower urinary tract to be considered for EBRT treatment planning of PCa. The current recommendations also propose a standardized definition of urinary OARs, for both daily practice and future clinical trials.

[Bladder preservation treatments for bladder cancer: Trimodality therapy, an overview of clinical practices in 2023]. / Traitements de préservation vésicale pour le cancer de vessie : la thérapie trimodale, aperçu des pratiques cliniques en 2023.

Bladder cancer is the most frequent tumor of the urinary tract. Patients diagnosed at a stage when the tumor has spread into or through the muscle layer of the bladder wall are usually treated with cystectomy. The evolution of cancer treatments, related to the development of alternative treatment options to the historical surgical standard and to the implication of the patient as an actor in decision-making, trends towards organ and function preservation without sacrificing efficacy. Trimodality therapy, which is a maximal transurethral resection of the tumor followed by concurrent chemoradiation, is an interesting therapeutic alternative for patients unfit for surgery and for those wishing to benefit from organ preservation. Radiotherapy offers excellent treatment possibilities for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In selected T2-stage patients fit for trimodality therapy, it has an equivalent oncological outcome compared to cystectomy while having less severe complications and offering organ preservation. It remains feasible in inoperable patients while offering significant perspectives of relapse-free survival. Finally, it also is an efficient palliative treatment in patients where mid-term local control and hemostasis are sought after.

Angiosarcoma associated with radiation therapy after treatment of breast cancer. Retrospective study on ten years.

PURPOSE: The breast sarcoma induced by radiation therapy is rare but increasing, given the increased long-term survival of patients receiving radiation therapy. Fibrosarcoma, histiocytofibroma and angiosarcoma are the most common breast sarcoma. Angiosarcoma is the most common after breast cancer treated by radiation therapy, often diagnosed too late, with a severe prognosis and a high rate of recurrence. However, because of the low incidence of angiosarcoma associated with radiation therapy (AAR), the benefit of radiation therapy in breast cancer treatment outweighs the risk to develop angiosarcoma. The aim of this study is to evaluate these rare cases of AAR diagnosed in eastern Belgium in comparison to the data from the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine cases of AAR after radiation for breast ductal carcinoma were included in this retrospective study. AAR was diagnosed according to Cahan criteria between January 2007 and December 2016. Latency, incidence, management and prognosis are comparable to the literature. RESULTS, CONCLUSION: The median latency was 10 (4-24) years, the incidence of AAR in the East Belgian area was 0.09% of the patients irradiated on the same period. Patients were treated by surgery with wide local excision with or without reconstructive surgery, without radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed median overall survival of 61.8 months, patient survival of 55.6% at one year and 29.6% at five years. With the constant progress of medicine and its technologies, it would be possible to limit the occurrence of AAR or to diagnose it at an earlier stage.