Is helical tomotherapy-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy feasible and effective in bilateral synchronous breast cancer? A two-center experience.

PURPOSE: This study describes the early clinical results and dosimetric parameters of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a tomotherapy device in patients with primary bilateral synchronous breast cancer (PSBBC). METHODS: Fourteen patients with bilateral breast cancer were treated with tomotherapy between January 2011 and October 2014. The treatment planning objectives were to cover 95% of the planning target volume using a 95% isodose, with a minimum dose of 90% and a maximum dose of 107%. The organs at risk (OAR), such as the lungs, heart, esophagus and spinal cord, were contoured. Acute toxicity was recorded during and after radiation therapy. RESULTS: The advantages included better treatment conformity with lower dosages to minimize the risk to susceptible organs, such as the lungs, heart and spinal cord. There was improved coverage of the planning target volume, including the regional nodes, without any field junction problems. The median homogeneity index was 0.13 and the median conformity index 1.32. The median V20, V15, V10 and V5 for the total lungs were 18.5, 23.3, 24.2 and 60%, respectively. Skin acute toxicity was grade 1 in 72% and grade 2 in 14% of the patients. Esophageal acute toxicity was grade 1 in 43% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Tomotherapy delivers treatment that is well-tolerated, with high homogeneity and coverage indexes and the capability to reduce the irradiation dose received by the lungs and heart in PSBBC patients. This technique is therefore feasible and safe for the treatment of bilateral breast cancer.

Characteristics of synchronous- and metachronous-type multiple primary neoplasms: a study of hospital-based cancer registry in Turkey.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic, histologic, and topographic characteristics, and the association of synchronous and metachronous multiple primary neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred seventy-two multiple primary tumors (n = 286) of 20,895 tumors recorded from 1993 to 2005 by the office of Izmir Cancer Registry at the Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital were analyzed. chi(2) and Student t test were performed. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight patients had synchronous tumors whereas 128 had metachronous tumors. Both groups were more frequent among men and among patients aged > 50 years. The distribution of synchronous and metachronous tumors between sex and age groups was similar (P = .462 and P = .479, respectively). Carcinomas were more frequent and histologic compositions of both of the groups were significantly different (P = .009). Pairs of the same topographic origin were significantly more frequent in synchronous tumors (P = .019). The urogenital system was the most frequent location in all groups. The leading tumoral association was between urogenital-urogenital tumors, also. Detailed evaluation of the metachronous group revealed that the most frequent organ associations were of breast-ovary (n = 7) and bladder-larynx (n = 5). CONCLUSION: Field cancerization in the epithelium, theory of a common clonal origin, or the screening effect might account for the relatively frequent association of urogenital tumors. The association of the tumors of breast-ovary might be related to the endocrine effect. Further studies complying with international rules and using data from different population-based tumor registries are necessary to elucidate site correlation.

Evaluation of curative and palliative radiotherapy efficacy in extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of curative and palliative radiotherapy in the treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer (E-SCLC), and compare therapy effect on survival with or without metastatic disease. METHODS: From January 1998 through December 2004, 128 patients with E-SCLC were treated with radiotherapy and concomitants combined chemotherapy. Radical radiotherapy, consisting of approximately 60 Gy given in up to 30 fractions was performed in 53 (41.4%) of these patients. Others (58.6%) were treated with palliative dose radiotherapy. In all patients, chemotherapy was planned with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1, and etoposide (120 mg/m2) i.v. on days 1, 2 and 3, every 3 weeks for 3-6 cycles. Conventional follow-up of patients was conducted at Izmir Oncology Center, Izmir, Turkey. All results were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients (96.9%) were males. The mean age was 58.49 (+/- 9.01), ranging from 37-78 years. Metastases were initially determined in 64 patients (50%). The median follow up of patients was 287.41 days and median survival was 354.87 days. One year survival rate was 35.8%, and 2-year survival rates was 16.9% in the radical radiotherapy group, while these rates were 26.6% and 8% in the others. According to the statistical findings; the gains in duration of median survival with the curative thoracic irradiation are 151.97 days in all 128 patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that curative radiotherapy at the primary tumor provides an additional survival benefit in patients with metastatic disease compared with palliative radiotherapy. This finding raises the question of whether treatment with radical thoracic radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, consisting of first-line drugs, might be more beneficial and cost-effective as well as a less toxic treatment of E-SCLC.

Comparison of curative and palliative radiotherapy efficacy in unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with or without metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of curative and palliative radiotherapy in inoperable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a performance status (PS) equal or greater than 2, and to compare the therapy effect on survival with or without metastatic disease. METHODS: From January 1998 through December 2004, 797 patients with inoperable stage III and IV NSCLC were treated with radiotherapy alone because of older age, cardiovascular disease, insufficient respiratory reserve or general frailty. Radical radiotherapy, consisting of approximately 60 Gy, given in 30 fractions was performed in 363 (45.5 %) of these patients. The other 434 patients (54.5%) were treated with palliative dose radiotherapy. Conventional follow-up of the patients was conducted at Izmir Oncology Center. All results were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-three patients (95.7%) were male. The mean age was 61.02 years (+/- 9.678), ranging from 30-88 years. The prominent histology was squamous cell carcinoma (70.7%). Sixty-five patients (8.2%) have been staged IIIA, 419 (52.6%) IIIB, and 313 (39.3%) IV. The median follow up of patients was 274.19 days. One-year survival rate was 37%, and 2-year survival rate was 11% in the radical radiotherapy group, while these rates were 20% and 5% in the others. CONCLUSION: Although radical thoracic radiotherapy for metastatic NSCLC has not been adopted universally, this study shows that curative radiotherapy for the primary tumor provides additional survival benefit in patients with metastatic disease compared with palliative radiotherapy. This result raises the question of whether treatment with radical radiotherapy alone might be the most beneficial and cost-effective treatment of advanced stage NSCLC.