Radiation Oncology Research in Asia: Current Status and a Peep Into the Future From the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology.

PURPOSE: This survey was conducted to assess the current research practices among the 14 members of the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO) committee, to inform measures for research capacity building in these nations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 19-item electronic survey was sent to two research committee members from the 14 representative national radiation oncology organizations (N = 28) that are a part of FARO. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 14 member organizations (93%) and 20 of 28 members (71.5%) responded to the questionnaire. Only 50% of the members stated that an active research environment existed in their country. Retrospective audits (80%) and observational studies (75%) were the most common type of research conducted in these centers. Lack of time (80%), lack of funding (75%), and limited training in research methodology (40%) were cited as the most common hindrances in conducting research. To promote research initiatives in the collaborative setting, 95% of the members agreed to the creation of site-specific groups, with head and neck (45%) and gynecological cancers (25%) being the most preferred disease sites. Projects focused on advanced external beam radiotherapy implementation (40%), and cost-effectiveness studies (35%) were cited as some of the potential areas for future collaboration. On the basis of the survey results, after result discussion and the FARO officers meeting, an action plan for the research committee has been created. CONCLUSION: The results from the survey and the initial policy structure may allow facilitation of radiation oncology research in the collaborative setting. Centralization of research activities, funding support, and research-directed training are underway to help foster a successful research environment in the FARO region.

Quality of life in children with brain tumors post radiotherapy in a lower-middle income country.

Indonesia is a rapidly growing lower-middle-income country (LMIC) located in Southeast Asia. It has 267.3 million inhabitants, with 31.6% (84.4 million) children. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, Indonesia had the highest prevalence of pediatric cancer cases in Southeast Asia (43.5%), and brain tumors had the third-highest incidence in Indonesia. Treating children with brain tumors with radiotherapy is challenging, especially the late treatment effects that can affect their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to show the QoL in children with brain tumors after radiotherapy in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, based on PedsQL™ 4.0 generic core scale and the possible affecting factors. In this cross-sectional study, 26 of 88 children with brain tumors after radiotherapy were assessed by the PedsQL™ 4.0 generic core scale. Of the 88 patients who had brain tumor radiotherapy in 2014-2019, 31 patients were lost to follow-up, 28 were confirmed dead, and 29 were assured alive. One-year, three-year, and five-year overall survival were 71.6%, 43.2%, and 5.7%, respectively. The mean of children's QoL was 70.686 and 70.152 based on child self-report and parent proxy-report. Family income > 290 USD (regional minimum wage) was a factor that improved the QoL in children with brain tumors after radiotherapy (p = 0.008). QoL in children with brain tumors after radiotherapy could be influenced by family income.

Correlation of Ki-67 with Radiation Response and Grade in Meningiomas: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to identify the role of Ki-67 as a prognostic factor in estimating tumor grade and the radiation response in meningiomas. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature on meningiomas was carried out through the PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost databases according to the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Our search resulted in 465 collected articles, 15 of which satisfied the eligibility criteria. Twelve studies reported the correlation between Ki-67 and meningioma grade. Two other investigations reported the relationship between Ki-67 and the radiation response in meningioma, and one failed to capture the association between Ki-67 and the radiation response in meningioma. CONCLUSION: The Ki-67 proliferation index has a uniform correlation with meningioma grade. Two of the 3 studies on the correlation of Ki-67 with the radiation response in meningioma patients reported that patients with a higher Ki-67 responded better to radiation therapy.

Overexpression of c-Met is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of c-Met overexpression with survival of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. METHODS: A systematic review with meta-analyses was conducted on related articles from PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Cochrane databases with last updated search on October 31, 2020. A total of 7 studies regarding c-Met overexpression and overall survival (OS) and/or progression free survival (PFS) are included in this study. RESULTS: All studies used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of c-Met protein. The results showed that the positive rate of c-Met overexpression was detected in approximately 33,9% - 60,5% of GBM patients. c-Met overexpression was related to worse OS (HR: 1,74; 95% CI: 1,482-2,043; Z=6,756; p<0,001) and PFS (HR: 1,66; 95% CI: 1,327-2,066; Z=4,464; p<0,001) in GBM patients. Low heterogeneity of subjects was found in both OS and PFS analyses, I2 values were 7,8% and 0,0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, c-Met overexpression is significantly related to shorter OS and PFS in GBM patients, so c-Met can be considered as a potential prognostic indicator in GBM.

Dosimetric analysis of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy-step and shoot, helical tomotherapy, and volumetric modulated arc therapy in prostate cancer radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited study comparing dosimetry parameters in detail. In regard to prostate cancer, there are four different techniques, namely three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy-step and shoot (IMRT-SS), IMRT-helical tomotherapy (HT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental study with intervention on ten prostate cancer patients' computed tomography planning data. 78 Gy dose in 39 fractions was given for planning target volume.Experimental study with intervention on ten prostate cancer patients' computed tomography planning data. 78 Gy dose in 39 fractions was given for planning target volume. RESULTS: The mean V75 Gy rectum and bladder between 3D-CRT and the other three abovementioned techniques all showed significant results (P < 0.05). V5 Gy remaining volume at risk (RVR) between 3D-CRT versus VMAT and HT, IMRT-SS versus HT, and VMAT versus HT is statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The longest radiation time was done with HT (mean 4.70 ± 0.84 min). CONCLUSION: V75 Gy rectum bladder between 3D-CRT techniques differ significantly compared to the three other techniques and may not be suitable to the implementation of escalation doses. The HT technique produced the highest V5 Gy RVR and needed the highest monitor unit amount and the longest radiation duration. The VMAT technique was considered capable of realizing dose escalation in prostate cancer radiotherapy by minimizing toxicity in the rectum and bladder with the shortest radiation duration.

Preliminary survey of 3D image-guided brachytherapy for cervical cancer at representative hospitals in Asian countries.

3D image-guided brachytherapy (3D-IGBT) has become a standard therapy for cervical cancer. However, the use of 3D-IGBT is limited in East and Southeast Asia. This study aimed to clarify the current usage patterns of 3D-IGBT for cervical cancer in East and Southeast Asia. A questionnaire-based survey was performed in 11 countries within the framework of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia. The questionnaire collected the treatment information of patients with cervical cancer who underwent 3D-IGBT. The cumulative external beam radiotherapy and 3D-IGBT doses were summarized and normalized to a biological equivalent dose of 2 Gy per fraction (EQD2) using a linear-quadratic model. Of the 11 institutions representing the participating countries, six (55%) responded to the questionnaire. Overall, data of 36 patients were collected from the six institutions. Twenty-one patients underwent whole-pelvic irradiation and 15 underwent whole-pelvic irradiation with central shielding. Patients received a median of four treatment sessions of 3D-IGBT (range, 2-6). All 3D-IGBT sessions were computed tomography (CT)-based and not magnetic resonance image-based. The median doses to the high-risk clinical target volume D90, bladder D2cc, rectum D2cc and sigmoid colon D2cc were 80.9 Gy EQD2 (range, 58.9-105.9), 77.7 Gy EQD2 (range, 56.9-99.1), 68.0 Gy EQD2 (range, 48.6-90.7) and 62.0 Gy EQD2 (range, 39.6-83.7), respectively. This study elucidated the current patterns of 3D-IGBT for the treatment of cervical cancer in East and Southeast Asia. The results indicate the feasibility of observational studies of CT-based 3D-IGBT for cervical cancer in these countries.

Tumor microenvironment predicts local tumor extensiveness in PD-L1 positive nasopharyngeal cancer.

Tumor microenvironment have been implicated in many kind of cancers to hold an important role in determining treatment success especially with immunotherapy. In nasopharyngeal cancer, the prognostic role of this immune cells within tumor microenvironment is still doubtful. We conducted a study that included 25 nasopharyngeal cancer biopsy specimens to seek a more direct relationship between tumor infiltrating immune cells and tumor progression. Apart from that, we also checked the PD-L1 protein through immunohistochemistry. The PD-L1 was positively expressed in all our 25 samples with nasopharyngeal cancer WHO type 3 histology. Majority samples have >50% PD-L1 expression in tumor cells. We also found that denser local tumor infiltrating immune cells population have relatively much smaller local tumor volume. The inverse applied, with the mean local tumor volumes were 181.92 cm3 ± 81.45 cm3, 117.13 cm3 ± 88.72 cm3, and 55.13 cm3 ± 25.06 cm3 for mild, moderate, and heavy immune cells infiltration respectively (p = 0.013). Therefore, we concluded that tumor infiltrating immune cells play an important role in tumor progression, hence evaluating this simple and predictive factor may provide us with some valuable prognostic information.

Current Immune-Related Molecular Approach in Combating Nasopharyngeal Cancer.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a cancer closely related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV protein has been shown to be related to various oncogenic development. Suppression of tumor suppressor genes, upregulating molecules to prevent immune attack, downregulating pro-apoptotic proteins, and stimulating local immune suppressive environment are among some roles that EBV proteins can exert on host cells. All those factors combined together with underlying genetic susceptibility of host cells further increase the chance of nasopharyngeal cancer development. Approach targeting those carcinogenesis pathways has been tested with marginal benefit. A newer approach boosting immune cells to increase recognition of tumor antigen and promoting cytotoxic T cell attack has shown promising clinical benefit. Further combination of those immunotherapies with other modality, in particular radiotherapy, has resulted in amplification of cancer killing.

Diagnostic Approach for Thyroid Nodules.

Thyroid nodule is a health problem which commonly found in daily practice, therefore clinical guidance is needed. This guideline was compiled by a multidisciplinary team and expected to be a guideline in diagnosing thyroid nodules on daily clinical practice.

Practical Guidelines Management of Graves Ophthalmopathy.

Graves' ophthalmopathy is the most common extra-thyroid manifestation in patients with Graves' disease, based on inflammatory and autoimmune conditions in orbital tissue. This practical guideline was formed by a multidiciplinary team, and is intended to provide guidance for diagnosis and management of Graves' ophthalmopathy in daily clinical practice to improve quality of care and treatment outcome.