Assessment of acute toxicities and early local recurrences in post mastectomy breast cancer patients by accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy; a single arm clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Hypofractionated post mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is commonly given using conventional radiotherapy technique. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are better sparing heart and lungs. This study was conducted to assess the toxicity profile and dosimetry outcomes of patients receiving PMRT using IMRT or VMAT. METHODS: 67 biopsy-proven patients with carcinoma of the breast who had undergone modified radical mastectomy (MRM) were included in the study. They were treated using VMAT or IMRT to a dose of 42.56 Gy in 16 fractions. Acute and late toxicities were graded using RTOG toxicity grading scale. Toxicities and recurrences were summarized as proportions with 95% confidence intervals. Spearman's correlation was used to find association between the dose received by the organs at risk (OARs) and the grade of toxicities. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 48±9.5 years. The incidence of acute grade 2 and above radiation dermatitis and pneumonitis were 11.9% and 7.5 % respectively. The incidence of acute esophagitis was 46.3%. With a median follow up of 9 months there were no significant late toxicities. There was only one local recurrence and three progressed to distant metastases but without local recurrence. Twenty-four patients were treated by IMRT, 43 patients were treated by VMAT. Dosimetrically VMAT and IMRT were comparable in planning target volume (PTV) coverage and OAR doses, but VMAT had less number of monitor units and shorter treatment time.

The Effect of High Dose Rate Interstitial Implant on Early and Locally Advanced Oral Cavity Cancers: Update and Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

Introduction Brachytherapy, with or without external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), can be an alternative to surgery for organ preservation in early and locally advanced oral cavity cancers. This study aims to evaluate the effect of high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy on early and locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity when used alone or as a boost to EBRT. Methods A total of 125 patients with histologically proven stage T1-3/N0-1 SCC of the oral cavity were included in the study. A total of 15 patients with stage I disease received an interstitial implant dose of 3,850 cGy at 350 cGy per fraction, two fractions a day. Another 53 patients had stage II, and 57 patients had stage III disease; these patients received EBRT of 50 Gy in 25 fractions along with an HDR brachytherapy boost of 21 Gy in seven fractions of 3 Gy per fraction twice daily. The stage III patients also received concurrent chemotherapy with injections of cisplatin (70 mg/m2) given every three weeks for three days in divided doses. All node-positive patients received a boost to the node of up to 64 Gy by external beam radiation. Disease response rates, five-year disease-free survival rates, and toxicities were analyzed. Results The median follow-up was 60 months. Among the patients, 103 (82.4%) had a complete response, while 22 (17.6%) had residual disease and were referred for surgical salvage. The five-year disease-free survival was 100% in stage I, 83% in stage II, and 77.2% in stage III; 4% of patients developed grade 3 acute skin toxicity and 23.2% developed acute grade 3 mucositis. Eleven patients died during the follow-up period. Two patients died due to myocardial infarction but had achieved a complete tumor response. One patient had pulmonary tuberculosis and died due to fulminant infection after three years of disease-free survival period. One patient developed a second primary in the brain stem that presented with quadriplegia and expired. Seven patients died due to the progression of the initial disease. Conclusions Proper brachytherapy technique and meticulous planning can minimize the toxicity while providing better tumor control and achieve high local control rates. Brachytherapy, with or without EBRT, can be a surrogate to surgery in early oral cavity cancers as it can achieve organ preservation while providing good functional outcomes.

Measurement of Cervical Regression and Optimizing Brachytherapy Schedule Concurrently with External Beam Radiation Therapy in Cervical Carcinoma.

Introduction This study aimed to measure cervical regression during external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and optimize the scheduling of brachytherapy concurrently with EBRT. Methods Fifty consecutive patients with carcinoma of the cervix stage IIA to IIIB received concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly Cisplatin 40 mg/m2. Cervical regression was evaluated using serial CT scans obtained before and during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (on the third, fourth, and fifth weeks). High dose rate brachytherapy was introduced after 30Gy of EBRT. A total of 25.5Gy in three fractions were delivered during the third, fourth, and fifth weeks of EBRT. Cervical volumes were recorded from the CT scan for cervical regression. Results The mean cervical volume at baseline (i.e., before the start of treatment) was 85.53 cubic centimetres (cc). The mean cervical volumes at the end of the third, fourth, and fifth week were 28.95cc, 24.92cc, and 21.80cc, respectively. The mean cervical regression from baseline to the end of the third, fourth, and fifth week was 60%, 65%, and 69%, respectively. The time for 50% cervical regression was calculated to be 18 days and occurred around 27Gy of EBRT. Conclusion More than 50% of cervical regressions occur at the end of the third week (i.e., after delivery of 30Gy of EBRT), so it is optimal to introduce brachytherapy at the end of the third week. A conventional point-based plan can cover the high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) if the volume is <25cc, but an HRCTV >25cc may be well covered with optimization or a combination of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy.

Assessment of Psychological Distress and its Effect on Quality of Life and Social Functioning in Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of cancer and its treatment can make patients psychologically distressed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of psychological distress and social functioning in cancer patients and to assess the association of these parameters with the quality of life (QOL) experienced by the patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cancer patients attending palliative care clinic who can understand and speak English or Tamil language were taken into the study. An interview technique with a questionnaire is used for data collection after informed consent. The questionnaire consisted of four sections, namely, demographic variables, general health questionnaire, WHO QOL-BREF, and SCARF social functioning index. All questionnaires were translated into the Tamil Language and were evaluated by the experts for content validity. RESULTS: The median scores obtained are psychological distress = 44 (11-98), WHO QOL = 64 (36-117), and social function = 51 (29-79). Out of 251 patients, 30% had severe psychological distress, 25.6% had poor QOL, and 23.2% were with severely affected social function. Skilled laborers had better scores compared to unskilled laborers (P < 0.05). Family size (<2 children) had a positive impact on the QOL (P = 0.008). Patients from urban locales had better social functioning than rural counterpart (P = 0.047), but no difference was observed in distress level or QOL. Increased growth hormone distress score of the patients had a negative impact on both QOL (r = -0.522) and social function (r = -0.244). QOL correlated positively with social function (r = +0.247). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial stress associated with cancer and its treatment can impact the QOL and social functioning of the patient and needs to be addressed along with the cancer-directed therapy. Decreasing the symptom burden and distress level by palliative care intervention might improve the QOL and social function.

Role of high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy in early and locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the effect of High Dose Rate (HDR) Interstitial Brachytherapy when used alone or in combination with External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT), in early and locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa received high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy either as primary treatment or as a boost from November 2008 to April 2013. Stage I patients received interstitial brachytherapy alone to a dose of 38.50 Gy, 3.5 Gy per fraction, twice daily at six hours apart for 11 fractions. Stage II patients received EBRT to a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions of two Gy each followed by brachytherapy boost to 21 Gy, 3.5 Gy per fraction, twice daily at six hours apart for six fractions. Stage III patients received the same radiotherapy schedule (i.e., same EBRT & Brachytherapy schedule) and with addition of Injection Cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) in three divided doses every three weeks along with EBRT. RESULTS: Follow up ranged from 12 to 60 months, median follow up was 26 months. Complete response was observed in 28 patients. Five patients had residual disease and were referred for surgical salvage. One patient died of disease progression. Stage I patients had 100% local control, whereas Stage II and Stage III patients had 84.6% and 80% local control respectively. CONCLUSION: HDR Interstitial Brachytherapy used either as a primary treatment modality or as a boost in buccal mucosal cancers provides results comparable to that of surgery, with the advantages of organ preservation, better cosmetic and functional outcomes.