四君子汤合沙参麦冬汤加减联合IMRT放疗治疗局部复发食管鳞癌的疗效和安全性

目的:初步探讨四君子汤合沙参麦冬汤加减联合IMRT放疗治疗局部复发食管鳞癌的有效性和安全性。方法:43例食管癌患者随机分为2组，试验组22例，在IMRT放疗的基础上联用四君子汤合沙参麦冬汤加减，水煎服，每日一剂，早晚服用，于放疗第1天开始，放疗结束两周后停用；对照组21例只行IMRT放疗。结果:试验组与对照组的近期有效率（RR）和疾病控制率（DCR）分别为59.1%、86.4%和42.9%、61.9%，差异无统计学意义(P>0.05）；1、2、3年生存率虽然治疗组较对照组确有提高，但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05）；试验组白细胞减少、血小板减少、血红蛋白减少、放射性肺炎均较对照组发生率明显降低，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05)。结论:四君子汤合沙参麦冬汤加减联合IMRT放疗治疗局部复发食管鳞癌患者可以明显降低放疗所致不良反应，一定程度改善患者的治疗效果和1、2、3年生存率。     

MRI Radiomic Analysis of IMRT-Induced Bladder Wall Changes in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Relationship with Radiation Dose and Toxicity

BackgroundThe main purpose of this study was to assess the structural changes in the bladder wall of prostate cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy using magnetic resonance imaging texture features analysis and to correlate image texture changes with radiation dose and urinary toxicity.MethodsEthical clearance was granted to enroll 33 patients into this study who were treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer. All patients underwent two magnetic resonance imagings before and after radiation therapy (RT). A total of 274 radiomic features were extracted from MR-T2W–weighted images. Wilcoxon singed rank-test was performed to assess significance of the change in mean radiomic features post-RT relative to pre-RT values. The relationship between radiation dose and feature changes was assessed and depicted. Cystitis was recorded as urinary toxicity. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve of a logistic regression–based classifier was used to find correlation between radiomic features with significant changes and radiation toxicity.ResultsThirty-three bladder walls were analyzed, with 11 patients developing grade ≥2 urinary toxicity. We showed that radiomic features may predict radiation toxicity and features including S5.0SumVarnc, S2.2SumVarnc, S1.0AngScMom, S0.4SumAverg, and S5. _5InvDfMom with area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.75, 0.69, 0.65, 0.63, and 0.62 had highest correlation with toxicity, respectively. The results showed that most of the radiomic features were changed with radiation dose.ConclusionFeature changes have a good correlation with radiation dose and radiation-induced urinary toxicity. These radiomic features can be identified as being potentially important imaging biomarkers and also assessing mechanisms of radiation-induced bladder injuries.     

Split-course hypofractionated radiotherapy for aged and frail patients with head and neck cancers. A retrospective study of 75 cases

PurposeTo assess the efficacy and the tolerance of a split course hypofractionated (SCH) radiotherapy (RT) protocol in head and neck cancer (HNC) for eldery and/or unfit patients (pts).Patients and methodsPts with HNC treated by SCH-RT in two institutions were included retrospectively. The main SCH RT regimen was two courses of 30 grays (Gy)/10 fractions separated by 2–4 weeks, without any systemic therapy.ResultsBetween February 2012 and January 2019, 75 consecutive patients were analyzed. The median age was 80 years (range: 45.7–98.2) and 53 (70.7%) were men. Sixty-one (81.3%) pts had stage III/IV disease and 54 (72%) had at least two comorbidities. All of them were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Median follow-up was 10.6 months (range: 3.1–58.3). Local control at 12 and 24 months was 72.8% IC95%[62–85.5] and 51.7% IC95%[38.1–70.1] respectively. Progression free survival (PFS) at 12 and 24 months were 47.7% IC95%[37.4–60.8] and 41% IC95%[15–36.4] respectively, with a median of 11.5 months IC95%[8.9–17]. OS at 12 and 24 months were 60.4% IC95%[50–73.1] and 41% IC95%[30.6–54.9] respectively, with a median of 19.3 months IC95%[11.9–25.8]. Acute and late grade 3 or higher toxicities occurred for 6 (8%) and 3 (4%) pts.ConclusionThe present SCH-RT regimen seems effective, well-tolerated and could represent an alternative to palliative strategies for pts deemed unfit for standard exclusive RT.     

IMRT联合TP方案治疗晚期食管鳞癌的临床疗效及对患者血清MMP2、TIMP2、nm23-H1及不良反应的影响

目的分析调强放射治疗(IMRT)联合TP方案治疗晚期食管鳞癌的临床疗效及对患者血清基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP2)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂2(TIMP2)、nm23-H1及不良反应的影响。方法选取晚期食管鳞癌患者80例为研究对象,按随机数字表法将其分为观察组(n=40,采用IMRT联合TP方案化疗)、对照组(n=40,单纯采用IMRT治疗),比较2组临床疗效、治疗前后血清MMP2、TIMP2、nm23-H1表达阳性率、局控率与生存情况及不良反应。结果观察组治疗有效率(85.00%)明显高于对照组(65.00%)(P<0.05)。治疗后2组血清MMP2表达阳性率下降,而TIMP2、nm23-H1表达阳性率上升,且观察组治疗后血清MMP2表达阳性率低于对照组,而TIMP2、nm23-H1表达阳性率高于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组治疗后1年、2年局控率高于对照组,但2组治疗后1年、2年生存率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组白细胞减少、放射性食管炎发生率高于对照组(P<0.05),2组其他不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论晚期食管癌患者采用IMRT联合TP方案治疗可获得较好的疗效,对患者血清MMP2、TIMP2、nm23-H1有明显改善,但可能会较单纯IMRT治疗具有更多不良反应,需加以监测。     

IMRiS phase II study of IMRT in limb sarcomas: Results of the pre-trial QA facility questionnaire and workshop

IntroductionSoft tissue sarcomas of the extremities (STSE) are rare malignancies. We report current UK practice for immobilisation of soft tissue sarcoma of STSE, as part of the initial study set-up within the IMRiS trial, a phase II study of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in primary bone and soft tissue sarcoma.MethodsA facility questionnaire (FQ) was circulated to 29 IMRiS centres investigating the variation in immobilisation devices, planning techniques, and imaging protocols. A workshop was held to address concerns raised by centres. It focused on STSE immobilisation and patient set-up. Robustness of patient set-up at each centre was evaluated based on the following criteria: evidence of local set-up audit, calculation of margins based on set-up audit results, imaging frequency, and number of patients treated per centre per annum.ResultsTwenty-seven (93%) questionnaires were returned. 30% (8/27) of responders routinely treated STSE with IMRT. The remaining 70% (19/27) had little or no experience with IMRT for STSE. Vacuum bags were the most frequent immobilisation device (9/27), followed by thermoplastic shells (7/27). Nine centres had audited their local set-up; however, only 4 had calculated margins in response to the results. Ten centres were classified as having high level of robustness.ConclusionsImmobilisation devices and planning techniques for STSE are inconsistent across centres. Robustness of set-up is an important tool to ensure quality of results in a multicentre trial setting with such different levels of experience. The IMRiS trial Quality Assurance programme encourages centres to assess robustness of set-up through local audit and subsequent calculation of treatment margins.Implications for practiceThis is the first study that used robustness criteria to tailor QA support to individual centres.     

Helical Radiotherapy in Early Laryngeal Cancers Could Lead to Excess Local Recurrence: Lessons From a Phase II Prospective Study

AimsA prospective study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of carotid-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (CSIMRT) in early glottic cancers (EGC).Materials and methodsEighteen patients underwent CSIMRT using helical tomotherapy to a dose of 55 Gy/20 fractions/4 weeks. Carotid intimal thickness (CIT) at prespecified carotid levels was measured using B-mode ultrasound at 6, 18 and 36 months. Serial changes in CIT were also measured in a control prospective cohort of 18 patients with head and neck cancers receiving bilateral neck nodal radiation over the same time period (54–60 Gy/30 fraction/6 weeks). The outcomes of 18 patients undergoing CSIMRT were compared against a retrospective consecutive cohort of 41 patients with EGC to confirm comparable local control.ResultsNo significant CIT differences were identified between patients undergoing CSIMRT versus the control group. However, four patients in the CSIMRT group had a local recurrence between 8 and 39 months. In all patients the epicentre of the recurrence was noted at the anterior part of the larynx. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival was 75.1% (95% confidence interval 56.6–99.7%). By contrast, in the group of EGC patients treated without carotid sparing, local recurrence was noted only in a single patient (patient treated with helical tomotherapy) and the 5-year local recurrence-free survival was 97.1% (95% confidence interval 91.8–100%) (Log-rank P = 0.01).ConclusionWe failed to show the safety of CSIMRT using helical tomotherapy in this population of EGC patients. Use of CSIMRT also did not translate into a substantial reduction in CIT until 36 months. Use of CSIMRT using rotational arc techniques such as helical tomotherapy may be associated with a greater risk of local recurrence due to intrafractional motion interplay effects.     

不同组织密度对IMRT剂量验证通过率的影响

目的研究不同的组织密度对IMRT计划验证通过率的影响,为临床调强计划设计优化提供更好的经验。方法分别建立头部(120 KV,380 mAs)、胸部(140 KV,100 m As)和参考均匀模体(120 KV,130 m As)3种模式下CT电子密度表,选取20例鼻咽癌IMRT计划分别使用这3种CT电子密度表设计3组计划方案。结果在OmniPro I'mRT软件中设置3 mm、3%、阈值5为分析限制条件,此20例鼻咽癌IMRT计划的head-head通过率均达到96.44%±2.3%;head-chest通过率与head-head通过率比较得到为83.78%±7.1%(P<0.05);head-water通过率与head-head通过率比较得到为83.26%±7%(P<0.05)。结论对于IMRT计划优化前选取正确的电子密度是实现最大剂量通过率的保证。