The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck 35 in Italian Laryngectomized Patients

The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)-head and neck (H&N) 35 in Italian laryngeal cancer patients. The original questionnaire was developed by the EORTC quality of life (QoL) study group and tested in H&N cancer patients from Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The Italian translation of the questionnaire used in this study was made by a team of the CRO, National Cancer Institute, using a double-back translation method between independent translators. The translated EORTC QLQ-H&N35 was given to 99 patients with H&N cancer who had undergone total laryngectomy 1–26 years before and had been then treated with radiotherapy and, in some cases, chemotherapy. The questionnaire was re-administrated to 33 patients after 1 month to test its stability over time. It was structurally made up of seven scales (pain, swallowing, sense, speech, social eating, social contact, and sexuality) and 11 single items that considered the most important clinical aspects characterizing the QoL in H&N cancer patients. The statistical analysis of the indexes of validity and reliability confirmed the results obtained with other linguistic versions of the questionnaire. Our Italian version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 proved to be a statistically valid instrument to assess QoL in laryngectomized patients. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quality of life in patients of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Validation of the Taiwan Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35

The authors followed the guidelines of translation and pilot testing of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires. The questionnaires were given to 50 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients under active treatment and 50 under follow-up at our institution from November 2000 to June 2001. A retest was conducted 2 weeks after the first interview/form completion for the follow-up group. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two questionnaires were moderate to high in the follow-up group. Cronbach's coefficients of all scales of the two questionnaires were 0.70 except that of cognitive functioning. Correlation of scales measuring similar dimensions of the QLQ-C30 and the SF-36 were moderate to high, while that of the QLQ-H&N35 and the QLQ-C30 and the SF-36 were moderate to low. Patients in the active treatment group had more serious acute problems due to disease and chemotherapy. Patients in the follow-up group had more serious chronic problems due to radiation therapy. We concluded that the Taiwan Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 had moderate to high test–retest reliability, high internal consistency in most scales, and could show the expected differences between patients in active treatment and follow-up group.     

The Correlation Between the Comprehensive Nutrition Index and Quality of Life of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated by Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to compare the changing tendency of nutrition with 54 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and to investigate the correlation between comprehensive nutritional status and quality of life (QoL), which was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. The nutritional index, including body mass index, ideal body weight percentage, usual body weight percentage, albumin, hemoglobin, and total lymphocyte count (TLC), was evaluated at 2 time points: within 48 h after admission (T₁) and at the end of treatment with IMRT (T₂). A statistically significant downgrade of every index was observed during IMRT. A comprehensive nutritional model was established by principal components analysis at T₂. QoL scores of functional (P = 0.002) and the global QoL scales (P = 0.001) existed a positive correlation with comprehensive nutritional status. QoL scores of symptom scales (P = 0.002) and 6 single items (P = 0.005) had a negative correlation with it. The scores of global QoL scales in comprehensive nutrition of normal (20.4%), moderate (55.6%), and severe malnutrition (24.1%) were 69.70 ± 17.98, 48.33 ± 19.25, and 37.18 ± 24.67, respectively. Patients with different nutritional status had different QoL (B = 10.405, SE = 2.828, t = 3.680, P = 0.001). Multiaspect nutritional supports should be enhanced to improve patients’ comprehensive nutritional status during treatment.     

Mapping Health-Related Quality of Life,Anxiety, and Depression in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosed with Malnutrition Defined by GLIM

Patients with cancer deal with problems related to physical, psychological, social, and emotional functions. The aim was to investigate malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in relation to health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients with head and neck cancer. This was a prospective observational research study with 273 patients followed at the start of treatment, seven weeks, and one year. Data collection included nutritional status and support, and the questionnaires: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and neck cancer module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Malnutrition was defined using the GLIM criteria. The study showed that patients with malnutrition had significantly greater deterioration in their health-related quality of life at seven weeks. On a group level, health-related quality of life was most severe at this time point and some scores still implied problems at one year. Significantly, more patients reported anxiety at the start of treatment whereas significantly more patients reported depression at seven weeks. Over the trajectory of care, the need for support often varies. Psychosocial support is imperative and at the end of treatment extra focus should be put on nutritional interventions and managing treatment-related symptoms to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life. In the long-term, head and neck cancer survivors need help to find strategies to cope with the remaining sequel.     

Modified-Nutrition Index is a Significant Prognostic Factor for the Overall Survival of the Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients who Undergo Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy

Purpose: To explore whether the modified-nutrition index (m-NI) is a prognostic factor for the overall survival (OS) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients who undergo intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods: Clinical data were prospectively collected from NPC patients who underwent IMRT at our hospital between October 2008 and December 2014. The patient nutritional status before radiotherapy was evaluated using the m-NI, based on eight nutrition indicators including body mass index, arm muscle circumference, albumin, total lymphocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, serum pre-albumin, and transferrin. The independent prognostic value of m-NI for the OS was evaluated. Results: A total of 323 patients (229 males, 94 females) were included in this study, and the follow-up rate was 99.7% (322/323). The 1-, 3-, and 5-yr OS rates between malnutrition and normal nutrition groups by using the m-NI were 93.0% vs. 96.9%, 76.4% vs. 82.8%, and 61.8% vs. 77.1%, respectively. A regression analysis showed that the m-NI was the significant prognostic value for the OS in NPC. Conclusions: The m-NI before radiotherapy is a significant prognostic factor for the OS in NPC patients. Further validation of our instrument is needed in other NPC patients.     

Psychometric properties of the EORTC head and neck–specific quality of life questionnaire in disease-free Greek patients with cancer of pharynx and larynx

Purpose  

The purpose of our study was to formally translate to and determine the psychometric properties of QLQ-H&N35 in a group of Greek patients who had been successfully treated for laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer.     

Performance of the EORTC questionnaire for the assessment of quality of life in head and neck cancer patients EORTC QLQ-H&N35: a methodological review

Purpose

The EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (H&N35) is widely used to measure quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. The aims of this study were to obtain insight into a) the languages in which the H&N35 has been used and the psychometric properties in those languages, b) the study designs, and c) its acceptance by patients and investigators.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed searching for all original papers that had used at least one item of the H&N35. Identified papers were read and the information about methodological issues abstracted statistically analysed.

Results

A total of 136 papers were identified. The H&N35 was administered in 19 different languages in 27 countries. The study design was cross-sectional in the majority of studies (53 %), prospective cohort studies (31 %), phase-II-trials (7 %), phase-III-trials (6 %) and case–control studies (1 %). The scales with the highest percentages of missing values were Sexuality (11.5 %) and Speech (7 %). The median Cronbach’s alpha of the multi-item scales ranged from 0.61 (Senses) to 0.93 (Sexuality). Construct validity was rarely investigated. On average, 12 scales (range 0-18) of the instrument were used by the investigators. The scale most often used was swallowing (in 85 % of studies) and least often used was Weight Gain (39 %).

Conclusion

The H&N35 is widely used throughout the world, mainly in observational studies, and has demonstrated robust psychometric features in different languages. However, some methodological problems reported imply that the instrument can be improved in some areas.     

Dosimetric benefits of placing dose constraints on the brachial plexus in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy: a comparative study

This study aimed to evaluate whether placing dose constraints on the brachial plexus (BP) could provide dosimetric benefits in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Planning CT images for 30 patients with NPC treated with definitive IMRT were retrospectively reviewed. Target volumes, the BP and other critical structures were delineated; two separate IMRT plans were designed for each patient: one set no restrictions for the BP; the other considered the BP as a critical structure for which a maximum dose limit of ≤66 Gy was set. No significant differences between the two plans were observed in the conformity index, homogeneity index, maximum dose to the planning target volumes (PTVs), minimum dose to the PTVs, percentages of the volume of the PTVnx and PTVnd receiving more than 110% of the prescribed dose, or percentages of the volume of the PTVs receiving 95% and > 93% of the prescribed dose. Dose constraints significantly reduced the maximum dose, mean dose, V45, V50, V54, V60, V66 and V70 to the BP. Dose constraints significantly reduced the maximum dose to the BP, V45, V60 and V66 in both N0–1 and N2–3 disease; however, the magnitude of the dosimetric gain for each parameter between N0–1 and N2–3 disease was not significantly different, except for the V60 and V66. In conclusion, placing dose constraints on the BP can significantly decrease the irradiated volume and dose, without compromising adequate dose delivery to the target volume.     

Influence of a nutritional intervention on dietary intake and quality of life in cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveWeight loss is common in patients with malignant tumors and it can adversely affect quality of life and survival. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a nutritional intervention in cancer patients in an outpatient setting.MethodsCancer outpatients (N = 58) who were classified as undernourished or at high risk for undernutrition by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 tool were randomized into two groups. One group (n = 30) received standardized individual nutritional therapy, including counseling by a dietitian, food fortification, and oral nutritional supplements if required. The second group (n = 28) received standard care. The nutritional intervention lasted 3 mo. Dietary intake (3-d dietary record), nutritional status (body weight), physical functioning (performance status, hand-grip strength) and quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0) were assessed at baseline and after 6 wk and 3 mo. An additional follow-up assessment was carried out 3 mo post-intervention.ResultsNutritional intervention led to a significantly higher average energy and protein intake in the nutritional therapy group (+379 kcal; 95% confidence interval [CI], 117–642; P = 0.007, respectively; +10.4 g; 95% CI, 2.3–18.5; P = 0.016). However, the increased dietary intake was not associated with improvements in nutritional status, physical functioning, or quality of life.ConclusionsIndividual nutritional counseling significantly and positively influenced energy and protein intake, but did not improve nutritional or physical outcome or quality of life. These results indicate that nutritional therapy alone is of limited efficacy in cancer patients whose nutritional status has already deteriorated.     

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies—dosimetric changes during treatment period

To overcome cranio-caudal needle displacement in pelvic high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDRIB), we have been utilizing a fullystretched elastic tape to thrust the template into the perineum. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate dosimetric changes during the treatment period using this thrusting method, and to explore reproducible planning methods based on the results of the dosimetric changes. Twenty-nine patients with gynecologic malignancies were treated with HDRIB at the Cancer Institute Hospital. Pre-treatment and post-treatment computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired and a virtual plan for post-treatment CT was produced by applying the dwell positions/times of the original plan. For the post-treatment plan, D90 for the clinical target volume (CTV) and D2cc for the rectum and bladder were assessed and compared with that for the original plan. Cranio-caudal needle displacement relative to CTV during treatment period was only 0.7 ± 1.9 mm. The mean D90 values for the CTV in the pre- and post-treatment plans were stable (6.8 Gy vs. 6.8 Gy) and the post-treatment/pre-treatment D90 ratio was 1.00 ± 0.08. The post-/pre-treatment D2cc ratio was 1.14 ± 0.22 and the mean D2cc for the rectum increased for the post-treatment plan (5.4 Gy vs. 6.1 Gy), especially when parametrial infiltration was present. The mean D2cc for the bladder was stable (6.3 Gy vs. 6.6 Gy) and the ratio was 1.06 ± 0.20. Our thrusting method achieved a stable D90 for the CTV, in contrast to previous prostate HDRIB reports displaying reductions of 35–40% for D90 during the treatment period.     

CT增强扫描对鼻咽癌调强放射治疗剂量的影响

目的：分析在增强CT上设计调强放射治疗计划时，由于CT值的变化而引起的剂量计算差别大小，保证IMRT临床计划的准确性。方法：对8个分期为N2M0鼻咽癌病人实施CT增强扫描，使用CMS XIO4．2．2计划系统在增强CT上设计IMRT计划，计算出感性趣点、靶区及危及器官的平均剂量；再在先前计算好的IMRT计划中，直接勾画出颈动脉、颈静脉，对其进行密度修正、强行定义其密度为1g／cm^3，保证IMRT计划保证子野数目，子野形状及输出跳数（MU）相同条件下，重新计算出感兴趣点、靶区及危及器官的平均剂量，然后和先前没有强行定义组织密度的IMRT计划计算结果进行比较，即DVH图、感兴趣点、靶区及危及器官的平均剂量变化，用Excel统计分析差别大小。结果：8个鼻咽癌IMRT计划中，比较出的DVH图、感兴趣点、靶区及危及器官的平均剂量差别非常小，没有统计学意义。结论：在增强CT中CT的值变化，对IMRT放射治疗剂量影响非常小，既可以直接用增强CT中设计IMRT计划。     

Nutritional consequences of radiotherapy in nasopharynx cancer patients

Nasopharynx cancer (NPC) occurs frequently in southern China. Radiotherapy (RT) is the standard treatment for this cancer, and weight loss is commonly observed during and for a prolonged period after RT. The determinants of this phenomenon are not well known. The nutritional status of 38 NPC patients was assessed serially before and for a 6-mo period after RT. Body weight, body composition (by dual X-ray absorptiometry), basal metabolic rate (BMR, by indirect calorimetry), and calorie intake (by 3-day dietary record) were documented at pre-RT (T0), end-RT (T1), 2 mo post-end-RT (T2), and 6 mo post-end-RT (T3). The BMI at end-RT was 21.5 +- 3.7 kg/m2 (range = 13.7-27.9 kg/m2) and was significantly lower than that at pre-RT (P < 0.001). Body weight at T1-T3 was significantly lower than that at T0 (P < 0.001). Mean percentage weight loss was 10.8% at end-RT. Fifty-five percent of patients (20 of 30) had 10% weight loss by the end of RT. BMR corrected for body weight did not change significantly among the four time points, but BMRs corrected for lean body mass at T2 and T3 were significantly lower than that at T0 (P < 0.01). Patients' calorie intake generally declined from T0 to T1 (from 1,857 P < 411 kcal to 11,68 +- 549 kcal, P < 0.001) and then increased from T1 to T3. The calorie intakes at T2 and T3 were not significantly different from that at T0 but were significantly higher than that at T1. Patients were in negative energy balance before, during, and up until 6 mo after RT. The recovery in body weight lagged behind the recovery of dietary intake. Eighty-two percent of NPC patients had significant weight loss and was in negative energy balance at the end of RT, which persisted for at least 6 mo. This finding suggests that there is room for improvement in the nutritional status of patients with NPC treated with RT.     

鼻咽癌螺旋断层放疗与常规调强放疗能剂量学分析

目的比较鼻咽癌在螺旋断层放疗（Helical Tomotherapy）和常规调强放疗（IMRT）两种不同治疗系统中治疗计划的剂量学分布,并对靶区和危及器官的剂量进行分析。材料与方法选择18例鼻咽癌病例,将其定位数据信息及靶区器官轮廓分别传输至TomotherapyTPS工作站及Varian EclipseTPS工作站并设计调强放疗计划,18例患者的处方剂量相同,其中鼻咽部原发灶GTVnx为73．92Gy／33F;可见的转移淋巴结GTVnd为69．96Gy／33F;高危临床靶区CTV1为60．06Gy／33F;预防照射区CTV2为50．96Gy／28F,通过对靶区的适形度指数（CN）、均匀性指数（H1）和危及器官（OARs）的最大剂量及平均剂量等各项指标比较2组治疗计划,对两组数据进行配对f检验。结果螺旋断层放疗组中PGTVnx、PTV1、PTV2的CN值分别为0．910±0．010、0．855±0．020、0．871±0．021,常规调强组中PGTVnx、PTV1、PTV2的CN值分别为0．867±0．025、0．822±0．020、0．811±0．012,螺旋断层放疗组中PGTVnx、PTV1、PTV2的HJ值分别为1．049±0．009、I_135±0．030、1．034±0．011,常规调强组中PGTVnx、PTV1、PTV2的HI值分别为1．060±0．011、1．222±0：023、1．094±0．015,各组P值均〈0．005。螺旋断层放疗组相比常规调强放疗组各靶区的的均匀性指数和适形度指数均有不同程度的改善;危及器官的最大剂量和平均剂量也有所下降,腮腺平均剂量较常规调强放疗组低4Gv左右,V30、V35也显著低于常规调强放疗,P值〈0．005。结论对于鼻咽癌,螺旋断层放疗技术相对于常规凋强技术改善了剂量学分布,使得靶区在获得更好的剂量分布同时显著降低了正常组织的受照剂量。     

三氧联合放疗治疗鼻咽癌22例疗效观察

目的评价三氧联合放疗治疗鼻咽癌的近期疗效和急性口腔咽粘膜反应。方法 46例鼻咽癌患者随机分为三氧联合调强放疗组(实验组)和调强放疗组(对照组),观察近期疗效及急性口腔粘膜反应。结果实验组和对照组有效率分别为95.5%和95.8%,差异无统计学意义(p>0.05)。实验组急性口腔粘膜反应明显较对照组减轻(p<0.05)。结论鼻咽癌放疗期间联合三氧治疗可能有助于减轻急性口腔粘膜反应,但对近期疗效影响不大。     

Prognostic value of quality of life measured after treatment on subsequent survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose

Pretreatment quality of life (QoL) has been used to predict survival in cancer patients. In this study, we examined the prognostic value of QoL measured after treatment on subsequent survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

We enrolled 273 patients with NPC who had been curatively treated for more than 1 year. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N35 questionnaires were completed 1 year after radiotherapy. The predictability of QoL variables on disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Cox’s proportional hazards models.

Results

Twenty-nine (10.6 %) patients developed locoregional relapse and 27 (9.9 %) had distant metastasis after the QoL survey with subsequent 5-year DSS and OS rates of 87.9 % and 84.0 %, respectively. Based on the QLQ-C30, scales of physical functioning, fatigue, and appetite loss significantly predicted DSS and OS (p < 0.05). In the H&N35, only sexuality was significantly correlated with DSS and OS (p < 0.05). An increment of 10 points in physical functioning (HR: 0.69; 95 % CI: 0.48–0.90; p = 0.004) or a decline of 10 points in fatigue problems (HR: 1.40; 95 % CI: 1.19–1.61; p = 0.0002), appetite loss (HR: 1.21; 95 % CI: 1.03–1.40; p = 0.02), and sexuality (HR: 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.02–1.25; p = 0.019) was associated with better OS.

Conclusion

Some QoL variables measured after the treatment provide prognostic value on subsequent survival in patients with NPC.     

Nutritional risk and health care use before and after an acute hospitalization among the elderly

ObjectiveOur objective was to assess the nutritional status and health care use of community-dwelling elderly before hospitalization and determine risk factors for longer hospitalizations during 3 mo of follow-up.MethodsDuring a 1-y period, we recruited patients 65 y and older admitted to an internal medicine ward at Soroka Medical Center (Beer-Sheva, Israel). Data were obtained regarding health and nutritional status and demographic and social characteristics. We assessed the utilization of health care services during a follow-up period of 3 mo.ResultsSeventy-nine of 204 patients (38.7%) were at nutritional risk. Patients at nutritional risk were older (P < 0.001) and less educated (P = 0.03) than the well-nourished group. Nutritional risk was associated with more diagnosed diseases, days of hospital stay, and physician visits before admission. Participants hospitalized for more than 6 d were significantly less educated, with lower cognitive, functional, Mini Nutritional Assessment, and Nutritional Risk Index scores and a significantly higher depressive symptoms score. Functional status and sum of nutritional problems were significant predictors of length of hospitalization in the following 3 mo.ConclusionNutritional risk is a source of concern for health care providers and services, because it significantly increases risk of hospital admission and length of stay. It is important to increase the awareness of primary care providers to the impact of nutrition on health care use and provide appropriate tools to screen and treat nutritional problems.     

The Prediction of Deterioration of Nutritional Status during Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Patients with esophageal cancer are at high risk of developing malnutrition during neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT), which in turn is associated with postoperative morbidity. The aim of the study is to explore whether parameters of a complete pre-treatment nutritional status may predict deterioration of nutritional status during CRT in patients with esophageal cancer. In this prospective cohort study, 101 patients with esophageal cancer treated with CRT were included. Data of patient characteristics, tumor classification, performance score, %weight change, body mass index, fat (free) mass index, phase angle, handgrip strength, energy- and protein intake, and use of (additional) dietary supplements were collected. A prediction model was constructed to identify predictive parameters for deterioration in nutritional status (defined as weight loss of >5% and/or decline in fat free mass of ≥1.4 kg) during CRT. Nutritional status deteriorated in 49 patients (49%) during CRT. The only predictor for deterioration in nutritional status was fat free mass index (OR 1.21 (90% CI: 1.03 – 1.42)). Patients with a higher fat free mass index are at increased risk of deterioration in nutrition status during CRT. Results suggest that all patients should be carefully supervised during CRT, regardless of their nutritional status before start of CRT.     

Nutritional status improves after treatment of schistosoma japonicum-infected children and adolescents

Studies addressing the relation between chronic schistosomiasis japonica and nutritional status are limited. We conducted a longitudinal treatment-reinfection study in Leyte, the Philippines, among 477 Schistosoma japonicum-infected subjects aged 7-20 y, to evaluate changes in nutritional status after treatment with praziquantel. Stool, Tanner stage, anthropometric indices, and hemoglobin (Hb) were evaluated at baseline, 4 wk post-treatment, and every 3 mo for 18 mo. Height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) and BMI Z-score (BMIZ) were calculated. Change scores relative to baseline were created for all outcome measures. Multilevel repeated-measures analyses were used to adjust for socioeconomic status, sex, either pubertal status or age, and household-level clustering. Z-scores improved modestly but significantly over time. BMIZ in children wasted at baseline improved the most [0.41 (0.26-0.56) Z-score unit] and HAZ improved only in children stunted at baseline [0.17 (0.l2-0.21) Z-score unit]. Hb improvement peaked at 15 mo and occurred only in subjects that were anemic at baseline [peak improvement: 8.3 (6.0-10.6) g/L] and in males [peak improvement 4.7 (2.9-6.6) g/L]. Reinfection, evaluated as egg count over time and egg count 3 mo earlier to assess a delay in effect, was inversely associated with improvement in Hb (P = 0.06 and 0.004, respectively). High-intensity reinfection at 18 mo was associated with significantly less absolute growth from baseline compared with lower-intensity and no reinfection. Based on the peak Hb improvement at 15 mo post-treatment, annual treatment intervals are recommended to reduce schistosomiasis-associated nutritional morbidity.     

A dosimetric comparison of two-phase adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the potential dosimetric benefits of a two-phase adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) protocol for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). A total of 17 patients with locally advanced NPC treated with IMRT had a second computed tomography (CT) scan after 17 fractions in order to apply and continue the treatment with an adapted plan after 20 fractions. To simulate the situation without adaptation, a hybrid plan was generated by applying the optimization parameters of the original treatment plan to the anatomy of the second CT scan. The dose–volume histograms (DVHs) and dose statistics of the hybrid plan and the adapted plan were compared. The mean volume of the ipsilateral and contralateral parotid gland decreased by 6.1 cm³ (30.5%) and 5.4 cm³ (24.3%), respectively. Compared with the hybrid plan, the adapted plan provided a higher dose to the target volumes with better homogeneity, and a lower dose to the organs at risk (OARs). The Dmin of all planning target volumes (PTVs) increased. The Dmax of the spinal cord and brainstem were lower in 94% of the patients (1.6–5.9 Gy, P < 0.001 and 2.1–9.9 Gy, P < 0.001, respectively). The D_mean of the contralateral parotid decreased in 70% of the patients (range, 0.2–4.4 Gy). We could not find a relationship between dose variability and weight loss. Our two-phase adaptive IMRT protocol improves dosimetric results in terms of target volumes and OARs in patients with locally advanced NPC.     

Randomized trial results of quality of life comparing whole abdominal irradiation and combination chemotherapy in advanced endometrial carcinoma: A gynecologic oncology group study

Objective To prospectively compare quality of life (QOL) outcomes in patients with advanced endometrial cancer treated with whole abdominal irradiation (WAI) or doxorubicin-cisplatin (AP) chemotherapy. Methods Using the Fatigue Scale (FS), Assessment of Peripheral Neuropathy (APN), Functional Alterations due to Changes in Elimination (FACE), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), QOL was measured at: pre-treatment, end of treatment (EOT), and 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Results 317 of 396 eligible patients provided a baseline QOL assessment. The AP arm produced a statistically significant survival benefit along with greater toxicities, including peripheral neuropathy persisting up to 6 months. WAI patients reported worse FS (p < 0.001) and FACE (p < 0.001) scores at EOT and poorer FACE scores 3 months post-treatment (p = 0.004) compared to AP patients. APN scores were significantly worse among AP patients at EOT, and 3 and 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.001 for all). There is no indication that FACT-G scores differed between the two arms at any assessment point. Conclusions The trade-off for increased survival with AP is its potential for clinically significant peripheral neuropathy. This should be discussed with patients, particularly those who work with their hands or on their feet, in weighing therapeutic choices. Further research is needed to manage side effects having an enduring impact on QOL.