Effect of Race and Ethnicity on Risk of Radiotherapy Toxicity and Implications for Radiogenomics

AimsPatient factors affect the risk of radiotherapy toxicity, but many are poorly defined. Studies have shown that race affects cancer incidence, survival, drug response, molecular pathways and epigenetics. Effects on radiosensitivity and radiotherapy toxicity are not well studied. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of race and ethnicity on the risk of radiotherapy toxicity.Materials and methodsA systematic review was carried out of PubMed, Ovid Medline and Ovid Embase with no year limit. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed. Two independent assessors reviewed papers.ResultsOf 607 papers screened, 46 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Papers were published between 1996 and 2021 and involved 30–28,354 individuals (median 433). Most involved patients with prostate (33%), breast (26%) and lung (9%) cancer. Both early and late toxicities were studied. Some studies reported a higher risk of toxicity in White men with prostate cancer compared with other races and ethnicities. For breast cancer patients, some reported an increased risk of toxicity in White women compared with other race and ethnic groups. In general, it was difficult to draw conclusions due to insufficient reporting and analysis of race and ethnicity in published literature.ConclusionsReporting of race and ethnicity in radiotherapy studies must be harmonised and improved and frameworks are needed to improve the quality of reporting. Further research is needed to understand how ancestral heritage might affect radiosensitivity and risk of radiotherapy toxicity.     

33例肺上沟癌的临床特点及放疗疗效

目的　探讨肺上沟癌的临床特点及放疗疗效和不良反应。方法　回顾性分析 3 3例肺上沟癌住院病人的临床特征和常规放疗的疗效。结果　肺上沟癌占原发性支气管肺癌的 2 9% ,常见症状为 :患侧肩、背和上肢疼痛 ( 78 8% ) ,后 1,2 ,3肋骨或椎骨破坏( 5 7 6% ) ,Horner’s综合征 ( 3 6 7% ) ;少见的症状为 :咳嗽 ( 2 7% ) ,咯血 ( 9% ) ;中位生存期为 8 4月 ;1,3 ,5年生存率分别为 3 5 6% ,12 3 % ,4 6% ;放疗反应可耐受。结论　肺上沟癌相当少见 ,其临床特征基本符合pancoast综合症 ,本病预后差 ,但放疗可缓解疼痛 ,提高生存质量。     

Vaginal stenosis in patients treated with radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix

The aim of our study was to determine the incidence, timing, and severity of vaginal stenosis in patients with carcinoma of the cervix who had received pelvic and/or vaginal radiotherapy as part of their treatment. We also sought to determine if there were any predisposing factors for the development of stenosis. A retrospective chart review was undertaken for all the patients diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2000 and treated with pelvic and/or vaginal radiation at Westmead Hospital. Since January 1, 1990, data regarding vaginal stenosis has been prospectively recorded on all the patients. Data collected included patient demographics, stage of disease, treatments administered, and incidence, timing, and severity of vaginal stenosis. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were treated. Mean age was 58.6 years. Thirteen percent of patients had stage IB disease, 45% had stage II disease, 39.5% had stage III disease, and 1.5% had stage IV disease. One hundred and seventy-nine patients returned for follow-up, and data regarding vaginal toxicity were available in 98%. Twenty-seven percent had grade 1 toxicity (partial stenosis or shortening but not complete occlusion), and 11% had grade 2 (complete occlusion). Stenosis of any grade was noted at a mean of 9.6 months and median of 7.5 months (range, 26 days-5.6 years) from completion of treatment. The only prognostic factor associated with increased risk of stenosis was age greater than 50 years (odds ratio 2.26). Vaginal stenosis is a common complication of pelvic and vaginal radiotherapy, occurring in 38% of patients. Stenosis occurs most often in the first year after treatment. Patients over the age of 50 are most at risk.     

三维适形放疗联合肝动脉碘油栓塞化疗并热疗治疗原发性肝癌的疗效研究

目的:探讨原发性肝癌的肝动脉碘油栓塞化疗(TACE)、热疗、三维适形放疗(3DCRT)的综合治疗价值。方法:122例原发性肝癌患者进行前瞻性随机分组研究,综合治疗组64例,行TACE并3DCRT,结合热疗治疗。对照组58例3DCRT治疗,联合TACE。结果:1、2、3年生存率综合治疗组分别为85%、65%、39%,对照组分别为59%、30%、18%(P<0.05)两组毒副作用相似。结论:对于非手术切除的原发性肝癌患者,TA-CE,结合3DCRT并热疗,能明显提高疗效,而毒副作用不增加。     

Large colloid cyst in lateral ventricle simulating brain tumour

Summary This case report describes a patient presenting with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, whose computerized tomographic (CT) scan was highly suggestive of a large low-grade glioma invading the basal ganglia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-demarcated space-occupying mass of increased intensity in the left lateral ventricle and adjacent white matter. Following stereotactic biopsy, which yielded a homogeneous jelly-like material, the mass was removed microsurgically and was found to be most like a colloid cyst on histological examination. Discussion focusses on the clinical and differential diagnostic implications of this very unusual combination of findings.     

Stereotactic craniotomy and intraoperative lesion localisation using the Brown-Robert-Wells frame

Summary A simple technique of stereotactic craniotomy and intraoperative lesion localisation that uses the Brown-Robert-Wells (BRW) stereotactic frame is presented. The method optimises craniotomy placement and facilitates localisation of small intracerebral lesions. Using the system, 16 patients have had resection of intracranial neoplasms from deep and/or eloquent areas of the brain with no neurological morbidity.     

Preoperative Chemotherapy Alone and Combined with Preoperative Radiotherapy in Small-Size Breast Cancer

Abstract: Breast conservation surgery is an effective and safe treatment for many breast carcinomas. It may be possible to further limit the extent of resection (or expand the indication for breast conservation) by the application of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We explored the feasibility of this in a pilot study.
Seventy-three patients (mean age 48, 63% premenopausal) with confirmed breast cancer, less than 2.5 cm, received chemotherapy (Group A) or chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (Group B) prior to limited resection (tumorectomy). Axillary dissection was always performed. Results: In 6/31 (19%) Group A and 17/42 (40%) Group B patients the tumor was not palpable after preoperative treatment, with complete pathological remission in 1 and 3 cases respectively. Histologic grading, mitosis, cellular alteration, and cellularity evaluations indicated a consistently greater therapeutic effect with chemoradiotherapy than with chemotherapy alone.
In conclusion, radiotherapy appears useful in the preoperative treatment of breast cancer and its use in association with various drug combinations should be further explored.     

Endometrial carcinoma: Does the addition of intracavitary vault caesium to external beam therapy postoperatively result in improved control or increased morbidity?

A retrospective analysis of treatment for endometrial carcinoma is reported here. From 1987 to 1989, 138 patients were referred to the oncology department following total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometrial cancer. Forty-seven patients were not prescribed postoperative radiotherapy; 31 had Stage I well differentiated adenocarcinoma with minimal myometrial invasion, while the remaining 16 patients were considered unfit for postoperative radiotherapy. There were no instances of local relapse amongst the 31 patients with minimal myometrial invasion.The remaining 91 patients all received external beam irradiation to the pelvis and, according to the preference of the individual therapist, 51 were prescribed additional intracavitary vault caesium-137. Patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy were analysed according to whether or not they received additional intracavitary vault caesium. The two groups were also analysed for incidence of vaginal vault recurrence and treatment related morbidity.In the group receiving additional intracavitary treatment more patients had Stage II or III disease (P<0.05), and had greater depth of myometrial invasion (P<0.05). Vaginal vault recurrence was not observed in patients receiving intracavitary therapy in addition to external beam therapy. Four patients (10%) receiving external beam therapy alone developed vaginal vault recurrence.The incidence of Kottmeier-Perez grade 2 or 3 bowel toxicity following treatment was significantly higher in those patients receiving combined treatment (18% vs. 2.5%; P<0.03). There was also a higher incidence of vaginal stenosis in the group receiving both external beam and intracavitary therapy (21% vs. 3%; P<0.05). There was only one instance of grade 2 bladder toxicity in the external beam and intracavitary treatment group and none in the external beam therapy alone group.In conclusion, postoperative radiotherapy for Stages I-III endometrial carcinoma was carried out in a non-randomized manner by two regimens; either external beam therapy alone or external beam therapy with additional intracavitary vaginal caesium. The combined therapy gave significantly better local control but resulted in significantly more late bowel and vaginal morbidity.     

食管癌三维适形后程加速超分割放射治疗的疗效分析

目的评价三维适形后程加速超分割放射治疗食管癌的疗效及放疗反应、并发症。方法2002年2月至2004年5月,71例食管鳞癌随机分成两组,三维适形后程加速超分割组36例,食管病变上下外约4cm,前后、左右外约0.5~1cm作为PTV1,每次2GY,每周5次,DT40GY后,病变上下外约2cm,前后、左右外约0.5~1cm作为PTV2,每日2次,每次1.5GY,间隔4~6小时,总疗程6周,总剂量67GY/38次。非三维适形后程加速超分割组35例,时间、剂量、分割方式同适形组。所有病例均采用8MV-X外照射。结果1、2、3年的生存率和原发肿瘤的局控率,与非适形后程加速超分割比较,适形组明显提高,分别为88.9%、75%、63.9%比68.6%、51.4%、40%和86.1%、72.2%、58.3%比65.7%、48.5%、34.3%。适形组的急性放射反应明显低于非适形后程加速超分割组,两组有显著差别。结论本研究的初步结果表明食管癌适形后程加速超分割放射治疗的疗效优于非适形后程加速超分割组。     

介入化疗结合立体适形放射治疗晚期胰腺癌的临床观察

探讨晚期胰腺癌的介入化疗加立体适形放射治疗的临床疗效。先选择性胰腺动脉化疗,药物:CF 300 mg、5-FU 1 000~1 500 mg、DDP 60~80 mg和健择1.2~2.0 g,共4次。介入化疗后或两次介入之间行立体定向放射治疗,放疗采用4~6个适形野,总剂量为35~45 Gy,4~8 Gy/次,每周3次,21例患者CR率42.85%(9/21),PR率42.85%(9/21),SD 4.76%(1/21),PD 9.52%(2/21),总有效率(CR PR)85.70%(18/21)。初步研究结果提示,主观指标评估,2例临床症状完全消失,17例主观症状有所改善。介入化疗结合立体放射治疗晚期胰腺癌不失为临床选用的治疗手段。