The successful management of OPSCC requires the collaboration of radiation, medical, and surgical oncologists. When high-level data are absent for clinical decision-making, treatment recommendations should incorporate patient values and preferences to arrive at the optimal therapeutic approach.

Object The median survival duration for patients with glioblastoma is approximately 12 months. Maximizing quality of life (QOL) for patients with glioblastoma is a priority. An important, yet understudied, QOL component is functional independence. The aims of this study were to evaluate functional outcomes over time for patients with glioblastoma, as well as identify factors associated with prolonged functional independence. Methods All patients who underwent first-time resection of either a primary (de novo) or secondary (prior lower grade glioma) glioblastoma at a single institution from 1996 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with a Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score ≥ 80 were included. Kaplan-Meier, log-rank, and multivariate proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify associations (p < 0.05) with functional independence (KPS score ≥ 60) following glioblastoma resection. Results The median follow-up duration time was 10 months (interquartile range [IQR] 5.6–17.0 months). A patient’s preoperative (p = 0.02) and immediate postoperative (within 2 months) functional status was associated with prolonged survival (p < 0.0001). Of the 544 patients in this series, 302 (56%) lost their functional independence at a median of 10 months (IQR 6–16 months). Factors independently associated with prolonged functional independence were: preoperative KPS score ≥ 90 (p = 0.004), preoperative seizures (p = 0.002), primary glioblastoma (p < 0.0001), gross-total resection (p < 0.0001), and temozolomide chemotherapy (p < 0.0001). Factors independently associated with decreased functional independence were: older age (p < 0.0001), coexistent coronary artery disease (p = 0.009), and incurring a new postoperative motor deficit (p = 0.009). Furthermore, a decline in functional status was independently associated with tumor recurrence (p = 0.01). Conclusions The identification and consideration of these factors associated with prolonged functional outcome (preoperative KPS score ≥ 90, seizures, primary glioblastoma, gross-total resection, temozolomide) and decreased functional outcome (older age, coronary artery disease, new postoperative motor deficit) may help guide treatment strategies aimed at improving QOL for patients with glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in the USA with a median survival of approximately 14 months. Low survival rates are attributable to the aggressiveness of GBM and a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying GBM. The disruption of signaling pathways regulated either directly or indirectly by protein kinases is frequently observed in cancer cells and thus the development of inhibitors of specific kinases has become a major focus of drug discovery in oncology. To identify protein kinases required for the survival of GBM we performed a siRNA-based RNAi screen focused on the human kinome in GBM. Inhibition of the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) induced a reduction in the viability in two different GBM cell lines. To assess the potential of inhibiting PLK1 as a treatment strategy for GBM we examined the effects of a small molecule inhibitor of PLK1, GSK461364A, on the growth of GBM cells. PLK1 inhibition arrested cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle and induced cell kill by mitotic catastrophe. GBM engrafts treated with GSK461364A showed statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth. Further, exposure of different GBM cells to RNAi or GSK461364A prior to radiation resulted in an increase in their radiosensitivity with dose enhancement factor ranging from 1.40 to 1.53 with no effect on normal cells. As a measure of DNA double strand breaks, γH2AX levels were significantly higher in the combined modality as compared to the individual treatments. This study suggests that PLK1 is an important therapeutic target for GBM and can enhance radiosensitivity in GBM.

Background and purpose Patients with locally advanced oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma have suboptimal outcomes with standard chemoradiation. Here, we evaluated toxicity and oncologic outcomes of dose escalation using radiosurgical boost for patients with unfavorable oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods Between 2010–2017, Thirty four patients with intermediate- or high-risk oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled onto this prospective phase I trial. Each patient received concurrent cisplatin and fractionated radiotherapy totaling 60 Gy or 66 Gy followed by radiosurgery boost to areas of residual gross tumor: single fraction of 8 Gy or 10 Gy, or two fractions of 5 Gy each. Primary endpoint was treatment toxicity. Secondary endpoints were local, regional, and distant disease control. Results Eleven, sixteen and seven patients received radiosurgery boost with 8 Gy in 1 fraction, 10 Gy in 1 fraction, and 10 Gy in 2 fractions respectively. Acute toxicities include 4 patients with tumor necrosis causing grade 3 dysphagia, of which 3 developed grade 4 pharyngeal hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention. At 24 months after treatment, 7%, 9%, and 15% had grade 2 dysgeusia, xerostomia, and dysphagia, respectively, and two patients remained feeding tube dependent. No grade 5 toxicities occurred secondary to treatment. Local, regional, and distant control at a median follow up of 4.2 years were 85.3%, 85.3% and 88.2%, respectively. Five patients died resulting in overall survival of 85.3%. Conclusions This study is the first to report the use of radiosurgery boost dose escalation in patients with unfavorable oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Longer follow-up, larger cohorts, and further refinement of boost methodology are needed prior to implementation in routine clinical practice. Trial Registration: Northwell Health Protocol #09-309A (NCT02703493) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02703493)

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PurposeThis study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the range uncertainties that arise from daily cone-beam CT (CBCT) images for proton dose calculation compared to CT using a measurement-based technique.MethodsFor head and thorax phantoms, wedge-shaped intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) treatment plans were created such that the gradient of the wedge intersected and was measured with a 2D ion chamber array. The measured 2D dose distributions were compared with 2D dose planes extracted from the dose distributions using the IMPT plan calculated on CT and CBCT. Treatment plans of a thymoma cancer patient treated with breath-hold (BH) IMPT were recalculated on 28 CBCTs and 9 CTs, and the resulting dose distributions were compared.ResultsThe range uncertainties for the head phantom were determined to be 1.2% with CBCT, compared to 0.5% for CT, whereas the range uncertainties for the thorax phantom were 2.1% with CBCT, compared to 0.8% for CT. The doses calculated on CBCT and CT were similar with similar anatomy changes. For the thymoma patient, the primary source of anatomy change was the BH uncertainty, which could be up to 8 mm in the superior–inferior (SI) direction.ConclusionWe developed a measurement-based range uncertainty evaluation method with high sensitivity and used it to validate the accuracy of CBCT-based range and dose calculation. Our study demonstrated that the CBCT-based dose calculation could be used for daily dose validation in selected proton patients.

Purpose Recent single institution, phase II evidence has demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of ultra-hypofractionated, preoperative photon therapy in 5 fractions for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Our purpose was to evaluate the dosimetric benefits of modern scanning beam proton therapy compared with conventional photon radiation therapy (RT) for the neoadjuvant treatment of adult extremity STS. Materials and Methods Existing proton and photon plans for 11 adult patients with STS of the lower extremities previously treated preoperatively with neoadjuvant RT at our center were used to create proton therapy plans using Raystation Treatment Planning System v10.A. Volumes were delineated, and doses reported consistent with International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements reports 50, 62, and 78. Target volumes were optimized such that 100% clinical target volume (CTV) was covered by 99% of the prescription dose. The prescribed dose was 30 Gy for PT and RT delivered in 5 fractions. For proton therapy, doses are reported in GyRBE = 1.1 Gy. The constraints for adjacent organs at risk (OARs) within 1 cm of the CTV were the following: femur V30Gy ≤ 50%, joint V30Gy &lt; 50%, femoral head V30Gy ≤ 5 cm3, strip V12 ≤ 10%, and skin V12 &lt; 50%. Target coverage goals, OAR constraints, and integral dose were compared by Student t test with P &lt; .05 significance. Results A minimum 99% CTV coverage was achieved for all plans. OAR dose constraints were achieved for all proton and photon plans; however, mean doses to the femur (10.7 ± 8.5 vs 16.1 ± 7.7 GyRBE), femoral head (2.0 ± 4.4 vs 3.6 ± 6.4 GyRBE), and proximal joint (1.8 ± 2.4 vs 3.5 ± 4.4 GyRBE) were all significantly lower with PT vs intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (all P &lt; .05). Integral dose was significantly reduced for proton vs photon plans. Conformity and heterogeneity indices were significantly better for proton therapy. Conclusion Proton therapy maintained target coverage while significantly reducing integral and mean doses to the proximal organs at risk compared with RT. Further prospective investigation is warranted to validate these findings and potential benefit in the management of adult STS.

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