Our analyses indicate that the risks of early and late radiogenic lung sequelae are strongly related to the age of the patient, the volume of the irradiated lung, and the dose to it.

Background. Prone positioning has been found feasible and appropriate for the reduction of radiation exposure of the lungs, but its effects on the heart dose remain controversial. individual anatomical features were sought for the selection of optimal treatment positioning. Material and methods. in 138 left-sided breast cancer cases awaiting postoperative whole-breast radiotherapy, conformal radiotherapy plans were generated in both prone and supine positions. Results. The radiation doses to the left anterior descending coronary artery (lad) and heart in the two positions differed individually, and were strongly related to the body mass index (BMi). image fusion of the CT scans revealed that prone positioning was detrimental if the heart was situated distant from the chest wall in the supine position, but moved to the chest wall in the prone position. For characterization of the geography of the heart and the breast, the median distance between the lad and the chest wall (d median ), and the heart area included in the radiation field on a single CT scan at the middle of the heart in the supine position (a heart ) proved most appropriate. Conclusion. a validated statistical model, utilizing the BMi, d median and a heart , permits individualized positioning for maximum heart protection. Acta Oncologica, 2014; 53: 58-64 iSSn 0284-186X print/iSSn 1651-226X online

Purpose: To analyze the risk of radiogenic lung damage in breast cancer patients after conformal radiotherapy and different forms of systemic treatment. Methods and Materials: In 328 patients receiving sequential taxane-based chemotherapy, concomitant hormone therapy (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors), or no adjuvant systemic therapy, symptomatic and asymptomatic lung sequelae were prospectively evaluated via the detection of visible CT abnormalities, 3 months or 1 year after the completion of the radiotherapy. Results: Significant positive associations were detected between the development of both pneumonitis and fibrosis of Grade 1 and patient age, ipsilateral mean lung dose, volume of the ipsilateral lung receiving 20 Gy, and irradiation of the regional lymph nodes. In multivariate analysis, age and mean lung dose proved to be independent predictors of early (odds ratio [OR] = 1.035, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.011-1.061 and OR = 1.113, 95% CI 1.049-1.181, respectively) and late (OR = 1.074, 95% CI 1.042-1.107 and OR = 1.207, 95% CI 1.124-1.295, respectively) radiogenic lung damage, whereas the role of systemic therapy was significant in the development of Grade 1 lung fibrosis (p = 0.01). Among the various forms of systemic therapy, tamoxifen increased the risk of late lung sequelae (OR = 2.442, 95% CI 1.120-5.326, p = 0.025). No interaction was demonstrated between the administration of systemic therapy and the other above-mentioned parameters as regards the risk of radiogenic lung damage. Conclusions: Our analyses demonstrate the independent role of concomitant tamoxifen therapy in the development of radiogenic lung fibrosis but do not suggest such an effect for the other modes of systemic treatment. Ó 2011 Elsevier Inc.Radiation lung sequelae, Tamoxifen, Aromatase inhibitors, Taxanes.

We consider this simple clinical tool appropriate for assisting individual positioning aiming at maximum heart protection during left breast irradiation.

Central neurocytoma is generally considered to be a benign tumor and the literature suggests that a cure may be attained by surgery ± adjuvant focal irradiation. However, there is a need for change in the therapeutic strategy for the subgroup of patients with aggressive central neurocytoma. An example case is presented and the literature on central neurocytoma cases with malignant features and dissemination via the cerebrospinal fluid is reviewed and the radiotherapeutic strategies available for central neurocytoma treatment is discussed. Nineteen cases including the present report with a malignant course and cerebrospinal fluid dissemination have been described to date, most of them involving an elevated MIB-1 labeling index. Our case exhibited atypical central neurocytoma with an initially elevated MIB-1 labeling index (25-30 %). The primary treatment included surgery and focal radiotherapy. Three years later the disease had disseminated throughout the craniospinal axis. A good tumor response and symptom relief were achieved with repeated radiation and temozolomide chemotherapy. Central neurocytoma with an initially high proliferation activity has a high tendency to spread via the cerebrospinal fluid. The chemo- and radiosensitivity of the tumor suggest a more aggressive adjuvant therapy approach. Cases with a potential for malignant transformation should be identified and treated appropriately, including irradiation of the entire neuroaxis and adjuvant chemotherapy may be considered.

Our retrospective analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical value of dose intensification schemes: WBRT and consecutive, delayed, or simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in brain metastasis (BM) management. Clinical data and overall survival (OS) of 468 patients with BM from various primaries treated with 10 × 3 Gy WBRT (n = 195), WBRT+ 10 × 2 Gy boost (n = 125), or simultaneously 15 × 2.2 Gy WBRT+0.7 Gy boost (n = 148) during a 6-year period were statistically analysed. Significant difference in OS could be detected with additional boost to WBRT (3.3 versus 6.5 months) and this difference was confirmed for BMs of lung cancer and melanoma and both for oligo- and multiplex lesions. The OS was prolonged for the RPA 2 and RPA3 categories, if patients received escalated dose, 4.0 vs. 7.7 months; (p = 0.002) in class RPA2 and 2.6 vs. 4.2 months; (p < 0.0001) in the class RPA 3 respectively. The significant difference in OS was also achieved with SIB. The shortened overall treatment time of SIB with lower WBRT fraction dose exhibited survival benefit over WBRT alone, and could be applied for patients developing BM even with unfavourable prognostic factors. These results warrant for further study of this approach with dose escalation using the lately available solutions for hippocampus sparing and fractionated stereotactic irradiation. The simultaneous delivery of WBRT with reduced fraction dose and boost proved to be advantageous prolonging the OS with shortened treatment time and reduced probability for cognitive decline development even for patients with poor performance status and progressing extracranial disease.

Fulvestrant is a pure estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist approved for the treatment of metastatic ER positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy. The clinical results of fulvestrant demonstrated encouraging activity in tumors in spite of HER2 positivity, but data about its use after progression on anti-HER2 agents are limited. Partial responses and durations of response of 12, 25, and 38 months in three cases with multiple metastases of ER positive and HER2 positive breast cancer were observed; all patients had been treated with 1–4 regimens of an anti-HER2 agent in combination with chemotherapy or an aromatase inhibitor before the initiation of fulvestrant. Fulvestrant is a valuable option with limited toxicity and durable response in metastatic HER2 and ER positive breast cancer after progression on anti-HER2 agents as well. Therapeutic benefit even in extensive skin metastases and (irradiated) brain metastases may be expected. Further investigations are warranted to establish where it fits into the multimodal management of ER and HER positive breast cancer.

The presence of normal tissues in the irradiated volume limits dose escalation during pelvic radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer. Supine and prone positions on a belly board were compared by analyzing the exposure of organs at risk (OARs) using intensity modulated RT (IMRT). The prospective trial included 55 high risk, localized or locally advanced prostate cancer patients, receiving definitive image-guided RT. Computed tomography scanning for irradiation planning was carried out in both positions. Gross tumor volume, clinical and planning target volumes (PTV) and OARs were delineated, defining subprostatic and periprostatic rectal subsegments. At the height of the largest antero-posterior (AP) diameter of the prostate, rectal diameters and distance from the posterior prostate wall were measured. IMRT plans were generated. Normal tissue exposure and structure volumes were compared between supine and prone plans using paired t-test. In the volumes of the prostate, PTV, colon and small bowel, no significant differences were found. In prone position, all rectal volumes, diameters, and rectum-prostate distance were significantly higher, the irradiated colon and small bowel volume was lower in dose ranges of 20-40 Gy, and the exposure to all rectal segments was more favorable in 40-75 Gy dose ranges. No significant difference was found in the exposure of other OARs. Prone positioning on a belly board is an appropriate positioning method aiming rectum and bowel protection during pelvic IMRT of prostate cancer. The relative reduction in rectal exposure might be a consequence of the slight departure between the prostate and rectal wall.