The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging modern radiation oncology. At University Hospitals, we have a mandate to offer high-end treatments to all cancer patients. However, in times of crisis we must learn to prioritize resources, especially personnel. Compromising oncological outcome will blur all statistics, therefore all measures must be taken with great caution. Communication with our neighboring countries, within societies and between departments can help meet the challenge. Here, we report on our learning system and preparation measures to effectively tackle the COVID-19 challenge in University-Based Radiation Oncology Departments.

IMPORTANCEAlthough stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is preferred for limited brain metastases from most histologies, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has remained the standard of care for patients with small cell lung cancer. Data on SRS are limited.OBJECTIVE To characterize and compare first-line SRS outcomes (without prior WBRT or prophylactic cranial irradiation) with those of first-line WBRT.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS FIRE-SCLC (First-line Radiosurgery for Small-Cell Lung Cancer) was a multicenter cohort study that analyzed SRS outcomes from 28 centers and a single-arm trial and compared these data with outcomes from a first-line WBRT cohort.

Abstract Background Because of the increased risk in cancer patients of developing complications caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), physicians have to balance the competing risks of the negative impact of the pandemic and the primary tumor disease. In this consensus statement, an international group of experts present mitigation strategies and treatment guidance for patients suffering from high grade gliomas (HGGs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Sixteen international experts in the treatment of HGG contributed to this consensus-based practice recommendation, including neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and a medical physicist. Generally, treatment of neuro-oncological patients cannot be significantly delayed and initiating therapy should not be outweighed by COVID-19. We present detailed interdisciplinary treatment strategies for molecular subgroups in 2 pandemic scenarios, a scale-up phase and a crisis phase. Conclusion This practice recommendation presents a pragmatic framework and consensus-based mitigation strategies for the treatment of HGG patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Introduction: Local ablative treatment strategies are frequently offered to patients diagnosed with oligometastatic disease. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), as ablative treatment option, is well established for lung and liver metastases, whereas for isolated adrenal gland metastases the level of evidence is scarce. Material and methods: This single-institution analysis of oligometastatic or oligoprogressive disease was limited to patients who received SBRT to adrenal metastasis between 2012 and 2019. Patient, tumor, treatment characteristics, and dosimetric parameters were analyzed for evaluation of their effect on survival outcomes. Results: During the period of review 28 patients received ablative SBRT to their adrenal gland metastases. Most common primary tumors were non-small cell lung cancers (46%) with most patients diagnosed with a single adrenal gland metastasis (61%), which occurred after a median time of 14 months. SBRT was delivered to a median biological effective dose at α/β of 10 (BED 10) of 75 Gy (range: 58-151 Gy). Median gross tumor volume (GTV) and median planning target volume (PTV) were 42 and 111 mL, respectively. The homogeneity and conformity indices were 1.17 (range: 1.04-1.64) and 0.5 (range: 0.4.0.99), respectively, with the conformity index being affected by dose restrictions to organs at risk (OARs) in 50% of the patients. Overall response rate based on RECIST criteria was 86% (CR = 29%, PR = 57%) with 2-year local control (LC) of 84.8%, 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 26.3%, and 1and 2-year overall survival (OS) of 46.6 and 32.0%, respectively. During follow up, only two local recurrences occurred. A trend for superior LC was seen if BED 10 was ≥75Gy (p = 0.101) or if the PTV was < 100 ml (p = 0.072). SBRT was tolerated well with only mild toxicity. Conclusion: SBRT for adrenal metastases resulted in promising LC with low toxicity. Treatment response appeared to be superior, if SBRT was applied with higher BED. As the close proximity of OARs often limits the application of sufficiently high doses, further dose escalations strategies and techniques should be investigated in future.

Corticosteroid therapy and hyperglycemia were strongly associated with impaired survival rates and serves as negative prognostic factors. Diabetes did not influence survival. Interestingly, our findings showed an association of metformin therapy and prolonged progression-free survival in glioblastoma patients with diabetes and therefore serve as a foundation for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and neurological progression free survival (nPFS) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with brain metastases who received whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). From 2003 to 2015, 229 SCLC patients diagnosed with brain metastases who received WBRT were analyzed retrospectively. In this cohort 219 patients (95%) received a total photon dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. The prognostic factors evaluated for OS and nPFS were: age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), number of brain metastases, synchronous versus metachronous disease, initial response to chemotherapy, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class and thoracic radiation. Median OS after WBRT was 6 months and the median nPFS after WBRT was 11 months. Patients with synchronous cerebral metastases had a significantly better median OS with 8 months compared to patients with metachronous metastases with a median survival of 3 months (p < 0.0001; HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.31-0.67). Based on RPA classification median survival after WBRT was 17 months in RPA class I, 7 months in class II and 3 months in class III (p < 0.0001). Karnofsky performance status scale (KPS < 70%) was significantly associated with OS in both univariate (HR 2.84; p < 0.001) and multivariate analyses (HR 2.56; p = 0.011). Further, metachronous brain metastases (HR 1.8; p < 0.001), initial response to first-line chemotherapy (HR 0.51, p < 0.001) and RPA class III (HR 2.74; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with OS in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis metachronous disease (HR 1.89; p < 0.001) and initial response to chemotherapy (HR 0.61; p < 0.001) were further identified as significant prognostic factors. NPFS was negatively significantly influenced by poor KPS (HR 2.56; p = 0.011), higher number of brain metastases (HR 1.97; p = 0.02), and higher RPA class (HR 2.26; p = 0.03) in univariate analysis. In this series, the main prognostic factors associated with OS were performance status, time of appearance of intracranial disease (synchronous vs. metachronous), initial response to chemotherapy and higher RPA class. NPFS was negatively influenced by poor KPS, multiplicity of brain metastases, and higher RPA class in univariate analysis. For patients with low performance status, metachronous disease or RPA class III, WBRT should be weighed against supportive therapy with steroids alone or palliative chemotherapy.

BackgroundSystemic inflammation appears to play a role in the progression of numerous solid tumors by promoting tumor proliferation. Our current study aimed to evaluate the role of inflammatory markers in limited disease (LD) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients undergoing thoracic chemoradiotherapy (TCR).Patients and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed a total number of 350 SCLC patients diagnosed with LD SCLC who received TCR between 1999 and 2017 and had available blood tests within 2 weeks prior to the start of TCR. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and platelet count (Pc) were evaluated as potential inflammatory markers. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed for overall survival (OS). For comparison of survival curves, the log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test was used. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional HRs were used to assess the influence of cofactors on OS.ResultsUnivariate analysis for OS revealed a statistically significant effect for LDH >400 U/L (HR 2.05 U/L; 95% CI 1.29–3.26 U/L; P=0.002), prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI; HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.40–0.85; P=0.005), CRP >50 mg/L (HR 1.49 mg/L; 95% CI 1.05–2.10 mg/L; P=0.026), and Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) <70% (HR 1.35%; 95% CI 1.02–1.80%; P=0.035). NLR, age (>70 years), Hb levels, and Pc did not influence survival. In multivariate analysis, OS was significantly affected by PCI (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.43–0.94; P=0.026), LDH >400 U/L (HR 1.91 U/L; 95% CI 1.21–3.05 U/L; P=0.006), and CRP >50 mg/L (HR 1.43 mg/L; 95% CI 1.01–2.04 mg/L; P=0.045). KPS (≤70%) did not influence survival in multivariate analysis.ConclusionElevated CRP and LDH seem to be the independent prognostic factors for OS in LD SCLC patients undergoing TCR. However, elevated NLR was not found to be an independent prognostic factor for OS if taken prior to TCR. LDH and CRP are easily available blood tests and do not require additional resources for routine use and could be useful for clinical decision making.