Radiotherapy in Italy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Patterns of Care Survey

Abstract

In Italy, daily practice differs in some ways from the evidence supported by the results of meta-analyses/clinical trials as regards concurrent chemoradiation approaches. It could be postulated that there is an urgent need for groups that collaborate with the other societies involved in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in order to offer the best therapy to our patients.

Patterns of radiotherapy practice for pancreatic cancer: Results of the Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology Study Group multi-institutional survey

“…In comparison with other RO surveys conducted in Italy in 2012 (lung cancer) and 2008 (breast and head/neck cancer), the number of responding centres was encouraging, being 45, 48 and 50%, as reported by Ramella et al (8), Aristei et al (9) and Frata et al (10), respectively. This finding reveals an increased sense of membership of radiation oncologists in the RO community and a willingness to deepen their knowledge of the Italian reality in order to improve the quality of their investigation.…”

“…The schedules most frequently used were gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (45%), gemcitabine alone (32.5%) or 5-fluorouracil-irinotecan-oxaliplatin (i.e., folfirinox) (12.5%) mostly with 3 or 4 cycles prior to RT (range, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for stage I histologically proven non-small cell lung cancer: An Italian multicenter observational study

“…The lack of robust data on patients with histologicaldiagnosis, together with the heterogeneity in SABR studies design(patients' number, inclusion criteria and treatment techniques),might jeopardize the clinical results achieved so far. The routine use of SABR outside clinical trials has continuously increased overthe last years in most countries: a US survey reported that 57% ofresponding physicians practiced SBRT for lung cancer in 2010 [10],and an Italian survey showed that SABR was used in 41% of depart-ments [11]. Palma et al [12] analyzed the time trend in SABR use inelderly patients in the Netherlands, showing an incessant increasein indications in patients previously either untreated or addressedto palliative RT.…”

Stereotactic radiotherapy for early lung cancer: Evidence-based approach and future directions

“…SBRT differs from older techniques (termed in a small number of fractions (often [3][4][5][6][7][8], while allowing for doses in the center of the tumor that often exceed the prescription dose by 30% or more. 1 These factors, taken together, allow for the precise delivery of potent radiotherapy doses while minimizing dose to normal tissues.…”

“…1 These factors, taken together, allow for the precise delivery of potent radiotherapy doses while minimizing dose to normal tissues. The use of SBRT for early-stage NSCLC has been increasing in Europe, North America, and Asia, [2][3][4] providing an important tool in the multidisciplinary management of NSCLC at numerous centers worldwide. Given the widespread adoption of SBRT for early-stage NSCLC, the goal of this article is to review key studies evaluating the use of SBRT for NSCLC, and to discuss areas of uncertainty which are being addressed in current research studies.…”