Ann Barrett

Continuous, hyperfractionated, accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) versus conventional radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer: mature data from the randomised multicentre trial

BACKGROUND AND METHOD A randomised controlled trial in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), compared CHART which employs 36 fractions of 1.5 Gy 3 times per day to give 54 Gy in 12 consecutive days with conventional radiotherapy-30 fractions of 2 Gy to a total dose of 60 Gy in 6 weeks. A total of 563 patients were entered between April 1990 and April 1995. This report is based upon the data updated to 1 April 1998. RESULTS The analysis of the mature data shows that the benefits previously reported have been maintained. Overall there was a 22% reduction in the relative risk of death, which is equivalent to an absolute improvement in 2 year survival of 9% from 20 to 29% (P = 0.008) and a 21% reduction in the relative risk of local progression (P = 0.033). In the large subgroup of patients with squamous cell cancer which accounted for 81% of the cases, there was a 30% reduction in the relative risk of death, which is equivalent to an absolute improvement in 2 year survival of 13% from 20 to 33% (P = 0.0007) and a 27% reduction in the relative risk of local progression (P = 0.012). Furthermore, in squamous carcinoma there was a 25% reduction in the relative risk of local and/or distant progression (P = 0.025) and 24% reduction in the relative risk of metastasis (P = 0.043). There was no evidence that CHART gave more or less benefit in any other subgroup. CONCLUSION This analysis of mature data confirms that CHART is superior to conventional radiotherapy in achieving local tumour control and survival in locally advanced NSCLC. This demonstrates the importance of cellular repopulation as a cause of failure in the radiotherapy of NSCLC. The reduction in the risk of metastasis confirms that improved local tumour control, even in lung cancer, can reduce the incidence of metastasis. This trial shows that control of local tumour can lead to an improvement in long term survival.

Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) versus conventional radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomised multicentre trial

BACKGROUND Human tumour cells can proliferate rapidly, and giving radiotherapy in many small fractions may reduce long-term normal-tissue morbidity. In response to these observations, we developed the CHART (continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy) regimen, which uses thirty-six small fractions of 1.5 Gy given three times per day, to give 54 Gy in only 12 consecutive days. We report the long-term follow-up of a trial of CHART versus conventional radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS 563 patients were entered by thirteen centres between April, 1990, and March, 1995. We included patients with NSCLC localised to the chest with a performance status of 0 or 1 in whom radical radiotherapy was chosen as the definitive management. Patients were randomly allocated in a 3:2 ratio to CHART or conventional radiotherapy. The latter was thirty fractions of 2 Gy to a total dose of 60 Gy in 6 weeks. RESULTS The groups were well matched for possible prognostic factors. Overall there was a 24% reduction in the relative risk of death, which is equivalent to an absolute improvement in 2-year survival of 9% from 20% to 29% (p = 0.004, 95% CI 0.63-0.92). Subgroup analyses (predefined) suggest that the largest benefit occurred in patients with squamous cell carcinomas (82% of the cases), in whom there was a 34% reduction in the relative risk of death (an absolute improvement at 2 years of 14% from 19% to 33%). During the first 3 months, severe dysphagia occurred more often in the CHART group than in the group on conventional radiotherapy (19 vs 3%). Otherwise, there were no important differences in short-term or long-term morbidity. INTERPRETATION CHART compared with conventional radiotherapy gave a significant improvement in survival of patients with NSCLC. Further improvement may be achieved with dose escalation in conformal radiotherapy, by the addition of cytotoxic chemotherapy, and by hypoxic cell radiosensitisation.

A RANDOMISED MULTICENTRE TRIAL OF CHART VERSUS CONVENTIONAL RADIOTHERAPY IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Continuous, hyperfractionated, accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) has shown promise of improved tumour control and reduced late morbidity in pilot studies and has now been tested in a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with squamous cell cancer in the main sites within the head and neck region with the general exception of early T1 N0 tumours were entered into the study by 11 centres. There was a 3:2 randomisation to either CHART, where a dose of 54 Gy was given in 36 fractions over 12 days, or to conventional therapy where 66 Gy was given in 33 fractions over 6.5 weeks. A total of 918 patients were included over a 5 year period from March 1990. RESULTS ACUTE MORBIDITY: Acute radiation mucositis was more severe with CHART, occurred earlier but settled sooner and was in nearly all cases healed by 8 weeks in both arms. Skin reactions were less severe and settled more quickly in the CHART treated patients. TUMOUR CONTROL AND SURVIVAL: Life table analyses of loco-regional control, primary tumour control, nodal control, disease-free interval, freedom from metastasis and survival showed no evidence of differences between the two arms. In exploratory subgroup analyses there was evidence of a greater response to CHART in younger patients (P = 0.041) and poorly differentiated tumours appeared to fare better with conventional radiotherapy (P = 0.030). In the larynx there was evidence of a trend towards increasing benefit with more advanced T stage (P = 0.002). LATE TREATMENT RELATED MORBIDITY: Osteoradionecrosis occurred in 0.4% of patients after CHART and 1.4% of patients after conventional radiotherapy. The incidence of chondritis or cartilage necrosis was similar in both arms. Life table analysis showed evidence of reduced severity in a number of late morbidities in favour of CHART. These were most striking for skin telangiectasia, superficial and deep ulceration of the mucosa and laryngeal oedema. CONCLUSION Similar local turnout control was achieved by CHART as compared with conventional radiotherapy despite the reduction in total dose from 66 to 54 Gy supporting the importance of repopulation as a cause of radiation failure. The effects seen in advanced laryngeal cancer and those related to histological differentiation need further study. Reduced late morbidity is a factor which together with patient preference should be considered in the decision as to the programme of radiotherapy to employ in the curative treatment of head and neck cancer.

Late effects of total body irradiation

Late effects of chemo-radiotherapy conditioning before bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are being increasingly recognised in long-term survivors, particularly children. They can be divided into two categories: those affecting hormonal status and those affecting specific organ function. All women treated develop ovarian failure with low levels of beta-oestradiol and raised values of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). In males, raised FSH and LH values are found with normal testosterone levels but most patients have azoospermia. In children, puberty is usually but not invariably delayed by treatment but can be induced by appropriate hormone replacement. Compensated hypothyroidism was found in 6/30 children. Growth hormone secretion may be impaired especially if previous cranial irradiation has been given. In children, a reduction in sitting height has been observed. Cataract has occurred in 20% of children between 3 and 6 years after treatment. Two second tumours have been observed. No other major organ toxicities have been encountered.

Does writing a list help cancer patients ask relevant questions

We examined the use of written lists to give patients an opportunity to have their questions answered. Patients undergoing radical radiotherapy for cancer were given a sheet of paper with the simple prompt to write questions and give to the hospital doctor at their appointment 3 weeks later. At 3 months, patients were asked about their use and opinions of the written list. About half of the 478 patients attended with a written list. Fewer patients living in deprived areas used the list compared to more affluent areas. Doctors thought that 34% of patients would not otherwise have asked those questions and 91% of prompted discussions were a worthwhile use of time.

Premonitory Pain Preceding Swelling: A Distinctive Clinical Presentation of Synovial Sarcoma which may Prompt Early Detection.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to document the unusual presentation of long-standing pain at the tumour site before development of a swelling in patients with synovial sarcoma. Patients/methods and results: The clinical presentation of 53 patients with synovial sarcoma was compared with 56 randomly selected patients with other sarcomas of the trunk and extremities. The two groups were similar with regard to age (P = 0.980), sex (P = 0.784) duration of symptoms (P = 0.697), size (P = 0.931) and site of tumour (P = 0.288). Sixteen (30.2%) patients with synovial sarcoma had pain before development of a swelling compared to two (3.6%) patients with other sarcomas (P < 0.001, odds ratio = 11.68, 95% confidence interval 2.53, 53.83). The mean duration of such pain was 37 months (median 24, range 6–120 months). The nature of the pain was variable. Eight patients had sharply localised tenderness. Calcification seen in the X-rays of four patients was initially misdiagnosed as benign lesions. A swelling was ultimately detected by MRI, CT, ultrasound or at physical examination. The mean duration from first presentation with pain till diagnosis of synovial sarcoma was 20 months. In three patients, at explorative surgery there was friable, vascular or necrotic tissue in the absence of a well-defined tumour mass. Discussion: The occurrence of long-standing pain at the tumour site prior to development of a swelling is significantly more common with synovial sarcomas than with other sarcomas. Awareness of this unusual presentation and appropriate investigation may enable detection of synovial sarcoma at a prognostically favourable early stage.

The effect of scheduling in children undergoing prophylactic cranial irradiation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Control of central nervous system (CNS) disease and overall survival have been analysed in a group of 829 children with leukaemia entered into the UKALL VIII trial to determine whether scheduling of the cranial irradiation is of prognostic significance. We show that short gaps in treatment do not influence prognosis and that current radiotherapy practice need not be modified.

Metastatic Liposarcoma: A Cause of Symptomatic Acute Pericarditis

We describe a patient presenting with a myxoid liposarcoma of the lower thigh in whom an episode of acute pericarditis indicated the recurrence of widespread metastatic disease.