B.J. Debenham

2009 Canadian radiation oncology resident survey.

PURPOSE Statistics from the Canadian post-MD education registry show that numbers of Canadian radiation oncology (RO) trainees have risen from 62 in 1999 to approximately 150 per year between 2003 and 2009, contributing to the current perceived downturn in employment opportunities for radiation oncologists in Canada. When last surveyed in 2003, Canadian RO residents identified job availability as their main concern. Our objective was to survey current Canadian RO residents on their training and career plans. METHODS AND MATERIALS Trainees from the 13 Canadian residency programs using the national matching service were sought. Potential respondents were identified through individual program directors or chief resident and were e-mailed a secure link to an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to report responses. RESULTS The eligible response rate was 53% (83/156). Similar to the 2003 survey, respondents generally expressed high satisfaction with their programs and specialty. The most frequently expressed perceived weakness in their training differed from 2003, with 46.5% of current respondents feeling unprepared to enter the job market. 72% plan on pursuing a postresidency fellowship. Most respondents intend to practice in Canada. Fewer than 20% of respondents believe that there is a strong demand for radiation oncologists in Canada. CONCLUSIONS Respondents to the current survey expressed significant satisfaction with their career choice and training program. However, differences exist compared with the 2003 survey, including the current perceived lack of demand for radiation oncologists in Canada.

SBRT Treatment of Metachronous Small-Cell and Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinomas in a Patient with Severe COPD

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has not been widely employed in the treatment of limited-stage (LS) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), although SBRT finds particular utility in patients medically unfit to undergo surgical resection or radiotherapy with conventional fields. The authors present the case of a 61-year-old female smoker with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diagnosed incidentally with LS-SCLC. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was contraindicated by her poor pulmonary function, and she was treated radically with four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy. This was followed by prophylactic cranial irradiation and consolidative SBRT (48 Gy in 4 fractions) to the residual tumour, which achieved a complete clinical response. Fifteen months following the patient’s initial diagnosis, a metachronous Stage IA contralateral non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was incidentally diagnosed and was treated with SBRT (48 Gy in 4 fractions). Although studies have established that the incidence of a second lung cancer is higher in patients with previous SCLC, this case is unique in that both primaries were treated with SBRT.

Top 10 research priorities in head and neck cancer: Results of an Alberta priority setting partnership of patients, caregivers, family members, and clinicians

The epidemiology, etiology, and management of head and neck cancer are evolving. Understanding the perspectives and priorities of nonresearchers regarding treatment uncertainties is important to inform future research.

Poor Vitamin Status is Associated with Skeletal Muscle Loss and Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Mucositis and muscle wasting are two common toxicity effects of cancer treatment in head and neck cancer (HNC). There is limited data evaluating cancer treatment toxicities in relation to vitamin status. This study aimed to assess changes in vitamin status during HNC treatment in relation to body composition, inflammation and mucositis. In this prospective cohort study, dietary intakes (3-day food record), plasma levels of vitamins and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed at baseline (at diagnosis) and post-treatment (after 6–8 weeks of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy). Computed tomography images were used to quantify body composition. Mucositis information was collected from health records of patients. Twenty-eight HNC patients (age 60 ± 10 years) completed both study time points. Patients who developed mucositis had significantly lower dietary intake of vitamins and plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) and all-trans retinol levels (p < 0.02). Patients lost a considerable amount of muscle mass (3.4 kg) and fat mass (3.6 kg) over the course of treatment. There was a trend toward greater muscle loss in patients with 25-OHD < 50 nmol/L compared to patients with 25-OHD ≥ 50 nmol/L (p = 0.07). A significant negative correlation was found between plasma all-trans retinol and CRP level at the end of treatment (p = 0.03). Poor vitamin status could be a contributing factor in developing treatment-induced toxicities.

Is lobectomy superior to sublobar resection for early-stage small-cell lung cancer discovered intraoperatively?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: Is lobectomy superior to sublobar resection (SLR) for early-stage (cT1/2N0) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) discovered intraoperatively? Altogether, more than 360 papers were found using the reported search, of which 10 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Surgical treatment was shown to be superior to non-surgical treatment for early-stage SCLC in 8 papers. Seven papers showed that among patients treated surgically, lobectomy is associated with improved survival compared to SLR. One paper demonstrated both improved survival and improved freedom from local recurrence. However, 1 paper showed no difference when lobectomy was compared to anatomical segmentectomy. Three papers demonstrated significant rates of upstaging in surgical patients. Although both lobectomy and SLR are associated with improved survival compared with non-surgical treatment in early-stage SCLC, lobectomy is superior. Lobectomy was associated with improved median and overall survival, better upstaging and decreased local recurrence compared to SLR, although there is potential for selection bias and stage migration. Lobectomy should be considered the optimal approach for patients with early-stage SCLC.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx

Small cell carcinoma is rarely found to originate from the hypopharynx and there exists no treatment guidelines due to the small number of cases. Here, we present a case of a female patient with metastatic small cell carcinoma originating from the posterior hypopharynx with lymph node involvement. Her treatment consisted of chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin as well as radiation therapy. Her post-treatment computed tomography (CT) scan indicated resolution of the disease at the primary site and follow-up positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan at three-month post radiation therapy revealed that the patient is clear of the disease.

A Dosimetric Comparison of Primary Chemoradiation Versus Postoperative Radiation for Locally Advanced Oropharyngeal Cancer

Introduction Advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer can be treated with primary chemoradiation (CRT) or primary surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy, both with similar survival outcomes. Though primary CRT prescribes a higher dose, adjuvant radiation requires irradiating the surgical bed, which may increase the high dose planned target volume (PTV). We hypothesize that the integral dose to the neck and dose to critical structures will be lower with primary CRT than adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods We selected the last 18 patients who underwent surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy at one institution between July 2015 and August 2016 with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III or IVA oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer. Primary CRT treatment plans were created on the patients’ preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and prescribed 70 Gy in 33 fractions, while postoperative plans were prescribed 60 Gy in 30 fractions. The radiation doses received by organs at risk for each primary CRT plan were compared to the corresponding adjuvant radiation plan. Results Primary CRT plans had significantly smaller high dose PTV than adjuvant radiation plans (187.3 cc (95% CI 134.9-239.7) and 466.3 cc (95% CI 356.7-575.9), p<0.0001). The neck integral dose was lower in 14 of 18 plans using primary CRT, although this was not statistically significant (p=0.5375). The primary CRT plans had lower mean doses to ipsilateral (31.8 Gy (95% CI 27.5-36.0) vs 39.3 Gy (95% CI 35.4-43.1), p=0.0009)) and contralateral parotid glands (22.5 Gy (95% CI 22.1-22.8) vs 27.6 Gy (95% CI 23.4-31.8), p=0.0238) and larynx (20.7 Gy (95% CI 19.3-22.2) vs 40.2 Gy (95% CI 30.8-46.6), p<0.0001). Conclusion Primary CRT offered a decreased neck integral dose, though it was statistically insignificant. Primary CRT plans reduce mean dose to larynx and parotid glands in comparison to postoperative radiation, which may result in lower toxicities. Clinical trials comparing primary CRT and primary surgery are warranted to compare patient toxicities.

245: Clinical Outcomes in Stage III Melanoma Treated with Adjuvant Radiotherapy

Purpose: A variety of dose/fractionation schemes are used for adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in node positive (Stage III) melanoma. A prospective randomized study of adjuvant nodal radiation for high-risk Stage III melanoma used 2.4 Gy x 20 fractions in four weeks. The largest retrospective series to date used a hypofractionated scheme of 6 Gy x 5 fractions over 2.5 weeks. No randomized comparison of these has been reported. At our institution, either fractionation is used based on physician and patient preference. We sought to compare clinical outcomes using hypofractionated and conventional radiotherapy for node positive melanoma. Methods and Materials: Patients who received adjuvant radiation for node positive melanoma between 2009 and 2014 were included. Kaplan–Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between patient, tumour and treatment factors for the outcomes of these patients. Results: Forty-one patients were included in the final analysis. Median follow up was two years. Sixty-one percent of patients were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy (6 Gy x 5 for 23 patients and 6 Gy x 6 for two patients) and the remainder received conventional fractionation 40-60 Gy in 15-30 fractions). Treatment sites included the axilla (39%), groin (29%) and head/neck (32%). No significant differences in stage, number of involved nodes, largest node, nodal location, or extracapsular extension were present between the two groups. Comparing the hypofractionated versus conventional groups, there was no significant difference in regional control (76 versus 84%), distant control (48 versus 44%) or overall survival (67 versus 62%). 44% were referred to a specialty clinic for management of lymphedema in the hypofractionated group versus 19% in the conventional group (HR 2.56, 95% CI 0.85-7.68, p = 0.094). Conclusions: Hypofractionated and conventional radiotherapy results in similar rates of disease control at two years in node positive melanoma. A trend towards higher referrals for lymphedema management was observed in the hypofractionated group. Future work should prospectively compare outcomes and toxicity for giving patients best advice for hypofractionation compared with standard treatment.

Palliative whole brain radiotherapy: Predictors of prescribing 5 versus 10 fractions.

219 Background: The optimal dose for palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) continues to be debated. Common regimens include 20 Gy in five and 30 Gy in 10 fractions. We aimed to identify factors associated with WBRT dose schedules, hypothesizing that clinical prediction of survival (CPS) would influence prescribing practice. METHODS Demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected for consecutive patients with brain metastases receiving WBRT through a dedicated palliative radiation oncology clinic. At initial consultation, CPS were prospectively collected from treating radiation oncologists. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and Mini-Mental Status Examination were available for 88.6% and 75.1%, respectively. Dose fractionation was collected and summary statistics calculated. Parameters were assessed for association with five fraction schedules using binary logistic regression, with odds ratios and 95% CI reported. RESULTS 193 patients underwent WBRT (N = 102 from 2010-2012; N = 91 from 2013-2014); 38/193 had 48 extracranial sites irradiated concurrently. 46.1% were male, mean age was 64.7 years (SD 11.6), and 63.7% had lung cancer. Median KPS was 70 (range 20-100) and median MMSE score was 27/30 (range 13-30). Median CPS and actual survival were 150 days (range 21-730d) and 96 days (range 11-1029d), respectively. 18.7% received WBRT within 30 days of death. 78.2% (151/193) and 17.6% (34/193) received five and 10 fractions, respectively; 8/193 were prescribed other schedules. On multivariate analysis, patients with KPS ≤ 70 were 5.93 times more likely to have received 5-fractions (95% CI 2.51-14.1; p < 0.0001). Those treated 2010-2012 were less likely to have received 5 fractions (OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.11-0.68; p = 0.005). CPS, age, gender, MMSE, histology, disease extent, and extracranial irradiation were not predictive of WBRT schedule. CONCLUSIONS Patients treated with WBRT with KPS ≤70 and those treated more recently were more likely to receive five fractions. Oncologist CPS was not a statistically significant predictor of schedule in this cohort.

Survival Outcomes and Patterns of Recurrence in Patients with Stage III or IV Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated with Primary Surgery or Radiotherapy

Purpose To compare and contrast the patterns of failure in patients with locally advanced squamous cell oropharyngeal cancers undergoing curative-intent treatment with primary surgery or radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy. Methods and materials Two hundred and thirty-three patients with stage III or IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent curative-intent treatment from 2006-2012, were reviewed. The median length of follow-up for patients still alive at the time of analysis was 4.4 years. Data was collected retrospectively from a chart review. Results One hundred and thirty-nine patients underwent primary surgery +/- adjuvant therapy, and 94 patients underwent primary radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy (CRT). Demographics were similar between the two groups, except primary radiotherapy patients had a higher age-adjusted Charleston co-morbidity score (CCI). Twenty-nine patients from the surgery group recurred; 15 failed distantly only, seven failed locoregionally, and seven failed both distantly and locoregionally. Twelve patients recurred who underwent chemoradiotherapy; ten distantly alone, and two locoregionally. One patient who underwent radiotherapy (RT) alone failed distantly. Two and five-year recurrence-free survival rates for patients undergoing primary RT were 86.6% and 84.9% respectively. Two and five-year recurrence-free survival rates for primary surgery was 80.9% and 76.3% respectively (p=0.21). There was no significant difference in either treatment when they were stratified by p16 status or smoking status. Conclusions Our analysis does not show any difference in outcomes for patients treated with primary surgery or radiotherapy. Although the primary pattern of failure in both groups was distant metastatic disease, some local failures may be preventable with careful delineation of target volumes, especially near the base of skull region.