Gunita Mitera

Update of the International Consensus on Palliative Radiotherapy Endpoints for Future Clinical Trials in Bone Metastases

PURPOSE To update the international consensus on palliative radiotherapy endpoints for future clinical trials in bone metastases by surveying international experts regarding previous uncertainties within the 2002 consensus, changes that may be necessary based on practice pattern changes and research findings since that time. METHODS AND MATERIALS A two-phase survey was used to determine revisions and new additions to the 2002 consensus. A total of 49 experts from the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the Faculty of Radiation Oncology of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, and the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology who are directly involved in the care of patients with bone metastases participated in this survey. RESULTS Consensus was established in areas involving response definitions, eligibility criteria for future trials, reirradiation, changes in systemic therapy, radiation techniques, parameters at follow-up, and timing of assessments. CONCLUSION An outline for trials in bone metastases was updated based on survey and consensus. Investigators leading trials in bone metastases are encouraged to adopt the revised guideline to promote consistent reporting. Areas for future research were identified. It is intended for the consensus to be re-examined in the future on a regular basis.

A 2011 Updated Systematic Review and Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Malignant Extradural Spinal Cord Compression

PURPOSE To update the 2005 Cancer Care Ontario practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of extradural malignant spinal cord compression (MESCC). METHODS A review and analysis of data published from January 2004 to May 2011. The systematic literature review included published randomized control trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and prospective/retrospective studies. RESULTS An RCT of radiation therapy (RT) with or without decompressive surgery showed improvements in pain, ambulatory ability, urinary continence, duration of continence, functional status, and overall survival. Two RCTs of RT (30 Gy in eight fractions vs. 16 Gy in two fractions; 16 Gy in two fractions vs. 8 Gy in one fraction) in patients with a poor prognosis showed no difference in ambulation, duration of ambulation, bladder function, pain response, in-field failure, and overall survival. Retrospective multicenter studies reported that protracted RT schedules in nonsurgical patients with a good prognosis improved local control but had no effect on functional or survival outcomes. CONCLUSIONS If not medically contraindicated, steroids are recommended for any patient with neurologic deficits suspected or confirmed to have MESCC. Surgery should be considered for patients with a good prognosis who are medically and surgically operable. RT should be given to nonsurgical patients. For those with a poor prognosis, a single fraction of 8 Gy should be given; for those with a good prognosis, 30 Gy in 10 fractions could be considered. Patients should be followed up clinically and/or radiographically to determine whether a local relapse develops. Salvage therapies should be introduced before significant neurologic deficits occur.

Palliative Response and Functional Interference Outcomes Using the Brief Pain Inventory for Spinal Bony Metastases Treated with Conventional Radiotherapy

AIMS To report pain and functional interference responses in patients radiated for painful spinal metastases, and to determine if location within the vertebral column or dose fractionation are associated with response. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients treated with palliative radiotherapy for symptomatic spinal metastases from May 2003 to June 2005 were analysed. All patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) assessment tool at 1, 2 and 3 months after radiotherapy. The pain response was determined using the International Bone Metastases Consensus response definitions. Given seven BPI functional interference items, a Bonferroni adjusted P value of less than 0.007 was considered significant. RESULTS One hundred and nine treated patients were assessed. About 50% of patients were treated with a single fraction of 8Gy. All pain scores and functional interference scores significantly decreased over time after radiotherapy. At 3 months, 64% of patients achieved a response. Mood was significantly improved for responders (P=0.003) and a trend in improvement was observed for general activity (P=0.01) and normal work (P=0.04). Breast and prostate primaries were more likely to achieve an early response as compared with a lung primary. Neither location within the vertebral column or radiotherapy dose fractionation independently predicted for pain or functional interference responses. CONCLUSION Conventional radiotherapy with 8Gy in a single fraction for spine metastases resulted in effective palliation of pain at 3 months and had a positive effect on a patients mood. Location within the spine was not a predictive factor.

A Multicenter Assessment of the Adequacy of Cancer Pain Treatment Using the Pain Management Index

PURPOSES Determine adequacy of management of pain secondary to bone metastases by physicians referring to specialized outpatient palliative radiotherapy (RT) clinics in Canada; compare geographic differences in adequacy of pain management and pain severity between these cohorts; compare results with published international literature. METHODS Prospectively collected data from three participating centers were used to calculate the Pain Management Index (PMI) by subtracting the patient-rated pain score at time of initial clinic visit from the analgesic score. Scores were 0, 1, 2, and 3 when patients reported no pain (0), mild (1-4), moderate (5-6), or severe pain (7-10), respectively, on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System or Brief Pain Inventory. Analgesic scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 were assigned for no pain medication, nonopioids, weak opioids, and strong opioids respectively. A negative PMI suggests inadequate pain management. RESULTS Overall incidence of negative PMI and moderate to severe pain was 25.1% and 70.9% respectively for 2011 patients. Comparing the three participating centers, the incidence of negative PMI was 31.0%, 20.0%, and 16.8% (p < 0.0001), and severe pain was 55.5%, 48.2% and 43.4% (p < 0.0001), these correlated with a negative PMI. Patients referred to our clinics were less likely to be undertreated for their pain when compared to study results from international countries. CONCLUSION Geographic differences in adequacy of analgesic management for painful bone metastases exist between Canadian specialized outpatient palliative RT clinics and between centers globally. Investigating reasons for these differences may provide insight into solutions to improve quality of life for these patients.

Elderly Patients With Painful Bone Metastases Should be Offered Palliative Radiotherapy

PURPOSE To investigate the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy (RT) in relieving metastatic bone pain in elderly patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS The response to RT for palliation of metastatic bone pain was evaluated from a prospective database of 558 patients between 1999 and 2008. The pain scores and analgesic intake were used to calculate the response according to the International Bone Metastases Consensus Working Party palliative RT endpoints. Subgroup analyses for age and other demographic information were performed. RESULTS No significant difference was found in the response rate in patients aged >or=65, >or=70, and >or=75 years compared with younger patients at 1, 2, or 3 months after RT. The response was found to be significantly related to the performance status. CONCLUSION Age alone did not affect the response to palliative RT for bone metastases. Elderly patients should be referred for palliative RT for their painful bone metastases, regardless of age, because they receive equal benefit from the treatment.

The palliative performance scale: examining its inter-rater reliability in an outpatient palliative radiation oncology clinic

IntroductionThe Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) was developed by the Victoria Hospice Society in 1996 to modernize the Karnofsky Performance Scale. Currently, it is being used to measure palliative patient performance status in a variety of settings. Despite its widespread use, only one study has examined the inter-rater reliability of the PPS.PurposeTo examine the inter-rater reliability of the PPS in measuring performance status in patients seen in an outpatient palliative radiation oncology clinicMethodsPerformance status for 102 consecutive patients was assessed by an oncologist (MD), a radiation therapist (RT), and a research assistant (RA) in the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program at the Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Raters’ scores were analyzed for correlation and compared to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the PPS tool.ResultsExcellent correlation was found between the scores rated by the MD and RA (r = 0.86); good correlation was observed between scores rated by the MD and RT (r = 0.69) and the RT and RA (r = 0.77). Scores between all three raters, as well as between rater pairs, were also found to have good reliability as measured by the Chronbach’s alpha coefficient. Significant results were obtained for the range of PPS scores in which the majority of our patients fell: 40–80%.ConclusionPPS was shown to have good overall inter-rater reliability in an outpatient palliative setting, but more research is needed to establish the validity and reliability of the tool in a variety of different palliative settings.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Comparing Conventional Versus Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Surgically Ineligible Stage I Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION In 25% to 35% of patients with early stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), surgery is not feasible, and external-beam radiation becomes their standard treatment. Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) is the traditional radiation treatment standard; however, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is increasingly being adopted as an alternate radiation treatment. Our objective was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis, comparing SBRT with CFRT for stage I NSCLC in a public payer system. METHODS Consecutive patients were reviewed using 2010 Canadian dollars for direct medical costs from a public payer perspective. A subset of direct radiation treatment delivery costs, excluding physician billings and hospitalization, was also included. Health outcomes as life-years gained (LYGs) were computed using time-to-event methods. Sensitivity analyses identified critical factors influencing costs and benefits. RESULTS From January 2002 to June 2010, 168 patients (CFRT, n = 50; SBRT, n = 118) were included; median follow-up was 24 months. Mean overall survival was 2.83 years (95% CI, 1.8 to 4.1) for CFRT and 3.86 years (95% CI, 3.2 to not reached) for SBRT (P = .06). Mean costs for CFRT were

The Choosing Wisely Canada cancer initiative.

6,886 overall and

Correlation of Computed Tomography Imaging Features With Pain Response in Patients With Spine Metastases After Radiation Therapy

5,989 for radiation treatment delivery only versus

Choosing Wisely Canada cancer list: ten low-value or harmful practices that should be avoided in cancer care.

8,042 and