Meritxell Vila

The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire for patients with colorectal cancer: EORTC QLQ-CR29 Validation Study for Spanish patients

IntroductionThe EORTC Quality of Life (QL) Group has developed a questionnaire -the EORTC QLQ-CR29- for evaluating QL in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-CR29 when applied to a sample of Spanish patients.Materials and methodsEighty-four locally advanced rectal cancer patients in the treatment follow-up period after receiving surgery and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included in the study. Seventy subjects also had adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients completed both the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-CR29 once. The psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire’s structure, reliability, and convergent, divergent and known-groups validity was performed.ResultsMultitrait scaling analysis showed that three of the multi-item scales met the standards of convergent and discriminant validity. These same scales reached the 0.7 Cronbach’s coefficient criterion or were close to it. In both analyses exceptions were observed in the blood and mucus in stool scale. Correlations between the scales of the QLQ-C30 and the module were low (r<0.02) in most cases. A few areas with more related content had higher correlations (r<0.05). Group comparison analyses showed differences in QL between groups of patients based on age, comorbidity, performance status, receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery modality.ConclusionsThe EORTC QLQ-CR29 is a reliable and valid instrument when applied to a sample of Spanish rectal cancer patients. These results are in line with those of the EORTC validation study.

The EORTC cancer outpatient satisfaction with care questionnaire in ambulatory radiotherapy: EORTC OUT-PATSAT35 RT. Validation study for Spanish patients

Objectives: The EORTC OUT‐PATSAT35 RT questionnaire evaluates the satisfaction with care (SC) expressed by cancer outpatients treated with radiotherapy. In this study we assess the psychometric properties of the OUT‐PATSAT35 RT when applied to a sample of Spanish patients.

Quality of life and voice assessment in patients with early‐stage glottic cancer

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and voice handicap in a sample of disease‐free patients who had been treated at our center with radiotherapy (RT) or surgery for early glottic cancer.

Long-term results of 1-week intravaginal high-dose-rate brachytherapy alone for endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE To compare the biologic equivalence in terms of local control and toxicity of a short course of high-dose-rate intravaginal brachytherapy alone (IVBa) delivered over five consecutive days (25 Gy/5 Rx/5 days) to other more protracted classical schemes 21 Gy/3 Rx/14-28 days (Postoperative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Carcinoma [PORTEC]-2/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center). METHODS AND MATERIALS From February 2001 to May 2008, 122 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IaG3-IIIaG2 endometrial adenocarcinoma were treated with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by postoperative IVBa. Seventy-seven patients (63.1%) underwent surgical staging. Total IVBa dose was 25Gy in five consecutive daily fractions prescribed at 0.5-cm depth. RESULTS After a median followup of 4.1 years, the rates of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grades 1, 2, and ≥3 complications were 12.9%, 3.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. Five patients (4.1%) presented locoregional failures: two isolated nodal pelvic failures, one vaginal pelvic relapse (intra-abdominal lymph node metastases), one vaginal distant failure, and one combined locoregional and distant failure. The 8.5-year actuarial vaginal control rate was 97.5%, and the pelvic control rate was 94.3%. Six other patients developed distant metastases alone. The 8.5-year actuarial overall and disease-free survival rates were 90.3% and 87.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that histologic grade, deep myometrial invasion, advanced age, and categorization as high intermediate-risk patient according to the PORTEC-2 and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)-99 stratifications were statistically significant prognostic factors. After multivariate analysis, histologic grade (p=0.001) and high intermediate risk according to GOG-99 (p=0.004) and PORTEC-2 (p=0.001) remained significant. CONCLUSIONS The proposed scheme reproduces the excellent results obtained with more protracted schemes and has the added advantage of shortened overall treatment time.

The EORTC information questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-INFO25. Validation study for Spanish patients.

IntroductionThe EORTC QLQ-INFO25 evaluates the information received by cancer patients. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the QLQ-INFO25 when applied to a sample of Spanish patients.Materials and methodsA total of 169 patients with different cancers and stages of disease completed the EORTC QLQINFO25, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the information scales of the inpatient satisfaction module EORTC IN-PATSAT32 on two occasions during the patients’ treatment and follow-up period. Psychometric evaluation of the structure, reliability, validity and responsiveness to changes was conducted. Patient acceptability was assessed with a debriefing questionnaire.ResultsMulti-trait scaling confirmed the 4 multi-item scales (information about disease, medical tests, treatment and other services) and eight single items. All items met the standards for convergent validity and all except one met the standards of item discriminant validity. Internal consistency for all scales (α>0.70) and the whole questionnaire (α>0.90) was adequate in the three measurements, except information about the disease (0.67) and other services (0.68) in the first measurement, as was test-retest reliability (intraclass correlations >0.70). Correlations with related areas of IN-PATSAT32 (r>0.40) supported convergent validity. Divergent validity was confirmed through low correlations with EORTC QLQ-C30 scales (r<0.30). The EORTC QLQ-INFO-25 discriminated among groups based on gender, age, education, levels of anxiety and depression, treatment line, wish for information and satisfaction. One scale and an item showed changes over time.ConclusionsThe EORTC QLQ-INFO 25 is a reliable and valid instrument when applied to a sample of Spanish cancer patients. These results are in line with those of the EORTC validation study.

Aplicación clínica de la radioterapia de intensidad modulada

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) represents one of the greatest technical innovations in modern radiotherapy. Its capacity of achieving treatments with the dose conforming largely to the irradiated area makes it possible to treat volumes close to organs at risk with great safety These characteristics make it an ideal technique for studies, whether for reducing toxicity in organs at risk, or for intensifying dosages to improve the control of the disease. The first part of the article considers what is understood by IMRT and its peculiar dosimetric characteristics, as well the types of IMRT; the second part deals with the clinical evidence in some localisations such as tumours of the head and neck, prostate and breast.

Radioterapia guiada por imagen: Impacto clínico

Image guided radiotherapy (IGR) is a concept that encompasses the most modern way of administering radiotherapy treatment. The aim is to maximise the dose deposited in the target volume, minimising the dose in healthy organs. This would not be possible without the continuous development of technology and software, above all in the following areas: deformable image registration, replanning new treatments, real time image and calculation of accumulated dose. While the clinical impact is evident, little is said about the impact on the reorganisation of the Radiotherapy Oncology services. IGR supposes training all team members involved, with a training and a starting period. With the experience acquired, the time dedicated to each patient (in all stages of treatment: simulation, planning, starting out, systems for verifying position, on-line, off-line corrections, replanning, periodic clinical controls) is far higher than that required in conventional radiotherapy, which gives rise to new responsibilities and roles.

Braquiterapia guiada por imagen

Brachytherapy consists in the administration of radiation in intimate contact with the tumour, with a low exposure of neighbouring healthy tissues. Its use began in the early XX century and it has developed since then: different radioisotopes, systems of remote treatment, computer programs making individual dose calculation possible. In recent years there have been changes affecting two aspects of brachytherapy. In the first place, the incorporation of imaging techniques such as echography, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR), indispensable for diagnosis and tumoural staging. Their use when the implant is being done helps in guiding and carrying out the operation with greater precision. In the second place, the use of CT, MR and echography makes better coverage of the tumour possible, or reduces the dose to healthy organs. They are used in inverse planning systems, which carry out dose calculation on the basis of the doses to be administered to the tumour and healthy organs. In these planning programs it is possible to make calculations more rapidly, taking account of the placement of the source at each moment in time. This technique, called real-time planning, is starting to show advantages in the treatment of prostate cancer. Incorporation of imaging techniques and mprovements in calculation systems mean that brachytherapy is currently playing an important role in treating cancer of the prostate, cervix, breast, head and neck tumours, bronchial tubes or oesophagus.

Estado actual del PET en los tumores de cabeza y cuello: impacto

The use of positron emission tomography (PET) in head and neck tumours is increasingly widespread. To its clinical indications--especially in the staging of patients but also in evaluating response to treatment and in detecting or confirming relapses--is now added its possible therapeutic impact through its contribution to the planning of radiotherapy treatment. The integration of PET images in the radiotherapy process seems promising, although important doubts remain about it, which means that it is still under research. This article reviews the current state of PET in the area of head and neck tumours, as well as its impact on radiotherapy treatment planning.

Hemorragia digestiva en paciente con cáncer de orofaringe: A propósito de un caso

Gastric metastases from solid tumours are very infrequent and in most cases appear simultaneously with other metastases. The most frequent primary tumors are lung and breast. Clinical data and symptoms are non-specific, and can range from abdominal discomfort to massive gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnoses must be established by gastroscopy and biopsy. We present an unusual case of digestive haemorrhage secondary to gastric metastases from oropharyngeal carcinoma.