Long-Term Outcomes and Prognostic Analysis of Computed Tomography-Guided Radioactive 125I Seed Implantation for Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer After External Beam Radiotherapy or Surgery

The role of EUS-guided iodine-125 seed implantation in patients with unresectable ampullary cancer after relief of obstructive jaundice

Purpose

Few studies have focused on the management of inoperable ampullary carcinoma (AC), and patients with jaundice suffer from biliary stents replacement frequently. Iodine-125 (125I) brachytherapy has been used in the treatment of malignant tumors owing to its curative effect, minimal surgical trauma, and tolerable complications. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of 125I seed implantation in patients with unresectable ampullary carcinoma after relief of obstructive jaundice.

Material and methods

A total of 44 patients with obstructive jaundice resulting from unresectable ampullary carcinoma from January 1, 2010 to October 31, 2020 were enrolled in the study. Eleven patients underwent implantation of 125I seeds under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) after receiving biliary stent placement via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (treatment group), and 33 patients received a stent alone via ERCP (control group). Cox regression model was applied in this single-center retrospective comparison study.

Results

The median maximum intervention interval for biliary obstruction was 381 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 204-419 days) in the treatment group and 175 days (IQR: 126-274 days) in the control group (p < 0.05). Stent occlusion rates at 90 and 180 days in the control group were 12.9% and 51.6%, respectively. No stent occlusion occurred in the treatment group. Patients in the treatment group obtained longer survival time (median, 26 vs. 13 months; p < 0.01) and prolonged duodenal obstruction (median, 20.5 vs. 11 months; p < 0.05). No brachytherapy-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

Longer intervention interval for biliary obstruction and survival as well as better stent patency and prolonged time to duodenal obstruction could be achieved by implanting 125I seeds combined with biliary stent in patients with unresectable ampullary cancer.

Clinical outcomes of radioactive seed brachytherapy and microwave ablation in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of radioactive iodine-125 seed ablation brachytherapy (RSABT) in comparison to microwave ablation therapy (MWAT) for treating inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from stage I NSCLC patients who underwent CT-guided RSABT or MWAT. The primary outcomes measured were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and the occurrence of adverse events. Of the patients included in the study, 71 underwent RSABT and 105 received MWAT. The median follow-up time for these groups was 47.4 months and 60 months, respectively. The PFS rates at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year for the RSABT group were 87.3%, 72.6%, and 65.8%, while for the MWAT group, they were 89.5%, 69.3%, and 43.7%, respectively (P = 0.011). The OS rates at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year for the RSABT group were 97.2%, 78.1%, and 66.1%, and for the MWAT group, they were 99%, 75.8%, and 55%, respectively (P = 0.112). Upon multivariate analysis, the treatment modality was identified as an independent predictor of PFS (P = 0.008). Additionally, both sex and T stage were found to be independent predictors of both PFS and OS (P < 0.05). Adverse events, such as pneumothorax, occurred in 50% of the MWAT group and 39% of the RSABT group (P = 0.313). The incidence of pleural effusion was 44% in the MWAT group compared to 14% in the RSABT group (P < 0.001). Needle bleeding was observed in 32% of the RSABT group and 5% of the MWAT group (P < 0.001). We conclude RSABT demonstrates promising efficacy and safety in the treatment of stage I NSCLC. However, further studies are essential to validate these preliminary findings.

Clinical Outcome of CT-Guided Iodine-125 Radioactive Seed Implantation for Intrahepatic Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study

The efficacy and safety of CT-Guided Iodine-125 Radioactive Seed Implantation (RSI) for the treatment of intrahepatic recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) were analyzed in this multicenter retrospective study. We reviewed the medical records of patients with rHCC treated with I-125 seed implantation at four different hospitals in China from December 2011 and January 2021. The local progression-free survival (LPFS),liver PFS, and overall survival (OS) were calculated, and the short-term efficacy and treatment-related toxicities were evaluated. A total of 82 patients were enrolled; the median follow-up time was 46 months (range, 3–80 months). The 1-, 3- and 5-year LPFS rates were 63.8%, 27.1%, and 7.9%, respectively, and the corresponding OS rates were 74.8%, 32.9%, and 12.6%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that factors influencing LPFS included the maximum lesion diameter, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, interval between treatment and recurrence, and D90. Multivariate analyses revealed that the BCLC stage, interval between treatment and recurrence, and D90 were independent factors influencing LPFS, whereas BCLC stage, D90, and short-term efficacy were independent factors influencing OS. In summary, I-125 seed implantation is a safe and effective treatment for rHCC. The BCLC stage, interval, and D90 were found to influence the local control. A larger, prospective study is required to confirm the dose-response curve for Iodine-125 RSI of rHCC.

Chinese Expert Consensus on Iodine125 Seed Implantation for Recurrent Cervical Cancer in 2021

The treatment modality for recurrent cervical cancer (rCC) is limited, and the prognosis of these patients is poor. Seed implantation could be an important component of rCC management in the context of dose boost or salvage therapy after surgery or radiotherapy, which is characterized by a minimally invasive, high local dose, and rapidly does fall, sparing normal tissue. For patients with good performance status and lateral pelvic wall recurrence with an available puncture path, seed implantation was recommended, as well as for selected central pelvic recurrence and extra-pelvic recurrence. The combination of brachytherapy treatment planning system and CT guidance was needed, and three-dimensional printing templates could greatly improve the accuracy, efficiency, and quality of seed implantation to achieve a potential ablative effect and provide an efficient treatment for rCC. However, the recommendations of seed implantation were mainly based on retrospective articles and lack high-quality evidence, and multicenter prospective randomized studies are needed. In this consensus on iodine¹²⁵ seed implantation for rCC, indication selection, technical process and requirements, dosimetry criteria, radiation protection, combined systemic therapy, and outcomes of seed implantation for rCC are discussed.

PD-1 Inhibitor Maintenance Therapy Combined Iodine-125 Seed Implantation Successfully Salvage Recurrent Cervical Cancer after CCRT: A Case Report

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in females worldwide. Patients with stage III and IV cervical cancer based on the Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification have higher recurrence rates. Because of organs at risk (OAR) protection and the low indication rate of salvage surgery, the choice of treatment is always challenging. Systemic chemotherapy is palliative and can be performed in conjunction with surgery or radiotherapy; however, it has no significant benefit to survival. Brachytherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are characterized by extremely high radiation doses applied to tumor cells while sparing the normal tissues. Several studies have investigated the efficacy of these technologies in recurrent cervical cancer and showed promising results. The immune checkpoint inhibitors approach was also investigated and showed promising results too. Herein, we report a case of a patient with cervical cancer that recurred five months after adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The disease prognosis after interstitial implantation brachytherapy (IIB) was determined. Then, the patient underwent radioactive 125I-seed implantation combined with PD-1 inhibitor treatment. The patient exhibited a partial response after seed implantation, and up to now, the duration of this partial response was 24 months.

Case Report: Successful Control of Pulmonary Metastatic Pheochromocytoma With Iodine-125 Seed Implantation

Pheochromocytoma with lung metastases is rare in clinics, and the prognosis of metastatic pheochromocytoma is generally poor. In this case, a 57-year-old woman who presented with hypertension and palpitations was diagnosed with left adrenal pheochromocytoma with lung metastasis in 2010. The patient received left adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma 10 years ago, but pulmonary lesions had significant progression 7 years ago. The patient was treated with iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) seed implantation for pulmonary lesions. All of the 5 pulmonary lesions achieved partial response 6 months later, further shrank 1 year later, and were successfully controlled for 7 years. This case indicated that ¹²⁵I seed implantation could be an alternative local therapy for metastatic pheochromocytoma in the lung.