Implantation of computed tomography-guided Iodine-125 seeds in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with iodine-125 seed implantation in driver gene-negative non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80-85% of cases. Combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy (RT) has emerged as a significant research area in recent years. However, the risk of radiation pneumonitis, especially in lung cancer patients, poses a significant concern. Iodine-125 (I125) seed implantation offers a precise, less invasive alternative, minimizing damage to surrounding lung tissues and reducing side effects. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of I125 seed implantation combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy (CT) in treating driver gene-negative NSCLC patients.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 95 patients with driver gene-negative NSCLC who presented to the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University was conducted. Among them, 33 cases in the observation group were treated with I125 seed implantation combined with CT and ICIs (ICIs + CT + I125), and 62 cases in the control group were treated with extracorporeal RT combined with CT and ICIs (ICIs + CT + RT). The primary observational endpoint was median progression-free survival (mPFS), while the secondary observational endpoints included the 1- and 2-year PFS rate and the incidence of adverse events.

Results

mPFS was not reached in the observation group but 11.8 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.743-13.857] in the control group, a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). The restricted mean survival time (RMST) was 22.2 (95% CI: 18.257-26.101) and 13.8 (95% CI: 11.912-15.718) months in both groups at 31.7 months, PFS was better in the observation group than in the control group. In the observation group, two cases (6.1%) developed grade 3 pneumothorax or hemorrhage, and in the control group, 16 cases (25.8%) developed grade 3 radiation pneumonitis, which was higher in the control group than in the observation group (P=0.02).

Conclusions

Compared to RT in combination with CT and immunotherapy, patients with driver gene-negative NSCLC who received I125 seed implantation had greater advantages with longer survival and fewer adverse effects.

EBUS-guided Iodine-125 seed implantation in lymph node as a novel therapy for MCAO: A case report

RATIONALE

We report here a case of using iodine-125 (125I) seed implantation via endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in the treatment of malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient still experienced MCAO after conventional bronchoscopic interventional therapy.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma stage IV (T4N2M1a).

INTERVENTIONS

She received implantation of radioactive 125I seeds in the lesion inside the right middle lobe bronchus and 12R lymph node via bronchoscopy and EBUS, in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient's MCAO has been effectively controlled.

LESSONS

The success of this case suggests that EBUS-guided 125I seed implantation to lymph nodes is a safe and effective therapeutic option for MCAO.

A review of the efficacy and safety of iodine-125 seed implantation for lung cancer treatment

Lung cancer is the second most common, and the deadliest, disease globally. Because it is often diagnosed late, surgical resection is not a viable treatment option for ∼75 % of patients, often resulting in a poor prognosis. Of the available treatments, radioactive iodine-125 (125-I) seed implantation therapy, or brachytherapy, has emerged as a promising option. In this procedure, small radioactive seeds are implanted inside tumor cells to produce sustained effects. Because of the short radial distance of this radiation, 125-I brachytherapy selectively and efficiently kills cancer cells while minimizing injury to adjacent cells. The present review describes the mechanism of 125-I seed implantation in the treatment of lung cancer, its efficacy and safety, and its combination with other therapies. We conclude that radioactive 125-I seed implantation and its use in combination with other therapies are good options for the management of local tumor growth, pain palliation, and improving the life span of patients suffering from lung cancers. This technique can enhance the clinical efficacy of treatment and improve the overall survival of patients with lung cancers. However, standardized dosage regimens and other procedures are still required to achieve treatment homogeneity and provide guidance for the clinical implementation of this technique.

Computed tomography-guided interstitial implantation of I (125) radioactive seeds in the treatment of hilar airway stenosis caused by non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Airway stenosis secondary to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the severe complications that can lead to life-threatening outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical utility of computed tomography (CT)-guided interstitial implantation of radioactive I-125 seeds in the treatment of hilar airway stenosis caused by NSCLC.

METHODS

The cases of hilar airway stenosis caused by NSCLC in our hospital from 2017 to 2022 were collected and divided into observation and control groups. Both groups underwent conventional lung cancer treatment, and the observation group was treated with CT-guided interstitial implantation of radioactive I-125 seeds. The mean tumor diameter, hilar airway stenosis, and obstructive pneumonia scores at 3 months after treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After 3 months of treatment, the mean tumor diameter (28.8 ± 9.3 mm vs 49.33 ± 16.75 mm, P < 0.001), hilar airway stenosis (20.55 ± 30.36% vs 84.85 ± 26.19%, P < 0.001), and obstructive pneumonia score (2.19 ± 1.41 vs 3.48 ± 1.12, P < 0.001) of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group.

CONCLUSION

CT-guided interstitial implantation of I (125) radioactive seeds in the treatment of hilar airway stenosis caused by NSCLC can effectively reduce the tumor volume, relieve airway stenosis, and alleviate the associated obstructive pneumonia and has a certain value of application in the clinic.

Computed tomography-guided iodine-125 radioactive seed implantation in small-cell lung cancer: A retrospective study

Purpose

To explore the efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) radioactive seed implantation for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Material and methods

A total of 12 SCLC patients were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation therapy, and were followed up until death, the last visit time, or study end time. Primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints were local control rate (LCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

Results

All patients were successfully implanted with ¹²⁵I radioactive seeds. The ORR at 2, 6, 12, and 24 months after implantation was 83.3%, 63.6%, 50%, and 40%, respectively; the LCR at 1 and 2 years were 75% (6/8) and 60% (3/5), respectively; the median PFS and OS were 8 and 12 months, respectively; and the OS rate at 6, 12, and 24 months after implantation was 91.67%, 66.67%, and 41.67%, respectively. No surgery-related deaths occurred. During the follow-up period, mild complications were observed in patients, including worsening cough, hemoptysis, and pneumothorax.

Conclusions

CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation therapy is a safe and effective supplementary treatment for SCLC patients, who cannot tolerate radiotherapy.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 125I seed implantation in SCLC as second line therapy

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of iodine 125 (125I) radioactive seed implantation for small cell lung cancer at the limited stage of relapse as second line therapy. We collected 6 patients with recurred limited stage small cell lung cancer, who got pathological diagnosis after a bronchoscopic biopsy and then received standard first line treatment, combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, including prophylactic cranial irradiation. These recurred small cell lung cancer patients got 125I seed implantation treatment as second line therapy, if the treatment not good responsive or the disease got rapid progress, we used the second line chemotherapy as salvage treatment. Clinical data of these patients were collected and short-term effects were observed. The follow-up period lasted for 42 months. All the patients tolerated the procedure of 125I radioactive seed implantation very well. We followed up the patients to 42 months. Five patients got complete remission and 1 patient got partial remission at 1 month after implantation. The objective response rate was 100%. The median survival time was 26 months. And median progression-free survival was 12 months after 125I treatment. And about the complications, 1 patient suffered from the light aerothorax, 1 patient had a little hemoptysis. Our study showed that 125I seed implantation as second line regimen in small cell lung cancer that recurred locally after first line treatment was effective and safe. That could improve the overall survival and progression-free survival only comparing to the second line chemotherapy. Therefore 125I seed implantation as brachytherapy protocol is a promising method and can be applied as second line treatment to control the locally recurred small cell lung cancer.

Low-activity 125I implantation into VX2 tumor rabbits and quantitative evaluation of the precise therapeutic effect

There is still controversy about quantitatively evaluating the therapeutic effect of radioactive low-activity iodine-125 seeds (¹²⁵I seeds). In the present study, a paired VX₂ tumor model in a rabbit hind leg muscle was established, which is virus-induced anaplastic squamous cell carcinoma characterized by hypervascularity, rapid growth and easy propagation in the skeletal muscle. ¹²⁵I seeds with 0.4 and 0.7 mCi activity were implanted into the left and right legs, respectively, using a radiation treatment planning system under positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) guidance. PET/CT scans and hematoxylin and eosin staining were observed at 72 h and 2 and 4 weeks after implantation to assess the therapeutic effect. The results showed that the average tumor length and standard uptake value (SUV) decreased over time, and both ¹²⁵I seed groups achieved therapeutic effects at 4 weeks post-implantation. Quantitative evaluation of tumor inhibition rate, SUV variation and tumor marker ratio (Bcl-2/Bax) suggested that 0.7 mCi ¹²⁵I seeds were more suitable than 0.4 mCi seeds in a clinical setting.

Efficacy and Safety Aiming at the Combined-Modality Therapy of External Beam Radiotherapy (40Gy) and Iodine-125 Seed Implantation for Locally Advanced NSCLC in the Elderly

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined-modality therapy for elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the chest wall.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 21 elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) with locally advanced NSCLC invading the chest wall. For external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) of the primary tumor, 40Gy was applied and supplemented with iodine-125 seed implantation while 60Gy was applied to the lymph nodes of the mediastinum. Follow-up was conducted every 3 months postoperatively. The related analytic parameters were change in tumor size, the objective response rate (ORR), the disease control rate (DCR), the degree of pain relief, the improvement of physical status, and toxicity.

Results

The combined-modality therapy significantly inhibited local growth of the tumor (from 7.84±1.20 to 4.69±1.90 cm) (P <0.0001), with 71.4% ORR and 90.5% DCR at 1 year. The cancer-related pain was significantly relieved (P <0.05) and physical status was significantly improved (P <0.05). No procedure-associated death or grade > 2 irradiation-related adverse effects were reported in this study.

Conclusion

The combined-modality therapy of EBRT with 40Gy and permanent iodine-125 seed implantation is an efficacious and safe treatment option for elderly patients with locally advanced NSCLC invading the chest wall.

[Therapeutic Effect of CT-guided ¹²⁵I Seed Implantation on Advanced Lung Cancer and Pulmonary Metastatic Carcinoma]

BACKGROUND

Primary lung cancer and metastatic lung cancer are common malignant tumors of the lung and are the main cause of cancer-related death. Advanced lung cancer and lung metastatic cancer are mainly treated by systemic therapy, and local treatment is also an effective treatment for the refractory or recurrent lesions in the lungs after systemic treatment. ¹²⁵I radioactive particle implantation, as an efficient conformal radiotherapy, has a certain control effect on localized lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous puncture of lung tissue with ¹²⁵I radioactive particle implantation in the treatment of advanced lung cancer and lung metastatic cancer.

METHODS

Continuouslycollectedthe clinical and pathological data of 105 patients with advanced lung cancer and metastatic lung cancer treated by ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 1, 2014 to November 30, 2018. The patients were followed until March, 2019. The clinical efficacy and complications of seedimplantation were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients were included in the study, 78 patients with advanced lung cancer and 27 patients with lung metastases. The median survival time after seed therapy was 395 days. The 1-year survival rate was about 78.1%, and the 2-year survival rate was about 56.1%. Seed implantation for advanced lung cancer is equivalent to lung metastasis. Seed combined with radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and chemotherapy did not improve seed treatment. However, particle combined with external radiation therapy has a significant survival disadvantage compared with simple seed therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The CT-guided ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation has controllable complications and can be used as a safe and effective treatment for advanced lung cancer and lung metastases.

Brachytherapy for lung cancer

Brachytherapy (BT) is a minimally invasive anticancer radiotherapeutic modality where the tumor is directly irradiated via a radioactive source that is precisely implanted in or adjacent to the tumor. BT for lung cancer may be conducted in the form of endobronchial BT and radioactive seed implantation (RSI-BT), mainly for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For patients with early-stage lung cancer who are not suitable for surgery or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), BT may be used as an alternative treatment, and curative results could be achieved in certain patients with cancer confined to the trachea lumen. For patients with locally advanced/metastatic lung cancer, BT could be selectively applied alone or as a boost to EBRT, which could improve the local tumor control and patient's survival. In addition, BT is also useful as a salvage treatment in select patients with locally recurrent/residual lung cancer that failed other treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, and EBRT). However, clinical outcomes are mainly obtained from retrospective studies. Prospective studies are limited and needed. In recent years, the introduction of modern image guidance, novel radioactive seeds, BT treatment planning systems (BT-TPS), after-loading technique, and three-dimensional printing template (3D-PT) assistance, among others, have potentially improved the clinical outcomes of BT. However, a comprehensive review of BT with newly published literature was lacking. This review is to discuss BT for NSCLC based on recent literature published in PubMed.

Lung cancer with nephrotic syndrome as a paraneoplastic syndrome: A case report

Paraneoplastic syndromes are immune disorders associated with clinical signs and symptoms caused by substances produced by malignant diseases and are not directly associated with a primary or metastatic tumour. The symptoms are the effects of hormones, immune cross-reactivity or cytokines. Paraneoplastic nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is often associated with membranous nephropathy (MN) in elderly patients with solid tumours, and there is continued debate regarding whether corticosteroids or immunosuppressants should be combined with cancer therapy for the syndrome. The present report describes a male patient with lung cancer associated with secondary MN who achieved remission under radiotherapy, with no use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. This case is rare. Therefore, when treating PNS related to lung cancer, more attention should be paid to the treatment of the cancer.

125I Seed Brachytherapy Combined with Single-Agent Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly: A Valuable Solution

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed brachytherapy combined with single-agent chemotherapy versus combined chemotherapy in the treatment of elderly NSCLC.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 110 patients (64 men and 46 women; mean age=71.25±7.14 years) who were diagnosed with NSCLC without distant metastases between January 2015 and May 2020. A total of 50 patients received ¹²⁵I brachytherapy combined with single-agent chemotherapy (group A), whereas 60 patients received combined chemotherapy (group B). The response to therapy and adverse effect were compared between groups. The local response rate was evaluated by CT. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data were obtained through clinical follow-up.

Results

All patients had been treated and were followed-up for 3-60 months. The median OS and PFS were 23.71±1.41 months (95% CI=20.95-26.47) vs 16.12±0.93 months (95% CI=14.31-17.93) (P<0.05) and 15.08±0.85 months (95% CI=13.42-16.74) vs 10.03±0.53 months (95% CI=9.01-11.06) (P<0.05) in group A and group B, respectively. The local response rate and clinical symptoms of patients in group A were significantly relieved when compared with group B. Severe complications were not observed in either group.

Conclusion

CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed brachytherapy combined with single-agent chemotherapy is an effective and safe therapy and shows promising results compared to combined chemotherapy alone for NSCLC in the elderly. A randomized study will be needed to assess the superiority of this combined modality treatment.

Prognostic factors for overall survival of stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients on computed tomography: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Prognosis prediction is central in treatment decision making and quality of life for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, conventional computed tomography (CT) related prognostic factors may not apply to the challenging stage III NSCLC group. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to identify and evaluate CT-related prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) of stage III NSCLC.

METHODS

The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched. After study selection, risk of bias was estimated for the included studies. Meta-analysis of univariate results was performed when sufficient data were available.

RESULTS

1595 of the 11,996 retrieved records were selected for full text review, leading to inclusion of 65 studies that reported data of 144,513 stage III NSCLC patients andcompromising 26 unique CT-related prognostic factors. Relevance and validity varied substantially, few studies had low relevance and validity. Only four studies evaluated the added value of new prognostic factors compared with recognized clinical factors. Included studies suggested gross tumor volume (meta-analysis: HR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.05-1.42), tumor diameter, nodal volume, and pleural effusion, are prognostic in patients treated with chemoradiation. Clinical T-stage and location (right/left) were likely not prognostic within stage III NSCLC. Inconclusive are several radiomic features, tumor volume, atelectasis, location (pulmonary lobes, central/peripheral), interstitial lung abnormalities, great vessel invasion, pit-fall sign, and cavitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor-size and nodal size-related factors are prognostic for OS in stage III NSCLC. Future studies should carefully report study characteristics and contrast factors with guideline recognized factors to improve evidence evaluation and validation.

Combination of Brachytherapy with Iodine-125 Seeds and Systemic Chemotherapy versus Systemic Chemotherapy Alone for Synchronous Extracranial Oligometastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

A proportion of patients with synchronous oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have poor survival, and currently no standard treatment is available, which poses a great challenge to physicians. This study aimed to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of the combination of brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds and systemic chemotherapy versus systemic chemotherapy alone for synchronous extracranial oligometastatic NSCLC.

Materials and Methods

After a systematic retrospective review of the case database between 1st Mar 2014 and 30th Mar 2018, data were obtained on 69 NSCLC patients with extracranial oligometastatic NSCLC. Among them, 32 patients received brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds combined with systemic chemotherapy (group A), and the remaining 37 patients received chemotherapy alone (group B). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and complications.

Results

The demographic and clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the groups (all p>0.05). The overall 3-month ORR was significantly higher in group A (65.6% vs 37.8%, p=0.030) than in group B. With a median follow-up time of 23 months, the PFS and OS were 11.6 (95% CI: 7.0–16.2) months vs 6.3 (95% CI: 3.4–9.2) months (p=0.036) and 17.6 (95% CI: 13.9–21.3) months vs 11.2 (95% CI: 7.7–14.7) months (p=0.042) in groups A and B, respectively. Furthermore, in Cox regression analysis, local brachytherapy was an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (HR=0.416, 95% CI: 0.246–0.702, p=0.001) and OS (HR=0.375, 95% CI: 0.216–0.653, p=0.001). Severe complications were not observed in either of the groups.

Conclusion

The combination of brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds and systemic chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone for synchronous extracranial oligometastatic NSCLC.

The efficacy of the combination of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and 125I stranded seeds for malignant bile duct obstruction treatment

Purpose

To investigate the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) combined with iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) stranded seeds for the treatment of malignant bile duct obstruction (MBO).

Material and methods

A retrospective study was performed on 58 consecutive MBO patients. Twenty patients underwent PTBD combined with ¹²⁵I stranded seeds (group A). Thirty-eight patients underwent percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage (group B). Total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin levels were compared preoperatively, 1-week, 1-month, and 3-months post-operatively. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels were compared at preoperative and 3-month post-operative stages. The time free from biliary obstruction and survival times were compared.

Results

The differences in total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin levels between the two groups were not significant preoperatively (p = 0.857, p = 0.719, and p = 0.870), and 1-week post-operatively (p = 0.259, p = 0.395, and p = 0.145). However, 1-month (p = 0.012, p = 0.005, and p = 0.049) and 3-months post-operatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001), group A was lower than group B. Differences in CA19-9, CA125, and CEA levels between the two groups were not significant preoperatively (p = 0.229, p = 0.116, and p = 0.273) and 3-months post-operatively (p = 0.159, p = 0.342, and p = 0.306). The median biliary obstruction free time was 7.0 months for group A and 5.0 months for group B (p < 0.001). The median survival time was 9.0 months for group A and 6.0 months for group B (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

PTBD combined with ¹²⁵I stranded seeds seem to reduce bilirubin levels and prevents biliary obstruction, promoting survival.

Combination of computed tomography-guided iodine-125 brachytherapy and bronchial arterial chemoembolization for locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer after failure of concurrent chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 brachytherapy and bronchial arterial chemoembolization (BACE) for locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 28 patients with locally advanced stage III NSCLC in whom concurrent chemoradiotherapy had failed and were consequently, treated with radioactive iodine-125 seed implantation followed by BACE. The prescribed radiation dose was 140 Gy, with a median radioactivity of 0.60 mCi. The tumor-feeding arteries were detected on angiography, and chemotherapeutic agents (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² + lobaplatin 30 mg/m²) were then administered via arterial infusion. The tumor-feeding arteries were embolized using 300-500 μm embosphere microspheres. The endpoints were treatment response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity.

RESULTS

The median number of implanted iodine-125 seeds was 58 pellets (range, 44-114 pellets). The median post-operative dose covering 90 % of the target volume (D90) was 143.4 Gy (range, 123.6-159.9 Gy). A total of 73 cycles of BACE were conducted (2.61 cycles per case). The bronchial arteries were the main tumor-feeding arteries. In total, 11 patients had hemoptysis, and it was significantly alleviated within 24 h after BACE. There was no serious procedure-related complication. The 6-month objective response and disease control rates were 71.42 % and 92.86 %, respectively. No severe complications occurred during the follow-up. Local control duration ranged from 5-12 months, and the median PFS was 8 months (95 % confidence interval: 7.3-8.8 months).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of CT-guided iodine-125 brachytherapy and BACE is an effective and safe approach for the treatment of NSCLC after failure of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and is worthy of clinical application.

A novel auto-positioning method in Iodine-125 seed brachytherapy driven by preoperative planning

Iodine-125 seed brachytherapy has great potential in the treatment of malignant tumors. However, the success of this treatment is highly dependent on the ability to accurately position the coplanar template. The aim of this study was to develop an auto-positioning system for the template with a design focus on efficiency and accuracy. In this study, an auto-positioning system was presented, which was composed of a treatment planning system (TPS) and a robot-assisted system. The TPS was developed as a control system for the robot-assisted system. Then, the robot-assisted system was driven by the output of the TPS to position the template. Contrast experiments for error validation were carried out in a computed tomography environment to compare with the traditional positioning method (TPM). Animal experiments on Sprague-Dawley rats were also carried out to evaluate the auto-positioning system. The error validation experiments and animal experiments with this auto-positioning system were successfully carried out with improved efficiency and accuracy. The error validation experiments achieved a positioning error of 1.04 ± 0.19 mm and a positioning time of 23.15 ± 2.52 min, demonstrating a great improvement compared with the TPM (2.55 ± 0.21 mm and 40.35 ± 2.99 min, respectively). The animal experiments demonstrated that the mean deviation of the seed position was 0.75 mm. The dose-volume histogram of the preoperative planning showed the same as the postoperative dosimetry validation. A novel auto-positioning system driven by preoperative planning was established, which exhibited higher efficiency and accuracy compared with the TPM.

A novel approach for salvage treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided permanent seed brachytherapy for salvage treatment of lung cancer: long-term results of a case series

Purpose

We sought a curative technique to treat recurrent or primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a minimally invasive outpatient technique that could be repeated multiple times, had minimal pulmonary toxicity, and was readily available in the community setting. Percutaneous outpatient computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided permanent seed brachytherapy fits these criteria.

Material and methods

Eight lesions in five patients (three patients had two lesions each) with NSCLC were treated using outpatient percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided palladium-103 seed brachytherapy. At initial presentation, seven lesions had recurred following external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and initial chemotherapy, and one lesion was treated with brachytherapy as a primary treatment.

Results

In five patients with eight lesions, there were no recurrences at follow-up from final implant, average follow-up of 58.1 months (range, 15-145 months). There were no acute complications requiring intervention and no long-term complications. One lesion required a second salvage implant 10 months after first implant. This lesion’s original salvage D₉₀ was but 90% and repeat implant achieved a D₉₀ of 273%. This salvaged site had not recurred at 43-month follow-up after the second salvage implant.

Conclusions

Percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided permanent seed brachytherapy is a safe, efficacious, and cost effective primary and salvage treatment for lung cancer. CT-fluoroscopy resources are readily available in the community and are an effective alternative to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)/proton beam, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and cryoablation (CA). Percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided permanent seed brachytherapy has an equivalent or better local control rate, a lower resource cost, and a far lower integral radiation dose than other therapies. We believe this is the first published article documenting the curative potential of percutaneous CT fluoroscopy-guided permanent seed brachytherapy for recurrent NSCLC with long-term follow-up. High D₉₀ doses appear to be required to achieve complete response. Further studies are essential to confirm these findings.

A Preliminary Study of Microbiota Diversity in Saliva and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Patients with Primary Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Background

The present study aimed to evaluate the difference in microbiota diversity in the oral cavity and fluid bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) of patients with lung cancer.

Material/Methods

Buccal (saliva) and lower respiratory tract BALF samples were collected from 51 patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma and 15 healthy controls, and bacterial genomic DNA was extracted. High-throughput 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing was performed, and microbial diversity, composition, and functions of microbiota were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.

Results

Patients with lung cancer have lower microbial diversity than healthy controls in both saliva and BALF samples. Significant segregation was observed between the different pathological types of lung cancer groups and the control group regardless of the sampling site. Treponema and Filifactor were identified as potential bacterial biomarkers in BALF samples, while Filifactor was ideal to distinguish healthy controls from lung cancer patients. Moreover, the predictive variation analysis of the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) metabolic pathway showed that the metabolic differences in microbiota varied by sampling site.

Conclusions

Lung cancer patients carry a different and less diverse microorganism community than healthy controls. Certain bacterial taxa might be associated with lung cancer, but the exact species depends on the sampling site and the pathological type. This study provides basic data on the microbiota diversity in BALF and saliva samples from lung cancer patients. Further investigation with a larger sample size should help validate the enriched species in different pathological types of lung cancers.

Preliminary clinical efficacy of iodine-125 seed implantation for the treatment of advanced malignant lung tumors

AIMS

This study aims to observe the preliminary clinical efficacy of percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy using iodine-125 seeds for the treatment of advanced malignant lung tumors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled 24 patients in our hospital with advanced malignant lung tumors between June 2013 and November 2017. Computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 seed implantation therapy was administered to these patients. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by CT.

RESULTS

Among the 24 patients, the objective response rates at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure were 50.0%, 50.0%, and 33.3%, respectively. Recent occurrence of adverse reactions were observed, including four cases of pneumothorax, three cases of hemoptysis, and two cases of particle displacement.

CONCLUSIONS

CT-guided percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds can be used for the treatment of lung malignant tumors. Its clinical curative effect is remarkable and it results in limited trauma, reducing the incidence of adverse reactions and improving patient quality of life.

Efficacy and safety of iodine-125 brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC in the elderly

Background

Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a huge challenge for physicians. Traditional chemoradiotherapy is associated with high rates of toxicities, especially when treating gerontal patients. Our study was focused on investigating the safety and efficacy of permanent iodine-125 seed implantation and chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC in the elderly.

Methods

Fifty elderly patients with stage III or IV NSCLC at our hospital from January 2011 to June 2017 were treated with the chemotherapy regimens (paclitaxel/cisplatin) and computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 brachytherapy (group A), 50 patients who received chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and cisplatin only (group B) were matched-up with the patients in group A. The local response rate was evaluated by CT. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data were obtained through clinical follow-up.

Results

The patients were followed-up for 3-46 months. With a median follow-up time of 20 months, the OS and PFS were 20 months (95% CI: 19.09-20.90 months) vs 15 months (95% CI: 14.48-15.51 months) (P<0.05) and 13 months (95% CI: 11.96-14.04 months) vs 8 months (95% CI: 7.63-8.37 months) (P<0.05) in group A and group B, respectively. The symptoms of patients in group A were significantly relieved when compared with group B. Severe complications were not observed in either of the groups.

Conclusion

The combination of iodine-125 seed brachytherapy and chemotherapy is an effective and safe therapy and is superior to chemotherapy alone for advanced NSCLC in the elderly.

Effectiveness and safety of a robot-assisted 3D personalized template in 125I seed brachytherapy of thoracoabdominal tumors

PURPOSE

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a robot-assisted 3D personalized template in 125I seed brachytherapy of thoracoabdominal tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-three patients with different tumors were involved in this research between 2013 and 2015. They were all eligible to 125I seed implantation based on robot-assisted 3D personalized template. Meanwhile, 51 patients with similar tumors, which were treated with a conventional coplanar template, were involved for comparison. Follow-up was carried out after the surgery to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, including overall survival (OS) of the patient and local control (LC) of the tumor. Complications were also summarized to evaluate the safety. Besides, statistical analysis was achieved to investigate possible factors associated with the result.

RESULTS

In the robot-assisted 3D personalized template-guided brachytherapy, the median target volume treated by the prescription dose (V100) was 95.3% (range, 92.4-109.8), and the median dose administered to 90% of the target volume (D90) was 126.1 Gy (range, 114.2-132.0), improved 5% and 8% compared with the conventional template-guided brachytherapy, respectively. The median OS was 30 months (95% CI: 19.4-40.6) and the rates of 2-year OS and LC were 58.1% and 86.0%, respectively. The median OS was prolonged 10 months and the 2-year OS and LC were improved 18.9% and 23.3% compared with the conventional template-guided brachytherapy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Through analysis of the selected patients with thoracoabdominal tumors, the robot-assisted 3D personalized template in 125I seed brachytherapy was a more effective and safer method. It can achieve a more favorable OS and LC.

Percutaneous computed tomography-guided permanent 125I implantation as therapy for pulmonary metastasis

Purpose

To evaluate intermediate-term outcomes after computed tomography (CT)-guided radioactive ¹²⁵I seed implantation (CTRISI), and to determine prognostic variables associated with outcomes in patients with pulmonary metastases.

Material and methods

Thoracic surgeons evaluated and performed implantation of ¹²⁵I radioactive seeds under CT guidance or combined with surgical resection. Patients were monitored in the thoracic surgery clinic for recurrence and survival.

Results

Fifty patients (31 men, 19 women; median age, 59 years; range, 16-85) underwent CTRISI. The primary cancer was colorectal in 10 (20%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 8 (16%), sarcoma in 5 (10%), renal in 4 (8%), and other in 22 (44%) patients. CTRISI was the sole treatment in 45 patients (90%) and was combined with surgical resection in 5 patients (10%). The actuarial D₉₀ of implanted ¹²⁵I seeds ranged from 90 to 160 Gy (median, 120 Gy). No procedurally related deaths occurred. At a median follow-up of 41.5 months (range, 7-74 months), 6 patients were alive. The median survival time was 42.1 months (95% confidence interval: 26.5-53.4), and the estimated 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.0%, 58.0%, and 26.7%, respectively. Lesion size was an important prognostic variable associated with overall and progression-free survival (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

CTRISI is safe in this group of patients with pulmonary metastases and provides reasonable results. Surgical resection remains the standard for resectable cases, but CTRISI offers an alternative for selected patients or may be used as a feasible approach in combination with surgical resection for selected patients.