2020 ASCO, 2023 NCCN, 2023 MASCC/ESMO, and 2019 CCO: a comparison of antiemetic guidelines for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common toxicity that may impair the quality of life of patients with various malignancies ranging from early to end stages. In light of frequent changes to the guidelines for optimal management of CINV, we undertook this narrative review to compare the most recent guidelines published by ASCO (2020), NCCN (2023), MASCC/ESMO (2023), and CCO (2019). The processes undertaken by each organization to evaluate existing literature were also described. Although ASCO, NCCN, MASCC/ESMO, and CCO guidelines for the treatment and prevention of CINV share many fundamental similarities, the literature surrounding low and minimal emetic risk regimens is lacking. Current data regarding adherence to these guidelines is poor and warrants further investigation to improve care.

Reirradiation of metastases of the central nervous system: part 2-metastatic epidural spinal cord compression

An increasing number of patients irradiated for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) experience an in-field recurrence and require a second course of radiotherapy. Reirradiation can be performed with conventional radiotherapy or highly-conformal techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). When using conventional radiotherapy, a cumulative biologically effective dose (BED) ≤120 calculated with an α/β value of 2 Gy (Gy2) was not associated with radiation myelopathy in a retrospective study of 124 patients and is considered safe. In that study, conventional reirradiation led to improvements of motor deficits in 36% of patients and stopped further symptomatic progression in another 50% (overall response 86%). In four other studies, overall response rates were 82-89%. In addition to the cumulative BED or equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2), the interval between both radiotherapy courses <6 months and a BED per course ≥102 Gy2 (corresponding to an EQD2 ≥51 Gy2) were identified as risk factors for radiation myelopathy. Without these risk factors, a BED >120 Gy2 may be possible. Scoring tools have been developed that can assist physicians in estimating the risk of radiation myelopathy and selecting the appropriate dose-fractionation regimen of re-treatment. Reirradiation of MESCC may also be performed with highly-conformal radiotherapy. With IMRT or VMAT, rates of pain relief and improvement of neurologic symptoms of 60-93.5% and 42-73%, respectively, were achieved. One-year local control rates ranged between 55% and 88%. Rates of myelopathy or radiculopathy and vertebral compression fractures were 0% and 0-9.3%, respectively. With SBRT, rates of pain relief were 65-86%. Two studies reported improvements in neurologic symptoms of 0% and 82%, respectively. One-year local control rates were 74-83%. Rates of myelopathy or radiculopathy and vertebral compression fractures were 0-4.5% and 4.5-13.8%, respectively. For SBRT, a cumulative maximum EQD2 to thecal sac ≤70 Gy2, a maximum EQD2 of SBRT ≤25 Gy2, a ratio ≤0.5 of thecal sac maximum EQD2 of SBRT to maximum cumulative EQD2, and an interval between both courses ≥5 months were associated with a lower risk of myelopathy. Additional prospective trials are required to better define the options of reirradiation of MESCC.

Reirradiation of metastases of the central nervous system: part 1-brain metastasis

Because of improved survival of cancer patients, more patients irradiated for brain metastases develop intracerebral recurrences requiring subsequent courses of radiotherapy. Five studies focused on reirradiation with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) after initial WBRT for brain metastases. Following the second WBRT course, improvement of clinical symptoms was found in 31-68% of patients. Rates of neurotoxicity, such as encephalopathy or cognitive decline, were reported in two studies (1.4% and 32%). In another study, severe or unexpected adverse events were not observed. Survival following the second WBRT course was generally poor, with median survival times of 2.9-4.1 months. The survival prognosis of patients receiving two courses of WBRT can be estimated by a scoring tool considering five prognostic factors. Three studies investigated reirradiation with single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SF-SRS) following primary WBRT. One-year local control rates were 74-91%, and median survival times ranged between 7.8 and 14 months. Rates of radiation necrosis (RN) after reirradiation were 0-6%. Seven studies were considered that investigated re-treatment with SF-SRS or fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (FSRT) following initial SF-SRS or FSRT. One-year local control rates were 60-88%, and the median survival times ranged between 8.3 and 25 months. During follow-up after reirradiation, rates of overall (asymptomatic or symptomatic) RN ranged between 12.5% and 30.4%. Symptomatic RN occurred in 4.3% to 23.9% of cases (patients or lesions). The risk of RN associated with symptoms and/or requiring surgery or corticosteroids appears lower after reirradiation with FSRT when compared to SF-SRS. Other potential risk factors of RN include the volume of overlap of normal tissue receiving 12 Gy at the first course and 18 Gy at the second course of SF-SRS, maximum doses ≥40 Gy of the first or the second SF-SRS courses, V12 Gy >9 cm3 of the second course, initial treatment with SF-SRS, volume of normal brain receiving 5 Gy during reirradiation with FSRT, and systemic treatment. Cumulative EQD2 ≤100-120 Gy2 to brain, <100 Gy2 to brainstem, and <75 Gy2 to chiasm and optic nerves may be considered safe. Since most studies were retrospective in nature, prospective trials are required to better define safety and efficacy of reirradiation for recurrent or progressive brain metastases.

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) clinical practice guidance for the prevention of breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema (BCRAL): international Delphi consensus-based recommendations

Background

Developing strategies to prevent breast cancer-related arm lymphoedema (BCRAL) is a critical unmet need because there are no effective interventions to eradicate it once it reaches a chronic state. Certain strategies such as prospective surveillance programs and prophylactic lymphatic reconstruction have been reported to be effective in clinical trials. However, a large variation exists in practice based on clinician preference, organizational standards, and local resources.

Methods

A two-round international Delphi consensus process was performed from February 27, 2023 to May 25, 2023 to compile opinions of 55 experts involved in the care and research of breast cancer and lymphoedema on such interventions.

Findings

Axillary lymph node dissection, use of post-operative radiotherapy, relative within-arm volume increase one month after surgery, greater number of lymph nodes dissected, and high body mass index were recommended as the most important risk factors to guide selection of patients for interventions to prevent BCRAL. The panel recommended that prospective surveillance programs should be implemented to screen for and reduce risks of BCRAL where feasible and resources allow. Prophylactic compression sleeves, axillary reverse mapping and prophylactic lymphatic reconstruction should be offered for patients who are at risk for developing BCRAL as options where expertise is available and resources allow. Recommendations on axillary management in clinical T1-2, node negative breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive sentinel lymph nodes were also provided by the expert panel. Routine axillary lymph node dissection should not be offered in these patients who receive breast conservation therapy. Axillary radiation instead of axillary lymph node dissection should be considered in the same group of patients undergoing mastectomy.

Interpretation

An individualised approach based on patients' preferences, risk factors for BCRAL, availability of treatment options and expertise of the healthcare team is paramount to ensure patients at risk receive preventive interventions for BCRAL, regardless of where they are receiving care.

Funding

This study was not supported by any funding. RJC received investigator grant support from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1194051).

Patient-reported experience with the use of Mepitel Film for prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Mepitel Film (MF) has been demonstrated to reduce the severity of radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients receiving breast cancer radiotherapy (RT). The objective of this study was to characterize patient-reported experience with MF use, including its impact on daily activities and wellbeing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-institution study analyzed anonymized responses to a questionnaire completed by patients who used MF for the prevention of RD during breast cancer RT.

RESULTS

Of the 254 patients contacted, 192 patients completed the survey. Most patients disagreed or strongly disagreed that MF limited their ability to perform their daily activities, including household chores (88%, n = 169/191), their ability to work (83%, n = 157/189), or their ability to sleep (85%, n = 163/191). Furthermore, patients agreed or strongly agreed MF was comfortable on their skin (67%, n = 126/189) and protected their skin from rubbing against clothing (86%, n = 161/188). Some patients agreed or strongly agreed that MF affected their ability to shower (31%, n = 50/162), wear bras (28%, n = 51/185), and impacted their level of pruritus (35%, n = 67/189). However, most patients agreed or strongly agreed that their overall experience with MF was positive (92%, n = 173/189) and would recommend MF to a friend undergoing breast cancer RT (88%, n = 166/188).

CONCLUSION

MF use is associated with positive patient-reported experience during breast RT with minimal impact on daily activities.

Quality of life issues in patients with bone metastases: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Bones are frequent sites of metastatic disease, observed in 30-75% of advanced cancer patients. Quality of life (QoL) is an important endpoint in studies evaluating the treatments of bone metastases (BM), and many patient-reported outcome tools are available. The primary objective of this systematic review was to compile a list of QoL issues relevant to BM and its interventions. The secondary objective was to identify common tools used to assess QoL in patients with BM, and the QoL issues they fail to address.

METHODS

A search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between 1946 and 27 January 2023 with the keywords "bone metastases", "quality of life", and "patient reported outcomes". Specific QoL issues in original research studies and the QoL tools used were extracted.

RESULTS

The review identified the QoL issues most prevalent to BM in the literature. Physical and functional issues observed in patients included pain, interference with ambulation and daily activities, and fatigue. Psychological symptoms, such as helplessness, depression, and anxiety were also common. These issues interfered with patients' relationships and social activities. Items not mentioned in existing QoL tools were related to newer treatments of BM, such as pain flare, flu-like symptoms, and jaw pain due to osteonecrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review highlights that QoL issues for patients with BM have expanded over time due to advances in BM-directed treatments. If they are relevant, additional treatment-related QoL issues identified need to be validated prospectively by patients and added to current assessment tools.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy versus conventional external beam radiotherapy for spinal metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to compare SBRT and cEBRT for treating spinal metastases through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched up to 6 May 2023 for RCTs comparing SBRT and cEBRT for spinal metastases. Overall and complete pain response, local progression, overall survival, quality of life and adverse events were extracted. Data were pooled using random-effects models. Results were reported as risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes, and hazard ratios (HRs) for time-to-event outcomes, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

Three RCTs were identified involving 642 patients. No differences were seen in overall pain response comparing SBRT and cEBRT (RR at 3 months: 1.12, 95% CI, 0.74-1.70, p = 0.59; RR at 6 months: 1.29, 95% CI, 0.97-1.72, p = 0.08). Only two of three studies presented complete pain response data. SBRT demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in complete pain response compared to cEBRT (RR at 3 months: 2.52; 95% CI, 1.58-4.01; P < 0.0001; RR at 6 months: 2.48; 95% CI, 1.23-4.99; P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in local progression and overall survival. Adverse events were similar, except for any grade radiation dermatitis, which was significantly lower in SBRT arm (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.96, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

SBRT is a safe treatment option for spine metastases. It may provide better complete pain response compared to cEBRT. Additional trials are needed to determine the potential benefits of SBRT in specific patient subsets.

Treatment times for delivering adjuvant breast radiotherapy at a cancer centre in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Time is a valuable commodity that impacts hospital flow, patient experience and economic resources. This study aims to identify factors that affect daily treatment time over a course of radiation therapy (RT) in patients who underwent adjuvant breast RT.

METHODS

In all adjuvant breast/chestwall RT patients treated from October 2017 to May 2018, daily set-up, beam delivery time, and overall treatment times were collected. A multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to identify significant predictive factors related to treatment time. A general linear regression model was used to determine whether there was a learning curve effect throughout the course of treatment that decreased treatment time as patient and staff familiarity with the treatment procedure increased.

RESULTS

A total of 567 patients were included with a median age of 61 years. The average overall treatment time for 2-field and 4-field RT was 8.3 (SD 2.4) and 13.1 (SD 5.6) minutes, respectively. Factors that significantly increased overall treatment times in patients prescribed 2-field RT were: bilateral techniques, breath-hold (BH) techniques, prone techniques (PR), reverse decubitus techniques (RD), wide tangents techniques, the use of bolus and number of segments delivered. (p < 0.05). Factors that significantly increased overall treatment times in patients who received 3-field and 4-field RT were: wide tangents volumes, a higher number of monitor units (MUs), bilateral techniques and BH techniques (p < 0.05). Older patients (≥60) who underwent 3-field and 4-field RT demonstrated a statistically significant increase in set-up time (p < 0.0001). Overall treatment time decreased from 10.0 to 9.3 min over the course of treatment, suggesting a minor learning curve (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

The use of bilateral RT, BH, PR, RD, wide tangents, bolus, increasing treatment volumes, and increasing plan complexity were associated with increased treatment times. Future research should quantify the impact of other factors (BMI, mobility, patient care assessments, and imaging protocols) and utility of technological tools (time-predicting models, machine learning tools, and operations research models) on treatment time to optimize RT scheduling and improve resource management.

Quality of life in patients with malignant spinal cord compression: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is an oncological emergency that may result in a devastating combination of malignancy and disability. Existing quality of life (QoL) questionnaires commonly used in MSCC literature (EORTC QLQ-C30, BM-22, Brief Pain Inventory, and Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes) may not capture all the commonly reported symptoms and lack specificity to MSCC. The primary objective of this systematic review is to determine unmet patient needs and underreported QoL issues and compile a comprehensive list of QoL issues. The secondary objective of this review is to compile all existing QoL tools and questionnaires and determine whether any QoL issues are not addressed in the existing tools currently used in the literature.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between 1946 and February 6, 2023, to compile all QoL issues and existing questionnaires used to assess QoL in patients with MSCC. All study designs were included given that they discussed QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC.

RESULTS

The results of this systematic review identified the most frequently discussed QoL issues in the literature studying MSCC. This included direct symptoms of MSCC such as back pain, paralysis, limb weakness/numbness, and urinary/bowel incontinence. Indirect symptoms coming from radiotherapy treatment such as dysphagia, painful swallowing, mouth pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea/vomiting were also noted. Other symptoms resulting from corticosteroid treatment included difficulty sleeping, blurring of vision, weight gain, and mood disturbance. Patients also experienced psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, emotional distress, low self-esteem, concerns about dependence on others, concerns about getting home, and fear about their prognosis and future.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the QoL issues specific to patients with MSCC and QoL tools capturing these issues. Relevance of QoL issues identified in this systematic review must be prospectively validated by patients and healthcare professionals with experience in treating MSCC.

Perceptions of healthcare professionals on the use of Mepitel Film for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Randomized clinical trials support Mepitel Film (MF) as a prophylactic treatment for radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients undergoing breast radiotherapy. Although several studies have canvassed the opinion of patients on using MF, no such studies have been done to investigate the perception of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the perceptions of HCPs on MF as a treatment option for RD.

METHODS

Anonymized responses to a web-based survey sent to HCPs at a single institution managing patients using MF during breast radiotherapy were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 28 HCPs contacted, 22 completed the survey, including 6 radiation oncologists (ROs), 11 radiation therapists (RTTs), and 5 nurses. Most HCPs reported MF was better at preventing severe RD than the standard of care and improved radiation-induced skin reactions (n = 20/22, 91%, and n = 19/22, 86%, respectively). MF was recommended for mastectomy patients without reconstruction (n = 15/21, 71%). The majority of HCPs believed that patients' families could be trained to apply and remove MF (n = 19/22, 86%). Many HCPs perceived that implementation of MF would be difficult in terms of maintaining patient flow and wide-scale implementation within their institution (n = 11/22, 50%, and n = 10/22, 46%, respectively). Most HCPs perceived that fewer than 50% of their patients could afford MF if priced at $100 CAD (n = 15/20, 75%).

CONCLUSION

These findings provide insights into the possibility of MF to be incorporated into standard practice of care for RD. Although most HCPs were satisfied with MF as a prophylactic treatment for RD, there are concerns about its resource-intensive operationalization and financial accessibility to patients. Future research should focus on ways to improve HCP experience with MF and to improve its implementation into clinical settings as standard of care.

StrataXRT for the prevention and treatment of radiation dermatitis: a critical review

PURPOSE

The primary objective is to systematically review primary studies, such as randomized control trials (RCTs), feasibility, exploratory, and case studies; and the secondary objective is to evaluate all secondary articles, such as reviews, guidelines, and editorials, relevant to the use of StrataXRT for the prevention and/or management of radiation dermatitis (RD) in cancer patients.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted up to February 26, 2023, for articles investigating the use of StrataXRT for the prevention and treatment of RD, in the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar. The keywords "StrataXRT", "dermatitis", "radiotherapy", and "radiation" were used to identify relevant articles.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven articles from 2018 to 2022 were identified to fulfill the inclusion criteria of this review, of which nine are primary studies and 18 are secondary papers. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the current literature studying the effects of StrataXRT, making it difficult to make cross-trial comparisons. There is a suggestion of the efficacy of StrataXRT in the prevention and treatment of RD.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this review recommend further adequately powered RCTs with robust methodology including patient and clinician assessments to determine the efficacy of StrataXRT in preventing and treating RD. This is essential to improve the quality of life of patients and identify which groups of patients would benefit most from StrataXRT.

A systematic review of the use of the then-test for evaluating health-related quality of life in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The then-test, also known as the retrospective pre- and post-test design method, is a measurement used to evaluate response shift. The method requires patients to assess their previous health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and provide a retrospective judgement based on their current perspectives. The then-test, however, has been criticized for its reliability and validity. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the current literature for the use of the then-test for evaluating HRQoL in cancer patients and account for potential response shift effects.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in May 2022 using MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsychINFO dated from 2005 to the time of the search. Studies were included if they (I) used the then-test and (II) involved a population of cancer patients (any cancer site).

RESULTS

The literature search resulted in 16 studies, published between 2005 and 2020. All studies used the then-test to detect response shifts. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were the most common assessments used to evaluate HRQoL. Of the 16 articles, 5 exclusively reported on breast cancer, 5 reported on prostate cancer, and the remaining included all cancer sites. Most studies looked at patients undergoing a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy. The mean differences between the retrospective assessment at both 3 and 6 months were significant for various quality of life (QoL) dimensions. Patients in some studies recalled their pretreatment HRQoL (then-score) as better than the pretreatment baseline scores and others reported them as worse, both confirming the existence of a response shift.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review demonstrates that the then-test measurement tool has been commonly used for the detection of response shift. Newer measures for response shift have become more accepted; the then-test, if used, should be used with caution considering its limitations and the emergence of more advanced methods.

Latest clinical research in leptomeningeal disease (LMD)-a narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is associated with poor survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There is an urgent need for clinical research in this area to improve the outcomes. The purpose of this study is to summarize the areas of active clinical research in LMD, identify the knowledge gap, and suggest future research directions.

METHODS

A narrative review of clinical trials in LMD was conducted based on a search in clinicatrials.gov using the search term "leptomeningeal" under "condition or disease". Clinical trials in patients with LMD arising from solid malignancy that were labelled as "not yet recruiting", "recruiting", "enrolling by invitation" or "active, not recruiting" were included. Studies which were deemed to have significant impact on future research direction in LMD were selected for discussion.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS

A total of 38 clinical trials were included. Of these 38 trials, 19 are discussed in this review, with focus on their research questions and impact on future research directions. Most of the studies that were not selected for discussion focused on biomarker-driven interventions. Four key areas of research were identified, namely the (I) diagnosis, response assessment or molecular profiling of LMD (n=2); (II) advances in radiotherapy (n=3); (III) intrathecal treatment (n=13); (IV) novel drug carrier for systemic treatment (n=1). The research questions in the 19 discussed clinical trials included the tumour microenvironment of LMD, the role of novel molecular techniques in LMD, combination of radiotherapy with drugs, and cell-based immunotherapy. Among these 19 studies, 11 were phase 1 trials, 3 were phase 2 or phase 1/2 trials, 2 were phase 3 or phase 2/3 trials and the study phase was not reported in the remaining 3 studies. The existing knowledge gaps are discussed, including the lack of primary site-specific prognostic tools, cost-effectiveness studies, dedicated HRQoL assessment tools for LMD and sequencing of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The current clinical trials in LMD offer the promise to improve the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of patients with LMD. More research is needed to overcome the potential hurdles in the current treatment and bridge the knowledge gaps as identified in this review, to improve patients' quantity and quality of survival.

A critical appraisal of the four systematic reviews and meta-analysis on stereotactic body radiation therapy versus external beam radiotherapy for painful bone metastases and where we go from here

Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for pain control in patients with bone metastases. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which allows delivering a much higher dose per fraction while sparing critical structures compared to conventional external beam radiotherapy (cEBRT), has become more widely used, especially in the oligometastatic setting. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the pain response rate of SBRT and cEBRT for bone metastases have shown conflicting results, as have four recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses of these trials. Possible reasons for the different outcomes between these reviews include differences in methodology, which trials were included, and the endpoints examined and how they were defined. We suggest ways to improve analysis of these RCTs, particularly performing an individual patient-level meta-analysis since the trials included heterogeneous populations. The results of such studies will help guide future investigations needed to validate patient selection criteria, optimize SBRT dose schedules, include additional endpoints (such as the time to onset of pain response, durability of pain response, quality of life (QOL), and side effects of SBRT), and better assess the cost-effectiveness and trade-offs of SBRT compared to cEBRT. An international Delphi consensus to guide selection of optimal candidates for SBRT is warranted before more prospective data is available.

A Novel Strategy to Enhance Radiotherapy Efficacy: Results from the Prospective Phase I Clinical Trial of MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound-Stimulated Microbubbles (MRgFUS+MB) Treatment for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that tumor cell death can be enhanced 10- to 40-fold when radiotherapy (RT) is combined with focused-ultrasound (FUS)-stimulated microbubbles (MB) treatment. MBs are gas microspheres used as intravascular contrast agents. The acoustic exposure of MBs within the target volume causes bubbles cavitation that induces perturbation of tumor vasculature. This activates apoptotic pathways responsible for the ablative effect of stereotactic body radiotherapy, which would otherwise require high-dose radiotherapy (>8-10 Gy/fraction) to be activated. Subsequent irradiation of an MB-sensitized tumor causes increased anoxic tumor killing, which occurs in addition to canonical RT-induced DNA damage. Given the compelling results of preclinical data, we conducted a phase I clinical trial of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided FUS-stimulated MBs (MRgFUS+MB) treatment for breast cancer patients (pts). We report the safety and efficacy results of this new radio enhancement treatment.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This is a single-center, single-arm, investigator-initiated phase 1 clinical trial (NCT04431674). We included pts with stage I-IV breast cancer with tumor in situ for whom breast or chest wall RT was deemed adequate by a multidisciplinary team. Pts were excluded if they had contraindications for contrast-enhanced MR or MB administration. Pts underwent 2-3 MRgFUS+MB treatments throughout the RT course. We used an MR-coupled FUS-device operating at 500 KHz and 540 kPa peak negative pressure to deliver the treatment. The FUS sonicated intravenously administrated MB within the MR-guided target volume. Pts were monitored for 30-min post-procedure and subsequently treated with RT. The primary outcome was acute toxicity per Common Terminology for Adverse Events V5.0. Secondary outcomes were radiological response at 3 months and local control (LC) at 1 year. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate local control. All pts signed a written consent form before study participation.

RESULTS

We enrolled 18 females with 20 primary breast cancer treated with MRgFUS+MB therapy. The median age was 60 years (range, 44-90). The molecular subtypes consisted of basal-like (n = 3/20), luminal (n = 11/20), and HER2-enriched (n = 6/20). The prescribed dose was 20 Gy/5 fractions (n = 8/20), 30-35 Gy/5 fractions (n = 7/20), 30-40 Gy/10 fractions (n = 3/20), and 66 Gy/33 fractions (n = 2/20). The median follow-up was 9 months (range, 0.3-29). All pts completed the planned MRgFUS+MB treatments. The only MRgFUS+MB treatment-related toxicity consisted of Grade 1 allergic reaction (mild cough) 30 minutes after the last MB injection. All worst acute toxicities were radiation dermatitis (Grade 3 = 2/20, Grade 2 = 2/20, Grade 1 = 14/20). At 3 months, 75% had partial (n = 6/20) or complete (n = 9/20) response, with a single progression. The LC rate at 1 year was 86%.

CONCLUSION

MRgFUS+MB was a safe and efficient treatment that provided durable responses.

Prevalence and Prognostic Implications of PSA Flares during Radium-223 Treatment among Men with Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

Radium-223 (Ra233) prolongs the survival of men with symptomatic bone-predominant metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response patterns are not closely associated with Ra223 therapy outcomes. Herein, we sought to analyze the impact of Ra223-induced PSA flares on patient outcome. Using a retrospective cohort study of Ra223 treatment in four Ontario/Canada cancer centres, we identified 134 patients grouped into sub-cohorts according to distinct PSA response patterns: (i) initial PSA flare followed by eventual PSA decline; (ii) PSA response (≥30% PSA decrease within 12 weeks of treatment); and (iii) PSA non-response. We analyzed patient characteristics and outcome measures, including overall survival (OS), using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank testing. PSA flares were observed in 27 (20.2%), PSA responses in 11 (8.2%), and PSA non-responses in 96 (71.6%) patients. Amongst PSA flare patients, 12 presented with post-flare PSA decreases below baseline and 15 with PSA decreases below the flare peak but above baseline. Although only six flare patients achieved ≥30% PSA decreases below baseline, the median OS of all flare patients (16.8 months, 95% CI 14.9-18.7) was comparable to that of PSA responders and non-responders (p = 0.349). In summary, around 20% of mCRPC patients experience Ra223-induced PSA flares, whose outcome is similar to that of men with or without PSA responses. Further studies are needed regarding suitable biochemical surrogate markers of response to Ra223.

Novel MRI-guided focussed ultrasound stimulated microbubble radiation enhancement treatment for breast cancer

Preclinical studies have demonstrated focused ultrasound (FUS) stimulated microbubble (MB) rupture leads to the activation of acid sphingomyelinase-ceramide pathway in the endothelial cells. When radiotherapy (RT) is delivered concurrently with FUS-MB, apoptotic pathway leads to increased cell death resulting in potent radiosensitization. Here we report the first human trial of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided FUS-MB treatment in the treatment of breast malignancies. In the phase 1 prospective interventional study, patients with breast cancer were treated with fractionated RT (5 or 10 fractions) to the disease involving breast or chest wall. FUS-MB treatment was delivered before 1st and 5th fractions of RT (within 1 h). Eight patients with 9 tumours were treated. All 7 evaluable patients with at least 3 months follow-up treated for 8 tumours had a complete response in the treated site. The maximum acute toxicity observed was grade 2 dermatitis in 1 site, and grade 1 in 8 treated sites, at one month post RT, which recovered at 3 months. No RT-related late effect or FUS-MB related toxicity was noted. This study demonstrated safety of combined FUS-MB and RT treatment. Promising response rates suggest potential strong radiosensitization effects of the investigational modality.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04431674.

Mepitel Film for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of Mepitel Film in preventing acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) across randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched on 5 March 2023 to identify relevant RCTs. RD assessment tools and outcomes were compared across studies. Pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated based on random-effects analysis using RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

Three RCTs conducted between 2018 and 2020 were included. Mepitel Film decreased RD severity when compared to Sorbolene or Biafine but not when compared to mometasone. A per-protocol analysis of two of the trials revealed that, overall, Mepitel Film significantly reduced the incidence of grade 2-3 RD (odds ratio (OR), 0.24; 95% CI, 0.09-0.65; p = 0.005) and moist desquamation (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.46; p < 0.0001) and decreased average patient, researcher, and combined components of the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (the standardized mean difference (SMD) for patient ratings, - 2.56; 95% CI, - 3.15 to - 1.96, p < 0.00001; SMD for researcher ratings, - 3.47; 95% CI, - 6.63 to - 0.31, p = 0.03; SMD for combined scores, - 3.68; 95% CI, - 6.43 to - 0.92, p = 0.009). Noted issues with Mepitel Film included itchiness and poor adherence.

CONCLUSION

While there were discrepancies across studies, Mepitel Film demonstrated a decrease in the incidence of grade 2-3 RD and moist desquamation. These findings emphasize the need for further examining Mepitel Film's efficacy across diverse patient groups and the importance of standardizing RD severity assessment methodologies and control arms.

Mepitel film for the prevention and treatment of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Mepitel film in preventing or treating acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients with breast cancer in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

Embase, APA PsychInfo, Journals@Ovid Full Text, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane Trials were searched until December 12, 2022, to identify RCTs on the use of Mepitel film for preventing or treating acute RD from breast cancer radiotherapy. Per-protocol analysis was used to compare outcomes, calculate pooled effect sizes, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and to create forest plots using random effects analysis in RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

Three RCTs were included in this review. Mepitel film significantly reduced the incidence of grade 3 RD (OR 0.15 95% CI 0.06, 0.37, p<0.0001) and grade 2 or 3 RD (OR 0.16 95% CI 0.04, 0.65, p=0.01) as scored on either the CTCAE or the RTOG scale. Additionally, Mepitel film significantly reduced RISRAS mean scores assessed by patients and combined researcher and patient (standardized mean difference (SMD) -7.59, 95% CI -14.42, -0.76, p=0.03; SMD -15.36, 95% CI -30.01, -0.71 p=0.04) but not the researcher component of the assessment tool (SMD -17.55, 95% CI -36.94, 1.84, p=0.08).

CONCLUSION

Mepitel film reduced the incidence of acute RD and improved patient-reported outcomes with minimal side effects, the main one being itchiness. Future research should assess the feasibility of Mepitel film with respect to specific patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life issues associated with its use.

StrataXRT for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

To evaluate the overall efficacy of StrataXRT, a topical gel dressing, in preventing acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted on April 25, 2023 in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of StrataXRT in preventing acute RD in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant RT to the breast or chest wall with or without regional nodes were included. Pooled incidence odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model, with analysis and forest plots generated in RevMan v5.4.

RESULTS

The analysis included three RCTs with a total of 189 patients assessed using per-protocol analysis. Two RCTs compared StrataXRT to standard of care, while the third compared it with Mepitel film and was reported separately. In the former RCTs, the odds ratio (OR) for developing acute grade 3 RD favored StrataXRT at 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01-0.22; P < 0.0001). The OR for developing acute grades 2-3 RD was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.03-3.18; P = 0.33). The RCT comparing StrataXRT with Mepitel film showed insignificant ORs for grade 3 and grades 2-3 RD. One RCT reported significantly lower erythema index (P = 0.008) and melanin index (P = 0.015) in StrataXRT patients. The use of StrataXRT did not raise additional safety concerns.

CONCLUSION

StrataXRT may help prevent severe acute RD in breast cancer RT patients. Further high quality, large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Should endovascular stenting be used routinely as first-line treatment for malignant superior vena cava syndrome?-a critical review in the context of recent advances in oncological treatments

Malignant superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is no longer considered a medical emergency in most cases because it rarely leads to life-threatening complications. However, it results in disturbing symptoms that can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Treating this condition effectively while minimising treatment-related morbidity is of increasing importance as cancer patients are living longer from advances in oncological treatments. This clinical practice review discusses the implications of these advances on the decision to consider stenting as the initial treatment for SVCS. Stenting is increasingly popular as it provides quick symptomatic relief with low rates of complications. Systemic treatments have evolved in the past two decades with the development of immunotherapy and targeted therapies that have different response patterns compared to conventional chemotherapy. Furthermore, major changes have also been seen in radiotherapy techniques that allow treatments to better conform to targets while sparing normal tissues. These advances have changed practice patterns for stent placement in SVCS patients in both the localised and metastatic settings. Prospective studies using standardised patient-reported outcome tools are needed to determine the optimal treatment sequence for SVCS patients, as current recommendations are mainly based on retrospective single-arm studies. An individualized approach with multidisciplinary input is therefore important to optimize patient outcomes before more robust evidence is available.

Topical corticosteroids for the prevention of severe radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a frequently occurring adverse reaction during radiotherapy in cancer patients. While the use of topical corticosteroids (TCs) is common for the treatment of RD, its role in preventing severe reactions remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the evidence on the use of TCs as prophylaxis of RD.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using OVID MedLine, Embase, and Cochrane databases (between 1946 and 2023) to identify studies examining TC use in the prevention of severe RD. Statistical analysis was completed using RevMan 5.4 to calculate pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. Forest plots were then developed using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Ten RCTs with a total of 1041 patients met the inclusion criteria. Six studies reported on mometasone furoate (MF) and four studies reported on betamethasone. Both TCs were associated with a significant improvement in the prevention of moist desquamation [OR = 0.34, 95% CI [0.25, 0.47], p < 0.00001], but betamethasone was found to be more effective than MF [OR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.18, 0.46], p < 0.00001 and OR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.25, 0.61], p < 0.0001, respectively]. A similar finding was seen in reducing the development of grade 2 or higher RD according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence supports the use of TCs in preventing severe reactions of RD. Both MF and betamethasone were found to be effective; however, betamethasone, a higher potency TC, is more effective despite MF being more commonly reported in literature.

Prevention of radiation dermatitis with skin hygiene and washing: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of washing in patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) on radiation dermatitis (RD) severity.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases between January 1, 1946, and January 31, 2023. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying the effects of washing with or without soap on RD were identified. A meta-analysis was conducted for clinician-reported outcomes using RevMan 5.4 and a narrative synthesis for patient-reported outcomes due to a lack of reported data amenable to quantitative comparison in accordance with the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines. The Cochrane Risk of bias (RoB2) and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria were used to assess risk of bias and certainty of evidence, respectively.

RESULTS

Two RCTs met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Washing with or without soap significantly reduced the incidence of severe RD (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.55, p < 0.01) and moist desquamation (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12-0.52, p < 0.01). Two of four trials found an association between washing and reduced itching score (p = 0.38). Pain score was not found to be significantly different with or without washing in any of the four studies (p = 0.07). The two studies that assessed burn scores did not detect any difference between the washing group versus no washing group (p = 0.25). Washing was associated with improved quality of life (QoL) measures in one study.

CONCLUSION

Washing with or without soap during RT resulted in less severe RD and less moist desquamation. Given the QoL benefits of washing, it should be advocated as part of routine skin care during RT.

A comparison of acute patient-reported outcomes in breast cancer patients with and without regional nodal irradiation using the ESAS and PRFS tool

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Regional nodal irradiation (RNI) is commonly administered in patients with breast cancer with node-positive disease to prevent cancer recurrence. The purpose of this study is to identify whether RNI is associated with greater acute symptom burden from baseline to 1 to 3 months post completion of radiotherapy (RT) when compared to localized RT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patient and treatment characteristics were collected prospectively for breast cancer patients with and without RNI from February 2018 to September 2020. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Patient-Reported Functional Status (PRFS) tool were completed by patients at baseline, weekly during RT, and at a 1- to 3-month follow-up visit. The Wilcoxon rank-sum or Fisher exact tests were used to compare variables between patients with or without RNI.

RESULTS

A total of 781 patients were included in the analysis. Baseline symptom reporting was similar between cohorts, with the exception of PRFS scores (p = 0.0023), which were worse in patients receiving RNI. Across all time points, differences in outcomes between cohorts were minimal, except for lack of appetite (p = 0.03) and PRFS scores (p = 0.049), which were significantly aggravated in patients treated with RNI.

CONCLUSION

There is insufficient evidence to suggest that RNI is associated with greater symptom burden as assessed with the ESAS. Further research should be conducted over a longer time period to determine the impact of late effects of RNI on patient-reported symptoms.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on interventions for radiation dermatitis prevention and management: an overview of the methods

Over several decades, research on the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis (RD) has continued to emerge, yet there remains no "gold standard" treatment for RD care. Recent guidelines on RD prevention and management were published in 2022 by the Oncodermatology Study Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). As part of this guideline process, a collaborative effort was undertaken by international RD experts to quantitatively compare commonly studied RD skin interventions through meta-analyses and discern superiority of interventional treatments over another intervention, standard-of-care, or placebo in RD prevention and management. This paper summarizes the materials and methodology used in a set of meta-analysis studies that supplement the 2022 MASCC Clinical Practice Guidelines on RD Prevention and Management.

Appropriateness of the 30-day expected mortality metric in palliative radiation treatment: a narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The 30-day expected mortality rate is frequently used as a metric to determine which patients benefit from palliative radiation treatment (RT). We conducted a narrative review to examine whether its use as a metric might be appropriate for patient selection.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted to identify relevant studies that highlight the benefits of palliative RT in timely symptom management among patients with a poor performance status, the accuracy of predicting survival near the end of life and ways to speed up the process of RT administration through rapid response clinics.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS

Several trials have demonstrated substantial response rates for pain and/or bleeding by four weeks and sometimes within the first two weeks after RT. Models of patient survival have limited accuracy, particularly for predicting whether patients will die within the next 30 days. Dedicated Rapid Access Palliative RT (RAPRT) clinics, in which patients are assessed, simulated and treated on the same day, reduce the number of patient visits to the radiation oncology department and hence the burden on the patient as well as costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-fraction palliative RT should be offered to eligible patients if they are able to attend treatment and could potentially benefit from symptom palliation, irrespective of predicted life expectancy. We discourage the routine use of the 30-day mortality as the only metric to decide whether to offer RT. More common implementation of RAPRT clinics could result in a significant benefit for patients of all life expectancies, but particularly those having short ones.

MASCC clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis: part 1) systematic review

Acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) commonly develops in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and is often characterized by erythema, desquamation, and pain. A systematic review was conducted to summarize the current evidence on interventions for the prevention and management of ARD. Databases were searched from 1946 to September 2020 to identify all original studies that evaluated an intervention for the prevention or management of ARD, with an updated search conducted in January 2023. A total of 235 original studies were included in this review, including 149 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Most interventions could not be recommended due to a low quality of evidence, lack of supporting evidence, or conflicting findings across multiple trials. Photobiomodulation therapy, Mepitel® film, mometasone furoate, betamethasone, olive oil, and oral enzyme mixtures showed promising results across multiple RCTs. Recommendations could not be made solely based on the published evidence due to limited high-quality evidence. As such, Delphi consensus recommendations will be reported in a separate publication.

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and management of acute radiation dermatitis: international Delphi consensus-based recommendations

Acute radiation dermatitis is a frequent adverse effect of radiotherapy, but standardisation of care for acute radiation dermatitis is lacking. Due to the conflicting evidence and variability in current guidelines, a four-round Delphi consensus process was used to compile opinions of 42 international experts on care for people with acute radiation dermatitis on the basis of the evidence in existing medical literature. Interventions for acute radiation dermatitis prevention or management that reached at least 75% consensus were recommended for clinical use. Six interventions could be recommended for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: photobiomodulation therapy and Mepitel film in people with breast cancer, Hydrofilm, mometasone, betamethasone, and olive oil. Mepilex Lite dressings were recommended for the management of acute radiation dermatitis. Most interventions were not recommended due to insufficient evidence, conflicting evidence, or lack of consensus to support use, suggesting a need for further research. Clinicians can consider implementing recommended interventions in their practice to prevent and manage acute radiation dermatitis until additional evidence becomes available.

Comparison of neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients prior to receiving radiation therapy using Edmonton Symptom assessment system (ESAS) scores

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer may receive adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to the initiation of RT treatment. In the present study, baseline Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores of patients who received neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy were collected prior to RT and compared to assess the association of each chemotherapy intent with pre-RT symptom burden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The ESAS and Patient-Reported Functional Status (PRFS) tools were used to collect patient-reported symptoms at baseline. Patient and treatment-related factors were collected prospectively from February 2018 to September 2020. Univariate general linear regression analysis was applied to compare baseline scores between adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients.

RESULTS

A total of 338 patients were included for analysis. Comparison of baseline ESAS scores revealed that patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to report higher scores, reflecting higher symptom burden, compared to patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including tiredness (p = 0.005), lack of appetite (p = 0.0005), shortness of breath (p < 0.0001), and PRFS (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests an association between patients who have received adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and higher RT baseline ESAS scores when compared to patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Due to these findings, considerations should be made by healthcare providers of the symptom burden during RT for patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy.

Literature review on the use of methoxyflurane in the management of pain in cancer-related procedures

INTRODUCTION

Self-administered methoxyflurane, also known as Penthrox, at a sub-anesthetic dose is a short-term, fast-acting, and safe analgesic that may provide suitable pain relief for cancer patients. This review aims to compile the existing evidence on methoxyflurane and its efficacy in reducing pain during cancer-related procedures.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted through OVID Medline and Embase. The search was limited to articles published between 2012 and 2021 and studies were included if they assessed the efficacy of methoxyflurane to reduce pain in cancer-related procedures. All types of cancer were included.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded seven studies published between 2012 and 2021. The studies analyzed assessed methoxyflurane use in prostate biopsy, colonoscopy, removal of brachytherapy rods, and bone marrow biopsy. Various research designs were employed, including three randomized controlled trials, two prospective observational studies, one retrospective, and one non-randomized controlled trial. In all, methoxyflurane has a demonstrated ability to reduce pain in these procedures.

CONCLUSION

In the limited studies available in evaluating the efficacy of methoxyflurane for reducing procedural pain during cancer-related procedures, all have demonstrated clinical equivalency or superiority. Pain relief appears to be equivalent however methoxyflurane overcomes the standard limitations of respiratory sedation and has demonstrated quicker procedural recovery times than traditional sedation methods. The accumulated data to date supports the use of methoxyflurane which can supplement or supplant current methods of analgesia in cancer-related procedures.

Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Approximately 95% of patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) experience radiation dermatitis (RD). Evidence has suggested that photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) can stimulate skin renewal and minimize RD. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the efficacy of PBMT in RD prevention through a comprehensive literature review.

METHODS

A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted from 1980 to March 2021 to identify RCT on the use of PBMT for RD prevention. Forest plots were developed using RevMan software to quantitatively compare data between studies.

RESULTS

Five papers were identified: four in breast and one in head and neck cancer patients. Patients receiving PBMT experienced less severe RD than the control groups after 40 Gray (Gy) of RT (grade 3 toxicity: Odds Ratio (OR): 0.57, 95% CI 0.14-2.22, p = 0.42) and at the end of RT (grade 0 + 1 vs. 2 + 3 toxicity: OR: 0.28, 95% CI 0.15-0.53, p < 0.0001). RT interruptions due to RD severity were more frequent in the control group (OR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.10-6.58, p = 0.85).

CONCLUSION

Preventive PBMT may be protective against the development of severe grades of RD and reduce the frequency of RT interruptions. Larger sample sizes and other cancer sites at-risk of RD should be evaluated in future studies to confirm the true efficacy of PBMT, also in preventing the onset of RD and to finalize a standardized protocol to optimize the technique. At present, starting PBMT when RT starts is recommendable, as well as performing 2 to 3 laser sessions weekly.

Barrier Films and Dressings for the Prevention of Acute Radiation Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of barrier films and dressings in preventing acute radiation dermatitis (RD).

METHODS

OVID Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from 1946 to September 2020 to identify randomized controlled trials on the use of barrier films or dressings to prevent RD. For comparable outcomes between studies, pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effects analysis in RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

Fourteen and 11 studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses, respectively. Five types of barrier films used for RD were identified: Hydrofilm, StrataXRT®, Mepitel® Film, 3 M™ Cavilon™ No-Sting Barrier Film, and silver leaf nylon dressing. Hydrofilm and Mepitel Film significantly reduced the development of RD grade ≥ 2 in breast and head and neck cancer patients (RR 0.32, 95%CI 0.19, 0.56, p < 0.0001; RR 0.21, 95%CI 0.05, 0.89, p = 0.03, resp.). Moreover, Hydrofilm had a beneficial effect on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (SMD -0.75, 95%CI -1.2, -0.29, p = 0.001). The meta-analyses on the other barrier films did not show any significant effect.

CONCLUSION

This review and meta-analysis demonstrated that Hydrofilm and Mepitel Film could effectively reduce RD severity and improve PROs. The evidence is generally weak for all the studies on barrier films and dressings due to a limited study number, high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and minimal comparable outcome measures. It's potential has been proven, but future research in this field is recommended to confirm the efficacy of these products and assess real-world feasibility.

Topical non-steroidal agents for the prevention of radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a common side effect of radiation therapy, affecting a majority of breast and head and neck cancer patients with a negative impact on quality of life. Currently, no consensus exists regarding the prevention of RD.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases (1946 to December 2022) were searched using PRISMA guidelines to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the use of topical non-steroidal agents in the prevention of RD in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of six RCTs were included, comprising 627 patients. Among the topical non-steroidal agents analyzed, only the use of Biafine® in breast cancer patients was significant in preventing grade 4 and 3 + RD as classified by the Radiation Therapy Oncology group (RTOG) scale (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.63, p = 0.02, and OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03-0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). The remaining agents (trolamine alone and hyaluronic acid/hyaluronan) did not significantly prevent the occurrence of RD.

CONCLUSION

The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that Biafine® can prevent grade 3 + RD in breast cancer patients. The use of trolamine and hyaluronic acid does not significantly affect the incidence of RD.

Natural and miscellaneous agents for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the available literature describing the efficacy of natural and miscellaneous agents in preventing acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in cancer patients.

METHODS

OVID MedLine, Embase, and Cochrane literature databases were searched from 1946 to January 2023 for randomized controlled trials studying the use of natural and miscellaneous agents to prevent RD. RevMan 5.4 was used for the meta-analysis to calculate the pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the random effects analysis.

RESULTS

For the systematic review and meta-analysis, 19 and 16 studies were included, respectively. Of the five studied natural products (aloe vera, oral enzymes, olive oil, calendula, and curcumin), only oral enzymes and olive oil significantly reduced the incidence of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grade 2⁺ (RR: 0.42, 95%CI 0.30-0.58, p < 0.00001, RR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.85, p = 0.001, resp.). The oral enzymes also reduced the grade 3⁺ RD incidence (RR: 0.18, 95%CI 0.06-0.55, p = 0.003). The other agents demonstrated no significant effect.

CONCLUSION

This review and meta-analysis on natural and miscellaneous agents in preventing RD in cancer patients demonstrated that oral enzymes and olive oil prevented RD severity. However, evidence supporting natural agents to prevent RD is inconsistent, mainly because of low studies numbers, low-quality study designs, and small sample sizes. Therefore, concrete conclusions cannot be made. Research on (new) natural or miscellaneous agents should focus on a randomized controlled double-blinded study design with a large patient population, a higher consistency in research methods, and clinician- and patient-reported outcomes.

Mepitel Film for the Prevention of Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer: A Randomized Multicenter Open-Label Phase III Trial

PURPOSE

Radiation dermatitis (RD) is common in patients undergoing breast radiotherapy. Mepitel film (MF) can reduce RD, but the results from two randomized controlled trials are conflicting. We aimed to conduct a confirmatory randomized controlled trial in patients at risk of RD.

METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned to receive MF or standard care (2:1 ratio). Patients with large breasts after lumpectomy (bra size ≥ 36 inches or cup size ≥ C) or after mastectomy were eligible. Stratification factors included surgery type, dose fractionation, and administration of boost/bolus. The primary end point was grade (G) 2 or 3 RD using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Secondary end points included patient- and clinician-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

Between January 2020 and May 2022, 376 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The incidence of G2 or 3 RD was significantly lower in MF patients compared with standard care (n = 39/251, 15.5%; 95% CI, 11.3 to 20.6% v n = 57/125, 45.6%; 95% CI, 36.7 to 54.8% respectively, odds ratio (OR): 0.20, P < .0001). Benefits of MF remained significant in patients who developed G 3 RD (n = 7, 2.8%; 95% CI, 1.1 to 5.7% v n = 17, 13.6%; 95% CI, 8.1 to 20.9%, OR: 0.19) and moist desquamation (n = 20, 8.0%; 95% CI, 4.9 to 12.0% v n = 24, 19.2%; 95% CI, 12.7 to 27.1%, OR: 0.36). When evaluating the combined patient and health care provider score using Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale, the MF arm had significantly lower scores (P < .0001). Individual items on the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale also favored the MF for both patient- and clinician-reported outcomes. Blistering/peeling, erythema, pigmentation, and edema were significantly reduced in the MF arm. Three patients removed the film prematurely because of rash (n = 2) and excessive pruritus (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

MF significantly reduces RD in patients undergoing breast radiotherapy.

Impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on patient-reported shortness of breath in patients with breast cancer using the ESAS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to give rise to adverse pulmonary outcomes, such as radiation pneumonitis, trends in patient-reported shortness of breath (SOB) associated with RT were investigated. Adjuvant RT is commonly administered for local and/or regional control of breast cancer and was therefore included.

METHODS

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was used to observe changes in SOB during RT, up to 6 weeks after RT completion, and one to three months post-RT. Patients with at least one completed ESAS were included in the analysis. Generalized linear regression analysis was performed to identify associations between demographic factors and SOB.

RESULTS

A total of 781 patients were included in the analysis. There was a significant association between ESAS SOB scores and adjuvant chemotherapy when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.0012). Meanwhile, loco-regional RT had no significant impact on ESAS SOB scores in comparison to local RT. SOB scores were stable over time (p>0.05) from baseline to follow-up appointments.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that RT was not associated with changes in SOB from baseline to 3 months post-RT. However, patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy reported significant higher SOB scores over time. Additional research is recommended to analyze the lasting effects of adjuvant breast cancer RT on SOB during physical activity.

Use of Information and Communications Technology in Family Services and Its Perceived Benefits amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong-Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project

INTRODUCTION

We examined information and communications technology (ICT) use in family services and its perceived benefits and barriers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.

METHODS

We invited all family service social workers of 12 NGOs to complete an anonymous online questionnaire in May 2020 (Part A) and a management representative from each NGO to provide written feedback on ICT use in January 2021 (Part B).

RESULTS

In Part A, of 255 respondents (response rate: 67.3%), perceived ICT use in conducting programmes, groups, casework and preventive family programmes showed net increases of 33.9-54.5%; perceived ICT use in different work processes showed net increases of 18.8-48.6%. The three most common perceived benefits were "providing another option to service users" (74.2%), "more convenient service" (60.2%) and "maintaining normal service" (59.7%). In Part B, 12 management representatives consistently reported positive impacts of ICT use on family services. They shared actionable strategies (e.g., ICT skill-related training) and concerns about data privacy and management.

CONCLUSIONS

ICT use in family services markedly increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. It helped make the services more accessible especially when the pandemic restricted face-to-face services.

Mepitel Film for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: A randomized multi-centre open-label phase 3 trial

390226

Background: Radiation dermatitis (RD) is common in patients undergoing breast radiation treatment (RT), with worse RD in patients with large breasts and after mastectomy. Mepitel Film (MF), a silicone-based polyurethane film with Safetac technology, may reduce RD. We hypothesized that MF might play a role in preventing RD in this group of patients at risk. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive MF or standard skin care (2:1 ratio). Patients with large breasts after lumpectomy (bra size ≥ 36 inches or cup size ≥ C) or after mastectomy were eligible. Stratification factors included surgery type (lumpectomy vs. mastectomy), dose fractionation (conventional vs. hypofractionated), and administration of boost/bolus. The primary endpoint was grade (G) 2 or 3 RD using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 during RT and within 3 months of completion of RT. Secondary endpoints included CTCAE G3, incidence of moist desquamation, use of topical antibiotic cream, and patient- (PROs) and clinician- (CRO) reported outcomes using the modified Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (RISRAS) and Skin Symptom Assessment (SSA). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04166799). Results: Between January 2020 and May 2022, 266 patients (66%) were randomly assigned to MF and 137 (34%) to standard care. After removing withdrawn patients, 376 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The incidence of G2 or 3 RD was significantly lower in MF patients compared to standard care (n = 39/251, 15.5%; 95% CI, 11.3-20.6% vs. n = 57/125, 45.6%; 95% CI, 36.7-54.8% respectively, odds ratio [OR]: 0.20, P < .0001). Benefits of MF over standard care remained significant in patients who developed G3 RD (n = 7, 2.8%; 95% CI, 1.1-5.7% vs. n = 17, 13.6%; 95% CI, 8.1-20.9%, OR: 0.19) and moist desquamation (n = 20, 8.0%; 95% CI, 4.9-12.0% vs. n = 24, 19.2%; 95% CI, 12.7-27.1%, OR: 0.36). When evaluating the combined patient and health care professional score using the RISRAS, the MF arm had significantly lower scores than standard care ( P < .0001); individual items on the RISRAS also favored MF for PROs (tenderness, discomfort of pain and burning sensation) and CROs (erythema and moist desquamation). Similarly, when assessed by the SSA, blistering/peeling, erythema, pigmentation, and edema in PROs, and pain/soreness, blistering/peeling, erythema, and pigmentation in CROs were significantly reduced in MF. Topical antibiotics were prescribed significantly less frequently in MF (23.1% vs. 43.2%, P < .0001). Three patients removed the film prematurely due to development of an allergic rash (n = 2) and excessive pruritis (n = 1). Conclusions: MF significantly reduces RD in breast cancer patients undergoing RT when compared to the standard care. We recommend changes to the clinical practice for RD prevention and inclusion of MF in high-risk patients in future guideline recommendations. Clinical trial information: NCT04166799.

Development and evaluation of two brief digital health promotion game booths utilizing augmented reality and motion detection to promote well-being at a gerontechnology summit in Hong Kong

Background

The acceleration of population aging calls for simple and effective interventions catered for older people. Gerontechnology, the combination of gerontology and technology, can promote quality of life in older adults. However, public health-related events incorporating information communication technology (ICT) for older people have seldom been evaluated.

Objective

We reported the development and evaluation of two simple and brief digital health promotion games hosted at the annual Hong Kong Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES) in 2018 and 2019 to promote well-being.

Methods

Two game booths (Dinosaur Augmented Reality photo-taking in 2018, Sit-and-Stand fitness challenge in 2019) were designed by our interdisciplinary team. Four gaming technologies were employed: augmented reality, chroma key (green screen), motion detection and 3D modeling. Immediately after the game, we administered a brief questionnaire survey to assess participant satisfaction, happiness and perceived benefits, and collected qualitative data through observations and informal interviews.

Results

Majority of 1,186 and 729 game booth participants in 2018 and 2019, respectively, were female (73.4% and 64.7%) and older adults (65.5 and 65.2%). Overall satisfaction toward the game booths was high (4.64 ± 0.60 and 4.54 ± 0.68 out of 5), with females and older adults reporting higher scores. Average personal and family happiness of participants in 2018 were 8.2 and 8.0 (out of 10). 90.3 and 18.4% of participants in 2019 chose one or more personal (e.g. enhance healthy living habits 62.4%, enhance personal happiness 61.6%) and family (e.g. enhance family happiness 15.6%, improve family relationships 10.8%) benefits of the game booth, respectively. Participants showed enthusiasm toward the technologies, and pride in their physical abilities in the fitness challenge.

Conclusion

Our report on the development and evaluation of brief game interventions with ICT showed high satisfaction and immediate perceived benefits in community participants. Females and older adults reported higher satisfaction. Simple tools measuring happiness and perceived benefits showed positive results. Older adults were receptive and enthusiastic about the new technologies. Our findings can inform researchers and organizers of similar events. More research on simple and enjoyable ICT interventions is needed to attract older adults and promote their well-being.

Trial registration

The research protocol was registered at the National Institutes of Health (Identifier number: NCT03960372) on May 23, 2019.

POS0372 USE OF TELEMEDICINE FOR FOLLOW-UP OF LUPUS NEPHRITIS IN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK: ONE-YEAR, PRAGMATIC RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to the underlying disease, comorbidities and use of immunosuppressants (IS). An alternative option would be to adopt telemedicine (TM) to maintain medical care while minimizing exposure. Despite being widely adopted during the pandemic, the evidence supporting the use of TM in rheumatology has been limited.

Objectives

We primarily aimed to evaluate the effectiveness to maintain disease activity control using TM delivered care compared to conventional in-person follow-up in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). The secondary objectives were to compare the patient reported outcomes, safety and cost-of-illness from the patient’s perspective between the 2 modes of health care delivery.

Methods

This was a 1-year, single-center, RCT conducted at a regional hospital in Hong Kong. From May 2020, consecutive adult patients with a SLE according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria followed up at the LN clinic were invited to participate in the study. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either TM (TM group) or standard FU (SF group). Patients randomized to receive TM FU were scheduled for a video consultation via a commerical software ZOOM. Patients in the SF group received standard in-person outpatient care. SLE disease activity at each consultation was assessed by SLEDAI-2k and physician global assessment (PGA).

Results

A total of 144 patients with LN were randomized and 3 patients self-withdrew from the study. The mean age was 44.5±11.4 years and the median time from diagnosis to randomization was 168 months (range: 1-528). Most of the patients had class III, IV or V LN (87.2%) and were on prednisolone (89.4%, median dose 5mg daily). Many of them (68.1%) were on IS. While 66.0% of the patients were in lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS), none had disease remission. There were no baseline differences, including demographics, SLEDAI-2k (TM: 3.8±2.3, SF: 3.2±2.2, p=0.13, PGA (TM: 6.2±6.5, SF: 4.6±5.9, p=0.13) and SLE damage index (TM: 1.1±1.3, SF: 0.8±1.1, p=0.10), between the 2 groups.

At one year, 80.0% and 80.2% of the patients in the TM group and SF group were in LLDAS or remission respectively. SLE disease activity indices including SLEDAI-2k, PGA, proteinuria amount and serum anti-ds-DNA level remained similar between the 2 groups. Within the study period, 28 (40%) patients in the TM group and 21 (29.6%) patients in the SF group had disease flare (p=0.20). There were no differences in the SF-36, lupusQoL and HADS scores between the 2 groups at the end of the study. The overall patient satisfaction score was higher in the TM group with a significantly shorter waiting time before seeing doctors. At the end of the study, 67.9% of the overall participants agreed to (versus 15.0% who did not agree to) use TM as a mode of future FU.

The mean indirect costs of illness (HKD26,681 vs HKD12,016, p=0.20) and the out-of-pocket costs for health care services were similar between the 2 groups (TM: HKD13,547 vs SF: HKD12,297, p=0.83) in one year. The total number of FU was similar (TM: 6.0±2.0, SF: 5.7±1.7, p=0.40). However, significantly more patients in the TM group (29/70, 41.4% vs 4/71, 5.6%; p<0.01) requested change mode of FU. The proportion of patients requiring hospitalization during the study period was also higher in the TM group (TM: 23/70, 32.9% vs 11/71, 15.5%; p=0.02). After adjusting for age and prednisolone dosage, not being in LLDAS at baseline was the predictor of hospitalization (OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.20-9.65). None of the participants was tested positive for COVID-19.

Conclusion

TM FU resulted in similar 1-year disease activity control and better satisfaction in patients with LN compared to standard care. However, a significant proportion of patients cared by TM required in-person visits or were hospitalized. The results of the study suggest that TM delivered care could help minimizing exposure to COVID-19, but it needs to be complemented by physical visits, particularly in those with unstable disease.

Acknowledgements

We would also like to thank the University of Central Lancashire & East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust for granting us permission to use the LupusQoL questionnaire.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Comparison of clinical practice guidelines on radiation dermatitis: a narrative review

PURPOSE

Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a common side effect of radiation therapy (RT). While many different treatment strategies are currently used to address RD, there is a lack of consensus and RD prophylaxis and management guidelines have remained largely unchanged over the last 10 years. This review aims to formulate unambiguous supportive care interventions by comparing RD clinical practice guidelines published between 2010 and 2021 by several organizations: Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA), Cancer Care Manitoba (CCMB), Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), and International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC).

METHODS

Areas of agreement and discordance were assessed among the MASCC, BCCA, CCMB, ONS, SCoR, and ISNCC guidelines.

RESULTS

Treatment recommendations across guidelines for acute RD and chronic RT-induced skin toxicities have been summarized. The strongest agreement among the guidelines exists for the use of topical corticosteroids, silver sulfadiazine, washing, and deodorant. All guidelines recommend the use of topical corticosteroids, and washing with water and soap is consistently supported. There is minimal consensus on an optimal dressing or barrier film for RD prophylaxis or management. MASCC weakly recommends prophylactic use of silver sulfadiazine to reduce RD, while BCCA, CCMB, and SCoR recommend its use upon signs of infection. MASCC and CCMB recommend the use of a long-pulsed dye laser to manage telangiectasia, a late effect of RT.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the extent of discordance among guideline recommendations, further research is recommended to establish optimal treatments for RD prophylaxis and management.

Symptom Burden Associated With Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

PURPOSE

Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a side effect experienced by many patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer. In the present study, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), a validated patient-reported symptom screening tool, was used to determine the impacts of RT-induced skin outcomes on ESAS items. Patient- and treatment-related factors and skin treatments to manage RD symptoms, were assessed for association with ESAS scores.

METHODS

Patient and treatment characteristics were collected retrospectively for breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant RT between December 2013 and November 2015. Prospective data was collected through clinician-reported surveys. Linear regression analyses were performed to detect the relationship between patient-reported ESAS scores and clinician-reported RD symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 857 patients were included in the analysis. Moderate to severe scores were commonly reported for fatigue (n = 412, 48%), wellbeing (n = 386, 45%) and anxiety (n = 266, 31%). Oral analgesic use was associated with ESAS fatigue, drowsiness, pain, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, and wellbeing (P < .05), while dressings were only associated with anxiety (P = .02). No RD symptoms were found to be significantly associated with any ESAS items.

CONCLUSIONS

The ESAS accurately reflects symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and wellbeing for breast cancer patients undergoing RT. Our study, however, found no association between ESAS scores and RD severity, which may reflect the shortcomings of the ESAS in assessing symptom burden. Further research is necessary to warrant the development of a new site-specific symptom screening tool for use in RT for breast cancer.

Dosimetry and outcomes in patients receiving radiotherapy for synchronous bilateral breast cancers

BACKGROUND

Synchronous bilateral breast cancer (SBBC) is rare and there is little evidence describing organs at risk (OAR) and limits to the heart and lungs caused by radiotherapy (RT). Quantifying mean heart dose (MHD) and mean lung dose (MLD) from RT in this patient cohort may lead to better understanding of doses to OAR and resultant effects on clinical outcomes. The primary objective was to assess median MHD and MLD in SBBC, while secondary aims included analyses of 1) factors associated with MHD and MLD, 2) V5 and V20 values and 3) factors associated with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients planned for adjuvant bilateral whole breast/chest wall (WB) RT from a single institution treated in 2011-2018 were included. Median MHD and MLD (Gy) were stratified by hypofractionated (42.56 Gy/16 fractions, HFRT) and conventional fractionation (50 Gy/ 25 fractions, CFRT) and summarized separately based on the following treatments: 1) locoregional RT, WB tangential RT either 2) no boost 3) sequential boost or 4) simultaneous integrated boost. MHD, MLD, lung V5 and V20 values, and demographics were collected. Linear regression analyses identified factors associated with MHD and MLD and factors associated with clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 88 patients were included. The median MHD for HFRT and CFRT was 1.99 Gy and 2.94 Gy, respectively. The median MLD for HFRT and CFRT was 6.00 Gy and 10.08 Gy, respectively. MHD and MLD were significantly associated with the occurrence of a cardiac or pulmonary event post-radiation. Patients who had a mastectomy or tumoral muscle involvement were more likely to develop a local recurrence, metastasis or new primary while patients who had a lumpectomy or tumor with a positive estrogen receptor status were less likely to experience these events.

CONCLUSIONS

Further investigation should be conducted to identify SBBC RT techniques that mitigate dose to OARs to improve clinical outcomes in bilateral breast patients.