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FitzGerald TJ, Bishop-Jodoin M, Laurie F, Iandoli M, Smith K, Ulin K, Ding L, Moni J, Cicchetti MG, Knopp M, Kry S, Xiao Y, Rosen M, Prior F, Saltz J, Michalski J. The Importance of Quality Assurance in Radiation Oncology Clinical Trials. Semin Radiat Oncol 2023; 33:395-406. [PMID: 37684069 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Clinical trials have been the center of progress in modern medicine. In oncology, we are fortunate to have a structure in place through the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). The NCTN provides the infrastructure and a forum for scientific discussion to develop clinical concepts for trial design. The NCTN also provides a network group structure to administer trials for successful trial management and outcome analyses. There are many important aspects to trial design and conduct. Modern trials need to ensure appropriate trial conduct and secure data management processes. Of equal importance is the quality assurance of a clinical trial. If progress is to be made in oncology clinical medicine, investigators and patient care providers of service need to feel secure that trial data is complete, accurate, and well-controlled in order to be confident in trial analysis and move trial outcome results into daily practice. As our technology has matured, so has our need to apply technology in a uniform manner for appropriate interpretation of trial outcomes. In this article, we review the importance of quality assurance in clinical trials involving radiation therapy. We will include important aspects of institution and investigator credentialing for participation as well as ongoing processes to ensure that each trial is being managed in a compliant manner. We will provide examples of the importance of complete datasets to ensure study interpretation. We will describe how successful strategies for quality assurance in the past will support new initiatives moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J FitzGerald
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA..
| | | | - Fran Laurie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Matthew Iandoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Koren Smith
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Kenneth Ulin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Linda Ding
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Janaki Moni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - M Giulia Cicchetti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Michael Knopp
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Stephen Kry
- Department of Radiation Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ying Xiao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mark Rosen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Fred Prior
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Joel Saltz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Jeff Michalski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO
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Smith K, Ulin K, Knopp M, Kry S, Xiao Y, Rosen M, Michalski J, Iandoli M, Laurie F, Quigley J, Reifler H, Santiago J, Briggs K, Kirby S, Schmitter K, Prior F, Saltz J, Sharma A, Bishop-Jodoin M, Moni J, Cicchetti MG, FitzGerald TJ. Quality improvements in radiation oncology clinical trials. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1015596. [PMID: 36776318 PMCID: PMC9911211 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1015596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials have become the primary mechanism to validate process improvements in oncology clinical practice. Over the past two decades there have been considerable process improvements in the practice of radiation oncology within the structure of a modern department using advanced technology for patient care. Treatment planning is accomplished with volume definition including fusion of multiple series of diagnostic images into volumetric planning studies to optimize the definition of tumor and define the relationship of tumor to normal tissue. Daily treatment is validated by multiple tools of image guidance. Computer planning has been optimized and supported by the increasing use of artificial intelligence in treatment planning. Informatics technology has improved, and departments have become geographically transparent integrated through informatics bridges creating an economy of scale for the planning and execution of advanced technology radiation therapy. This serves to provide consistency in department habits and improve quality of patient care. Improvements in normal tissue sparing have further improved tolerance of treatment and allowed radiation oncologists to increase both daily and total dose to target. Radiation oncologists need to define a priori dose volume constraints to normal tissue as well as define how image guidance will be applied to each radiation treatment. These process improvements have enhanced the utility of radiation therapy in patient care and have made radiation therapy an attractive option for care in multiple primary disease settings. In this chapter we review how these changes have been applied to clinical practice and incorporated into clinical trials. We will discuss how the changes in clinical practice have improved the quality of clinical trials in radiation therapy. We will also identify what gaps remain and need to be addressed to offer further improvements in radiation oncology clinical trials and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koren Smith
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Kenneth Ulin
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Michael Knopp
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Ohio, Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Stephan Kry
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Houston, Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ying Xiao
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Philadelphia, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark Rosen
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Philadelphia, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jeff Michalski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matthew Iandoli
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Fran Laurie
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Jean Quigley
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Heather Reifler
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Juan Santiago
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Kathleen Briggs
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Shawn Kirby
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Kate Schmitter
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Fred Prior
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Joel Saltz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Ashish Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Maryann Bishop-Jodoin
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Janaki Moni
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - M. Giulia Cicchetti
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
| | - Thomas J. FitzGerald
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core-Rhode Island, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Lincoln, RI, United States
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Ding L, Bradford C, Kuo IL, Fan Y, Ulin K, Khalifeh A, Yu S, Liu F, Saleeby J, Bushe H, Smith K, Bianciu C, LaRosa S, Prior F, Saltz J, Sharma A, Smyczynski M, Bishop-Jodoin M, Laurie F, Iandoli M, Moni J, Cicchetti MG, FitzGerald TJ. Radiation Oncology: Future Vision for Quality Assurance and Data Management in Clinical Trials and Translational Science. Front Oncol 2022; 12:931294. [PMID: 36033446 PMCID: PMC9399423 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.931294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The future of radiation oncology is exceptionally strong as we are increasingly involved in nearly all oncology disease sites due to extraordinary advances in radiation oncology treatment management platforms and improvements in treatment execution. Due to our technology and consistent accuracy, compressed radiation oncology treatment strategies are becoming more commonplace secondary to our ability to successfully treat tumor targets with increased normal tissue avoidance. In many disease sites including the central nervous system, pulmonary parenchyma, liver, and other areas, our service is redefining the standards of care. Targeting of disease has improved due to advances in tumor imaging and application of integrated imaging datasets into sophisticated planning systems which can optimize volume driven plans created by talented personnel. Treatment times have significantly decreased due to volume driven arc therapy and positioning is secured by real time imaging and optical tracking. Normal tissue exclusion has permitted compressed treatment schedules making treatment more convenient for the patient. These changes require additional study to further optimize care. Because data exchange worldwide have evolved through digital platforms and prisms, images and radiation datasets worldwide can be shared/reviewed on a same day basis using established de-identification and anonymization methods. Data storage post-trial completion can co-exist with digital pathomic and radiomic information in a single database coupled with patient specific outcome information and serve to move our translational science forward with nimble query elements and artificial intelligence to ask better questions of the data we collect and collate. This will be important moving forward to validate our process improvements at an enterprise level and support our science. We have to be thorough and complete in our data acquisition processes, however if we remain disciplined in our data management plan, our field can grow further and become more successful generating new standards of care from validated datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Ding
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Carla Bradford
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - I-Lin Kuo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Yankhua Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Kenneth Ulin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Abdulnasser Khalifeh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Suhong Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fenghong Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan Saleeby
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Harry Bushe
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Koren Smith
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Camelia Bianciu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Salvatore LaRosa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fred Prior
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Joel Saltz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Ashish Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mark Smyczynski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Maryann Bishop-Jodoin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fran Laurie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Matthew Iandoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Janaki Moni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - M. Giulia Cicchetti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Thomas J. FitzGerald
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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FitzGerald TJ, Followill D, Laurie F, Boterberg T, Hanusik R, Kessel S, Karolczuk K, Iandoli M, Ulin K, Morano K, Bishop-Jodoin M, Kry S, Lowenstein J, Molineu A, Moni J, Cicchetti MG, Prior F, Saltz J, Sharma A, Mandeville HC, Bernier-Chastagner V, Janssens G. Quality assurance in radiation oncology. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68 Suppl 2:e28609. [PMID: 33818891 PMCID: PMC10578132 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Children's Oncology Group (COG) has a strong quality assurance (QA) program managed by the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC). This program consists of credentialing centers and providing real-time management of each case for protocol compliant target definition and radiation delivery. In the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), the lack of an available, reliable online data platform has been a challenge and the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) quality and excellence in radiotherapy and imaging for children and adolescents with cancer across Europe in clinical trials (QUARTET) program currently provides QA review for prospective clinical trials. The COG and SIOP are fully committed to a QA program that ensures uniform execution of protocol treatments and provides validity of the clinical data used for analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fran Laurie
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Tom Boterberg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Richard Hanusik
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Sandra Kessel
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Kathryn Karolczuk
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Matthew Iandoli
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Kenneth Ulin
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | - Karen Morano
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | | | - Stephen Kry
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Houston, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Andrea Molineu
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Janaki Moni
- Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core Rhode Island, Lincoln, Rhode Island
| | | | - Fred Prior
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Joel Saltz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Ashish Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Henry C Mandeville
- Children's and Young Person's Unit and Haemato-oncology Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Geert Janssens
- Radiation Therapy, Prinses Maxima - Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Fitzgerald TJ, Bishop-Jodoin M, Cicchetti MG, Hanusik R, Kessel S, Laurie F, McCarten KM, Moni J, Pieters RS, Rosen N, Ulin K, Urie M, Chauvenet AR, Constine LS, Deye J, Vikram B, Friedman D, Marcus RB, Mendenhall NP, Williams JL, Purdy J, Saltz J, Schwartz CL, White KS, Wolden S. Quality of radiotherapy reporting in randomized controlled trials of Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: in regard to Bekelman and Yahalom (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2009;73:492-498). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2010; 77:315-6. [PMID: 20394859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.12.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2009] [Accepted: 12/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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FitzGerald TJ, Urie M, Ulin K, Laurie F, Yorty J, Hanusik R, Kessel S, Jodoin MB, Osagie G, Cicchetti MG, Pieters R, McCarten K, Rosen N. Processes for quality improvements in radiation oncology clinical trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2008; 71:S76-9. [PMID: 18406943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.07.2387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2007] [Revised: 07/03/2007] [Accepted: 07/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Quality assurance in radiotherapy (RT) has been an integral aspect of cooperative group clinical trials since 1970. In early clinical trials, data acquisition was nonuniform and inconsistent and computational models for radiation dose calculation varied significantly. Process improvements developed for data acquisition, credentialing, and data management have provided the necessary infrastructure for uniform data. With continued improvement in the technology and delivery of RT, evaluation processes for target definition, RT planning, and execution undergo constant review. As we move to multimodality image-based definitions of target volumes for protocols, future clinical trials will require near real-time image analysis and feedback to field investigators. The ability of quality assurance centers to meet these real-time challenges with robust electronic interaction platforms for imaging acquisition, review, archiving, and quantitative review of volumetric RT plans will be the primary challenge for future successful clinical trials.
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Fitzgerald TJ, Jodoin MB, Tillman G, Aronowitz J, Pieters R, Balducci S, Meyer J, Cicchetti MG, Kadish S, McCauley S, Sawicka J, Urie M, Lo YC, Mayo C, Ulin K, Ding L, Britton M, Huang J, Arous E. Radiation Therapy Toxicity to the Skin. Dermatol Clin 2008; 26:161-72, ix. [PMID: 18023776 DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2007.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T J Fitzgerald
- Department of Radiation Oncology and The Cancer Center, The University of Massachusetts Medical School, UMass Memorial Health Care, 55 Lake Avenue N., Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
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Vokes EE, Herndon JE, Kelley MJ, Cicchetti MG, Ramnath N, Neill H, Atkins JN, Watson DM, Akerley W, Green MR. Induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy compared with chemoradiotherapy alone for regionally advanced unresectable stage III Non-small-cell lung cancer: Cancer and Leukemia Group B. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25:1698-704. [PMID: 17404369 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2006.07.3569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Standard therapy for unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer includes concomitant chemoradiotherapy. In Cancer and Leukemia Group B 39801, we evaluated whether induction chemotherapy before concurrent chemoradiotherapy would result in improved survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between July 1998 and May 2002, 366 patients were randomly assigned to arm A, which involved immediate concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 2 and paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 given weekly during 66 Gy of chest radiotherapy, or arm B, which involved two cycles of carboplatin AUC 6 and paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 administered every 21 days followed by identical chemoradiotherapy. The accrual goal was 360 patients. RESULTS Thirty-four percent of patients were female, 66% were male, and the median age was 63 years. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities during induction chemotherapy on arm B consisted mainly of neutropenia (18% and 20%, respectively). During concurrent chemoradiotherapy, there was no difference in severity of in-field toxicities of esophagitis (grade 3 and 4 were, respectively, 30% and 2% for arm A v 28% and 8% for arm B) and dyspnea (grade 3 and 4 were, respectively, 11% and 3% for arm A v 15% and 4% for arm B). Survival differences were not statistically significant (P = .3), with a median survival on arm A of 12 months (95% CI, 10 to 16 months) versus 14 months (95% CI, 11 to 16 months) on arm B and a 2-year survival of 29% (95% CI, 22% to 35%) and 31% (95% CI, 25% to 38%). Age, weight loss before therapy, and performance status were statistically significant predictive factors. CONCLUSION The addition of induction chemotherapy to concurrent chemoradiotherapy added toxicity and provided no survival benefit over concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone. The median survival achieved in each of the treatment groups is low, and the routine use of weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel with simultaneous radiotherapy should be re-examined.
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FitzGerald TJ, Aronowitz J, Giulia Cicchetti M, Fisher G, Kadish S, Lo YC, Mayo C, McCauley S, Meyer J, Pieters R, Sherman A. The Effect of Radiation Therapy on Normal Tissue Function. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2006; 20:141-63. [PMID: 16580561 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2006.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As more patients are treated for their primary malignancy with cure or increased disease-free intervals, injury to normal tissues will become more detectable and an important endpoint for study. Future protocols will probably be modified based on toxicity endpoints. In Hodgkin's disease, current protocols use response-based treatment strategies to limit therapy. The objective is to provide the same level of tumor control and follow normal tissue endpoints for outcome analysis. DVH analysis has improved the ability to analyze endpoint data for normal tissues. These image-guided platforms will provide the infrastructure needed to continue efforts in improving the delivery of radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J FitzGerald
- Department of Radiation Oncology and the Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01625, USA.
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Reznik J, Cicchetti MG, Degaspe B, Fitzgerald TJ. Analysis of axillary coverage during tangential radiation therapy to the breast. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005; 61:163-8. [PMID: 15629607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2004.04.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2002] [Revised: 04/22/2004] [Accepted: 04/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the percent of the prescribed radiation dose to the breast delivered to the axillary tissue and to evaluate the volume of the axilla receiving 95% of the prescribed dose with normal and with high tangential fields. METHODS AND MATERIALS Computed tomographic scan images with 5-mm sections were retrospectively analyzed for 35 patients who had undergone three-dimensional (3D) planning for whole-breast radiation. The axillary nodal region was identified and divided into Levels I to III and Rotter's nodes (RN). Digitally reconstructed radiographs were created, and two plans were developed: (a) the standard clinical opposed tangential irradiation fields and (b) the high-tangential irradiation fields. Axillary coverage was examined by use of dose-volume histograms (DVH), and the average coverage for the four nodal groups was obtained. RESULTS The data show that with the standard tangential irradiation fields, the average dose delivered to Levels I, II, III, and RN is 66% (standard deviation, or SD = 13%), 44% (SD = 18%), 31% (SD = 20%), and 70% (SD = 19%) of the prescribed dose, respectively. The coverage increases to 86% (SD = 9%), 71% (SD = 19%), 73% (SD = 17%), and 94% (SD = 8%) of the prescribed dose, respectively, for Levels I, II, III, and RN when the high tangential irradiation fields are used. 51% of Level I, 26% of Level II, and 15% of Level III receive 95% of the prescribed dose with normal tangents. The volume increases to 79%, 51%, and 49% of Levels I, II, and III, respectively, with high tangents. CONCLUSION The tangential fields designed to treat only the breast do not adequately cover the axillary region and, therefore, cannot be relied upon for prophylactic therapy of the axilla. The high tangential irradiation fields increase the dosages received by the axillary region, but the average dosages received by the lower axillary regions are still less than 90% of the prescribed dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Reznik
- University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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