Effect of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy on Diverse Organ Lesions in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Objective The combination of stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)is actively being explored in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients.However,little is known about the optimal fractionation and radiotherapy target lesions in this scenario.This study investigated the effect of SBRT on diverse organ lesions and radiotherapy dose fractionation regimens on the prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs.Methods The medical records of advanced NSCLC patients consecutively treated with ICIs and SBRT were retrospectively reviewed at our institution from Dec.2015 to Sep.2021.Patients were grouped according to radiation sites.Progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were recorded using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between different treatment groups using the log-rank(Mantel-Cox)test.Results A total of 124 advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs combined with SBRT were identified in this study.Radiation sites included lung lesions(lung group,n=43),bone metastases(bone group,n=24),and brain metastases(brain group,n=57).Compared with the brain group,the mean PFS(mPFS)in the lung group was significantly prolonged by 13.3 months(8.5 months vs.21.8 months,HR=0.51,95%CI:0.28–0.92,P=0.0195),and that in the bone group prolonged by 9.5 months with a 43%reduction in the risk of disease progression(8.5 months vs.18.0 months,HR=0.57,95%CI:0.29–1.13,P=0.1095).The mPFS in the lung group was prolonged by 3.8 months as compared with that in the bone group.The mean OS(mOS)in the lung and bone groups was longer than that of the brain group,and the risk of death decreased by up to 60%in the lung and bone groups as compared with that of the brain group.When SBRT was concurrently given with ICIs,the mPFS in the lung and brain groups were significantly longer than that of the bone group(29.6 months vs.16.5 months vs.12.1 months).When SBRT with 8–12 Gy per fraction was combined with ICIs,the mPFS in the lung group was significantly prolonged as compared with that of the bone and brain groups(25.4 months vs.15.2 months vs.12.0 months).Among patients receiving SBRT on lung lesions and brain metastases,the mPFS in the concurrent group was longer than that of the SBRT→ICIs group(29.6 months vs.11.4 months,P=0.0003 and 12.1 months vs.8.9 months,P=0.2559).Among patients receiving SBRT with<8 Gy and 8–12 Gy per fraction,the mPFS in the concurrent group was also longer than that of the SBRT→ICIs group(20.1 months vs.5.3 months,P=0.0033 and 24.0 months vs.13.4 months,P=0.1311).The disease control rates of the lung,bone,and brain groups were 90.7%,83.3%,and 70.1%,respectively.Conclusion The study demonstrated that the addition of SBRT on lung lesions versus bone and brain metastases to ICIs improved the prognosis in advanced NSCLC patients.This improvement was related to the sequence of radiotherapy combined with ICIs and the radiotherapy fractionation regimens.Dose fractionation regimens of 8–12 Gy per fraction and lung lesions as radiotherapy targets might be the appropriate choice for advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs combined with SBRT.

Comprehensive Treatment Uncertainty Analysis and PTV Margin Estimation for Fiducial Tracking in Robotic Liver Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Objective This study aims to quantify the uncertainties of CyberKnife Synchrony fiducial tracking for liver stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)cases,and evaluate the required planning target volume(PTV)margins.Methods A total of 11 liver tumor patients with a total of 57 fractions,who underwent SBRT with synchronous fiducial tracking,were enrolled for the present study.The correlation/prediction model error,geometric error,and beam targeting error were quantified to determine the patient-level and fraction-level individual composite treatment uncertainties.The composite uncertainties and multiple margin recipes were compared for scenarios with and without rotation correction during treatment.Results The correlation model error-related uncertainty was 4.3±1.8,1.4±0.5 and 1.8±0.7 mm in the superior-inferior(SI),left-right,and anterior-posterior directions,respectively.These were the primary contributors among all uncertainty sources.The geometric error significantly increased for treatments without rotation correction.The fraction-level composite uncertainties had a long tail distribution.Furthermore,the generally used 5-mm isotropic margin covered all uncertainties in the left-right and anterior-posterior directions,and only 75%of uncertainties in the SI direction.In order to cover 90%of uncertainties in the SI direction,an 8-mm margin would be needed.For scenarios without rotation correction,additional safety margins should be added,especially in the superior-inferior and anterior-posterior directions.Conclusion The present study revealed that the correlation model error contributes to most of the uncertainties in the results.Most patients/fractions can be covered by a 5-mm margin.Patients with large treatment uncertainties might need a patient-specific margin.

Colonoscopy-assisted removal of an impaction foreign body at the rectosigmoid junction: A case report

BACKGROUND When an anorectal foreign body is found,its composition and shape should be evaluated,and a timely and effective treatment plan should be developed based on the patient's symptoms to avoid serious complications such as intestinal perforation caused by displacement of the foreign body.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male was admitted to our outpatient clinic on June 3,2023,due to a rectal foreign body that had been embedded for more than 24 h.The patient reported using a glass electrode tube to assist in the recovery of prolapsed hemorrhoids,however,the electrode tube was inadvertently inserted into the anus and could not be removed by the patient.During hospitalization,the patient underwent surgery,and the foreign body was dragged into the rectum with the aid of colonoscopy.The anus was dilated with a comb-type pulling hook and an anal fistula pulling hook to widen the anus and remove the foreign body,and the local anal symptoms were then relieved with topical drugs.The patient was allowed to eat and drink,and an entire abdominal Computed tomography(CT)and colonoscopy were reviewed 3 d after surgery.CT revealed no foreign body residue and colonoscopy showed no metal or other residues in the colon and rectum,and no apparent intestinal tract damage.CONCLUSION The timeliness and rationality of the surgical and therapeutic options for this patient were based on a literature review of the clinical signs and conceivable conditions in such cases.The type,material and the potential risks of rectal foreign bodies should be considered.

Unraveling the efficacy network: A network meta-analysis of adjuvant external beam radiation therapy methods after hepatectomy

BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer is a malignant tumor with a high recurrence rate that significantly affects patient prognosis.Postoperative adjuvant external radiation therapy(RT)has been shown to effectively prevent recurrence after liver cancer resection.However,there are multiple RT techniques available,and the differ-ential effects of these techniques in preventing postoperative liver cancer re-currence require further investigation.AIM To assess the advantages and disadvantages of various adjuvant external RT methods after liver resection based on overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS)and to determine the optimal strategy.METHODS This study involved network meta-analyses and followed the PRISMA guidelines.The data of qualified studies published before July 10,2023,were collected from PubMed,Embase,the Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library.We included relevant studies on postoperative external beam RT after liver resection that had OS and DFS as the primary endpoints.The magnitudes of the effects were determined using risk ratios with 95%confidential intervals.The results were analyzed using R software and STATA software.RESULTS A total of 12 studies,including 1265 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after liver resection,were included in this study.There was no significant heterogeneity in the direct paired comparisons,and there were no significant differences in the inclusion or exclusion criteria,intervention measures,or outcome indicators,meeting the assumptions of heterogeneity and transitivity.OS analysis revealed that patients who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT)after resection had longer OS than those who underwent intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)or 3-dimensional conformal RT(3D-CRT).DFS analysis revealed that patients who underwent 3D-CRT after resection had the longest DFS.Patients who underwent IMRT after resection had longer OS than those who underwent 3D-CRT and longer DFS than those who underwent SBRT.CONCLUSION HCC patients who undergo liver cancer resection must consider distinct advantages and disadvantages when choosing between SBRT and 3D-CRT.IMRT,a RT technique that is associated with longer OS than 3D-CRT and longer DFS than SBRT,may be a preferred option.

Three-Drug Therapies in Psychiatry in the Light of the Maximum Ordinality Principle and the Explicit Solution to the “Three-Body Problem”—D.D. 23 Luglio 2023, Tempo Ordinario (3.00 e 10.20)

The present paper aims at showing the possible adoption in Psychiatry of a general methodology finalized to prescribe the most appropriate Therapy based on the knowledge of its correlative effects in advance, instead of recognizing them ex post. The specific case here considered is the “bipolar disorder”, in which the adoption of three different drugs is the most common practice, although with a possible differentiation between the prescription in the morning and in the evening, respectively. Thus, the proposed methodology will consider the Ordinal Interactions between the various drugs by evaluating their combined effects, which will result as being not a simple additive “sum”, because they are evaluated on the basis of the Maximum Ordinality Principle (MOP) and, in addition, in Adherence to the Explicit Solution to the “Three-Body Problem”. In this way the Methodology here proposed is able to suggest how to account for the synergistic effects of the various drugs, especially when the latter are characterized by different concentrations and, at the same time, by generally different half-lives respectively.

Muscle function, physical performance and body composition changes in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy

Prostate cancer （PCa） is the most common visceral malignancy in men with androgen deprivation therapy （ADT） the preferred therapy to suppress testosterone production and hence tumor growth. Despite its effectiveness in lowering testosterone, ADT is associated with side effects including loss of muscle mass, diminished muscle strength, decrements in physical performance, earlier fatigue and declining quality of life. This review reports a survey of the literature with a focus on changes in muscle strength, physical function and body composition, due to short-term and long-term ADT. Studies in these areas are sparse, especially well-controlled, prospective randomized trials. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data （up to 2 years） for men with PCa treated with ADT as well as patients with PCa not receiving ADT and age-matched healthy men are presented when available. Based on limited longitudinal data, the adverse effects of ADT on muscle function, physical performance and body composition occur shortly after the onset of ADT and tend to persist and worsen over time. Exercise training is a safe and effective intervention for mitigating these changes and initial guidelines for exercise program design for men with PCa have been published by the American College of Sports Medicine. Disparities in study duration, types of studies and other patient-specific variables such as time since diagnosis, cancer stage and comorbidities may all affect an understanding of the influence of ADT on health, physical performance and mortality.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer:A review

Stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT) is the treatment of choice for medically inoperable patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). A literature search primarily based on PubMed electronic databases was completed in July 2018. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined prior to the search, and only prospective clinical trials were included. Nineteen trials from 2005 to 2018 met the inclusion criteria, reporting the outcomes of 1434 patients with central and peripheral early stage NSCLC. Patient eligibility,prescription dose and delivery, and follow up duration varied widely. Threeyears overall survival ranged from 43% to 95% with loco-regional control of up to 98% at 3 years. Up to 33% of patients failed distantly after SBRT at 3 years. SBRT was generally well tolerated with 10%-30% grade 3-4 toxicities and a few treatment-related deaths. No differences in outcomes were observed between conventionally fractionated radiation therapy and SBRT, central and peripheral lung tumors, or inoperable and operable patients. SBRT remains a reasonable treatment option for medically inoperable and select operable patients with early stage NSCLC. SBRT has shown excellent local and regional control with toxicity rates equivalent to surgery. Decreasing fractionation schedules have been consistently shown to be both safe and effective. Distant failure is common, and chemotherapy may be considered for select patients. However, the survival benefit of additional interventions, such as chemotherapy, for early stage NSCLC treated with SBRT remains unclear.

Role of stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

The integration of new technologies has raised an interest in liver tumor radiotherapy,with literature evolving to support its efficacy.These advances,particularly stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT),have been critical in improving local control or potential cure in liver lesions not amenable to first-line surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation.Active investigation of SBRT,particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),has recently started,yielding promising local control rates.In addition,data suggest a possibility that SBRT can be an alternative option for HCC unfit for other local therapies.However,information on optimal treatment indications,doses,and methods remains limited.In HCC,significant differences in patient characteristics and treatment availability exist by country.In addition,the prognosis of HCC is greatly influenced by underlying liver dysfunction and treatment itself in addition to tumor stage.Since they are closely linked to treatment approach,it is important to understand these differences in interpreting outcomes from various reports.Further studies are required to validate and maximize the efficacy of SBRT by a large,multi-institutional setting.

Role of stereotactic body radiotherapy for oligometastasis from colorectal cancer

Systemic chemotherapy has enabled prolongation of survival in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. This has subsequently increased the relative significance of local therapy for patients with oligometastases because they can be cured by removal of oligometastatic lesions. One of the most frequently reported tumor histologies for oligometastases is colorectal cancer. Resection is the standard therapy in most settings of oligometastases. Recently, studies have shown that stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may become a treatment option that provides high local control with minimal morbidity. Two-year local control rates following SBRT for hepatic and pulmonary oligometastases are almost over 80% and are even higher for patients treated with high-dose regimens. The indications of SBRT for other metastatic sites or conditions include isolated lymph nodes, spinal and adrenal metastasis, and post-surgical pelvic recurrence. Many retrospective studies have indicated that SBRT for various lesions results in good outcomes with low morbidity, both in the curative and palliative setting. However, few reports with a high level of evidence have indicated the efficacy of SBRT compared to standard therapy. Hereafter, the optimal indication of SBRT needs to be prospectively investigated to obtain convincing evidence.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A mini-review

Stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT) is an emerging treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. This technique results in excellent local control rates with favorable toxicity profile despite being predominantly used in heavily pretreated patients or those unsuitable for other local therapies. SBRT may be used as a sole treatment or in combination with other local therapies as well as a bridging strategy for patient awaiting liver transplants. This brief review describes current practice of SBRT with respect to radiation technique, patient selection and treatment concepts. It summarizes available evidence from retroand prospective studies evaluating SBRT alone, SBRT in combination with other treatments and SBRT compared to other local treatment approaches.

Efficacy of Surgical Therapy for Carotid Body Tumors

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of surgical therapy for carotid body tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted, covering the diagnosis, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and prognosis of 120 cases of carotid body tumors in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1949 to May, 2011. Results Surgical excision was successfully performed in 111 cases with 117 tumors. In all those cases, 50 underwent simple tumor resection, 42 underwent resection of tumors and ligation of the external carotid arteries, 7 underwent co-resection of tumors and common carotid arteries, internal carotid arteries, as well as external arteries without vascular reconstruction, and the other 12 cases experienced tumor resection and vascular reconstruction as internal carotid arteries were involved. After operation, 3 cases developed cerebral infarction, 30 cases showed cranial nerve palsy, including 15 cases of hypoglossal nerve damage, 10 cases of vagus paralysis, and 5 cases of Horner's syndrome. Conclusion It is essential to make a proper surgical strategy, which can reduce postoperative com- plications.

Advances of stereotactic body radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer（PCA） is one of the most aggressive tumors with few effective treatment modalities. It is the 4th and 7th leading cause of cancer death in the United States and China, respectively. At the time of diagnosis, only 20% of cases present with a resectable tumor, and about 40% with a locally advanced tumor that is considered unresectable. Even resected patients still have a poor prognosis, with an incidence of local recurrence ranging from 20% to 60%. It is also reported that up to 30% of PCA patients die from locally obstructive disease with few or no distant metastases. These findings have highlighted the importance of local radiation therapy in the treatment of PCA. As the role of conventional chemoradiotherapy remains controversial, the dawn of the pancreas stereotactic body radiation therapy（SBRT） era represents a potential paradigm shift in the management of PCA. SBRT delivers a higher biological effective dose to the tumor with sharp dose escalation in a shorter treatment time course. Pancreas SBRT is a novel therapeutic option to achieve local tumor control with minimal toxicity. Herein, we review the advancement of SBRT for PCA patients with different stages of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Partial and Full Arc Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Lung Cancer Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy with Different Definitions of Internal Target Volume Based on 4D CT

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of partial arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in lung cancer stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), as well the volumetric and dosimetric effects of different internal target volume (ITV) definitions with 4D CT. Methods: Fourteen patients with primary and metastatic lung cancer underwent SBRT were enrolled. Full and partial arc VMAT plans were generated with four different ITVs: ITVall, ITVMIP, ITVAIP and ITV2phases, representing ITVs generated from all 10 respiratory phases, maximum intensity projection (MIP), average intensity projection (AIP), and 2 extreme respiratory phases. Volumetric and dosimetric differences, as well as MU and delivery time were investigated. Results: Partial arc VMAT irradiated more dose at 2 cm away from planning target volume (PTV) (P = 0.002), however, it achieved better protection on mean lung dose , lung V5, spinal cord, heart and esophagus compared with full arc VMAT. The average MU and delivery time of partial arc VMAT were 240 and 1.6 min less than those of full arc VMAT. There were no significant differences on target coverage and organ at risks (OARs) sparing among four ITVs. The average percent volume differences of ITVMIP, ITVAIP and ITV2phases to ITVall were 8.6%, 13.4%, and 25.2%, respectively. Conclusions: Although partial arc VMAT delivered more dose 2 cm out of PTV, it decreases the dose to lung, spinal cord, and esophagus, as well decreased the total MU and delivery time compared with full arc VMAT without sacrificing target coverage. Partial arc VMAT was feasible and more efficient for lung SBRT.

High rate of complete histopathological response in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after combined transarterial chemoembolization and stereotactic body radiation therapy

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)presents a curative treatment option in patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who are not eligible for resection or ablation therapy.Due to a risk of up 30%for waitlist drop-out upon tumor progression,bridging therapies are used to halt tumor growth.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and less commonly stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)or a combination of TACE and SBRT,are used as bridging therapies in LT.However,it remains unclear if one of those treatment options is superior.The analysis of explant livers after transplantation provides the unique opportunity to investigate treatment response by histopathology.AIM To analyze histopathological response to a combination of TACE and SBRT in HCC in comparison to TACE or SBRT alone.METHODS In this multicenter retrospective study,27 patients who received liver transplantation for HCC were analyzed.Patients received either TACE or SBRT alone,or a combination of TACE and SBRT as bridging therapy to liver transplantation.Liver explants of all patients who received at least one TACE and/or SBRT were analyzed for the presence of residual vital tumor tissue by histopathology to assess differences in treatment response to bridging therapies.Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test,Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney-U tests.RESULTS Fourteen patients received TACE only,four patients SBRT only,and nine patients a combination therapy of TACE and SBRT.There were no significant differences between groups regarding age,sex,etiology of underlying liver disease or number and size of tumor lesions.Strikingly,analysis of liver explants revealed that almost all patients in the TACE and SBRT combination group(8/9,89%)showed no residual vital tumor tissue by histopathology,whereas TACE or SBRT alone resulted in significantly lower rates of complete histopathological response(0/14,0%and 1/4,25%,respectively,P value<0.001).CONCLUSION Our data suggests that a combination of TACE and SBRT increases the rate of complete histopathological response compared to TACE or SBRT alone in bridging to liver transplantation.

Body awareness therapy: A new strategy for relief of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients

AIM: To compare irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pa- tients with apparently healthy persons and to evaluate body awareness therapy, which is a physiotherapeutic remedy focusing on normalising tensions in the body, for the treatment of IBS with the hypothesis that altered body tension is associated with the syndrome. METHODS: Twenty-one IBS patients received body awareness therapy two hours weekly for 24 wk. At base- line as well as after 12 and 24 wk, they underwent ex- aminations including resource oriented body examination in combination with body awareness scale evaluation and f illed in gastrointestinal and psychological symptom questionnaires. Saliva cortisol was analysed. A group of 21 apparently healthy persons underwent the same ex- aminations once. RESULTS: Compared to the apparently healthy group, IBS patients scored higher at baseline for gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. They showed more often alterations in normal body tension patterns, as well as deviating cortisol slopes in saliva. After 24 wk of body awareness therapy, their gastrointestinal and psychologi- cal symptoms were reduced overall. Somatic symptoms decreased in parallel with depressive symptoms. Whole body pain score decreased, coping ability as well as bio- chemical stress markers improved. CONCLUSION: IBS patients scored higher for gastroin- testinal and psychological symptoms, and presented with altered biochemical stress markers. Their body tension deviated compared to healthy controls. Furthermore,body awareness therapy gave relief of both somatic com- plaints, psychological symptoms and normalised body tension. These findings indicate that distorted tension constitutes an important part of the symptoms in IBS.

Study of the External Dose Rate and Retained Body Activity of Patients with Hyperthyroidism Who Are Receiving Ⅰ-131 Therapy

Hyperthyroidism refers to a clinical state that results from inappropriately hight hyroid hormone levels in the tissues;.Ⅰ-131 therapy plays a critical role and provides a remarkable curative effect in targeting thyroid diseases. Thyroid cells can take up isotope I-131, which emits not only beta rays but also

Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Hand Massage on Body Composition and Serum Lipids According to Serum Cholesterol Level in Korean Women

Obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigates the effects of six-week (twice a week, 12 sessions total) extracorporeal shockwave therapy (SWT) and hand massage therapy (HT) on body composition and serum lipids in overweight and obese Korean women aged between 35 and 59, according to their serum cholesterol level (≥200 mg/dL versus <200 mg/dL). After the program, weights decreased significantly in both the HT Group and SWT Group (p < 0.05);weights of those with cholesterol < 200 mg/dL significantly decreased in the HT Group (p = 0.038), while weights of those with cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL significantly decreased in the SWT Group (p = 0.001). BMIs decreased significantly in both the HT Group and the SWT Group (p < 0.05);BMIs of those with cholesterol < 200 mg/dL significantly decreased in the HT Group (p = 0.018), while BMIs of those with cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL significantly decreased in the SWT Group (p = 0.001). The body fat percentage of subjects significantly decreased only in the SWT Group (p = 0.027);the waist-hip ratio significantly decreased only in HT Group (p = 0.034). Serum cholesterol levels significantly decreased in those with cholesterol < 200 mg/dL in the HT Group (p < 0.05) and those with cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL in SWT Group (p = 0.055). Triglyceride significantly decreased in both those with cholesterol < 200 mg/dL and those with cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, but did not significantly decrease in either subgroup of the HT Group. The study results suggest that SWT is effective in improving body measurements and serum lipids in those with cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, while HT therapy is effective in those with cholesterol < 200 mg/dL. In conclusion, SWT and HT improved abdominal obesity by reducing body weight and waist circumference and helped improving serum lip index, suggesting the benefit for managing body measurements and serum lipids of overweight and obese individuals.

Liver magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of response to treatment after stereotactic body radiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Although stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)is increasingly used,its application has not yet been regulated by the main international guidelines,leaving the decision to multidisciplinary teams.AIM To assess magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treated with SBRT,highlighting the efficacy of the treatment and the main aspects of the lesion before and after the procedure.METHODS As part of a retrospective study,49 patients who underwent SBRT for HCC between January 2013 and November 2019 were recruited.Each patient under went a pre-treatment MRI examination with a hepatospecific contrast agent and a similar followup examination within 6 mo of therapy.In addition,22 patients underwent a second follow-up examination after the first 6 mo.The following characteristics were analysed:Features analysed compared to pre-treatment MRI examination,presence or absence of infield and outfield progression,ring-like enhancement,signal hyperintensity in T2-weighted sequences in the perilesional parenchyma,capsular retraction,and"band"signal hypointensity in T1-weighted gradient echo fat saturated sequences obtained during hepatobiliary excretion.RESULTS Signal hyperintensity in the T2-weighted sequences showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of lesions at the post-SBRT first control(P=0.0006).Signal hyperintensity in diffusionweighted imaging-weighted sequences was decreased at MRI first control(P<0.0001).A statistically significant increase of apparent diffusion coefficient values from a median of 1.01 to 1.38 at the first post-control was found(P<0.0001).Capsular retraction was increased at the late evaluation(P=0.006).Band-like signal hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase was present in 94%at the late control(P=0.006).The study of the risk of outfield progression vs infield progression revealed a hazard ratio of 9.CONCLUSION The efficacy of SBRT should be evaluated not in the first 6 mo,but at least 9 mo post-SBRT,when infield progression persists at very low rates while the risk of outfield progression increases significantly.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy:A good dance partner of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer to the sound of SINDAS study

The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Research published a consensus statement to establish the key criteria to define oligometastatic disease(OMD).According to those criteria,all lesions(both primary and metastatic)should be amenable to radical intent treatment with acceptable toxicity.Several retrospective studies have shown that adding local ablative therapy to the treatment of OMD improves outcomes;however,due to the diverse selection criteria and treatment strategies used in those studies,it is difficult to compare directly results to draw definitive conclusions.In recent years,prospective phase II trials,such as the SABR-COMET and"Oligomez"trials,have shown that stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)improves outcomes in patients with OMD.More recently,interim results of the randomised phase 3 SINDAS trial were reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2020 demonstrating that upfront SBRT added to systemic treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors yielded a significant benefit in both progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer.In the present editorial,we review the definition and historical context of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with OMD.In addition,we review the scientific evidence for local ablative therapy and SBRT and discuss the results of recently published prospective studies.We also discuss in depth the results of the SINDAS study,including the strengths and weaknesses of the study and the barriers to extrapolating these results to routine clinical practice.

Impact of regular enteral feeding via jejunostomy during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy on body composition in patients with oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND Malnourishment and sarcopenia are well documented phenomena in oesophageal cancer.Patients undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy prior to oesophagectomy have complex nutritional needs.AIM To examine the effect of regular nutritional support via feeding jejunostomy on overall body composition in patients undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy prior to oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer.METHODS Retrospective data were collected for 15 patients before and after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.All patients had feeding jejunostomies inserted at staging laparoscopy prior to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and underwent regular jejunostomy feeding.Changes in body composition were determined by analysis of computed tomography imaging.RESULTS Patient age was 61.3±12.8 years,and 73%of patients were male.The time between start of chemotherapy and surgery was 107±21.6 d.There was no change in weight(74.5±14.1 kg to 74.8±13.1 kg)and body mass index(26.0±3.8 kg/m^2 to 26.1±3.4 kg/m^2).Body composition analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in lumbar skeletal muscle index despite regular feeding(45.8±8.0 cm^2/m^2 to 43.5±7.3 cm^2/m^2;P=0.045).The proportion of sarcopenic patients increased(33.3% to 60%).Six patients(40%)experienced dose-limiting toxicity during chemotherapy.CONCLUSION Regular jejunostomy feeding during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy can maintain weight and adipose tissue.Feeding alone is not sufficient to maintain muscle mass.Further insight into the underlying processes causing reduced muscle mass in cancer patients may help to provide targeted interventions.