Association of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity with a high genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: Overlapping genes are involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DNA repair pathways. Therefore, we hypothesised that patients with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for RA will have an increased risk of radiotherapy (RT) toxicity given the involvement of DNA repair.

Methods: Primary analysis was performed on 1494 prostate cancer, 483 lung cancer and 1820 breast cancer patients assessed for development of RT toxicity in the REQUITE study.

The prognostic significance of sarcopenia in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy: A systematic review.

Sarcopenia describes the degenerative loss of muscle mass and strength, and is emerging as a pan-cancer prognostic biomarker. It is linked with increased treatment toxicity, decreased survival and significant healthcare financial burden. Systematic analyses of sarcopenia studies have focused on outcomes in patients treated surgically or with systemic therapies.

Brief Report of a New Anatomical Region at Risk in Thoracic Radiotherapy: From Discovery to Implementation.

Increasing radiotherapy dose to select cardiac structures is associated with cardiac events and premature death. Previous studies have found a dose-response relationship for structures at the base of the heart. We have defined a new cardiac anatomical region at risk for radiotherapy by consensus opinion, based on image-based data-mining studies.

Dosimetric impact of sparing base of heart on organ at risk doses during lung radiotherapy.

Background: Minimising heart exposure during lung radiotherapy (RT) is important due to association between increased cardiac dose and adverse outcomes such as cardiac toxicity and reduced overall survival. This study evaluated the impact of incorporating a cardiac avoidance area (CAA) located at the base of the heart on the dose received by cardiac subregions and thoracic organs at risk.

Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted on patients treated with lung RT at a single centre before and after the CAA was introduced as an anatomical region at risk (ARR) in April 2023.

Association between rheumatoid arthritis and risk of radiotherapy toxicity: a systematic review.

Objective: There is sometimes concern over the use of radiotherapy for cancer in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but little evidence to support its avoidance. Identifying any association between RA and risk of radiotherapy toxicity could impact current guidance. We aimed to review the evidence base.