Publications by authors named "Andrew McPartlin"

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a prediction model for feeding tube dependence in a large homogenous cohort of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV + OPSCC) patients receiving chemoradiotherapy (CRT). We further aimed to externally validate three previously published feeding tube prediction models on this cohort.

Materials And Methods: p16-confirmed HPV + OPSCC patients treated with definitive CRT at a tertiary cancer centre between April 2017 and February 2022 were identified.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We investigate the association of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) volumes and salivary function in oral cavity SCC (OSCC).

Methods: OSCC patients undergoing PORT 2005-2021 underwent modified Schirmer test (MST) pre-PORT, 6 and/or 12 months post-PORT. Hyposalivation rates were compared by PORT volumes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Lymphatic mapping is an established technique to map drainage patterns in oral cancer. Its utility in patients who have undergone prior radiation or neck dissection is not well studied.

Methods: Patients presenting to a single tertiary cancer center between 2021-2023 for a recurrent/second oral cancer that underwent lymphatic mapping were considered.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Clinical extranodal extension (cENE) is a cN modifier in TNM-8 for laryngo-hypopharygeal carcinoma (LHC). We hypothesize that image-detected ENE (iENE) can provide additional prognostic value over cENE in LHC.

Methods: Baseline CTs/MRIs of cN+ LHC patients treated with definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy between 2010-2019 were re-reviewed by a neuroradiologist using internationally accepted criteria for iENE-positive/negative (iENE+/iENE-).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Hypoxia contributes to treatment resistance in solid tumors, and this study investigated whether oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) can reliably measure changes in hypoxic volume in patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer during radiotherapy.
  • 27 patients underwent imaging before and during treatment, showing that hypoxic volume decreased significantly at two and four weeks into therapy, with notable variations in treatment response across different lesions.
  • Results indicate that significant modifications in tumor hypoxia can occur early in treatment, with half of the patients experiencing differing hypoxic changes in primary versus nodal tumors, which could influence patient management and treatment strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORN) can manifest in varying severity. The aim of this study is to identify ORN risk factors and develop a novel classification to depict the severity of ORN.

Methods: Consecutive patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with curative-intent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (≥45 Gy) from 2011 to 2017 were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The causes for delays during the COVID19 pandemic and their impact on head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and staging are not well described.

Methods: Two cohorts were defined a priori for review and analysis-a Pre-Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2019) and a Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2020). Delays were categorized as COVID-19 related or not, and as clinician, patient, or policy related.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Emerging data supports radical intent therapy for oligometastatic (OM) relapsed human papilloma virus (HPV+) related oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). We assess the association of follow-up imaging frequency amongst HPV + OPC, with temporal and spatial patterns of distant relapse, to inform rationalisation of routine post-treatment imaging.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective single centre cohort study was carried out of consecutive HPV + OPC patients treated with radical intent (chemo)radiotherapy ((CT)RT) between 2011 and 2019.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Postoperative prostate radiotherapy requires large planning target volume (PTV) margins to account for motion and deformation of the prostate bed. Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) can incorporate image-guidance data to personalize PTVs that maintain coverage while reducing toxicity. We present feasibility and dosimetry results of a prospective study of postprostatectomy ART.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORN) can manifest in varying severity. The aim of this study is to identify ORN risk factors and develop a novel classification to depict the severity of ORN.

Methods: Consecutive head-and-neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with curative-intent IMRT (≥ 45Gy) in 2011-2018 were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Dysphagia is a common toxicity after head and neck (HN) radiation therapy that negatively affects quality of life. We explored the relationship between radiation therapy dose to normal HN structures and dysphagia 1 year after treatment using image-based datamining (IBDM), a voxel-based analysis technique.

Methods And Materials: We used data from 104 patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with definitive (chemo)radiation therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To develop a practice-based training strategy to transition from radiation oncologist to therapist-driven prostate MR-Linac adaptive radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: In phase 1, 7 therapists independently contoured the prostate and organs-at-risk on T2-weighted MR images from 11 previously treated MR-Linac prostate patients. Contours were evaluated quantitatively (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Purpose: Tumour hypoxia is prognostic in head and neck cancer (HNC), associated with poor loco-regional control, poor survival and treatment resistance. The advent of hybrid MRI - radiotherapy linear accelerator or 'MR Linac' systems - could permit imaging for treatment adaptation based on hypoxic status. We sought to develop oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) in HNC and translate the technique onto an MR Linac system.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

•There is a lack of prospective level I evidence for the use of PBT for most adult cancers including oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).•TORPEdO is the UK's first PBT clinical trial and aims to determine the benefits of PBT for OPSCC.•Training and support has been provided before and during the trial to reduce variations of contouring and radiotherapy planning.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Federated learning has the potential to perfrom analysis on decentralised data; however, there are some obstacles to survival analyses as there is a risk of data leakage. This study demonstrates how to perform a stratified Cox regression survival analysis specifically designed to avoid data leakage using federated learning on larynx cancer patients from centres in three different countries.

Methods: Data were obtained from 1821 larynx cancer patients treated with radiotherapy in three centres.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Prediction models are useful to design personalised treatment. However, safe and effective implementation relies on external validation. Retrospective data are available in many institutions, but sharing between institutions can be challenging due to patient data sensitivity and governance or legal barriers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • There is growing interest in hypofractionated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, but not enough data to establish a consensus on its use.
  • This multicenter study examined outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with either standard or accelerated mildly hypofractionated radiotherapy without chemotherapy.
  • Results showed no significant differences in locoregional control, overall survival, or swallowing function between the two treatment schedules, suggesting hypofractionated radiotherapy is a viable option for patients who cannot receive chemotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to determine if the pretreatment absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) can help identify oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients who might benefit from reducing chemotherapy during treatment.
  • Researchers analyzed data from nearly 800 patients undergoing treatment, assessing overall survival (OS) and locoregional control (LRC) based on ALC levels.
  • Findings suggested that ALC is a significant predictor of OS and indicates how well patients might respond to adding cisplatin chemotherapy, potentially guiding future treatment de-escalation strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) may add value to magnetic resonance (MR)-only radiotherapy (RT) workflows including on hybrid machines such as the MR Linac. The impact of GBCAs on RT dose distributions however have not been well studied. This work used retrospective GBCA-enhanced datasets to assess the dosimetric effect of GBCAs on head and neck plans.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the effects of Image Biomarker Standardisation Initiative (IBSI) compliance, harmonisation of calculation settings and platform version on the statistical reliability of radiomic features and their corresponding ability to predict clinical outcome.

Methods: The statistical reliability of radiomic features was assessed retrospectively in three clinical datasets (patient numbers: 108 head and neck cancer, 37 small-cell lung cancer, 47 non-small-cell lung cancer). Features were calculated using four platforms (PyRadiomics, LIFEx, CERR and IBEX).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To report dosimetry, preliminary toxicity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes of tumor-targeted dose-escalation delivered by integrated boost volumetric arc therapy (IB-VMAT) or MR-guided HDR brachytherapy (HDR) boost for prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, with at least 1 identifiable intraprostatic lesion on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) were enrolled in a prospective non-randomized phase II study. All patients received VMAT to the prostate alone (76 Gy in 38 fractions) plus a GTV boost: IB-VMAT (95 Gy in 38 fractions) or MR-guided HDR (10 Gy single fraction).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate dosimetric consequences of inter-fraction setup variation and anatomical changes in patients receiving multifield optimised (MFO) intensity modulated proton therapy for post-operative oropharyngeal (OPC) and oral cavity (OCC) cancers.

Methods: Six patients receiving MFO for post-operative OPC and OCC were evaluated. Plans were robustly optimised to clinical target volumes (CTVs) using 3 mm setup and 3.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF