Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in Desmoplastic Melanoma: A Scoping Review.

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is an uncommon subtype of cutaneous melanoma that presents distinct diagnostic and treatment challenges. This review aims to explore the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in managing DM. To evaluate this question, we reviewed relevant published reports on DM and its treatment and synthesized these findings.

Redefining FLASH Radiation Therapy: The Impact of Mean Dose Rate and Dose Per Pulse in the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Purpose: The understanding of how varying radiation beam parameter settings affect the induction and magnitude of the FLASH effect remains limited. We sought to systematically evaluate how the magnitude of radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity depends on the interplay between mean dose rate (MDR) and dose per pulse (DPP).

Methods And Materials: C57BL/6J mice received total abdominal irradiation (TAI, 11-14 Gy single fraction) through either conventional (CONV) irradiation (low-DPP and low MDR, CONV) or through various combinations of DPP and MDR up to ultra-high-dose-rate beam conditions.

Durable local control with hypofractionated radiation therapy for unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

Background And Purpose: As patients with advanced melanoma live longer in the context of systemic therapy advancements, better strategies for durable control of bulky tumors are needed. In this study, we evaluated if dose-escalated hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) can provide durable local control and improve tumor-associated symptoms in patients with unresectable or bulky metastatic melanoma for whom stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (RT) approaches are not feasible due to tumor size or location.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients with unresectable or bulky metastatic melanoma who were treated to a total of 53 tumor targets with 12-17 fractions HFRT at our institution between 2015-2022.

Discordance in acute gastrointestinal toxicity between synchrotron-based proton and linac-based electron ultra-high dose rate irradiation.

Purpose: Proton FLASH has been investigated using cyclotron and synchrocyclotron beamlines but not synchrotron beamlines. We evaluated the impact of dose rate (ultra-high [UHDR] vs. conventional [CONV]) and beam configuration (shoot-through [ST] vs.

Moderately hypofractionated, preoperative radiotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (HYPORT-STS): Updated local control, late toxicities, and patient-reported outcomes.

Background: Moderately hypofractionated, preoperative radiotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (HYPORT-STS; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03819985) investigated a radiobiologically equivalent, moderately hypofractionated course of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) 15 × 2.85 Gy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Outcomes for Patients With Head and Neck Sarcoma Treated Curatively With Radiation Therapy and Surgery.

Purpose: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the head and neck (H&N) are rare malignancies that are challenging to manage. We sought to describe the outcomes of patients treated with curative intent using combined surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for H&N STS.

Methods And Materials: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic STS of the H&N who were treated from 1968 to 2020.

High-Grade Pleomorphic Sarcomas Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience.

Background: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) are amongst the most common subtypes of soft-tissue sarcomas. Few real-world data on the use of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in UPS patients and other high-grade pleomorphic STS patients are available.

Purpose: The purpose of our study is to describe the efficacy and toxicity of ICB in patients with advanced UPSs and other high-grade pleomorphic sarcomas treated at our institution.

Redefining FLASH RT: the impact of mean dose rate and dose per pulse in the gastrointestinal tract.

Background: The understanding of how varying radiation beam parameter settings affect the induction and magnitude of the FLASH effect remains limited.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate how the magnitude of radiation-induced gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity (RIGIT) depends on the interplay between mean dose rate (MDR) and dose per pulse (DPP).

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were subjected to total abdominal irradiation (11-14 Gy single fraction) under conventional irradiation (low DPP and low MDR, CONV) and various combinations of DPP and MDR up to ultra-high-dose-rate (UHDR) beam conditions.

SABR for Sarcoma Lung Metastases: Indications for Treatment and Guidance for Patient Selection.

Purpose: The lungs are the most common site of metastasis for patients with soft tissue sarcoma. SABR is commonly employed to treat lung metastases among select patients with sarcoma with limited disease burden. We sought to evaluate outcomes and patterns of failure among patients with sarcoma treated with SABR for their lung metastases.

Association of Parental Status and Gender With Burden of Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards Among Oncology Physicians.

Importance: Tumor boards are integral to the care of patients with cancer. However, data investigating the burden of tumor boards on physicians are limited.

Objective: To investigate what physician-related and tumor board-related factors are associated with higher tumor board burden among oncology physicians.

Primary tumor site for localized Merkel cell carcinoma drives different management strategies without impacting oncologic outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Clinically localized Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has been associated with high rates of disease relapse. This study examines how primary tumor anatomic site drives patterns of care and outcomes in a large cohort treated in the contemporary era.

Materials And Methods: Patterns of care and associated outcomes were evaluated for clinically Stage I-II MCC patients treated at our institution with adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) to the primary site and/or regional nodal basin as a component of their curative intent therapy between 2014-2021.

Outcomes after definitive treatment for cutaneous angiosarcomas of the face and scalp: Reevaluating the role of surgery and radiation therapy.

Introduction: We investigated outcomes and prognostic factors for patients treated for cutaneous angiosarcoma (CA).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated for CA of the face and scalp from 1962 to 2019. All received definitive treatment with surgery, radiation (RT), or a combination (S-XRT).

Radiation Therapy for Retroperitoneal Sarcomas: A Strass-Ful Situation.

Locoregional recurrence (LRR) is the predominant pattern of relapse and often the cause of death in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS). As a result, reducing LRR is a critical objective for RPS patients. However, unlike soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the superficial trunk and extremity where the benefits of radiation therapy (RT) are well-established, the role of RT in the retroperitoneum remains controversial.

Neoadjuvant checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy for resectable mucosal melanoma.

Background: Neoadjuvant checkpoint inhibition (CPI) has recently demonstrated impressive outcomes in patients with stage 3 cutaneous melanoma. However, the safety, efficacy, and outcome of neoadjuvant CPI in patients with mucosal melanoma (MM) are not well studied as MM is a rare melanoma subtype. CPI such as combination nivolumab and ipilimumab achieves response rates of 37-43% in unresectable or metastatic MM but there is limited data regarding the efficacy of these agents in the preoperative setting.

Gynecologic tract melanoma in the contemporary therapeutic era: High rates of local and distant disease progression.

Background: Gynecologic tract melanoma (GTM) is a rare malignancy with historically poor outcomes. The current study examines patterns of care and oncologic outcomes in a large single-institution cohort from the contemporary therapeutic era.

Methods: Patterns of care and predictors of outcomes were evaluated for all GTM patients without metastatic disease at diagnosis who were treated at our institution between 2009 and 2020 with >6 months of follow-up.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Have Clinical Activity in Patients With Recurrent Chordoma.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes and tolerance of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for patients with recurrent chordoma. We reviewed the records of 17 patients with recurrent chordomas who received ICIs for progressing disease as part of their treatment between 2016 and 2020. Response was assessed using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors 1.

Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Unresectable or Metastatic Sarcoma Lesions.

Purpose: Given the relative radioresistance of sarcomas and their often large size, conventional palliative radiation therapy (RT) often offers limited tumor control and symptom relief. We report on our use of hypofractionated RT (HFRT) as a strategy to promote durable local disease control and optimize palliation.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed 73 consecutive patients with sarcoma who received >10 fractions of HFRT from 2017 to 2020.

Cardiac Angiosarcomas: Risk of Brain Metastasis and Hemorrhage Warrants Frequent Surveillance Imaging and Early Intervention.

Purpose: We evaluated a cohort of patients with cardiac angiosarcomas (CA) who developed brain metastases (BM) to define outcomes and intracranial hemorrhage (IH) risk.

Methods: We reviewed 26 consecutive patients with BM treated between 1988 and 2020 identified from a departmental CA (n=103) database. Causes of death were recorded, and a terminal hemorrhage (TH) was defined as an IH that caused death or prompted a transfer to hospice.

Outcomes After Sphincter-Sparing Local Therapy for Anorectal Melanoma: 1989 to 2020.

Purpose: The treatment paradigm for patients with anorectal melanoma eligible for sphincter-sparing excision has evolved over time. This study examines outcomes across a 30-year era in this rare disease with poor prognosis.

Methods And Materials: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with pelvis-confined anorectal melanoma undergoing sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) at our institution between 1989 and 2020.

Clinical outcomes following high-dose-rate surface applicator brachytherapy for angiosarcoma of scalp and face.

Purpose: Angiosarcoma is a sub-type of soft tissue sarcoma, often presenting as a multifocal or diffuse disease process with poor prognosis. This study presents outcomes of a single institution cohort of patients with angiosarcoma of the scalp and face following treatment with multimodality therapy, including high-dose-rate surface applicator (HDR-SA) brachytherapy, and represents the largest cohort utilizing this therapeutic approach.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients with primary or recurrent angiosarcoma of the face or scalp were treated with HDR-SA brachytherapy between 2003-2018, with clinical characteristics and outcomes collected from medical records and used to identify prognostic features.

Nodal Recurrence is a Primary Driver of Early Relapse for Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma in the Modern Therapeutic Era.

Background: Management of patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma has changed dramatically over the last few years such that completion lymph node dissection (CLND) has become uncommon, and many patients receive adjuvant immunotherapy or targeted therapy. This study seeks to characterize patterns and predictors of early recurrence in this setting.

Patients And Methods: All patients with primary cutaneous melanoma undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between 3/2016 and 12/2019 were identified.

Evaluating the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Paradigm for the Local Management of Extraskeletal Ewing Sarcoma.

Objectives: We reviewed our experience treating patients with localized extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) to determine optimal local management strategies for this rare disease.

Methods: Sixty patients with localized EES treated at our institution between 1994 and 2018 were reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimates disease outcomes.