Risk factors for cognitive impairment in radically treated stage III NSCLC: Secondary findings of the NVALT-11 study.

Aim: To identify risk factors for self-reported cognitive impairment in radically treated stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Cognitive functioning was assessed using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 at seven pre-specified time points in the phase III NVALT-11 trial (observation versus prophylactic cranial irradiation [PCI] in stage III NSCLC treated with chemo-radiotherapy ± surgery). Cognition was analyzed as binary (impairment or not) and continuous outcome, respectively, using generalized estimating equation (GEE) before and after multiple imputation.

Investigation of the added value of CT-based radiomics in predicting the development of brain metastases in patients with radically treated stage III NSCLC.

Introduction: Despite radical intent therapy for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), cumulative incidence of brain metastases (BM) reaches 30%. Current risk stratification methods fail to accurately identify these patients. As radiomics features have been shown to have predictive value, this study aims to develop a model combining clinical risk factors with radiomics features for BM development in patients with radically treated stage III NSCLC.

Optimal delineation of the clinical target volume for thymomas in the post-resection setting: A multi-center study.

Background: The definition of the clinical target volume (CTV) for post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) for thymoma is largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to analyze the difference in CTV delineation between radiation oncologists (RTO) and surgeons.

Methods: This retrospective multi-center study enrolled 31 patients who underwent PORT for a thymoma from five hospitals.

Development and external validation of a nomogram to predict overall survival following stereotactic body radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer.

Background: Prognostication tools for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are currently lacking. The purpose of this study was to develop and externally validate a nomogram to predict overall survival in individual patients with peripheral early-stage disease.

Methods: A total of 587 NSCLC patients treated with biologically effective dose > 100 Gy were eligible.

Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation Versus Observation in Radically Treated Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Phase III NVALT-11/DLCRG-02 Study.

Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) reduces the incidence of symptomatic brain metastases in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curative intention. Patients and Methods Patients with stage III NSCLC-staged with a contrast-enhanced brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging-were randomly assigned to either observation or PCI after concurrent/sequential chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery. The primary end point-development of symptomatic brain metastases at 24 months-was defined as one or a combination of key symptoms that suggest brain metastases-signs of increased intracranial pressure, headache, nausea and vomiting, cognitive or affective disturbances, seizures, and focal neurologic symptoms-and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography demonstrating the existence of brain metastasis.

Which patients with ES-SCLC are most likely to benefit from more aggressive radiotherapy: A secondary analysis of the Phase III CREST trial.

Introduction: In ES-SCLC patients with residual intrathoracic disease after first-line chemotherapy, the addition of thoracic radiotherapy reduces the risk of intrathoracic recurrence, and improves 2-year survival. To identify patient subgroups for future trials investigating higher dose (extra)thoracic radiotherapy, we investigated the prognostic importance of number and sites of metastases in patients included in the CREST trial.

Materials/ Methods: Additional data on sites and numbers of metastases were collected from individual records of 260 patients from the top 9 recruiting centers in the randomized CREST trial (53% of 495 study patients), which compared thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) to no TRT in ES-SCLC patients after any response to chemotherapy.

Toxicity and quality of life after high-dose-rate brachytherapy as monotherapy for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: The use of HDR brachytherapy (HDR-BT) as monotherapy for prostate cancer (PC) is increasing worldwide with good tumour control rates and acceptable toxicity. We report our results on toxicity and quality of life (QoL) after HDR-BT monotherapy for PC patients.

Materials And Methods: 166 low- and intermediate-risk localized PC patients were treated with HDR-BT to a total dose of 38Gy in four fractions.

Use of thoracic radiotherapy for extensive stage small-cell lung cancer: a phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

Background: Most patients with extensive stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who undergo chemotherapy, and prophylactic cranial irradiation, have persistent intrathoracic disease. We assessed thoracic radiotherapy for treatment of this patient group.

Methods: We did this phase 3 randomised controlled trial at 42 hospitals: 16 in Netherlands, 22 in the UK, three in Norway, and one in Belgium.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy and external-beam radiotherapy for hormone-naïve low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer: a 7-year experience.

Purpose: To report clinical outcomes and early and late complications in 264 hormone-naïve patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in combination with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Methods And Materials: Between February 2000 and July 2007, 264 patients underwent HDR-BT in combination with EBRT as a treatment for their low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The HDR-BT was performed using ultrasound-based implantation.

Outcome of four-dimensional stereotactic radiotherapy for centrally located lung tumors.

Purpose: To assess local control, overall survival, and toxicity of four-dimensional, risk-adapted stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) delivered while tracking respiratory motion in patients with primary and metastatic lung cancer located in the central chest.

Methods: Fifty-eight central lesions of 56 patients (39 with primary, 17 with metastatic tumors) were treated. Fifteen tumors located near the esophagus were treated with 6 fractions of 8 Gy.

Stereotactic radiotherapy with real-time tumor tracking for non-small cell lung cancer: clinical outcome.

Purpose: To report the clinical outcome of treatment using real-time tumor tracking for 70 patients with inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Seventy inoperable patients with peripherally located early-stage NSCLC were treated with 45 or 60 Gy in three fractions using CyberKnife. Pathology was available in 51% of patients.

HDR prostate monotherapy: dosimetric effects of implant deformation due to posture change between TRUS- and CT-imaging.

HDR monotherapy for prostate cancer consists of four fractions. The first fraction is delivered with online TRUS-based treatment planning. For the last three fractions the treatment plan is based on a CT-scan acquired in between fractions 1 and 2.