The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging Project: The Database and Proposal for the Revision of the Staging of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Forthcoming Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Pulmonary high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) includes small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). The seventh and eighth editions of the TNM classification for lung cancer confirmed the applicability of this staging system for SCLC. With the proposal of N2 and M1c subcategories for the ninth edition classification, we assessed the applicability to NECs.

Challenges in assessing national radiotherapy costs: application of the ESTRO-HERO model in Spain.

Background And Purpose: The aim was to estimate the cost of the external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in public health care centers in Catalonia (Spain), according to the ESTRO-HERO costing model for 2018.

Materials And Methods: Personnel, equipment, and activity data from 2018 from the 11 RT centers were used, incorporating European mean values adapted to the Catalan context. Secondly, EBRT costs were estimated, incorporating 2023 fractionation technique and scheme usage percentages.

Professional-patient discrepancies in assessing lung cancer radiotherapy symptoms: An international multicentre study.

Background And Purpose: We investigate discrepancies in the assessment of treatment-related symptoms in lung cancer between healthcare professionals and patients, and factors contributing to these discrepancies.

Materials And Methods: Data from 515 participants in the REQUITE study were analysed. Five symptoms (cough, dyspnoea, bronchopulmonary haemorrhage, chest wall pain, dysphagia) were evaluated both before and after radiotherapy.

Impact of HA-PCI on self-reported cognitive functioning and brain metastases in small-cell lung cancer: Pooled findings of NCT01780675 and PREMER trials.

Background: Cognitive decline is an arising concern in patients who need cranial irradiation. We used the pooled longitudinal individual patient data of two phase III trials: NCT01780675 and PREMER to investigate whether hippocampal avoidance (HA)-PCI is associated with improved self-reported cognitive functioning (SRCF) compared with PCI without increasing brain metastases (BM) development within the HA area.

Methods: Patients with stage I-IV small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were randomized to PCI or HA-PCI.

Global Workforce and Access: Demand, Education, Quality.

There has long existed a substantial disparity in access to radiotherapy globally. This issue has only been exacerbated as the growing disparity of cancer incidence between high-income countries (HIC) and low and middle-income countries (LMICs) widens, with a pronounced increase in cancer cases in LMICs. Even within HICs, iniquities within local communities may lead to a lack of access to care.

Acute toxicity in patients with oligometastatic cancer following metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiotherapy: An interim analysis of the E-RADIatE OligoCare cohort.

Aim: To evaluate acute toxicity at 6 months after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with oligometastatic cancer within the OligoCare cohort.

Material And Methods: OligoCare is a prospective, registry-based, single-arm, observational study that aims to report prospective real-world data of patients with oligometastases from solid cancer treated with SBRT (NCT03818503). Primary tumor included non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer (BC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and prostate cancer (PC).

Coverage with evidence development program on stereotactic body radiotherapy in Belgium (2013-2019): a nationwide registry-based prospective study.

Background: Although stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) was progressively adopted in clinical practice in Belgium, a reimbursement request in 2011 was not granted because of remaining clinical and economic uncertainty. A coverage with evidence development (CED) program on SBRT started in 2013, with the aim to assess clinical and technical patterns-of-care in Belgium and monitor survival per indication, in view of supporting inclusion in the reimbursement system.

Methods: The Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) initiated this prospective observational registry.

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Centrally Located Inoperable Early-Stage NSCLC: EORTC 22113-08113 LungTech Phase II Trial Results.

Introduction: The international phase II single-arm LungTech trial 22113-08113 of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer assessed the safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with centrally located early-stage NSCLC.

Methods: Patients with inoperable non-metastatic central NSCLC (T1-T3 N0 M0, ≤7cm) were included. After prospective central imaging review and radiation therapy quality assurance for any eligible patient, SBRT (8 × 7.

[Health-economic aspects of radiotherapy].

Cancer care poses a significant economic burden, challenging healthcare budgets to balance patient benefits with affordability. Radiotherapy takes up only a limited part of oncology budgets, but the cost is rarely clear-cut due to influential factors such as complexity of treatments, highly-trained personnel and technologies. Health-economic appraisal is complex and can be performed in several ways, balancing costs and outcomes, but not all approaches are equally suitable for assessment of radiotherapy interventions.

Conducting a National RT-QI Project - Challenges and Opportunities.

Over the past decade, there has been an increased interest in defining and monitoring quality indicators (QI) in the field of oncology including the field of radiation oncology. The comprehensive gathering and analysis of QIs on a multicentric scale offer valuable insights into identifying gaps in clinical practice and fostering continuous improvement. This article delineates the evolution and results of the Belgian national project dedicated to radiotherapy-specific QIs while also exploring the challenges and opportunities inherent in implementing such a multi-centric initiative.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Staging Project for Lung Cancer: Recommendation to Introduce Spread Through Air Spaces as a Histologic Descriptor in the Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification of Lung Cancer. Analysis of 4061 Pathologic Stage I NSCLC.

Introduction: Spread through air spaces (STAS) consists of lung cancer tumor cells that are identified beyond the edge of the main tumor in the surrounding alveolar parenchyma. It has been reported by meta-analyses to be an independent prognostic factor in the major histologic types of lung cancer, but its role in lung cancer staging is not established.

Methods: To assess the clinical importance of STAS in lung cancer staging, we evaluated 4061 surgically resected pathologic stage I R0 NSCLC collected from around the world in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer database.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging Project for Lung Cancer: Proposals for the Revision of the M Descriptors in the Forthcoming Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer.

Introduction: This study analyzed all metastatic categories of the current TNM classification of NSCLC to propose modifications of the M component in the next edition (ninth) of the classification.

Methods: A database of 124,581 patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2019 was established; of these, 14,937 with NSCLC in stages IVA to IVB were available for this analysis. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognosis was assessed using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression.

Common Sense (Radiation) Oncology: Redefining targets in radiotherapy.

In 2023, the Common Sense Oncology (CSO) movement was launched with the goal of recalibrating cancer care to focus on outcomes that matter to patients. We extend the three CSO pillars - evidence generation, interpretation and communication - to radiation oncology and advocate for better evidence demonstrating the value of our modality.

Utilisation of radiotherapy in lung cancer: A scoping narrative literature review with a focus on the introduction of evidence-based therapeutic approaches in Europe.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the published studies on the utilisation of radiotherapy in lung cancer (both small and non-small cell lung cancer, SCLC and NSCLC) patients in European countries with a population-based perspective.

Material And Methods: A literature search since January 2000 until December 2022 was carried out. Only English-published papers were included, and only European data was considered.

Incidence and radiotherapy treatment patterns of complicated bone metastases.

Background: Despite the encouraging results of the SCORAD trial, single fraction radiotherapy (SFRT) remains underused for patients with complicated bone metastases with rates as low as 18-39%. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and treatment patterns of these metastases in patients being referred to a tertiary centre for palliative radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all bone metastases treated at our centre from January 2013 until December 2017.

The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project.

Background/purpose: To reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver 'Good Clinical Practice' compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments.

Materials/methods: An online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries.

ARCHERY: a prospective observational study of artificial intelligence-based radiotherapy treatment planning for cervical, head and neck and prostate cancer - study protocol.

Introduction: Fifty per cent of patients with cancer require radiotherapy during their disease course, however, only 10%-40% of patients in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have access to it. A shortfall in specialised workforce has been identified as the most significant barrier to expanding radiotherapy capacity. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based software has been developed to automate both the delineation of anatomical target structures and the definition of the position, size and shape of the radiation beams.

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Lung Cancer Staging Project: Proposals for the Revisions of the T-Descriptors in the Forthcoming Ninth Edition of the TNM Classification for Lung Cancer.

Introduction: An international database was created by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer to inform on the ninth edition of the TNM classification of lung cancer. The present analyses concern its T component.

Methods: Data on 124,581 patients diagnosed with lung cancer from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2019 were submitted to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer database.

Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

Introduction: Cancer causes a substantial burden to our society, both from a health and an economic perspective. To improve cancer patient outcomes and lower society expenses, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. The recent COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the care trajectory of cancer patients, which may affect their prognosis in a potentially negative way.