Biopsy-based Basal-luminal Subtyping Classifier in High-risk Prostate Cancer: A Combined Analysis of the NRG Oncology/RTOG 9202, 9413, and 9902 Phase 3 Trials.

Background And Objective: Long-term (LT) androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been found to be beneficial to patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, administration of LT-ADT to all patients with high-risk PCa may lead to overtreatment. Enhanced risk stratification using genomic classifiers (such as the recently developed prostate subtyping classifier [PSC]) might be useful.

Three-dimensional trans-rectal and trans-abdominal ultrasound image fusion for the guidance of gynecologic brachytherapy procedures: a proof of concept study.

High dose-rate brachytherapy is a treatment technique for gynecologic cancers where intracavitary applicators are placed within the patient's pelvic cavity. To ensure accurate radiation delivery, localization of the applicator at the time of insertion is vital. This study proposes a novel method for acquiring, registering, and fusing three-dimensional (3D) trans-abdominal and 3D trans-rectal ultrasound (US) images for visualization of the pelvic anatomy and applicators during gynecologic brachytherapy.

Optimizing Clinical Implementation of Hypofractionation: Comprehensive Evidence Synthesis and Practical Guidelines for Low- and Middle-Income Settings.

The global cancer burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), worsens existing disparities, amplified by the rising costs of advanced treatments. The shortage of radiation therapy (RT) services is a significant issue in LMICs. Extended conventional treatment regimens pose significant challenges, especially in resource-limited settings.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Gynecologic Malignancies-A Peek into the Upcoming Evidence.

Radiotherapy (RT) has a fundamental role in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies, including cervical and uterine cancers. Hypofractionated RT has gained popularity in many cancer sites, boosted by technological advances in treatment delivery and image verification. Hypofractionated RT uptake was intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and has the potential to improve universal access to radiotherapy worldwide, especially in low-resource settings.

Is Ultrahypofractionated Whole Pelvis Radiation Therapy (WPRT) as Well Tolerated as Conventionally Fractionated WPRT in Patients With Prostate Cancer? Early Results From the HOPE Trial.

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity and quality-of-life (QOL) impact of ultrahypofractionated whole pelvis radiation therapy (WPRT) compared with conventional WPRT fractionation after high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy (HDR-BT).

Methods And Materials: The HOPE trial is a phase 2, multi-institutional randomized controlled trial of men with prostate-confined disease and National Comprehensive Cancer Network unfavorable intermediate-, high-, or very-high-risk prostate cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to receive conventionally fractionated WPRT (standard arm) or ultrahypofractionated WPRT (experimental arm) in a 1:1 ratio.

Deep learning-based ultrasound auto-segmentation of the prostate with brachytherapy implanted needles.

Background: Accurate segmentation of the clinical target volume (CTV) corresponding to the prostate with or without proximal seminal vesicles is required on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) images during prostate brachytherapy procedures. Implanted needles cause artifacts that may make this task difficult and time-consuming. Thus, previous studies have focused on the simpler problem of segmentation in the absence of needles at the cost of reduced clinical utility.

F-DCFPyL PSMA-PET affects management of salvage radiotherapy for post-prostatectomy patients with biochemical failure: A matched cohort study.

Introduction: Our objective was to assess the effect of F-DCFPyL prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) on the management and outcomes of patients receiving salvage radiotherapy following biochemical failure (BF) post-radical prostatectomy (RP) using a matched cohort analysis.

Methods: A PSMA-PET cohort of patients with BF post-RP was identified through a prospective registry. Patients from this registry were included if they did not have disease outside of the pelvis and underwent salvage radiotherapy to the prostate and/or pelvis.

The use of Lutetium-177 PSMA radioligand therapy with high dose rate brachytherapy for locally recurrent prostate cancer after previous definitive radiation therapy: a randomized, single-institution, phase I/II study (ROADSTER).

Background: Isolated local failure (ILF) can occur in patients who initially receive definitive radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Salvage therapy for ILF includes high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) can accurately detect ILF and can exclude extraprostatic disease.

A power Doppler ultrasound method for improving intraoperative tip localization for visually obstructed needles in interstitial prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: High-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (BT) is a common treatment technique for localized intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer. Transrectal ultrasound (US) imaging is typically used for guiding needle insertion, including localization of the needle tip which is critical for treatment planning. However, image artifacts can limit needle tip visibility in standard brightness (B)-mode US, potentially leading to dose delivery that deviates from the planned dose.

Validation of a surface-based deformable MRI-3D ultrasound image registration algorithm toward clinical implementation for interstitial prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and clinically implement a deformable surface-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to three-dimensional ultrasound (US) image registration algorithm for prostate brachytherapy (BT) with the aim to reduce operator dependence and facilitate dose escalation to an MRI-defined target.

Methods And Materials: Our surface-based deformable image registration (DIR) algorithm first translates and scales to align the US- and MR-defined prostate surfaces, followed by deformation of the MR-defined prostate surface to match the US-defined prostate surface. The algorithm performance was assessed in a phantom using three deformation levels, followed by validation in three retrospective high-dose-rate BT clinical cases.

Analysis of a Biopsy-Based Genomic Classifier in High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Meta-Analysis of the NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9202, 9413, and 9902 Phase 3 Randomized Trials.

Purpose: Decipher is a genomic classifier (GC) prospectively validated postprostatectomy. We validated the performance of the GC in pretreatment biopsy samples within the context of 3 randomized phase 3 high-risk definitive radiation therapy trials.

Methods And Materials: A prespecified analysis plan (NRG-GU-TS006) was approved to obtain formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from biopsy specimens from the NRG biobank from patients enrolled in the NRG/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9202, 9413, and 9902 phase 3 randomized trials.

Body composition and mortality in men receiving prostate radiotherapy: A pooled analysis of NRG/RTOG 9406 and NRG/RTOG 0126.

Purpose: To validate the association between body composition and mortality in men treated with radiation for localized prostate cancer (PCa). Secondarily, to integrate body composition as a factor to classify patients by risk of all-cause mortality.

Materials And Methods: Participants of NRG/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9406 and NRG/RTOG 0126 with archived computed tomography were included.

Does brachytherapy boost improve survival outcomes in Gleason Grade Group 5 patients treated with external beam radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Localized Gleason Grade Group 5 (GG5) prostate cancer has a poor prognosis and is associated with a higher risk of treatment failure, metastases, and death. Treatment intensification with the addition of a brachytherapy (BT) boost to external beam radiation (EBRT) maximizes local control, which may translate into improved survival outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare survival outcomes for Gleason GG5 patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and either EBRT or EBRT + BT.

Imaging Biomarkers in Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: A Review and Clinical Trial Protocol.

Advances in imaging have changed prostate radiotherapy through improved biochemical control from focal boost and improved detection of recurrence. These advances are reviewed in the context of prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and the ARGOS/CLIMBER trial protocol. ARGOS/CLIMBER will evaluate 1) the safety and feasibility of SBRT with focal boost guided by multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and F-PSMA-1007 PET and 2) imaging and laboratory biomarkers for response to SBRT.

Quality-of-Life Outcomes and Toxic Effects Among Patients With Cancers of the Uterus Treated With Stereotactic Pelvic Adjuvant Radiation Therapy: The SPARTACUS Phase 1/2 Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Adjuvant radiation plays an important role in reducing locoregional recurrence in patients with uterine cancer. Although hypofractionated radiotherapy may benefit health care systems and the global community while decreasing treatment burden for patients traveling for daily radiotherapy, it has not been studied prospectively nor in randomized trials for treatment of uterine cancers, and the associated toxic effects and patient quality of life are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate acute genitourinary and bowel toxic effects and patient-reported outcomes following stereotactic hypofractionated adjuvant radiation to the pelvis for treatment of uterine cancer.

Radiotherapy-related toxicity for localized prostate cancer: meta-analysis comparing conventional or moderately hypofractionated vs. ultrahypofractionated protocols.

Background: To compare toxicities in relation to standard radiation treatments [conventional fractionation RT (CRT) and moderate hypofractionated RT (MRT)] with ultrahypofractionated RT (URT) in the treatment of patients with localized PCa.

Methods: A searched was performed in Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and LILACS to January 2020 for studies comparing URT to CRT and/or MRT in relation to genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in the treatment of patients with localized PCa. URT, MRT and CRT were defined as protocols delivering a daily dose of ≥5 Gy, 2.

An international Delphi consensus for pelvic stereotactic ablative radiotherapy re-irradiation.

Introduction: Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is increasingly used to treat metastatic oligorecurrence and locoregional recurrences but limited evidence/guidance exists in the setting of pelvic re-irradiation. An international Delphi study was performed to develop statements to guide practice regarding patient selection, pre-treatment investigations, treatment planning, delivery and cumulative organs at risk (OARs) constraints.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one radiation oncologists were invited to participate in three online surveys.

Feasibility of fusing three-dimensional transabdominal and transrectal ultrasound images for comprehensive intraoperative visualization of gynecologic brachytherapy applicators.

Purpose: In this study, we propose combining three-dimensional (3D) transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and 3D transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) images of gynecologic brachytherapy applicators to leverage the advantages of each imaging perspective, providing a broader field-of-view and allowing previously obscured features to be recovered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of fusing these 3D ultrasound (US) perspectives based on the applicator geometry in a phantom prior to clinical implementation.

Methods: In proof-of-concept experiments, 3D US images of application-specific multimodality pelvic phantoms were acquired with tandem-and-ring and tandem-and-ovoids applicators using previously validated imaging systems.

Practical considerations for prostate hypofractionation in the developing world.

External beam radiotherapy is an effective curative treatment option for localized prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men worldwide. However, conventionally fractionated courses of curative external beam radiotherapy are usually 8-9 weeks long, resulting in a substantial burden to patients and the health-care system. This problem is exacerbated in low-income and middle-income countries where health-care resources might be scarce and patient funds limited.