Do Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Used Within Radiotherapy Clinical Trials Reflect the Impact of Treatment?

This is the first article that investigates whether the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used in clinical trials effectively capture the specific side-effects of radiotherapy and proton beam therapy (PBT) and provides context for researchers selecting PROMs for clinical trials. PROMs from radiotherapy trials were identified from previous research and assessed against the United Kingdom Royal College of Radiologists' guidelines for tumour-site-specific side-effects. The analysis revealed that none of the 51 identified PROMs captured the full range of side-effects, with only 25 addressing fatigue and 6 addressing radiation-induced skin reactions.

Assessing inter and intrafraction uncertainties in adult brain cancer patients using 2D/3D kV and CBCT imaging.

Method: 2D/3D kV imaging and CBCT data using 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) were compared to evaluate inter and intrafraction motion.

Results: Results showed that intrafraction errors were low and interfraction levels were within institutional protocols.

Conclusion: Confidence was given to use low dose 2D/3D kV imaging to confirm daily patient set up errors, and to use pre-treatment CBCT only once weekly for additional imaging information.

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1/2 Wildtype Adult Astrocytoma with WHO Grade 2/3 Histological Features: Molecular Re-Classification, Prognostic Factors, Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH 1/2)-wildtype (WT) astrocytomas constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors and have undergone a series of diagnostic reclassifications over time. This study aimed to investigate molecular markers, clinical, imaging, and treatment factors predictive of outcomes in WHO grade 2/3 IDH-WT astrocytomas ('early glioblastoma').

Methodology: Patients with WHO grade 2/3 IDH-WT astrocytomas were identified from the hospital archives.

Non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma following surgery: long-term outcomes and development of an optimal follow-up strategy.

Objectives: Recurrence and regrowth of non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMs) after surgery are common but remain unpredictable. Therefore, the optimal timing and frequency of follow-up imaging remain to be determined. We sought to determine the long-term surgical outcomes of NFPMs following surgery and develop an optimal follow-up strategy.