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Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer by Hypofractionated Radiotherapy: Potential Risks and Benefits.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer and prostate cancer are the most common cancers diagnosed in women and men, respectively, in the UK, and radiotherapy is used extensively in the treatment of both. In vitro data suggest that tumours in the breast and prostate have unique properties that make a hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment schedule advantageous in terms of therapeutic index. Many clinical trials of hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment schedules have been completed to establish the extent to which hypofractionation can improve patient outcome. Here we present a concise description of hypofractionation, the mathematical description of converting between conventional and hypofractionated schedules, and the motivation for using hypofractionation in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer. Furthermore, we summarise the results of important recent hypofractionation trials and highlight the limitations of a hypofractionated treatment regimen.

SUBMITTER: Ray KJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4465964 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer by Hypofractionated Radiotherapy: Potential Risks and Benefits.

Ray K J KJ Sibson N R NR Kiltie A E AE

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) 20150307 7

Breast cancer and prostate cancer are the most common cancers diagnosed in women and men, respectively, in the UK, and radiotherapy is used extensively in the treatment of both. In vitro data suggest that tumours in the breast and prostate have unique properties that make a hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment schedule advantageous in terms of therapeutic index. Many clinical trials of hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment schedules have been completed to establish the extent to which hypof ...[more]

PMID: 25752244

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Project description:ContextRadiotherapy (RT) is a valid adjuvant treatment for men with high-risk pathological features after radical prostatectomy and a salvage treatment for biochemical recurrence. A major inconvenience is that RT takes course over 7-8 wk in these settings, which has been shown to limit its use. Retrospective and pilot prospective investigations suggest that hypofractionation may provide noninferior outcomes but report variable results regarding toxicities. Additionally, our evolving understanding of prostate cancer radiobiology suggests that hypofractionated regimens may not increase toxicity.ObjectiveWe examine and review the rationale and clinical evidence of hypofractionated RT in the adjuvant and salvage settings for prostate cancer.Evidence acquisitionWe reviewed relevant literature, with a particular focus on recent studies employing hypofractionated RT.Evidence synthesisHypofractionated RT in the adjuvant or salvage setting is not a standard option for prostate cancer RT outside of an investigational trial. While smaller studies show conflicting data regarding toxicity, initial evidence from larger clinical trials appears to demonstrate that hypofractionated postoperative RT is as effective and safe as conventionally fractionated courses.ConclusionsWith the growing acceptance of hypofractionation across other cancer sites and the rise of extreme hypofractionation for definitive prostate cancer treatment, hypofractionated postoperative therapy for prostate cancer is poised to become an option, as it may reduce the burden on men and treatment centers while maintaining clinical efficacy and safety. Prospective trials are currently ongoing to address efficacy and safety concerns.Patient summaryPostoperative radiotherapy is a potentially curative treatment for patients with high-risk disease or recurrence after surgery. Shortening of the treatment regimen with the availability of modern treatment delivery techniques in conjunction with the integration of molecular imaging information to refine treatment volumes may improve therapeutic benefit without increasing toxicity.

Project description:Purpose: Quantitative MRI reflects tissue characteristics. As possible changes during radiotherapy may lead to treatment adaptation based on response, we here assessed if such changes during treatment can be detected. Methods and Materials: In the hypoFLAME trial patients received ultra-hypofractionated prostate radiotherapy with an integrated boost to the tumor in 5 weekly fractions. We analyzed T2 and ADC maps of 47 patients that were acquired in MRI exams prior to and during radiotherapy, and performed rigid registrations based on the prostate contour on anatomical T2-weighted images. We analyzed median T2 and ADC values in three regions of interest (ROIs): the central gland (CG), peripheral zone (PZ), and tumor. We analyzed T2 and ADC changes during treatment and compared patients with and without hormonal therapy. We tested changes during treatment for statistical significance with Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Using confidence intervals as recommended from test-retest measurements, we identified persistent T2 and ADC changes during treatment. Results: In the CG, median T2 and ADC values significantly decreased 12 and 8%, respectively, in patients that received hormonal therapy, while in the PZ these values decreased 17 and 18%. In the tumor no statistically significant change was observed. In patients that did not receive hormonal therapy, median ADC values in the tumor increased with 20%, while in the CG and PZ no changes were observed. Persistent T2 changes in the tumor were found in 2 out of 24 patients, while none of the 47 patients had persistent ADC changes. Conclusions: Weekly quantitative MRI could identify statistically significant ADC changes in the tumor in patients without hormonal therapy. On a patient level few persistent T2 changes in the tumor were observed. Long-term follow-up is required to relate the persistent T2 and ADC changes to outcome and evaluate the applicability of quantitative MRI for response based treatment adaptation.

Dataset Information

Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer by Hypofractionated Radiotherapy: Potential Risks and Benefits.

Publications

Treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer by Hypofractionated Radiotherapy: Potential Risks and Benefits.

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