Durable Local Tumor Control Research Articles

El enfoque de NOMS para los tumores metastásicos: integración de nuevas tecnologías para mejorar los resultados

Treatment paradigms for patients with spine metastases have evolved significantly over the past two decades. The most transformative change to these paradigms has been the integration of spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (sSRS). sSRS allows for the delivery of tumoricidal radiation doses with sparing of nearby organs at risk, particularly the spinal cord. Evidence supports the safety and efficacy of radiosurgery as it currently offers durable local tumor control with low complication rates even for tumors previously considered radioresistant to conventional external beam radiation therapy. The role for surgical intervention remains consistent, but a trend has been observed toward less aggressive, often minimally invasive techniques. Using modern technologies and improved instrumentation, surgical outcomes continue to improve with reduced morbidity. Additionally, targeted agents such as biologics and checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer care by improving both local control and patient survival. These advances have brought forth a need for new prognostication tools and a more critical review of long-term outcomes. The complex nature of current treatment schemes necessitates a multidisciplinary approach including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventionalists and pain specialists. This review recapitulates the current state-of-the-art, evidence-based data on the treatment of spinal metastases and integrates these data into a decision framework, NOMS, which is based on four sentinel pillars of decision making in metastatic spine tumors: neurological status, Oocologic tumor behavior, mechanical stability and systemic disease burden and medical co-morbidities.

The NOMS approach to metastatic tumors: Integrating new technologies to improve outcomes

Treatment paradigms for patients with spine metastases have evolved significantly over the past two decades. The most transformative change to these paradigms has been the integration of spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (sSRS). sSRS allows for the delivery of tumoricidal radiation doses with sparing of nearby organs at risk, particularly the spinal cord. Evidence supports the safety and efficacy of radiosurgery as it currently offers durable local tumor control with low complication rates even for tumors previously considered radioresistant to conventional external beam radiation therapy. The role for surgical intervention remains consistent, but a trend has been observed toward less aggressive, often minimally invasive techniques. Using modern technologies and improved instrumentation, surgical outcomes continue to improve with reduced morbidity. Additionally, targeted agents such as biologics and checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer care by improving both local control and patient survival. These advances have brought forth a need for new prognostication tools and a more critical review of long-term outcomes. The complex nature of current treatment schemes necessitates a multidisciplinary approach including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventionalists and pain specialists. This review recapitulates the current state-of-the-art, evidence-based data on the treatment of spinal metastases and integrates these data into a decision framework, NOMS, which is based on four sentinel pillars of decision making in metastatic spine tumors: Neurological status, Oncologic tumor behavior, Mechanical stability, and Systemic disease burden and medical co-morbidities.

Duration of response after DEB-TACE compared to lipiodol-TACE in HCC-na\xefve patients: a propensity score matching analysis

ObjectivesTo retrospectively compare long-term outcomes of first-line drug-eluting particle (DEB)- transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lipiodol-TACE, in patients with unresectable hepatocellular (HCC).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed our database to identify adult patients with treatment-naïve unresectable HCC, who underwent TACE from 2006 to 2013. Patients were excluded in the absence of complete medical records relative to first TACE, 1-month follow-up, and/or sufficient follow-up data. Periprocedural complications, duration of hospitalization, 1-month tumor response by mRECIST, time to tumor progression (TTP) and target tumor progression (TTTP), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.ResultsOut of an initial series of 656 patients, 329 patients were excluded for unavailability of sufficient baseline and/or follow-up data. The remaining 327 patients underwent either lipiodol-TACE (n = 160) or DEB-TACE (n = 167). Patients treated with lipiodol-TACE had a significantly higher tumor burden. By propensity score, patients were matched according to baseline differences (BCLC stage, uninodular or multinodular HCC, and unilobar or bilobar HCC), resulting in 101 patients in each treatment group. Lipiodol-TACE was associated with a significantly higher incidence of adverse events (p = 0.03), and longer hospitalization (mean, 2.5 days vs 1.9 days; p = 0.03), while tumor response, TTP, and OS were comparable. In patients achieving 1-month complete response (CR) of target tumor, TTTP was significantly (p = 0.009) longer after DEB-TACE compared to lipiodol-TACE (median, 835 vs 353 days), resulting in a lower number of re-treatments during the entire follow-up (0.75 vs 1.6, p = 0.01).ConclusionCompared to lipiodol-TACE, DEB-TACE offers higher tolerability, reduced hospitalization, and more durable target tumor response after CR.Key Points• Compared to lipiodol-TACE, DEB-TACE is better tolerated and has reduced side effects, which translates into shorter hospitalization.• When complete radiological response according to the mRECIST is obtained 1 month after the procedure, DEB-TACE offers a more durable local tumor control compared to lipiodol-TACE.• In these patients, the longer duration of response after DEB-TACE translates into a lower number of re-interventions.

Minimally Invasive Tubular Separation Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Symptomatic cord compression affects approximately 20% of patients with spinal metastatic disease. Direct decompressive surgery followed by conventional radiation was shown to be superior to radiation alone in a landmark trial published in 2005.1 For radioresistant tumors causing high-grade compression, however, "separation surgery" followed by stereotactic body radiation therapy was developed. The main goal of this newer technique is to decompress and create a distance between the spinal cord and tumor to allow for safe delivery of radiation.2 This technique has shown to provide durable local tumor control, pain relief, and preservation of neurological function.3,4 In this study, we describe a minimally invasive tubular separation surgery technique used to treat symptomatic cord compression in a 59-yr-old man with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma to T9. The patient presented with acute motor weakness and sensory level. A tubular retraction system was used to dock over the pedicle at T9 bilaterally and a posterior decompression with ligamentectomy was first performed. This was followed by transpedicular decompression and ventral removal of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Space was created between the ventral tumor and spinal cord to allow for postoperative stereotactic body radiation. The patient had a significant improvement in his strength and gait postoperatively. Patient consent was obtained for videotaping prior to surgical intervention.

Single- versus 2-session Gamma Knife surgery for symptomatic midsize brain metastases: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Two-session Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has recently been demonstrated to be an effective and less-invasive alternative for large brain metastases not treatable by microsurgical resection. This raises the clinical question of whether the 2-session GKS strategy further improves treatment outcomes for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases (2-10 cm3) as compared to single-session GKS. The present study aimed to compare the local therapeutic effects and toxicities of single-session and 2-session GKS for treating these lesions. Patients with focal neurological deficits attributable to midsize brain metastases who underwent upfront GKS during the period from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively identified from an institutional database. Patients for whom both post-GKS imaging studies and neurological evaluations from outpatient visits were available were eligible. Using propensity score-matching (PSM) analysis, unique matched pairs which had a similar likelihood of receiving 2-session GKS were generated. The main outcome measure was a composite of imaging and/or neurological worsening of the lesion of interest. Functional improvement and overall survival (OS) were also compared between the 2 treatment arms. In total, 219 cancer patients with 252 symptomatic midsize brain metastases were eligible. Of these 252 tumors, 176 and 76 were treated with single- and 2-session GKS, respectively. After PSM, 68 pairs of tumors were obtained. The Gray test showed that 2-session GKS achieved a longer local progression-free interval than single-session GKS (1-year local control rate: 84% vs 53%; HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16-0.63, p = 0.001). Two-session GKS was also associated with greater functional improvement in KPS scores (mean 18.3 ± 14.6 vs 12.8 ± 14.1, p = 0.040). The median OS did not differ significantly between single- and 2-session GKS (15.6 vs 24.7 months; HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.44-1.10, p = 0.11). Two-session GKS achieved more durable local tumor control and greater functional improvement than single-session GKS for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases, although there was no OS advantage.

Essential Concepts for the Management of Metastatic Spine Disease: What the Surgeon Should Know and Practice.

Study Design:Literature review.Objective:To provide an overview of the recent advances in spinal oncology, emphasizing the key role of the surgeon in the treatment of patients with spinal metastatic tumors.Methods:Literature review.Results:Therapeutic advances led to longer survival times among cancer patients, placing significant emphasis on durable local control, optimization of quality of life, and daily function for patients with spinal metastatic tumors. Recent integration of modern diagnostic tools, precision oncologic treatment, and widespread use of new technologies has transformed the treatment of spinal metastases. Currently, multidisciplinary spinal oncology teams include spinal surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, pain and rehabilitation specialists, and interventional radiologists. Consistent use of common language facilitates communication, definition of treatment indications and outcomes, alongside comparative clinical research. The main parameters used to characterize patients with spinal metastases include functional status and health-related quality of life, the spinal instability neoplastic score, the epidural spinal cord compression scale, tumor histology, and genomic profile.Conclusions:Stereotactic body radiotherapy revolutionized spinal oncology through delivery of durable local tumor control regardless of tumor histology. Currently, the major surgical indications include mechanical instability and high-grade spinal cord compression, when applicable, with surgery providing notable improvement in the quality of life and functional status for appropriately selected patients. Surgical trends include less invasive surgery with emphasis on durable local control and spinal stabilization.

Thermal Ablation of Bone Metastases.

Image-guided, minimally invasive, percutaneous thermal ablation of bone metastases has unique advantages compared with surgery or radiation therapy. Thermal ablation of osseous metastases may result in significant pain palliation, prevention of skeletal-related events, and durable local tumor control. This article will describe current thermal ablation techniques utilized to treat bone metastases, summarize contemporary evidence supporting such thermal ablation treatments, and outline an approach to percutaneous ablative treatment.

State of the Art Treatment of Spinal Metastatic Disease.

Treatment paradigms for patients with spine metastases have evolved significantly over the past decade. Incorporating stereotactic radiosurgery into these paradigms has been particularly transformative, offering precise delivery of tumoricidal radiation doses with sparing of adjacent tissues. Evidence supports the safety and efficacy of radiosurgery as it currently offers durable local tumor control with low complication rates even for tumors previously considered radioresistant to conventional radiation. The role for surgical intervention remains consistent, but a trend has been observed toward less aggressive, often minimally invasive, techniques. Using modern technologies and improved instrumentation, surgical outcomes continue to improve with reduced morbidity. Additionally, targeted agents such as biologics and checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer care, improving both local control and patient survivals. These advances have brought forth a need for new prognostication tools and a more critical review of long-term outcomes. The complex nature of current treatment schemes necessitates a multidisciplinary approach including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventionalists, and pain specialists. This review recapitulates the current state-of-the-art, evidence-based data on the treatment of spinal metastases, integrating these data into a decision framework, NOMS, which integrates the 4 sentinel decision points in metastatic spine tumors: Neurologic, Oncologic, Mechanical stability, and Systemic disease and medical co-morbidities.

Re-treatment of Brain Metastases Using Stereotactic Radiosurgery

The outcomes of repeat stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the same lesion after failure of previous SRS are not well understood. While repeat SRS may offer durable local tumor control, treatment toxicity may be unacceptable. We report our overall experience using SRS for the retreatment of locally recurrent brain metastases.

Upfront stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain metastases from small cell lung cancer: retrospective analysis of 41 patients.

BackgroundAlthough the efficacy of prophylactic or therapeutic whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases (BM) from small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is well established, the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has yet to be determined. In the present retrospective analysis, we investigated whether upfront SRS might be an effective treatment option for patients with BM from SCLC.MethodsWe analyzed 41 consecutive patients with a limited number of BM (≤ 10) from SCLC who received SRS as the initial treatment. No prophylactic and therapeutic WBRT was given prior to SRS. The median patient age was 69 years and the median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was 90. Repeat SRS was given for new distant lesions detected on follow-up neuroradiological imaging, as necessary. Overall survival, neurological death, and local and distant BM recurrence rates were analyzed. The survival results were tested with three prognostic scoring systems validated for SCLC: Diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (DS-GPA), Radiation therapy oncology group -recursive partitioning analysis and Rades’s survival score.ResultsOne- and 2-year overall survival rates were 44% and 17%, respectively. The median survival time was 8.1 months. Survival results replicated the DS-GPA (P = 0.022) and Rades’s survival score (P = 0.034). On multivariate analysis, patients with high KPS (hazard ratio (HR): 0.308, P = 0.009) and post-SRS chemotherapy (HR: 0.324, P = 0.016) had better overall survival. In total, 95/121 tumors (79%) in 34 patients (83%) with sufficient radiological follow-up data were evaluated. Six- and 12-month rates of local control failure were 0% and 14%, respectively. Six- and 12-month distant BM rates were 22% and 44%, respectively. Repeat SRS, salvage WBRT and microsurgery were subsequently required in 18, 7 and one patient, respectively. Symptomatic radiation injury developed in two patients and both were treated conservatively.ConclusionsOur survival analyses with the validated prognostic grading systems suggested upfront SRS for limited BM from SCLC to be a potential treatment option, with patient survival being slightly more than eight months after SRS. Although SRS provided durable local tumor control, repeat treatment was needed in nearly half of patients to achieve control of distant BM.

Bleomycin electrochemotherapy in elderly metastatic breast cancer patients: clinical outcome and management considerations.

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of electrochemotherapy (ECT) in elderly metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients. Retrospective analysis of 55 patients with superficial metastases who underwent ECT according to the European Standard Operative Procedures of electrochemotherapy. Treatment schedule consisted of intravenous or intratumoral bleomycin followed by locally delivered electric pulses. Statistical comparisons were performed between two groups: the patients aged <70years (n=27) and those ≥70years (n=28). Treatment outcomes were as follows: complete response (CR) rate, local progression-free survival (LPFS), new lesions-free survival (NLFS), toxicity and patient compliance. Patient groups were comparable for clinical-pathological features, except for the number of comorbidities (P<.001). The median follow-up was 32months (range 6-53). Overall, CR rate was 40% and was significantly higher in elderly patients (57 vs. 26%, P=.023) and in patients with better performance status (PS=0-1, 53 vs. PS=2, 21%, P=.048), although local tumor control showed a trend for lower values (2-year LPFS, 67 vs. 93% among elderly and young patients, respectively; P=.061). Older women seemed less likely to progress outside the ECT field (2-year NLFS, 39 vs. 30%, P=.075), but discontinued treatment more frequently due to impaired performance status (P=.002). Local pain was graded ≥3, according to a 10-point visual analog scale, by 16/28 (57.1%) and 8/28 (28.6%) elderly patients at 4 and 8weeks, respectively. Wound debridement was required in 5/28 (18%) older women, due to G3 skin ulceration. Elderly BC patients are highly responsive to ECT and achieve durable local tumor control. Physicians should be aware of possible debilitating side effects, such as pain and skin toxicity. Performance status and frailty screening could be a helpful addition to improve patient selection.

Local disease control for spinal metastases following “separation surgery” and adjuvant hypofractionated or high-dose single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery: outcome analysis in 186 patients

Decompression surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is an effective therapy for preservation or recovery of neurological function and achieving durable local disease control in patients suffering from metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC). The authors examine the outcomes of postoperative image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy delivered as single-fraction or hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for achieving long-term local tumor control. A retrospective chart review identified 186 patients with ESCC from spinal metastases who were treated with surgical decompression, instrumentation, and postoperative radiation delivered as either single-fraction SRS (24 Gy) in 40 patients (21.5%), high-dose hypofractionated SRS (24-30 Gy in 3 fractions) in 37 patients (19.9%), or low-dose hypofractionated SRS (18-36 Gy in 5 or 6 fractions) in 109 patients (58.6%). The relationships between postoperative adjuvant SRS dosing and fractionation, patient characteristics, tumor histology-specific radiosensitivity, grade of ESCC, extent of surgical decompression, response to preoperative radiotherapy, and local tumor control were evaluated by competing risks analysis. The total cumulative incidence of local progression was 16.4% 1 year after SRS. Multivariate Gray competing risks analysis revealed a significant improvement in local control with high-dose hypofractionated SRS (4.1% cumulative incidence of local progression at 1 year, HR 0.12, p = 0.04) as compared with low-dose hypofractionated SRS (22.6% local progression at 1 year, HR 1). Although univariate analysis demonstrated a trend toward greater risk of local progression for patients in whom preoperative conventional external beam radiation therapy failed (22.2% local progression at 1 year, HR 1.96, p = 0.07) compared with patients who did not receive any preoperative radiotherapy (11.2% local progression at 1 year, HR 1), this association was not confirmed with multivariate analysis. No other variable significantly correlated with progression-free survival, including radiation sensitivity of tumor histology, grade of ESCC, extent of surgical decompression, or patient sex. Postoperative adjuvant SRS following epidural spinal cord decompression and instrumentation is a safe and effective strategy for establishing durable local tumor control regardless of tumor histology-specific radiosensitivity. Patients who received high-dose hypofractionated SRS demonstrated 1-year local progression rates of less than 5% (95% CI 0%-12.2%), which were superior to the results of low-dose hypofractionated SRS. The local progression rate after single-fraction SRS was less than 10% (95% CI 0%-19.0%).

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Recurrent or Unresectable Pilocytic Astrocytoma

To report the outcomes in patients with recurrent or unresectable pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) treated with Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Retrospective review of 18 patients (20 lesions) with biopsy-confirmed PA having SRS at our institution from 1992 through 2005. The median patient age at SRS was 23 years (range, 4-56). Thirteen patients (72%) had undergone one or more previous surgical resections, and 10 (56%) had previously received external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The median SRS treatment volume was 9.1 cm(3) (range, 0.7-26.7). The median tumor margin dose was 15 Gy (range, 12-20). The median follow-up was 8.0 years (range, 0.5-15). Overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years after SRS was 94%, 71%, and 71%, respectively. Tumor progression (local solid progression, n = 4; local solid progression + distant, n = 1; distant, n = 2; cyst development/progression, n = 4) was noted in 11 patients (61%). Progression-free survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 65%, 41%, and 17%, respectively. Prior EBRT was associated with inferior overall survival (5-year risk, 100% vs. 50%, p = 0.03) and progression-free survival (5-year risk, 71% vs. 20%, p = 0.008). Nine of 11 patients with tumor-related symptoms improved after SRS. Symptomatic edema after SRS occurred in 8 patients (44%), which resolved with short-term corticosteroid therapy in the majority of those without early disease progression. SRS has low permanent radiation-related morbidity and durable local tumor control, making it a meaningful treatment option for patients with recurrent or unresectable PA in whom surgery and/or EBRT has failed.

Predictors of Oncological Outcome After Resection of Locally Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinoma

Local renal cell carcinoma recurrence is rare after radical nephrectomy with curative intent. We examined our experience to describe the natural history of isolated local recurrence and characterize important prognostic factors that predict the outcome in patients treated with aggressive resection. In an institutional database of 4,800 patients with renal cell carcinoma, of whom 2,945 underwent radical nephrectomy with curative intent, 54 were subsequently found to have isolated local recurrence in the renal fossa, ipsilateral adrenal gland or ipsilateral retroperitoneal lymph nodes, which was managed by surgical resection. In 69% of patients perioperative systemic therapy was done as an adjunct to surgical resection of local recurrence. Estimated median recurrence-free and cancer specific survival was 11 and 61 months, respectively. A positive surgical margin after resection of local recurrence, recurrent tumor size, sarcomatoid features in the recurrence specimen, abnormal serum alkaline phosphatase and increased lactate dehydrogenase at local recurrence were adverse risk factors associated with an increased risk of cancer specific death after resection for recurrent renal cell carcinoma. Patients with 0, 1 and greater than 1 adverse risk features demonstrated cancer specific survival times of 111, 40 and 8 months, respectively. Aggressive resection of isolated local recurrence offers durable local tumor control and cancer specific survival in a significant proportion of patients with renal cell carcinoma. Clinical and pathological prognostic features at local recurrence can be used for patient selection for surgery and also the thoughtful integration of systemic therapy with surgical extirpation.

A Retrospective Study of Surgery and Reirradiation for Recurrent Ependymoma

To report disease control for patients with recurrent ependymoma (EP) treated with surgery and a second course of radiation therapy (RT(2)). Thirty-eight pediatric patients (median age, 2.7 years) with initially localized EP at the time of definitive RT underwent a second course of RT after local (n = 21), metastatic (n = 13), or combined (n = 4) failure. Reirradiation included radiosurgery (n = 6), focal fractionated reirradiation (n = 13), or craniospinal irradiation (CSI; n = 19). Initial time to failure was 16 months, and median age at second treatment was 4.8 years. Radiosurgery resulted in significant brainstem toxicity and one death (median dose, 18 Gy). Progression-free survival ratio was greater than unity for 4 of 6 patients; there was one long-term survivor. Three of 13 patients treated using focal fractionated reirradiation (median combined dose, 111.6 Gy) experienced metastasis. The CSI was administered to 12 patients with metastatic failure, 3 patients with local failure, and 4 patients with combined failure. The 4-year event-free survival rate was 53% +/- 20% for 12 patients with metastatic failure treated with CSI. Failure after CSI was observed in 1 of 3 patients with a history of local failure and 3 of 4 patients with a history of combined failure. Patients with locally recurrent EP experience durable local tumor control, but remain at risk of metastasis. Patients with metastatic EP failure may receive salvage therapy that includes a component of CSI. Durability of disease control and long-term effects from this approach require further follow-up.

Stereotactic radiation treatment for benign meningiomas

Meningiomas are the second most common primary tumor of the brain. Gross-total resection remains the preferred treatment if achievable with minimal morbidity. For incompletely resected or inoperable benign meningiomas, 3D conformal external-beam radiation therapy can provide durable local tumor control in 90 to 95% of cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) are highly conformal techniques, using steep dose gradients and stereotactic patient immobilization. Stereotactic radiosurgery has been used as an alternative or adjuvant therapy to surgery for meningiomas in locations, such as the skull base, where operative manipulation may be particularly difficult. Stereotactic radiotherapy is useful for larger meningiomas (> 3-3.5 cm) and those closely approximating critical structures, such as the optic chiasm and brainstem. Although SRS has longer follow-up than SRT, both techniques have excellent 5-year tumor control rates of greater than 90% for benign meningiomas. Stereotactic radiotherapy has toxicity equivalent to that of radiosurgery, despite its biased use for larger meningiomas with more complicated volumes. Reported rates of imaging-documented regression are higher for radiosurgery, but neurological recovery is relatively good with both techniques. Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated SRT are complementary techniques appropriate for different clinical scenarios.

Stereotactic radiation treatment for benign meningiomas

✓Meningiomas are the second most common primary tumor of the brain. Gross-total resection remains the preferred treatment if achievable with minimal morbidity. For incompletely resected or inoperable benign meningiomas, 3D conformal external-beam radiation therapy can provide durable local tumor control in 90 to 95% of cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) are highly conformal techniques, using steep dose gradients and stereotactic patient immobilization. Stereotactic radiosurgery has been used as an alternative or adjuvant therapy to surgery for meningiomas in locations, such as the skull base, where operative manipulation may be particularly difficult. Stereotactic radiotherapy is useful for larger meningiomas (> 3–3.5 cm) and those closely approximating critical structures, such as the optic chiasm and brainstem. Although SRS has longer follow-up than SRT, both techniques have excellent 5-year tumor control rates of greater than 90% for benign meningiomas. Stereotactic radiotherapy has toxicity equivalent to that of radiosurgery, despite its biased use for larger meningiomas with more complicated volumes. Reported rates of imaging-documented regression are higher for radiosurgery, but neurological recovery is relatively good with both techniques. Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated SRT are complementary techniques appropriate for different clinical scenarios.

The influence of hemoglobin level on the regression and long term local control of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder following photon irradiation

Patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated by radical megavoltage X ray therapy are analyzed. There was a significant correlation between tumor T stage classification and the hemoglobin level at the start of radical radiotherapy. A hemoglobin level of 12g/dl or more was associated with a significant improvement in complete local tumor regression at 6 months and durable local tumor control for patients with T3 cancer or a cancer of grade 3 histology. Hemoglobin level did not influence survival for patients with T1 or grade 1 cancer. Those patients with T2–T4 cancer, grade 2–3 cancer, or a cancer of solid or mixed appearance had a significantly better survival probability if their hemoglobin level was more than 13g/dl. Hemoglobin level would appear to exert its influence on survival by an effect on local tumor control. It has no significant independent effect on the hazard of distant metastases.