Impact of the distance from a radiation oncology treatment facilty on initiation of therapy and its influence on survival in patients with stage III and IV NSCLC.

e17594 Background: Patients with stage III and IV lung cancer require multidisciplinary care. The Milwaukee VA is the only center within the Veterans Health Administration in the state that has a radiation oncology facility. Patients frequently travel from across the state to receive treatment here. We conducted a retrospective review of cases seen in our institution to determine if the distance from the patients’ home to our center influenced their outcome. Methods: Patients with NSCLC treated between 2000 and 2012 were identified from our internal registry. Type of treatment was identified from the registry and confirmed in a chart review.. SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis and to measure distance between the patients’ home address and our center. Results: We included 230 patients with stage III disease treated with radiation therapy and 139 patients with stage IV treated with chemotherapy. Of those with Stage III (53% with IIIA and 47% IIIB) 41.3% (n=95) received concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy, 14% received sequential therapy, 40% received radiation therapy alone and 5% were treated with chemotherapy followed by palliative radiation. In those with metastatic disease 61% received palliative radiation at some point during their treatment. Median distance between the patients’ home and the Milwaukee VA was 57miles (IQR 10-109) in patients with stage III disease and 22 (IQR 5-84) in those with metastatic disease. There was no correlation between the distance travelled and the time to first treatment in either stage (r=0.008 in stage III and r=0.05 in stage IV). In a univariate analysis living further than 50 miles did not appear to influence survival in stage III (median OS 14.6 vs. 16.4 months p=0.25) nor stage IV disease(9.7 vs 8 p=0.55). In a multivariate analysis when controlling for age, time to first treatment and distance as a continuous variable was not associated with survival in patients with stage III(HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.02 p=0.15) or stage IV disease (HR 1.01, 95%CI 0.98-1.04 p=0.35). Conclusions: Distance traveled to a radiation oncology treatment facility in this cohort did not influence survival in patients with stage III and IV NSCLC.

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Primary Melanoma Characteristics of Metastatic Disease: A Nationwide Cancer Registry Study

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13174431 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 4431

Author(s):

Catherine Zhou ◽

Marieke Louwman ◽

Marlies Wakkee ◽

Astrid van der Veldt ◽

Dirk Grünhagen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Registry ◽

Metastatic Disease ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Primary Tumour ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage I ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Early Stage Disease ◽

Stage Iv Disease ◽

Tumour Characteristics

The characteristics and disease patterns of primary stage I and II cutaneous melanomas that progress to stage III or IV disease were investigated based on data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Data on stage III or IV melanomas at first diagnosis or during follow-up between 2017 and 2019 were retrieved. Patient and primary tumour characteristics were investigated in relation to time to disease progression and the number of organ sites with metastatic disease using regression models. In total, 2763 patients were included, of whom 1613 were diagnosed with stage IV disease. Among the patients with stage IV disease, 60% (n = 963) were initially diagnosed with stage I or II disease. The proportion of patients who received a sentinel lymph node biopsy increased after the introduction of adjuvant therapy in 2019 from 61% to 87%. Among all patients with stage III disease who were eligible for adjuvant systemic therapy (n = 453) after 2019, 37% were not treated with this therapy. Among patients with stage IV disease, lung metastases were most often detected as the first metastatic site and females presented with more metastatic sites than males. Most patient and primary tumour characteristics were not associated with the distant metastatic organ site, except melanoma localisation in the lower extremities and the head or neck. Our observation that most stage IV patients were initially diagnosed with early-stage disease highlights the need for more accurate risk prediction models.

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A study on thromboembolism of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.4_suppl.262 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 262-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kwan Yu LAM ◽

Kirsty Lee ◽

Charing Chong ◽

Anthony WH Chan ◽

Tony Mok ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Overall Survival ◽

Metastatic Disease ◽

Performance Status ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage Ii ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Chinese Patients ◽

Pancreatic Cancers ◽

Stage Iv Disease

262 Background: There have been studies on the association between thromboembolism (TE) and pancreatic cancer in Caucasian patients. This study aims to study the TE in Chinese patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with confirmed diagnoses of pancreatic cancers from 2010-2015 in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. Patients with radiologically confirmed TE were identified. Corresponding information related to the type and site of TE were recorded. Predictive factors for the TE were studied by multivariate analysis. Results: Total 372 patients with pancreatic cancer were identified. In the cohort, the diagnoses of cancers were made by histology in 225 (60.5%) of them while others were made by radiology. The stage was as follows: 15 (4.1%) stage I; 113 (30.4%) stage II; 47 (12.7%) stage III and 196 (52.7%) stage IV. Total 55 (14.7%) patients had TE after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Of these 55 patients, 33 (60%) and 18 (32.7%) had venous and arterial events, respectively. For patients with TE, 27 (49.1%) were treated with anti-coagulants, and 13 (23.6%) had surgery within 2 years. The median time from surgery to the development of TE was 1.06 years. Patients with ECOG ≥2 and metastatic disease (HR 2.92, 95% CI 1.58-5.37; HR 6.90, 95% CI 3.63-13.14 respectively) had a higher risk of developing TE. Patients with venous, arterial, or both types of TE did not have significantly different overall survival. Poor prognostic factors for overall survival include ECOG ≥2 (HR 2.80, 95% CI 2.18-3.60) and tumour stage (stage II disease HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.70-2.62; stage III disease HR 1.85, 95% CI 0.92-3.70; stage IV disease HR 4.92, 95% CI 2.58-9.36). The presence of TE equated to a worse overall survival (median overall survival 148 vs. 228 days, HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.75-1.40, P=0.87), which was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: TE was similarly high in Chinese patients with pancreatic cancer. Patients with poorer performance status and metastatic disease had a greater risk of developing TE. Patients with TE had a worse overall survival (which was statistically insignificant) compared to patients without TE.

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Clinical pathways implementation in a community-based oncology practice: Real-world outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer segmented by disease stage at diagnosis.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e18719 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e18719-e18719

Author(s):

Natalie R. Dickson ◽

Karen Beauchamp ◽

Toni S. Perry ◽

Ashley Roush ◽

Deborah Goldschmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Initiation ◽

Clinical Pathways ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Treatment Patterns ◽

Stage I ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Disease Stage ◽

Stage At Diagnosis ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

Stage Iv Disease

e18719 Background: Clinical pathways have been introduced as tools to optimize cancer care delivery, but evidence of their value in the real world is limited. This retrospective study was performed to assess treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before and after pathway implementation at Tennessee Oncology (TO). Methods: Chart data were abstracted for patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with Stage I-IV NSCLC who initiated first-line (1L) systemic treatment at a TO clinic and had follow-up for ³6 months or until death. Patients were divided into two cohorts: pre-pathways (treatment initiation 2014–2015) and post-pathways (treatment initiation 2016–2018). Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes were described and compared across cohorts. An exploratory study endpoint was the evaluation of outcomes based on disease stage at diagnosis. Results: Among 501 patients (251 pre-pathways and 250 post-pathways), most had advanced or metastatic NSCLC at diagnosis (Stage III: 40%; Stage IV: 42%). Chemotherapy comprised almost all 1L systemic therapy used pre-pathways (Stage I/II: 100%; Stage III: 96%; Stage IV: 83%). Post-pathways, chemotherapy remained the most common 1L therapy in patients with Stage I/II (89%) and Stage III (72%) disease, but among patients with Stage IV disease, use of chemotherapy decreased (47%) and immuno-oncology (IO) therapy alone or in combination became common (45%). Median duration of 1L therapy was longer post-pathways in patients with Stage III (2.1 months vs 1.4 months pre-pathways; P < 0.01) and Stage IV disease (3.3 months vs 2.3 months pre-pathways; P < 0.01) but did not differ among Stage I/II patients. Median progression-free survival was significantly longer post-pathways in patients with Stage IV disease (7.0 months vs 4.2 months pre-pathways; P < 0.05), but not in other disease-stage subgroups. Median overall survival increased non-significantly post-pathways for all disease stage subgroups (Stage I/II: 26 months vs 20 months pre-pathways; Stage III: 26 months vs 20 months; Stage IV: 10 months vs 9 months). For each disease stage, rates of severe adverse events were similar between cohorts. Conclusions: While outcomes for patients diagnosed with Stage III/IV NSCLC were generally improved following the implementation of clinical pathways, this change coincided with a dramatic shift in available treatment options. Improvements post-pathways were mainly observed in patients diagnosed with advanced disease. Thus, differences in outcomes between pre-pathways and post-pathways cohorts in our study are more likely attributable to other evolving practices in cancer care, particularly the availability of newer, more effective treatments such as IO therapy as part of standard practice, than implementation of the clinical pathways.

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Radiation Therapy

Mayo Clinic Critical and Neurocritical Care Board Review ◽

10.1093/med/9780190862923.003.0105 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 734-736

Author(s):

Sameer R. Keole

Keyword(s):

Radiation Therapy ◽

Ionizing Radiation ◽

Radiation Oncology ◽

External Beam Radiation Therapy ◽

External Beam Radiation ◽

External Beam ◽

Beam Radiation ◽

Radiation Fields ◽

Diagnostic Radiation ◽

Oncology Treatment

Radiation oncology is the specialty of medicine in which ionizing radiation is used to treat both malignant and benign conditions. The term radiation therapy (RT) is used, in part, as a differentiator from diagnostic radiation. In radiation oncology, treatment is provided with a team-based approach by physicians, nurses, physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists. Dosimetrists perform the initial planning and mapping of the radiation fields. Radiation therapists deliver the treatment with external beam radiation therapy machines.

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Clinicopathologic Features Predictive of Distant Metastasis in Patients Diagnosed With Invasive Breast Cancer

JCO Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/go.20.00257 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1346-1351

Author(s):

Basim Ali ◽

Fatima Mubarik ◽

Nida Zahid ◽

Abida K. Sattar

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Metastatic Disease ◽

Invasive Breast Cancer ◽

Distant Metastasis ◽

Tumor Size ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Clinicopathologic Features ◽

Pathologic Staging ◽

Stage Iv Disease

PURPOSE National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines suggest screening for distant metastasis (M1) in symptomatic patients or those with locally advanced breast cancer. These guidelines are based on studies that often used pathologic staging for analysis. Physician variability in screening for M1 has also resulted in overuse of diagnostic tests. We sought to identify clinicopathologic features at diagnosis that could guide testing for metastatic disease. METHODS Patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between January 2014 and December 2015 were identified from our institutional database. Demographic and clinical variables were collected, including receptor profiles and clinical TNM staging. Rates of upstaging for each clinical stage and rates of concordance of pathologic and clinical staging were analyzed. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis ( P < .05) identified predictors of upstaging to stage IV disease. RESULTS A total of 370 patients met the inclusion criteria. Seventy patients (18.9%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis. The rate of upstaging for stages I, IIA, IIB, and III were 0%, 5.6%, 18.8%, and 36.6%, respectively. Advancing clinical stage, tumor size, and nodal status resulted in a significantly higher rate ( P < .001) of upstaging to M1 disease. Age and hormone receptor status were not associated with upstaging to stage IV disease. Clinical stages I-III were concordant with pathologic staging in 65(42.8%) of 152 patients (kappa’s index, 0.197; P < .000). CONCLUSION Advancing clinical stage, tumor size, and nodal status at diagnosis were predictive of upstaging to M1 disease in patients with breast cancer. Distant metastatic workup should be considered in patients with clinical stage IIB disease or higher.

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Prognostic factors and outcome of incompletely resected invasive thymoma following radiation therapy.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.1994.12.7.1484 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 1484-1490 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

I F Ciernik ◽

U Meier ◽

U M Lütolf

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Spindle Cell ◽

Local Treatment ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Local Tumor Control ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Tumor Control ◽

Invasive Thymoma ◽

Local Tumor ◽

Stage Iv Disease

BACKGROUND Stage III and stage IV thymomas with significant macroscopic infiltration to the neighboring structures are rarely completely resectable. It therefore remains unclear to what extent tumors must be surgically debulked to improve prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the cases of 31 patients with incompletely resected invasive thymoma and residual macroscopic disease who were referred to postoperative irradiation. Survival and local tumor control were analyzed. All patients were treated between 1958 and 1990 with megavoltage irradiation at doses ranging from 42 to 66 Gy. The shortest follow-up time for living patients was more than 5 years. RESULTS The overall median 5-year survival rate was 45%. Eighteen stage III patients had a 5-year survival rate of 61% and a 10-year survival rate of 57%. Thirteen patients had stage IV disease and 5- and 10-year survival rates of 23% and 8%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed a worse prognosis for stage IV disease. Epithelial or spindle-cell thymoma was associated with stage IV disease. Twenty-two percent of patients with stage III disease had epithelial or spindle-cell thymoma, versus 69% of patients with stage IV disease (P = .02 for univariate and P = .05 for multivariate analysis). Initial tumor diameter greater than 10 cm correlated with poor prognosis in the univariate analysis (P = .05). However, more importantly, debulking of tumor did not significantly improve outcome when compared with patients who received biopsy only. The median survival rate of patients with stage IVa disease did not differ from that of those with stage IVb disease. Mediastinal control was achieved in 23 patients (74%). Stage IV disease did not correlate with an increase in local treatment failure after irradiation, although epithelial or spindle-cell thymoma predisposed for local treatment failure (46% v 11%; P = .04 in univariate and P = .055 in multivariate analysis). CONCLUSION Tumor debulking leaving macroscopic residual thymoma, as opposed to biopsy alone, does not improve prognosis when followed by radiation. Radiation therapy for local tumor control is most effective in nonepithelial-predominant thymomas.

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Limited Benefit Gained From Inferior Vena Cava Filter Insertion In Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.1147.1147 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 1147-1147

Author(s):

Asem Mansour ◽

Yousef Ismael ◽

Hikmat Abdel-Razeq

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Survival Data ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Advanced Stage ◽

Ivc Filter ◽

Filter Placement ◽

Stage Iv Disease ◽

Filter Insertion

Abstract Introduction Cancer and its treatment are recognized risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters are utilized to provide mechanical thromboprophylaxis to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) or to avoid bleeding from systemic anticoagulation in high risk patients. Patients and Methods This study was performed at a stand-alone, Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited comprehensive cancer center. Hospital database was searched for all patients discharged with IVC filter insertion. Additionally, the radiology database was queried for cancer patients undergoing IVC filter placement. Results A total of 107 cancer patients; 59 (55.1%) males and 48 (44.9%) females who had their IVC filter inserted and followed up at our institution were included. The mean age (±SD) of the whole group was 50.8 (± 14.2) years. All patients had active cancer; the most common primary sites were gastrointestinal 32 (29.9%), brain 16 (15.0%) lung 13 (12.1%) and gynecological tumors 11 (10.3%). Majority of the patients had advanced-stage disease; out of 86 patients with identifiable TNM stage (Tumor, Node, Metastasis), 81 (94.2%) patients had locally-advanced stage III or metastatic stage IV disease, whereas only 5 (5.8%) had stages I or II disease. During the 6 weeks prior to IVC filter placement, 74 (69.2%) patients were on active anticancer therapy with 45 (42.1%) were on chemotherapy and 7 (6.5%) were on radiotherapy. Nineteen (17.8%) of the patients had surgical intervention for their cancer while only 3 (2.8%) were on hormonal therapy. The remaining 33 (30.8%) patients were on hospice and palliative care service with 18 (16.8%) were already placed “DNR” (Don't Resuscitate). Prior to IVC filter insertion, a diagnosis of DVT was made on 76 (71.0%) patients while 14 (13.1%) had PE; the other 17 (15.9%) had both DVT and PE. Contraindication to anticoagulation was the main indication for IVC filter placement reported in 85 (79.4%), while 18 (16.8%) had their filter inserted because of failure of anticoagulation (had DVT and/or PE while on therapeutic doses of anticoagulation). Other indications included large, free-floating iliocaval thrombus and poor compliance with anticoagulation. Filters were placed utilizing the jugular approach in 86 (80.3%) while 18 (16.8%) had their filter placed through a femoral approach. Complications following IVC filter placement occurred in 14 (13.1%); majority were recurrent DVT in 10 (9.3%), PE in 3 (2.8%) and filter thrombosis in one patient. Following IVC filter insertion, 42 (39.3%) were also anticoagulated; majority (86%) with LMWH (enoxaparin or tinzaparin). Twenty (47.6%) of these anticoagulated patients were considered, at the time of IVC filter insertion, as having a contraindication to anticoagulation. Survival data following IVC filter insertion was available for 100 patients. The median survival for the whole group was 2.39 months (range: 0.03-60.2). The median survival for patients with stage III and IV disease were 7.97 (1.90-17.08) and 1.31 months (0.92-2.20), respectively; p=0.0119; (Figure) Few patients had stage I and II disease (two had stage I while three others had stage II disease) and thus were excluded from survival analysis. Among the 59 patients with stage IV disease for whom survival data was available, 23 (39.0%) survived less than a month, while 40 (67.8%) survived less than three months. Survivals of patients with stage III disease were better with only one out of 20 patients (5.0%) survived less than a month, while 14 (70.0%) survived more than three months. Conclusions Cancer patients with advanced-stage disease may gain little benefit from IVC filter insertion, so disease stage and life expectancy should be taken in consideration prior to filter placement. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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HPV and survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (OPC) treated with induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (ST) versus chemoradiotherapy alone (CRT): The Dana-Farber experience.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.5582 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 5582-5582

Author(s):

Jochen H. Lorch ◽

Glenn Hanna ◽

Wei Dai ◽

Vijaya Thotakura ◽

Vidya Nair ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cancer ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Free Survival ◽

Group Outcomes ◽

Hpv Status ◽

Stage Iv Disease ◽

Versus Stage

5582 Background: HPV status is a major prognostic marker for survival in patients with OPC. We examined overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with OPC and known HPV status treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with ST and CRT between 2002 and 2011. Methods: 280 patients with OPC and known HPV status were identified retrospectively and clinical information was recorded. Results: 174 patients were treated with CRT (124 HPV positive, 50 HPV negative) and 106 patients were treated with ST (77 HPV positive, 29 HPV negative). For all 280 patients, OS and PFS were significantly better for patients who were HPV positive compared to those who were HPV negative. 3 year OS was 89.1% for HPV positive (95% CI, 83.8-94.7) and 70.5% for HPV negative patients (95%CI, 59.9-83%, HR 0.37, p=0.0007). Among HPV positive patients treated with CRT, 13/124 had died at 3 years (OS 88.5%, 95%CI 81.7-95.9) while 13 deaths were recorded among 50 HPV negative patients (OS 72.2%, 95% CI 59.1-88.2, HR 0.38, p=0.011). PFS at 3 years was also significantly better for HPV positive versus HPV negative patients(81.7% vs 58.8%, HR 0.42, p=0.006). In the group treated with ST, outcomes were similar despite a higher rate of stage IV versus stage III disease compared to the group treated with CRT (100% stage IV in ST versus 77% stage IV and 23% stage III disease in CRT group). Three year OS was 89.7% for HPV positive and 68.2% in the HPV negative group (8/77 HPV pos vs 10/29 HPV neg, HR 0.33, p=0.015). PFS was borderline better for HPV positive patients (81% vs 61.7%, HR 0.48, p= 0.058). Conclusions: We present the DFCI experience treating OPC with ST and CRT for patients with known HPV status over one decade.OS and PFS were superior for HPV positive versus HPV negative patients. Outcomes were virtually identical for patients treated with CRT versus ST despite a higher rate of stage IV disease in the ST group. Outcomes for the HPV negative patients in particular were superior compared to the published literature.

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Timing of referral for palliative radiation therapy and length of hospital stay.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.31_suppl.57 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽

pp. 57-57

Author(s):

Moeko Nagatsuka ◽

Ryan T. Hughes ◽

Chase Glenn ◽

Doris R. Brown

Keyword(s):

Radiation Therapy ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Radiation Oncology ◽

Symptomatic Relief ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Continuous Variable ◽

Palliative Radiation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Palliative Radiation Therapy

57 Background: Palliative radiation therapy (PRT) offers effective symptomatic relief to cancer patients. Increased focus on quality of care and healthcare efficiency necessitate a better understanding of the temporal relationships between consultation for/initiation of PRT and length of hospital stay (LOS). This study aims to assess whether durations from admission to PRT consult/PRT initiation affect LOS. Methods: In an institutional review of patients who received PRT as inpatients between January 2017 and December 2018, 67 met inclusion criteria. Duration of time from admission to consultation or start of PRT were categorized using various thresholds. LOS was compared across groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and factors were evaluated as predictors of LOS using bivariate linear regression. Results: PRT was given for pain (37%), neurologic deficits/brain metastases (31%), and respiratory symptoms (19%). Multiple sites were treated in 31%; treatment sites included spine (45%), non-spine bone (27%), chest (22%), abdomen/pelvis (12%), brain (10%) and soft tissue (6%). At admission, patients had known metastases (66%), no prior cancer diagnosis (19%), or known primary cancer (15%). Median LOS was 12 days (IQR 7-18) for all patients. There was a significant difference in LOS for patients referred for PRT within 3 days of admission versus greater than 3 days (11 v. 21 days, p < 0.01). This difference was slightly greater using a threshold of 4 days (11 v. 25 days, p < 0.01) and 5 days (11 v. 26 days, p < 0.01), both of which remained significant when analyzing only patients with prior cancer diagnosis (n = 54). There was no difference in LOS using a threshold of 1 or 2 days. As a continuous variable, duration from admission to PRT was associated with LOS (OR 2.40, p < 0.01). Similar patterns were noted when analyzing by time from admission to PRT start. Conclusions: Earlier radiation oncology consultation for PRT is associated with shorter LOS in patients treated with PRT for symptomatic malignancy. Further research is needed to better define this relationship and improve systematic processes to facilitate early consultation and treatment. A palliative radiation oncology clinic was recently developed to address these issues at our institution.

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Radiation therapy for oral melanoma in dogs: A retrospective study

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20160396 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simone Carvalho dos Santos Cunha ◽

Katia Barão Corgozinho ◽

Franciele Basso Fernandes Silva ◽

Kassia Valéria Gomes Coelho da Silva ◽

Ana Maria Reis Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Radiation Therapy ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage I ◽

Stage Ii ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Mean Survival Time ◽

Oral Melanoma ◽

The Mean

ABSTRACT: Our retrospective study evaluated the survival of 24 dogs with unresectable malignant melanoma treated with radiation therapy. Fifteen dogs were treated with radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT), five with surgery followed by RT and CT, three with palliative RT, and one with electrochemotherapy associated with RT. All dogs were treated with an orthovoltage Stabilipan I. The protocol used was three or four weekly fractions of 8 Gy. Carboplatin was administered every 21 days, a total of four times. Five percent of dogs were classified as having stage I melanoma, 17% as stage II, 50% as stage III, and 17% as stage IV. Sixty-four percent had a partial response to treatment, 29% achieved complete remission, and 7% remained in a stable disease state. The mean survival time was 390 days for stage I, 286 days for stage II, 159 days for stage III, and 90 days for stage IV. We concluded that radiation therapy can be considered a viable alternative for the palliative treatment of canine oral melanoma.

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