Combining Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE) and CT-Guided High-Dose-Rate Interstitial Brachytherapy (CT-HDRBT): A Retrospective Analysis of Advanced Primary and Secondary Liver Tumor Treatment

Purpose: Treatment of patients with primary and secondary liver tumors remains challenging. This study analyzes the efficacy and safety of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) combined with CT-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (CT-HDRBT) for the treatment of primary and secondary liver tumors. Patients and Methods: A total of 77 patients (30 female) with various liver malignancies were treated. Primary endpoints were median overall survival (OS) and time to untreatable progression (TTUP). Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed in consideration of diagnosis and procedure sequence. Median OS and TTUP prediction were estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 115 CT-HDRBT and 96 TARE procedures were performed with no significant complications recorded. Median OS and TTUP were 29.8 (95% CI 18.1–41.4) and 23.8 (95% CI 9.6–37.9) months. Median OS for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-, cholangiocarcinoma carcinoma (CCA) and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients was 29.8, 29.6 and 34.4 months. Patients starting with TARE had a median OS of 26.0 (95% CI 14.5–37.5) compared to 33.7 (95% CI 21.6–45.8) months for patients starting with CT-HDRBT. Hazard ratio of 1.094 per month was shown for patients starting with CT-HDRBT. Conclusion: Combining TARE and CT-HDRBT is effective and safe for the treatment of advanced stage primary and secondary liver tumors. Our data indicate that early TARE during the disease progression may have a positive effect on survival.

Clinical results of image-guided interstitial brachytherapy with or without external beam radiotherapy for postsurgical vaginal recurrence of cervical and endometrial cancers

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome and efficacy of image-guided interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for postsurgical vaginal recurrence of cervical and endometrial cancers. Materials and methods The study included 11 patients who received CT-based image-guided high-dose-rate ISBT with or without external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Local control, progression-free survival, and treatment-related toxicities were evaluated retrospectively. Results Of the 11 patients, 4 underwent ISBT with EBRT and the other 7 ISBT alone; two of the latter patients received previous pelvic radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 43.9 months (range 3.9–92.7 months), the 2-year local control rate was 100%. The median equivalent doses in 2 Gy fractions received by at least 90% of the clinical target volume for ISBT with versus without EBRT were 82.2 Gy (range 60.4–84.2 Gy) versus 69.0 Gy (range 50.8–98.2 Gy). The 2-year progression-free survival rates after ISBT with versus without EBRT were 75% versus 80%, and the difference was not significant (p = 0.74). Grade 3 late toxicities occurred in two patients. Conclusion Our radiotherapy strategy using image-guided ISBT, either with or without EBRT, for postsurgical vaginal recurrence showed effective treatment outcomes.

Electromagnetic-Guided Interstitial Catheter Navigation for Gynecological Brachytherapy: a Phase I Trial (E-MINT)

<div>Catheter insertion for gynecological interstitial brachytherapy is a challenging surgical procedure due to the lack of real-time guidance available to Radiation Oncologists. To mitigate the limitations associated with catheter placement, electromagnetic navigation (EMN) was proposed as a solution to the current interstitial brachytherapy workflow. The sequence of events leading up to the completion of this project were as follows, the validation of the system and then the application of the EMN system in a clinical trial. Using a phantom-based validation method, submillimetric accuracy and jitter was characterized for the operational performance of an EMN system in a brachytherapy operating room environment.</div><div>Following validation, the EMN system was used for catheter placement in 5 patients, in an ongoing prospective clinical study. The mean catheter deflection documented was 3.52 +/- 2.53 mm when adopting EMN as a form of real-time guidance compared to 5.48 +/- 3.63 mm when the standard clinical workflow (SCW) was employed. The mean catheter spacing when using EMN was 9.31 +/- 4.81 mm compared to 7.09 +/- 6.06 mm when the SCW was followed. Also, the mean intraoperative time was 50.00 +/- 18.80 minutes for EMN and 38.20 +/- 15.29 minutes for the SCW.</div><div>The results of this project demonstrate that electromagnetic navigated interstitial catheter placement is promising as a real-time guidance option for the interstitial gynecological brachytherapy workflow. <br></div>

Electromagnetic-Guided Interstitial Catheter Navigation for Gynecological Brachytherapy: a Phase I Trial (E-MINT)

<div>Catheter insertion for gynecological interstitial brachytherapy is a challenging surgical procedure due to the lack of real-time guidance available to Radiation Oncologists. To mitigate the limitations associated with catheter placement, electromagnetic navigation (EMN) was proposed as a solution to the current interstitial brachytherapy workflow. The sequence of events leading up to the completion of this project were as follows, the validation of the system and then the application of the EMN system in a clinical trial. Using a phantom-based validation method, submillimetric accuracy and jitter was characterized for the operational performance of an EMN system in a brachytherapy operating room environment.</div><div>Following validation, the EMN system was used for catheter placement in 5 patients, in an ongoing prospective clinical study. The mean catheter deflection documented was 3.52 +/- 2.53 mm when adopting EMN as a form of real-time guidance compared to 5.48 +/- 3.63 mm when the standard clinical workflow (SCW) was employed. The mean catheter spacing when using EMN was 9.31 +/- 4.81 mm compared to 7.09 +/- 6.06 mm when the SCW was followed. Also, the mean intraoperative time was 50.00 +/- 18.80 minutes for EMN and 38.20 +/- 15.29 minutes for the SCW.</div><div>The results of this project demonstrate that electromagnetic navigated interstitial catheter placement is promising as a real-time guidance option for the interstitial gynecological brachytherapy workflow. <br></div>