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Liou DZ, Berry MF, Brown LM, Demmy TL, Huang J, Khullar OV, Padda SK, Shah RD, Taylor MD, Toker SA, Weiss E, Wightman SC, Worrell SG, Hayanga JWA. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus Document on the Surgical Management of Thymomas. Ann Thorac Surg 2024; 118:975-1004. [PMID: 38718878 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Z Liou
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
| | - Mark F Berry
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Lisa M Brown
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, California
| | - Todd L Demmy
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - James Huang
- Thoracic Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Onkar V Khullar
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sukhmani K Padda
- Department Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rachit D Shah
- Section of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, VCU Health System, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Matthew D Taylor
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Seyfi Alper Toker
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Elisabeth Weiss
- Department of Radiation Oncology, VCU Health, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sean C Wightman
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stephanie G Worrell
- Thoracic Surgery Section, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona
| | - J W Awori Hayanga
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Dumont J, Bou-Gharios J, Keller A, Chambrelant I, Pamart G, Mascaux C, Falcoz PE, Antoni D, Olland A, Pietta GA, Noël G. Impact of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy on thymoma. Cancer Radiother 2024; 28:174-181. [PMID: 38182482 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Thymoma is a rare tumour. The most common treatment for thymoma is surgical resection, while the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy remains controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a monocentric observational study of 31 patients diagnosed with thymoma from June 2004 to July 2020 at cancer centre in Strasbourg, France. We analysed the outcomes of the patients. RESULTS The 2- and 5- year locoregional relapse-free survival rates were 96.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 76.5-99.5%) and 68.0% (95% CI: 43.8-83.5%), respectively. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy significantly improved local tumour control (P=0.0008 and 0.04, respectively), while a larger initial tumour size significantly worsened local control rates (P=0.04). The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 87.1% (95% CI: 69.2-95%) and 81.7% (95% CI: 60.3-92.2%), respectively. The median overall survival was not reached, and no favourable factor was retrieved. For relapsed patients, the median overall survival after relapse was 115 months. CONCLUSION Despite the inherent limitations of retrospective studies with a limited patient sample size, we demonstrated that chemotherapy and radiotherapy in addition to surgery were effective in achieving local control and contributed to improving patient outcomes in thymoma. Notably, an aggressive treatment strategy at the time of relapse resulted in favourable outcomes for retreated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dumont
- Chest Diseases Department, Hôpital Hautepierre, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - J Bou-Gharios
- Radiation Therapy Department, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Keller
- Radiation Therapy Department, Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - I Chambrelant
- Radiation Therapy Department, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - G Pamart
- Chest Diseases Department, Hôpital Hautepierre, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - C Mascaux
- Chest Diseases Department, Hôpital Hautepierre, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - P-E Falcoz
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital Hautepierre, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - D Antoni
- Radiation Therapy Department, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Olland
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital Hautepierre, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - G A Pietta
- Radiation Therapy Department, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - G Noël
- Radiation Therapy Department, Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), 17, rue Albert-Calmette, 67200 Strasbourg, France.
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Mazonakis M, Kachris S, Tolia M, Damilakis J. NTCP Calculations of Five Different Irradiation Techniques for the Treatment of Thymoma. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:7740-7752. [PMID: 37623042 PMCID: PMC10453123 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30080561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study provided normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) calculations from photon radiotherapy techniques in eleven patients with thymoma. Five plans were created for each participant using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), five-field intensity modulated radiotherapy (5F-IMRT), seven-field IMRT (7F-IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy with full arcs (FA-VMAT) and partial arcs (PA-VMAT). The target coverage, homogeneity index and conformation number for the planning target volume (PTV) and dosimetric parameters for the organs-at-risk (OARs) were taken from the fifty-five generated plans. The patient-specific NTCP of the lungs, heart and esophagus was calculated with an in-house software tool using differential dose-volume histograms and the equivalent uniform dose model. The PTV dose metrics from 3D-CRT were inferior to those from IMRT and VMAT plans. The dose constraints for the OARs were met in all treatment plans. The NTCP range of the lungs, heart and esophagus was 0.34-0.49%, 0.03-0.06% and 0.08-0.10%, respectively. The NTCPs of the heart for the incidence of peridarditis from IMRT and VMAT were significantly smaller than those from conformal treatment (p < 0.05). The 7F-IMRT was significantly superior to FA-VMAT in reducing the NTCP of the lungs and the risk of pneumonitis (p = 0.001). Similar superiority of 5F-IMRT over PA-VMAT for lung protection was found (p = 0.009). The presented results may be employed in the selection of the appropriate irradiation technique for restricting the complications in the adjacent OARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Mazonakis
- Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Iraklion, Greece;
| | - Stefanos Kachris
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Hospital of Iraklion, 71110 Iraklion, Greece; (S.K.); (M.T.)
| | - Maria Tolia
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Hospital of Iraklion, 71110 Iraklion, Greece; (S.K.); (M.T.)
| | - John Damilakis
- Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Iraklion, Greece;
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Chu C, Liang Y, Lin X, Liu Y, Liu S, Guo J, Wang D, Wang J, Liu H, Qiu B. Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Combined With Weekly Chemotherapy in Patients With Unresectable or Recurrent Thymic Epithelial Tumor: A Prospective, Single-Arm Phase 2 Study (GASTO-1042). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022; 114:89-98. [PMID: 35598797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This prospective phase 2 study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiation therapy (HRT) combined with concurrent weekly chemotherapy in patients with unresectable or recurrent thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). METHODS AND MATERIALS Patients with unresectable or recurrent intrathoracic TETs that could be encompassed within the radiation fields were enrolled. HRT using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique was administered with 3 different levels of radiation doses (51 Gy/17 fractions (fx), 48 Gy/12 fx, and 45 Gy/9 fx; biologically effective dose of 66.3-67.5Gy), combined with weekly docetaxel (25 mg/m2) and nedaplatin (25 mg/m2). Weekly thymosin α1 (1.6 mg) was administered from the start to 2 months after radiation therapy. The objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), health-related quality of life (QOL), and toxicity were recorded. RESULTS Fifty eligible patients enrolled from August 1, 2018, to July 1, 2020, were analyzed. Most patients (82.0%) had stage IVB tumors. Patients had IMRT-HRT (36-51 Gy in 9-17 fx, median biologically effective dose of 67.2 Gy) and concurrent weekly docetaxel/nedaplatin (2-4 cycles). During a median follow-up of 25.0 months (14.0-40.0), the ORR was 83.7%, the 2-year PFS was 59.1%, and the 2-year OS was 90.0%. There was 1 (2.0%) in-field recurrence while 19 (38.0%) patients developed out-of-field recurrence. Grade 3 pneumonitis was observed in 1 patient (2.0%). The ORR, 2-year PFS, 2-year OS, and toxicity were similar among 3 dose levels. Fourteen (28.0%) patients had 2 to 4 courses of radiation therapy because of recurrent diseases. Only 1 suffered from grade 1 pulmonary fibrosis during follow-up. Most patients (88%) maintained a stable QOL within 1 year after radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS IMRT-HRT and concurrent weekly docetaxel/nedaplatin was effective and well tolerated in unresectable or recurrent TETs. Considering the common out-of-field recurrence, this combined regimen could be an option for repeated radiation therapy. Thymosin α1 might help lower the incidence of pneumonitis and maintain the QOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu Chu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaosheng Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yimei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songran Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinyu Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Daquan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China; Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Bo Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine; Lung Cancer Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Association Study of Thoracic Oncology, Guangzhou, China.
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Yan D, Ning L, Chen Y, Ke S, Huang H, Wang L, Yan S. Analysis of deep inspiration breath-hold technique to improve dosimetric and clinical advantages in postoperative intensity-modulated radiation therapy for thymomas. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2022; 12:4239-4247. [PMID: 35919039 PMCID: PMC9338384 DOI: 10.21037/qims-21-1101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Radiation therapy is one of the essential treatment modalities for invasive thymomas. Clinically, respiratory motion poses a challenge for the radiotherapy of thoracic tumors. One method to address this issue is to train patients to hold their breath at the end of deep inspiration. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the dosimetric and clinical advantages of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique in postoperative intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for thymomas. Methods Thymoma patients undergoing postoperative IMRT were included. Each patient underwent two computed tomography (CT) scans, one under free breath (FB) and the other under DIBH. Dosimetric parameters of organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated in three series plans. Dose analysis and volume comparisons were conducted during FB-3 mm (FB with 3 mm internal target volume margin), FB-10 mm (FB with 10 mm internal target volume margin), and DIBH and compared using a paired sample Student’s t-test. Normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) for lungs and heart were calculated and compared. Results The total lung volume significantly increased by 31% (4,216±198 vs. 2,884±166 mL) and the heart volume reduced by 12% (552±25 vs. 636±35 mL) between DIBH acquisitions compared to FB. A significant improvement was observed in all the dosimetric parameters (Dmean, V20, V5) of the lung on DIBH compared to FB-3 mm (54%±2.85% vs. 47%±2.90%, P<0.001; 15%±1.37% vs. 12%±1.32%, P=0.004; and 10.28±0.58 vs. 8.76±0.57 Gy, P<0.001, respectively), as well as in the Dmax and D2% of the esophagus and spine. The lung volume increment was related to a reduction in the mean dose of lungs, with a correlation coefficient of r=0.27, P=0.03. The NTCP values for pneumonitis significantly reduced with DIBH compared to the FB state (0.6% vs. 1.1%, P<0.001). Conclusions The radiation dose to the OARs can be significantly reduced by using the DIBH technique in postoperative IMRT for thymomas. The increased volume of lungs using DIBH acquisitions can significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danfang Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Ning
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shanbao Ke
- Cancer Center, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huijie Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yili Friendship Hospital, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lihong Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Senxiang Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Angrisani A, Houben R, Marcuse F, Hochstenbag M, Maessen J, De Ruysscher D, Peeters S. "Radiotherapy for thymic epithelial tumors: What is the optimal dose? A systematic review.". Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2022; 34:67-74. [PMID: 35360004 PMCID: PMC8960904 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare thoracic tumors, often requiring multimodal approaches. Surgery represents the first step of the treatment, possibly followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and, less frequently, chemotherapy. For unresectable tumors, a combination of chemotherapy and RT is often used. Currently, the optimal dose for patients undergoing radiation is not clearly defined. Current guidelines on RT are based on studies with a low level of evidence, where 2D RT was widely used. We aim to shed light on the optimal radiation dose for patients with TETs undergoing RT through a systematic review of the recent literature, including reports using modern RT techniques such as 3D-CRT, IMRT/VMAT, or proton-therapy. A comprehensive literature search of four databases was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Two investigators independently screened and reviewed the retrieved references. Reports with < 20 patients, 2D-RT use only, median follow-up time < 5 years, and reviews were excluded. Two studies fulfilled all the criteria and therefore were included. Loosening the follow-up time criteria to > 3 years, three additional studies could be evaluated. A total of 193 patients were analyzed, stratified for prognostic factors (histology, stage, and completeness of resection), and synthesized according to the synthesis without meta-analysis (SWIM) method. The paucity and heterogeneity of eligible studies led to controversial results. The optimal RT dose neither for postoperative, nor primary RT in the era of modern RT univocally emerged. Conversely, this overview can spark new evidence to define the optimal RT dose for each TETs category.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Angrisani
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Clinic), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - R. Houben
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Clinic), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - F. Marcuse
- Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - M. Hochstenbag
- Department of Pulmonology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - J. Maessen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - D. De Ruysscher
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Clinic), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - S. Peeters
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Clinic), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, the Netherlands
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He DC, Zhu ZJ, Zhang XY, Zhang Y, Hong J, Shi TT, Han JH. Dosimetric analysis of postoperative radiotherapy for thymoma. Cancer Radiother 2021; 26:537-541. [PMID: 34728117 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the dosimetric differences between intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the treatment of male and female thymoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS This single-institutional analysis included 20 patients with thymoma treated with RT between January 2017 and December 2020. Twenty patients were retrospectively planned for IMRT (IMRT1 with an average field angle of 216°, 288°, 0°, 72°,and 144°; IMRT2 with fan-shaped field angles of 280°, 320°, 0°, 40°, and 80°) and VMAT (VMAT1 with two arcs ranging form 280° to 80°,clockwise and then counterclockwise; VMAT2 with two 360° arcs). The plans for all investigated RT modalities were optimized for a prescriptional dose of 50Gy and fractional dose of 2.0Gy. Planning target volume (PTV) and organs-at-risk (OARs: heart, breasts, lungs, spinal cord, and esophagus) dosimetric parameters were compared. RESULTS All plans met the preparation aims for all the included metrics. There was little difference in the median values of PTV parameters (D2%, D98%, Dmean, homogeneity index[HI], and conformity index [CI]). The CI of the VMAT2 plan was the closest to 1 in both therapy groups. The monitor unit (MU) of IMRT2 and the estimated total delivery time of VMAT1 were the lowest in both therapy groups and were statistically significant. In the male group, the lung parameters (Dmean, V5Gy, V10Gy, and V20Gy) for VMAT1 were the lowest and showed statistical significance. In the female group, the lung parameters (Dmean, V5Gy, V10Gy, and V20Gy) and bilateral breast parameters (Dmean, V5Gy, V10Gy, and V20Gy) of IMRT2 were the lowest and showed statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS In male thymoma patients undergoing postoperative RT (PORT) treatment, the choice of fan-shaped VMAT may be a better option for protecting the lungs. For female thymoma patients receiving PORT, fan-shaped IMRT can better protect the lungs and breasts. The fan-shaped field performed better than the average and the full arc fields in PORT for thymoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- D-C He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - Z-J Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - X-Y Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - Y Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - J Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - T-T Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China
| | - J-H Han
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 1 Huanghe Road West, Huaiyin District, Huai'an ,Jiangsu 223300,People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Y, Li Z, Chen Y, Tan L, Zeng Z, Ding J, Du S. Induction Strategy for Locally Advanced Thymoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:704220. [PMID: 34367988 PMCID: PMC8339962 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.704220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgery remains cornerstone for the management of thymoma. Complete surgical resection (R0), is recognized as the constant and significant factor for prognosis. However, in locally advanced (Masaoka-Koga stages III-IVa) thymomas, achieving R0 resection remains challenging due to local-regional invasion of the disease. Induction treatment, with the aim of reducing bulky tumor mass, offers new strategy to facilitate totally surgical resection. Herein, we reviewed recent progress and provided a comprehensive overview of induction strategy in locally advance thymoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zongjuan Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixing Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Tan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaochong Zeng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianyong Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shisuo Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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McGunigal M, Margolis M, Forsthoefel M, Singh T, Amarell K, Deblois D, Campbell L, Kim C, Liu S, Bergquist PJ, Debrito P, Collins BT, Giaccone G, Lischalk JW. Thymic malignancies treated with active scanning proton beam radiation and Monte Carlo planning: early clinical experience. Acta Oncol 2021; 60:649-652. [PMID: 33629926 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2021.1887516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary McGunigal
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marc Margolis
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matthew Forsthoefel
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Tanvee Singh
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - David Deblois
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lloyd Campbell
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chul Kim
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Stephen Liu
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter J. Bergquist
- Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Pedro Debrito
- Department of Pathology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brian T. Collins
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- Department of Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan W. Lischalk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center at New York University Winthrop Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Rico M, Flamarique S, Casares C, García T, López M, Martínez M, Serrano J, Blanco M, Hernanz R, de Ingunza-Barón L, Marcos FJ, Couñago F. GOECP/SEOR radiotherapy guidelines for thymic epithelial tumours. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:195-216. [PMID: 33959475 PMCID: PMC8085511 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i4.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumours (TET) are rare, heterogeneous neoplasms that range from resectable indolent tumours to aggressive thymic carcinomas with a strong tendency to metastasize. The pathological diagnosis is complex, in part due to the existence of several different classification systems. The evidence base for the management of TETs is scant and mainly based on non-randomised studies and retrospective series. Consequently, the clinical management of TETs tends to be highly heterogenous, which makes it difficult to improve the evidence level. The role of technological advances in the field of radiotherapy and new systemic therapies in the treatment of TETs has received little attention to date. In the present clinical guidelines, developed by the GOECP/SEOR, we review recent developments in the diagnosis and classification of TETs. We also present a consensus-based therapeutic strategy for each disease stage that takes into consideration the best available evidence. These guidelines focus primarily on the role of radiotherapy, including recent advances, in the management of TETs. The main aim of this document is to promote the standardisation of clinical practice and lay the foundations for future studies to clarify the main unresolved questions related to the optimal management of TET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel Rico
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Navarra, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Navarre (IdiSNA), Navarra Biomed, Pamplona 31008, Navarra, Spain
| | - Sonia Flamarique
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza 50009, Aragón, Spain
| | - Cristina Casares
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Caceres, Cáceres 10004, Extremadura, Spain
| | - Tamara García
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada 28942, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam López
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza 50009, Aragón, Spain
| | - Maribel Martínez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Navarra, Spain
| | - Javier Serrano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid 28027, Spain
| | - Manuel Blanco
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Torrecárdenas, Almería 04009, Andalucía, Spain
| | - Raúl Hernanz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid 28034, Spain
| | - Lourdes de Ingunza-Barón
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz 11009, Andalucía, Spain
| | - Francisco José Marcos
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Caceres, Cáceres 10004, Extremadura, Spain
| | - Felipe Couñago
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Quirónsalud Madrid, Hospital La Luz, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
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11
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Süveg K, Putora PM, Joerger M, Iseli T, Fischer GF, Ammann K, Glatzer M. Radiotherapy for thymic epithelial tumours: a review. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2021; 10:2088-2100. [PMID: 34012817 PMCID: PMC8107733 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) represent a rare disease, yet they are the most common tumours of the anterior mediastinum. Due to the rare occurrence of TETs, evidence on optimal treatment is limited. Surgery is the treatment of choice in the management of TETs, while the role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) remains unresolved. PORT remains debated for thymomas, especially in completely resected stage II tumours, for which PORT may be more likely to benefit in the presence of aggressive histology (WHO subtype B2, B3) or extensive transcapsular invasion (Masaoka-Koga stage IIB). For stage III thymoma, evidence suggests an overall survival (OS) benefit for PORT after complete resection. For incompletely resected thymomas stage II or higher PORT is recommended. Thymic carcinomas at any stage with positive resection margins should be offered PORT. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the management of unresectable locally advanced TETs. Induction therapy (chemotherapy or chemoradiation) followed by surgery may be useful for locally advanced thymic malignancies initially considered as unresectable. Chemotherapy only is offered in patients with unresectable, metastatic tumours in palliative intent, checkpoint inhibitors may be promising for refractory diseases. Due to the lack of high-level evidence and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, TETs should be discussed within a multidisciplinary team and the final recommendation should reflect individual patient preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztian Süveg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Paul Martin Putora
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Joerger
- Department of Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Iseli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Galina Farina Fischer
- Departmet of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Karlheinz Ammann
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Markus Glatzer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
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12
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Proton-Beam Therapy: At the Heart of Cardiac Dose-Sparing in Mediastinal Radiotherapy for Thymic Carcinoma. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:1240-1242. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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13
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Volumetric modulated arc therapy versus intensity-modulated proton therapy in the postoperative irradiation of thymoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2020; 146:2267-2276. [PMID: 32514629 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03281-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To investigate the role of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) compared to volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for the radiation treatment of thymoma cancer. METHODS Twenty patients were retrospectively planned for IMPT [with (IMPT_R1 or IMPT_R2 according to the approach adopted) and without robust optimization] and VMAT. The results were compared according to dose-volume metrics on the clinical and planning target volumes (CTV and PTV) and the main organs at risk (heart, breasts, lungs, spinal cord and oesophagus). Estimates of the excess absolute risk (EAR) of secondary cancer induction were determined for the oesophagus, the breasts and the composite lungs. For the heart, the relative risk (RR) of chronic heart failure (CHF) was assessed. RESULTS IMPT and VMAT plans resulted equivalent in terms of target coverage for both the CTV and the PTV. The CTV homogeneity index resulted in 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.04 ± 0.01 for VMAT and all IMPT plans, respectively. The conformality index resulted in 1.1 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.1 for VMAT and all IMPT plans. The mean dose to the breasts resulted in 10.5 ± 5.0, 4.5 ± 3.4, 4.7 ± 3.5 and 4.6 ± 3.4 Gy for VMAT, IMPT, IMPT_R1 and IMPT_R2. For the lungs, the mean dose was 9.6 ± 2.3, 3.5 ± 1.5, 3.6 ± 1.6 and 3.8 ± 1.4 Gy; for the heart: 8.7 ± 4.4, 4.3 ± 1.9, 4.5 ± 2.0 and 4.4 ± 2.4 Gy and for the oesophagus 8.2 ± 3.5, 2.2 ± 3.4, 2.4 ± 3.6 and 2.5 ± 3.5 Gy. The RR for CHF was 1.6 ± 0.3 for VMAT and 1.3 ± 0.2 for IMPT (R1 or R2). The EAR was 3.6 ± 0.v vs 1.0 ± 0.6 or 1.2 ± 0.6 (excess cases/10,000 patients year) for the oesophagus; 17.4 ± 6.5 vs 5.7 ± 3.2 or 6.1 ± 3.8 for the breasts and 24.8 ± 4.3 vs 8.1 ± 2.7 or 8.7 ± 2.3 for the composite lungs for VMAT and IMPT_R, respectively. CONCLUSION The data from this in-silico study suggest that intensity-modulated proton therapy could be significantly advantageous in the treatment of thymoma patients with particular emphasis to a substantial reduction of the risk of cardiac failure and secondary cancer induction. Robust planning is a technical pre-requisite for the safety of the delivery.
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14
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Willmann J, Rimner A. The expanding role of radiation therapy for thymic malignancies. J Thorac Dis 2018; 10:S2555-S2564. [PMID: 30206499 PMCID: PMC6123186 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2018.01.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The role of radiation therapy (RT) in thymic malignancies has long been subject to considerable controversy. The main role for RT is in the setting of adjuvant therapy after surgical tumor resection, especially in advanced or incompletely resected cases. However, recent studies with larger patient numbers and cleaner study populations than previous studies have indicated a potentially clearer than previously assumed benefit after post-operative RT (PORT) even for completely resected patients with earlier stages of thymoma. In marginally resectable patients RT may be used in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink tumors and thereby potentially enable resection. In unresectable patients concurrent or sequential chemotherapy and RT can be employed as the definitive nonsurgical approach. The tendency of thymic tumors to recur in the pleural space highlights the necessity for more effective approaches to identify and treat high risk patients. Experiences in other pleural malignancies may pave the way to novel treatment modalities, for example pleural IMRT. The role of these techniques in thymic malignancies has yet to be determined and is not advisable at the current time outside of a clinical study. As the disease often takes an indolent course with excellent long-term local control (LC) and survival, late toxicities related to radiation of the mediastinum and adjacent organs at risk (OARs) have to be taken into consideration and may jeopardize the benefit patients experience from RT, especially in younger patients with a long-anticipated life expectancy. Radiation techniques, such as intensity modulated RT (IMRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT), have substantially reduced the exposure of OARs to ionizing radiation which is expected to translate into reduced long-term toxicities. Hence, the risk-benefit ratio of RT in early stage thymoma patients may be shifted favorably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Willmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Rimner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Rohrer Bley C, Meier V, Schneider U. Dosimetric benefit of adaptive radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant management of canine and feline thymoma-An exploratory case series. Vet Comp Oncol 2018; 16:324-329. [PMID: 29316134 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
While surgery is the treatment of choice for thymomas, complete excision is not possible in a significant proportion of cases. For these patients, radiotherapy can be used as neoadjunctive, post-operative adjunctive or sole therapy. During radiotherapy, rapid biological clearance of tumour cells is often observed, requiring adaptation of the treatment plan. Adaptive radiation therapy (RT) is a dynamic process, whereby the treatment plan is altered throughout the treatment course due to changes in morphologic, functional or positioning changes. With the hypothesis, that individually adapted replanning will massively reduce the dose to organs at risk (OAR) in a fast-changing environment such as a rapidly responding thymoma, the dosimetric impact of adaptive treatment planning in 5 patients with large thymoma was measured. In all patients rapid tumour-shrinkage of the gross tumour volume was observed after 1 week of therapy, with a mean shrinkage of 31.0% ± 15.2%, or a tumour regression of 5.2% per day. In consequence, there was a considerable change in position of organs such as heart and lung, both of them moving cranially into the high dose area upon tumour regression. After mid-therapy replanning, the dose to OAR was significantly reduced, with -18.2% in the mean heart dose and -27.9% in the V20 lung dose. Adaptive planning led to a significantly reduced radiation dose and hence protection of OAR for these patients. It can be concluded that adaptive replanning should be considered for canine and feline thymoma patients receiving fractionated RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rohrer Bley
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V Meier
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Schneider
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Radiation Oncology, Hirslanden Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Pinelopi-Theopisti M, Aikaterini P, Ariadni K, Chrysoula I, Panagiotis P, Martha C. The Place and the Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Thymic Carcinoma. World J Oncol 2017; 7:95-97. [PMID: 28983372 PMCID: PMC5624649 DOI: 10.14740/wjon972e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic carcinomas arise from the epithelial cells of the thymus gland and are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum despite their overall rarity. Because of their rarity, their treatment remains a challenging topic. Although historically they have been treated surgically, radiation therapy (RT) has an important role either as a definitive or as a postoperative treatment. In this article, we present a review of the current therapies for the thymic carcinomas and try to identify the exact place of the RT in the optimal management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Papadopoulou Aikaterini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Iliopoulou Chrysoula
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital "Theageneio", Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Pantelis Panagiotis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital "Theageneio", Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalambidou Martha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital "Theageneio", Thessaloniki, Greece
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17
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Holliday E, Fuller CD, Kalpathy-Cramer J, Gomez D, Rimner A, Li Y, Senan S, Wilson LD, Choi J, Komaki R, Thomas CR. Quantitative assessment of target delineation variability for thymic cancers: Agreement evaluation of a prospective segmentation challenge. JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY 2016; 5:55-61. [PMID: 27570583 DOI: 10.1007/s13566-015-0230-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to quantitatively determine the inter-observer variability of expert radiotherapy target-volume delineation for thymic cancers, as part of a larger effort to develop an expert-consensus contouring atlas. METHODS A pilot dataset was created consisting of a standardized case presentation with pre- and post-operative DICOM CT image sets from a single patient with Masaoka-Koga Stage III thymoma. Expert thoracic radiation oncologists delineated tumor targets on the pre- and post-operative scans as they would for a definitive and adjuvant case, respectively. Respondents completed a survey including recommended dose prescription and target volume margins for definitive and post-operative scenarios. Inter-observer variability was analyzed quantitatively with Warfield's simultaneous truth, performance level estimation (STAPLE) algorithm and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). RESULTS Seven users completed contouring for definitive and adjuvant cases; of these, 5 completed online surveys. Segmentation performance was assessed, with high mean±SD STAPLE-estimated segmentation sensitivity for definitive case GTV and CTV at 0.77 and 0.80, respectively, and post-operative CTV sensitivity of 0.55; all volumes had specificity of ≥0.99. Inter-observer agreement was markedly higher for the definitive target volumes, with mean±SD DSC of 0.88±0.03 and 0.89±0.04 for GTV and CTV respectively, compared to post-op CTV DSC of 0.69±0.06 (Kruskal-Wallis p<0.01. CONCLUSION Expert agreement for definitive case volumes was exceptionally high, though significantly lower agreement was noted post-operatively. Technique and dose prescription between experts was substantively consistent, and these preliminary results will be utilized to create an expert-consensus contouring atlas to aid the non-expert radiation oncologist in the planning of these challenging, rare tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Holliday
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Clifton D Fuller
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Daniel Gomez
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Andreas Rimner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Suresh Senan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lynn D Wilson
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Jehee Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ritsuko Komaki
- Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Charles R Thomas
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University Knight Cancer Center, Portland, OR
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18
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Parikh RR, Rhome R, Hug E, Tsai H, Cahlon O, Chon B, Goenka A. Adjuvant Proton Beam Therapy in the Management of Thymoma: A Dosimetric Comparison and Acute Toxicities. Clin Lung Cancer 2016; 17:362-366. [PMID: 27372386 DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2016.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We evaluated the dosimetric differences between proton beam therapy (PBT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for resected thymoma. We simultaneously report our early clinical experience with PBT in this cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified 4 patients with thymoma or thymic carcinoma treated at our center from 2012 to 2014 who completed adjuvant PBT to a median dose of 57.0 cobalt Gy equivalents (CGE; range, 50.4-66.6 CGE) after definitive resection. Adjuvant radiation was indicated for positive (n = 3) or close margin (n = 1). Median age was 45 (range, 32-70) years. Stages included II (n = 2), III (n = 1), and IVA (n = 1). Analogous IMRT plans were generated for each patient for comparison, and preset dosimetric endpoints were evaluated. Early toxicities were assessed according to retrospective chart review. RESULTS Compared with IMRT, PBT was associated with lower mean doses to the lung (4.6 vs. 8.1 Gy; P = .02), esophagus (5.4 vs. 20.6 Gy; P = .003), and heart (6.0 vs. 10.4 Gy; P = .007). Percentages of lung, esophagus, and heart receiving radiation were consistently lower in the PBT plans over a wide range of radiation doses. There was no difference in mean breast dose (2.68 vs. 3.01 Gy; P = .37). Of the 4 patients treated with PBT, 3 patients experienced Grade 1 radiation dermatitis, and 1 patient experienced Grade 2 dermatitis, which resolved after treatment. With a median follow-up of 5.5 months, there were no additional Grade ≥ 2 acute or subacute toxicities, including radiation pneumonitis. CONCLUSION PBT is clinically well tolerated after surgical resection of thymoma, and is associated with a significant reduction in dose to critical structures without compromising coverage of the target volume. Prospective evaluation and longer follow-up is needed to assess clinical outcomes and late toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul R Parikh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
| | - Ryan Rhome
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Eugen Hug
- Princeton Radiation Oncology, Princeton, NJ; ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Somerset, NJ
| | - Henry Tsai
- Princeton Radiation Oncology, Princeton, NJ; ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Somerset, NJ
| | - Oren Cahlon
- Princeton Radiation Oncology, Princeton, NJ; ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Somerset, NJ
| | - Brian Chon
- Princeton Radiation Oncology, Princeton, NJ; ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Somerset, NJ
| | - Anuj Goenka
- Department of Radiation Medicine, North-Shore LIJ Health Systems, New Hyde Park, NY
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Abstract
Thymic carcinomas represent approximately 10% of thymic tumors. In our approach to patients with thymic carcinoma, we emphasize multimodality treatment with close communication between the pathologist, thoracic surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist. Given the paucity of high-quality clinical research data, treatment decisions are guided by a small amount of prospective trial data, retrospective reports, and clinical experience. Surgical management of thymic carcinoma must account for the more aggressive biology, higher degree of local invasion of neighboring structures, greater propensity for nodal metastasis, and higher risk of distant metastatic disease. Although surgical resection remains the most important component in the management of localized thymic tumors, radiation therapy (RT) may be used as adjuvant therapy after surgical resection or as the definitive treatment modality in patients who are deemed unresectable because of medical comorbidities or technical reasons. Systemic therapy for thymic carcinoma is used in two clinical scenarios: preoperative treatment and palliative therapy. First-line, platinum-based chemotherapy regimens are associated with response rates between 22% and 75%. Recent data from targeted therapy trials do not reveal a clear role for targeted therapies for patients with thymic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Riely
- From the Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Thoracic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY; Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - James Huang
- From the Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Thoracic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY; Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Andreas Rimner
- From the Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Thoracic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY; Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
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20
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Grosch H, Hoffmann H, Weis CA, Thomas M. [Thymus cancers: A clinical observation]. DER PATHOLOGE 2016; 37:91-105; quiz 106. [PMID: 26821326 DOI: 10.1007/s00292-016-0140-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Thymic tumors including thymomas, thymic carcinomas, and thymic carcinoid tumors are rare tumors with an incidence of 0.13/100,000. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was performed to identify recent findings on epidemiology, classification, and various therapeutic approaches. RESULTS These tumors with a wide spectrum of histologic and biologic features may be clinically unapparent for a long time or show a very aggressive behavior with local invasion and distant metastases. Surgical resection is the mainstay in stage I and II thymomas, whereas in stage III thymomas and in thymomas with pleural dissemination surgery in context of a multimodal treatment should be discussed. Thymic tumors are chemoreactive. Targeted therapies show poor results and should only be considered in the palliative situation after failure of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION The new TNM (T: tumor, N: node, M: metastasis) classification of thymic tumors will help to identify the best treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Grosch
- Abteilung Onkologie, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, Amalienstraße 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
| | - H Hoffmann
- Abteilung Chirurgie, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - C-A Weis
- Abteilung Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Mannheim, Deutschland
| | - M Thomas
- Abteilung Onkologie, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, Amalienstraße 5, 69126, Heidelberg, Deutschland
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21
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Lombe DC, Jeremic B. A Review of the Place and Role of Radiotherapy in Thymoma. Clin Lung Cancer 2015; 16:406-12. [PMID: 26074303 DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thymomas, tumors that arise from the epithelial cells of the thymus gland, are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum despite their overall rarity. They are not classified together with malignancies although it is recognized that they can be invasive and persistent even after attempted treatment. Because of their rarity, optimal treatment protocols remain a challenging topic. Although surgery is recognized as the cornerstone of management, the role and benefit of use of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT), remains questionable. Unequivocal evidence, although exclusively from retrospective studies, indicates that stage I thymoma is adequately treated with complete resection alone. As for stage II there is still a need to better determine the indications of PORT. For stage III and IV, existing data point to the fact that PORT plays a significant role in the management of thymoma. In patients for whom radiotherapy (RT) is indicated, 50 Gy appears to be adequate for microscopic disease and higher doses should be used for macroscopic tumor. With advances in RT delivery techniques, which allow for higher doses to be delivered to larger areas affected by tumor while sparing normal tissue, it is prudent to identify a place for this modality in the optimal management of thymoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy C Lombe
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Branislav Jeremic
- Institute of Lung Diseases, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia; BioIRC Center for Biomedical Engineering, Kragujevac, Serbia
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22
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Gomez D, Komaki R, Yu J, Ikushima H, Bezjak A. [Radiation therapy definitions and reporting guidelines for thymic malignancies]. ZHONGGUO FEI AI ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF LUNG CANCER 2014; 17:110-5. [PMID: 24581161 PMCID: PMC6131239 DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2014.02.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gomez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ritsuko Komaki
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - James Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Hitoshi Ikushima
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Andrea Bezjak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, To-ronto, Ontario, Canada
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Giannopoulou A, Gkiozos I, Harrington KJ, Syrigos KN. Thymoma and radiation therapy: a systematic review of medical treatment. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2014; 13:759-66. [DOI: 10.1586/era.13.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Lamarca A, Moreno V, Feliu J. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma in the target therapies era. Cancer Treat Rev 2013; 39:413-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2012.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Rashid OM, Cassano AD, Takabe K. Thymic neoplasm: a rare disease with a complex clinical presentation. J Thorac Dis 2013; 5:173-83. [PMID: 23585946 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.01.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Thymic neoplasms constitute a broad category of rare lesions with a wide spectrum of pathologic characteristics and clinical presentations which therefore require a high index of suspicion to diagnose. The natural history of the disease is seldom predictable, anywhere from an indolent to an aggressively malignant course. Although the classification and staging of these lesions are complex and controversial, complete radical surgical resection remains the gold standard of therapy. Radiation and chemotherapy are important elements of the multimodality approach to treating these patients and it is important for thoracic surgeons to work closely with their colleagues in other disciplines in the management of and future research endeavors in thymic neoplasm. In this review, we discuss the evaluation of the patient with an anterior mediastinal mass, the classification and staging of thymic neoplasms, the role of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in treating this disease, as well as future directions in research for novel targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar M Rashid
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University and Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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