Abstract
The aim of the study is to evaluate feasibility, safety, toxicity profile, and dosimetric results of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to deliver definitive or pre-operative radiation in locally advanced esophageal cancer patients. A total of 68 patients were treated with VMAT between March 2014 and March 2018 (44% vs 56% for definitive and neoadjuvant settings, respectively). Dose prescription differed depending on the clinical scenario (54–60 Gy in 30 fractions for definitive treatments; 41.4/45 Gy in 23–25 fractions in the pre-operative setting). Most of the patients were given concurrent chemotherapy. Two coplanar and one non-coplanar arcs were employed for VMAT delivery. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Acute toxicity was generally mild. In patients treated with definitive intent, ≥ G3 toxicities were observed for esophagitis (30%), anorexia (26.7%), fatigue (26.7%), nausea (6.7%), and vomiting (3.3%). In patients treated within a neoadjuvant approach, ≥ G3 anorexia (21%), esophagitis (15.8%), fatigue (13.3%), nausea (5.3%), and vomiting (2.6%) were observed. Dosimetric results were consistent in term of both target coverage and normal tissue sparing. In conclusion, VMAT proved to be a feasible, safe, and effective strategy to deliver definitive or pre-operative radiation in locally advanced esophageal cancer patients.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The present study has been reviewed and approved by the Internal Review Board of the Department of Oncology of the University of Turin at AOU Citta’ della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
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Martini, S., Arcadipane, F., Strignano, P. et al. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the treatment of esophageal cancer patients. Med Oncol 35, 150 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-018-1211-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-018-1211-7