To analyze the impact of weight loss before and during chemoradiation on survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. From 07/1994-07/2000 a total of 224 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were randomized to either hyperfractionated radiation therapy alone or the same radiation therapy combined with two cycles of concomitant cisplatin. The primary endpoint was time to any treatment failure (TTF); secondary endpoints were locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS). Patient weight was measured 6 months before treatment, at treatment start and treatment end. The proportion of patients with >5% weight loss was 32% before, and 51% during treatment, and the proportion of patients with >10% weight loss was 12% before, and 17% during treatment. After a median follow-up of 9.5 years (range, 0.1 – 15.4 years) weight loss before treatment was associated with decreased TTF, LRRFS, DMFS, cancer specific survival and OS in a multivariable analysis. However, weight loss during treatment was not associated with survival outcomes. Weight loss before and during chemoradiation was commonly observed. Weight loss before but not during treatment was associated with worse survival.

To report on outcome and toxicity of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for liver metastases in patients not eligible for surgery. From 2000 to 2009, 74 patients with 91 liver metastases from different primaries have been treated with SBRT at our institution. Median planning target volume was 123 ccm (range: 10.6-1074 ccm). Treatment consisted of 3–5 fractions with 5–12.5 Gy/ fraction prescribed to the surrounding 60-95% isodose with daily image guidance. Regular follow-up included CT or MRI imaging until tumor progression. Median local recurrence-free interval was 23 months with a local control rate of 74.7%, 48.3% and 48.3% after 1, 2 and 3 years. Only minimum biologically effective dose (BED) to gross tumor volume (GTV) remained as independent significant factor for local control in multivariate analysis. No local recurrences were observed in lesions (n = 12) which received a minimal BED to the GTV of 120 Gy. Including 26 local recurrences, 67 patients (91%) showed disease progression after SBRT with a median time of 5 months. Median overall survival was 27 months with survival rates of 77%, 30% and 27% at 1, 3 and 5 years. On multivariate analysis only GTV volume remained as independent significant prognostic factor for overall survival (p = 0.002). No grade 3 to 5 acute toxicity and no grade 4 or 5 late toxicity occurred. SBRT for liver metastases was well tolerated in this non-selected patient cohort and yielded good local control despite the considerable size of most lesions treated. Long-term survival is possible after SBRT.

The heart and lungs are routinely exposed to incidental irradiation during adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) of breast cancer. We analyzed the impact of patient and treatment characteristics on heart and lung dose in left-sided breast RT. We analyzed 332 female patients treated with left-sided breast RT between 2013 and 2018. Mean heart dose (MHD), left mean lung dose (MLD) and heart / lung V20Gy were collected from treatment plans. Patients were stratified by RT technique (3D-conformal RT, 3DCRT; intensity-modulated RT, IMRT; volumetric modulated arc therapy, VMAT) and target volumes, including lymph node RT (LN-RT). Patient characteristics (body mass index (BMI), heart and lung volume) were assessed using correlation analyses. LN-RT was performed in 111 patients with increased MHD (median 4.6 vs. 3.3 Gy; p < .01), left MLD (14.8 vs. 7.7 Gy; p < .01) and left lung V20Gy (30.0% vs. 14.4%; p < .01) compared to treatment without LN-RT. Internal mammary LN-RT further increased organ doses compared to RT involving only supraclavicular +/− axillary LN (p < .01 for all values; MHD 6.9 vs. 4.2 Gy). In 221 patients treated without LN-RT, IMRT/VMAT was associated with higher left lung doses (MLD 9.1 vs. 7.4 Gy, p < .01; V20Gy 18.8% vs. 14.0%, p < .01) compared to 3DCRT. A negative correlation between total lung volume and both MHD (r = − 0.38; p < .01) and heart V20Gy (r = − 0.37; p < .01), as well as a weak positive correlation of BMI and MHD (r = 0.27; p < .01) were observed. In adjuvant RT for left-sided breast cancer, LN-RT is associated with a marked increase in heart and lung doses, particularly with internal mammary LN-RT. Potential advantages of IMRT/VMAT for breast or chest wall RT need to be weighed against a moderately increased lung dose.