BE following RT after breast-conserving surgery is a common concern, impacting patients’ quality of life. This study introduces a clinically meaningful classification system for BE and retrospectively evaluates its incidence among patients treated with normofractionated (nfRT) and hypofractionated (hfRT) regimens. Data from 1156 patients treated between 2011 and 2021 were analyzed. BE was graded according to the CTC and a so-called “WST classification” (grade 1: lymphatic drainage performed by the patient; grade 2: professional lymphatic drainage; grade 3: surgery). A total of 33%/17% developed BE according to the WST classification/CTC. Grade III BE was not reported. About 70% experienced a remission of BE during follow-up. Risk factors for the development of BE included RT of lymphatic drainage, complete axillary dissection compared to sentinel node dissection, and CTX. CTX was not confirmed in multivariate analysis. The incidence of BE did not differ significantly between the nfRT and hfRT groups, affirming the safety and comparability of hfRT regarding BE risk (HR: 0.833, p = 0.1219). This study emphasizes the importance of precise and standardized BE classification for improved treatment outcomes. Given its comparable risk profile and potential for enhanced therapy adherence, the findings support hfRT as a preferred regimen aligned with the current guidelines.

In soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities, radiotherapy (RT) is known to improve local control, overall survival (OS) and preserve extremity function. Whether RT should be applied pre- or postoperatively is still commonly discussed. This study aimed to gather data about the treatment reality at a certified sarcoma centre and investigate the impact of RT timing on local control, OS and progression-free survival (PFS). This was a retrospective analysis of all patients who received curative RT for STS of the extremities between 2012 and 2022. Patients were identified using the ICD-10 diagnosis codes C49.1, C49.2 and C49.9. Patient-specific data, such as sex and relevant medical history, were collected. Tumour-specific data included histological subtype, staging, grading and location of the tumour. Therapy-specific data included the type and number of operations, postoperative complications, chemotherapy, RT, and acute and long-term toxicities. All cases were discussed pre-therapeutically in an entity-specific Interdisciplinary Tumour Board. A total of 67 patients were included; 49 who received adjuvant RT were compared to 18 that received neoadjuvant RT. Mean follow-up was 17.83 months for the neoadjuvant RT cohort and 21.29 months for the adjuvant RT cohort. PFS for the neoadjuvant RT cohort averaged 25.7 months (range=5.2-52.7 months) compared to 15.1 months for the adjuvant RT cohort (range=0.8-51.1 months) (p=0.162). At 2 years, OS rates were 95.9% for patients treated with adjuvant RT and 94.4% for the neoadjuvant RT group. STS is a heterogeneous and rare oncological entity and clear data on subtype-adapted therapy are still lacking. This study highlights the complexity and the influence of various factors on the choice of treatment approach and outcome, suggesting that neoadjuvant RT may be beneficial.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of hemoglobin (Hb) level changes during radiochemotherapy (RCT) on the survival of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 97 patients with HNSCC, treated with definitive RCT between January 2016 and October 2021. Hb levels were monitored weekly during RCT. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis were performed. Results: There was a significant association between Hb levels at the end of RCT and overall survival (p < 0.01). Initial Hb levels and Hb level changes were not significantly associated with survival. In multivariate analysis, a lower body mass index (BMI) and Hb levels at week six were identified as significant prognostic factors. Conclusions: At the end of RCT, rather than baseline levels or changes during treatment, Hb levels are a significant prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with HNSCC.