Wolden, Suzanne

AbstractRadiation oncology is an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for children with cancer. The primary goal of our committee is to enable the delivery of the safest dose of radiation therapy (RT) with the maximal potential for cure, and to minimize toxicity in children by delivering lower doses to normal tissues using advanced technologies like intensity‐modulated RT (IMRT) and proton therapy. We provide mentorship for y ators and are actively involved in educating the global radiation oncology community. We are leaders in the effort to discover novel radiosensitizers, radioprotectors, and advanced RT technologies that could help improve outcomes of children with cancer.

AbstractBackgroundPositron emission tomography (PET)‐based measures of baseline total‐body tumor burden may improve risk stratification in intermediate‐risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).Materials and methodsEvaluable patients were identified from a cohort treated homogeneously with the same combined modality regimen on the Children's Oncology Group AHOD0031 study. Eligible patients had high‐quality baseline PET scans. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were each measured based on 15 thresholds for every patient. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses assessed for an association of MTV and TLG with event‐free survival (EFS).ResultsFrom the AHOD0031 cohort (n = 1712), 86 patients were identified who (i) were treated with four cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, cyclophosphamide (ABVE‐PC) chemotherapy followed by involved field radiotherapy, and (ii) had a baseline PET scan that was amenable to quantitative analysis. Based on univariate Cox regression analysis, six PET‐derived parameters were significantly associated with EFS. For each of these, Kaplan–Meier analyses and the log‐rank test were used to compare patients with highest tumor burden (i.e., highest 15%) to the remainder of the cohort. EFS was significantly associated with all six PET parameters (all p < .029). In a multivariable model controlling for important covariates including disease bulk and response to chemotherapy, MTV2BP was significantly associated with EFS (p = .012).ConclusionMultiple baseline PET‐derived volumetric parameters were associated with EFS. MTV2BP was highly associated with EFS when controlling for disease bulk and response to chemotherapy. Incorporation of baseline MTV into risk‐based treatment algorithms may improve outcomes in intermediate‐risk HL.

AbstractRadiosurgery and brachytherapy are potentially useful treatment techniques that are sparingly applied in pediatric oncology. They are often used in the setting of reirradiation for recurrent or metastatic tumors. Reirradiation in children with recurrent tumors is complicated by the tolerance of critical organs and the potential risks for overall long‐term dose‐dependent complications. We review the current literature available in support of reirradiation and the use of radiosurgery and brachytherapy in pediatric patients.

AbstractTo examine the educational background, clinical practice, and preferences regarding continuing medical education (CME) among radiation oncologists who attended the 2019 meeting of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS), a survey consisting of 20 questions was distributed asking for demographic and educational background, clinical practice, and preferences regarding pediatric radiation oncology CME. Of 188 participants, 130 (69.2%) returned the questionnaire. More than 80% reported access to CT simulation, three‐dimensional radiotherapy, and general anesthesia while <30% had access to intraoperative radiotherapy, proton, and heavy particle therapy. After residency, 12.1% did further training in pediatric radiation oncology. When asked about further training in pediatrics after residency, 88.8% answered that there should be a formal training program beyond residency in order to treat children. More than 75% acquired knowledge in pediatric radiation oncology through journals, books, live meetings, and tumor boards. The results of this survey may help Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS) in creating guidelines and recommendations for improvement in pediatric radiation oncology training and practice support as well as the development of CME activities most likely to benefit practitioners.

AbstractThis report by the Radiation Oncology Discipline of Children's Oncology Group (COG) describes the practice patterns of pediatric image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) based on a member survey and provides practice recommendations accordingly. The survey comprised of 11 vignettes asking clinicians about their recommended treatment modalities, IGRT preferences, and frequency of in‐room verification. Technical questions asked physicists about imaging protocols, dose reduction, setup correction, and adaptive therapy. In this report, the COG Radiation Oncology Discipline provides an IGRT modality/frequency decision tree and the expert guidelines for the practice of ionizing image guidance in pediatric radiotherapy patients.

Abstract The International Soft‐Tissue Sarcoma Consortium (INSTRuCT) was founded as an international collaboration between different pediatric soft‐tissue sarcoma cooperative groups (Children's Oncology Group, European Pediatric Soft‐Tissue Sarcoma Group, and Cooperative Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe). Besides other tasks, a major goal of INSTRuCT is to develop consensus expert opinions for best clinical treatment. This consensus paper for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract (FGU‐RMS) provides treatment recommendations for local treatment, long‐term follow‐up, and fertility preservation. Therefore, a review of the current literature was combined with recommendations of the treatment protocols of the appropriate clinical trials. Additionally, opinions of international FGU‐RMS experts were incorporated into recommendations. Results were that the prognosis of FGU‐RMS is favorable with an excellent response to chemotherapy. Initial complete surgical resection is not indicated, but diagnosis should be established properly. In patients with tumors localized at the vagina or cervix demonstrating incomplete response after induction chemotherapy, local radiotherapy (brachytherapy) should be carried out. In patients with persistent tumors at the corpus uteri, hysterectomy should be performed. Fertility preservation should be considered in all patients. In conclusion, for the first time, an international consensus for the treatment of FGU‐RMS patients could be achieved, which will help to harmonize the treatment of these patients in different study groups.

AbstractBackgroundVaginal/uterine rhabdomyosarcoma (VU RMS) is one of the most favorable RMS sites. To determine the optimal therapy, the experience of four cooperative groups (Children's Oncology Group [COG], International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Malignant Mesenchymal Tumor Group [MMT], Italian Cooperative Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group [ICG], and European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group [EpSSG]) was analyzed.ProcedureFrom 1981 to 2009, 237 patients were identified. Median age (years) at diagnosis differed by tumor location; it was 1.9 for vagina (n = 160), 2.7 for uterus corpus (n = 26), and 13.5 for uterus cervix (n = 51). Twenty‐eight percent of patients received radiation therapy (RT) as part of primary therapy (23% COG, 27% MMT, 46% ICG, and 42% EpSSG), with significant differences in the use of brachytherapy between the cooperative groups (23% COG, 76% MMT, 64% ICG, and 88% EpSSG).ResultsTen‐year event‐free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 74% (95% CI, 67–79%) and 92% (95% CI, 88–96%), respectively. In univariate analysis, OS was inferior for patients with uterine RMS and for those with regional lymph node involvement. Although EFS was slightly lower in patients without initial RT (71% without RT vs. 81% with RT; P = 0.08), there was no difference in OS (94% without RT vs. 89% with RT; P = 0.18). Local control using brachytherapy was excellent (93%). Fifty‐one (51.5%) of the 99 survivors with known primary therapy and treatment for relapse were cured with chemotherapy with or without conservative surgery.ConclusionsAbout half of all patients with VU RMS can be cured without systematic RT or radical surgery. When RT is indicated, modalities that limit sequelae should be considered, such as brachytherapy.