Veninga, Theo

9522 Background: Many MSCC patients live long enough to develop a recurrence in the irradiated spinal area. This is the first prospective study comparing different RT schedules for local control (LC) of MSCC. Methods: 265 patients treated with RT alone (1/06–12/07) were included in this prospective non-randomized study. The primary goal was to compare short-course (1×8 Gy/5×4 Gy, N=131) and long-course RT (10×3 Gy/15×2.5 Gy/20×2 Gy, N=134) for 1-year LC. Secondary endpoints were motor function and 1-year survival (OS). Dutch patients received short-course, and German patients long-course RT. The analysis of LC (no MSCC recurrence in the irradiated spinal area) included the 224 patients with improvement or no change of motor deficits during RT. The difference in 1-year LC was previously reported to be 14% between short- and long-course RT. For a statistical power of 90 % (significance level 5%), ≥218 patients were required to detect this difference. Univariate analyses (UVA) for LC and OS were performed with Kaplan-Meier-method and log-rank test, multivariate analyses (MVA) with the Cox proportional hazards model. UVA and MVA for motor function were performed with the ordered-logit-model. Eleven additional factors were evaluated. Results: 1-year LC was 61% after short-course RT and 81% after long-course RT (P=0.005). On MVA, improved LC was only associated with long-course RT (P=0.018). Motor function improved in 37% after short- and 39% after long-course RT (P=0.95). Improved motor function was associated with better performance status (P=0.015), favorable tumor (P=0.034), and slower development of motor deficits (P<0.001). 1-year OS was 23% after short- and 30% after long-course RT (P=0.28). On MVA, improved OS was associated with better performance status (P<0.001), no visceral metastases (P<0.001), involvement of 1–3 vertebrae (P=0.040), ambulatory status (P=0.038), and bisphosphonates (P<0.001). Conclusions: Long-course RT was associated with better LC, similar functional outcome, and similar OS compared to short-course RT. Patients with a favorable OS prognosis should receive long-course RT, and those with a poor OS prognosis should receive short-course RT. [Table: see text]

2075 Background: This study was performed to create and validate scoring systems to estimate survival and intracerebral local control at 6 months of patients irradiated for brain metastases. Methods: Data of 1,797 patients irradiated for brain metastases (1,346 whole-brain radiotherapy [WBRT], 131 radiosurgery [RS], 61 WBRT + RS, 259 resection + WBRT) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were randomly assigned to the test group (N = 1,198) or the validation group (N = 599). In the test group, multivariate analyses (MVA, Cox proportional hazards model) were performed for survival (OS) and local control (LC). Based on the MVA results, two scoring systems were developed, one for OS and another for LC. The scores included the prognostic factors found significant on MVA. Age, performance status, extracranial metastases, interval from tumor diagnosis to RT, and number of brain metastases were significant for OS. Tumor type, performance status, interval from tumor diagnosis to RT, and number of brain metastases were significant for LC. The score for each factor was determined by dividing the 6-month OS or LC rate (%) by 10. The total score represented the sum of the scores for each factor. For OS, total scores ranged from 15–30 points, and patients were divided into three groups (15–19, 20–25, and 26–30 points). For LC, total scores ranged from 14–27 points, and patients were divided into three groups (14–18, 19–23, and 24–27 points). Results: In the test group, the 6-month OS rates were 9 ± 1% for patients with scores of 15–19 points, 41 ± 2% for those with 20–25 points, and 78 ± 2% for those with 26–30 points (p < 0.0001). The corresponding OS rates in the validation group were 7 ± 2%, 39 ± 3%, and 79 ± 3%, respectively (p < 0.0001).In the test group, the 6-month LC rates were 17 ± 3% for patients with 14–18 points, 49 ± 3% for those with 19–23 points, and 77 ± 2% for those with 24–27 points (p < 0.0001). The corresponding LC rates in the validation group were 19 ± 4%, 52 ± 4%, and 77 ± 3%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Patients irradiated for brain metastases can be grouped with these scores to estimate OS and LC. The OS and LC rates of the validation group were almost identical to the test group, which demonstrates the high validity and reproducibility of both scores. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

AbstractIntroductionRadiotherapy alone still is the most commonly delivered treatment modality for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). MSCC is an emergency situation, which requires treatment as soon as possible. When radiotherapy is performed with the most commonly used approach 10 × 3 Gy (30 Gy in 10 fractions) over 2 weeks, the question has been asked whether an overall treatment time (OTT) of 14–15 days including two weekends without irradiation leads to worse outcomes than OTT of 12 days (beginning of radiotherapy on a Monday resulting in only one weekend break)?MethodsA total of 412 patients with MSCC were included in this retrospective study. Ninety‐two patients receiving 10 × 3 Gy over 12 days were compared to 320 patients with an OTT of 14–15 days. Ten additional factors were investigated.ResultsOn multivariate analysis, functional outcome was associated with tumour type (P < 0.001), time developing motor deficits (P < 0.001), ambulatory status (P = 0.018) and performance score (P < 0.001); OTT had no significant impact (P = 0.40). On univariate analysis of local control of MSCC (freedom from recurrence in irradiated spinal parts), no factor was significant including OTT (P = 0.66). On multivariate analysis, visceral metastases (P < 0.001), tumour type (P < 0.001), time developing motor deficits (P < 0.001), ambulatory status (P < 0.001) and performance score (P < 0.001) were associated with survival, OTT not even on univariate analysis (P = 0.55).ConclusionsSince an OTT of 14–15 days had no negative impact on outcomes compared to 12 days, compensation in form of an additional radiation fraction or continuation of radiotherapy during weekends is not required, if radiotherapy cannot be started on a Monday.