Delaying surgery until the 15th or 16th week after the start of CRT (10-11 weeks from the end of CRT) seemed to result in the highest chance of a pCR.

281 Background: To analyze the effect of radiation dose escalation to the primary tumor on local control, locoregional control, survival and toxicity in definitive chemoradiation for esophageal cancer. Methods: Patients with clinical stage T2-4, N0-3, M0 carcinoma of the esophagus were randomized between a standard dose of 50.4 Gy/1.8 Gy/5,5 weeks to the tumor and regional lymph nodes (SD) versus the same dose combined with an integrated boost of 0,4 Gy per fraction (total 61,6 Gy) to the primary tumor (HD). Chemotherapy consisted of 6 weekly concurrent carboplatin (AUC 2) and paclitaxel (50 mg/m2) in both arms. The primary endpoint was local progression free survival (LPFS) and 260 patients were needed to detect a difference of 15% (power: 80%). Secondary endpoints were locoregional progression free survival (LRPFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Patients were stratified for histological subtype. Results: Between September 2012 and June 2018, 260 patients were included. Reasons for inoperability were proximal localization and patient preference (44%), comorbidity (30%), unresectable lymph nodes (11%), T4 (5%), local recurrence 2% and combinations (7%). 61% of the patients had a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 39% had an adenocarcinoma (AC). 94% completed radiation treatment and 85% had at least 5 courses chemotherapy. Median follow up time was 45 months. 3-year LPFS was 70% in the SD arm versus 76% in the HD arm (ns). LPFS for SCC and AC was 74% versus 81% and 62% versus 65% for SD and HD, resp. (ns). 3-year LRPFS was 53% and 63% for the SD and HD arm resp. (p = 0.08). 1 year any progression free survival was 60% for SCC and 50% for AC, without a significant difference between SD and HD (p = 0,5). 3-year OS was 41% versus 40% for SD and HD resp. Overall grade 4 and 5 CTC toxicity was 12% and 4% in the SD arm versus 14% and 10% in the HD arm, resp. Conclusions: In definitive chemoradiation for esophageal cancer, radiation dose escalation up to 61,6 Gy to the primary tumor did not result in a significant increase in local control over 50,4 Gy. Numerical improvement of locoregional control after HD was observed with an increase in toxicity and without improving OS. Clinical trial information: NL38343.018.11.

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Background Many patients with cancer, including older patients (aged ≥65 years), consult the Web to prepare for their doctor’s visit. In particular, older patients have varying needs regarding the mode in which information is presented (eg, via textual, visual, or audiovisual modes) owing to age-related sensory (eg, impaired vision and hearing) and cognitive decline (eg, reduced processing speed). Therefore, Web-based information targeted at older patient populations is likely to be used and processed more effectively, and evaluated more positively, when tailored to age-related capabilities and preferences. This, in turn, may benefit patient outcomes. Objective This randomized controlled trial tested the effects of a Web-based tailored educational intervention among newly diagnosed younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) patients with cancer. We compared the intervention group who viewed a mode-tailored website (ie, enabling patients to tailor information using textual, visual, and audiovisual modes) with 3 control groups view a nontailored website (ie, text only, text with images, and text with videos). We examined website experience outcomes (ie, website satisfaction, website involvement, knowledge, anxiety, and communication self-efficacy) and consultation experience outcomes (ie, question asking during consultation, anxiety, and information recall). Methods Patients from a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic (N=232) viewed a mode-tailored or nontailored website as preparation before their hospital consultations to discuss diagnosis and treatment. Data were collected before (T1), during (T2), and after (T3) visitation. Website experience outcomes were assessed with questionnaires (T1). Patients’ question asking was coded from videotaped consultations, and anxiety was assessed through a questionnaire (T2). Telephone interviews were conducted to assess knowledge acquired from the website before (T1) and after consultation (T3), and information recall from the consultation (T3). Results The preparatory website was well used across all conditions (mean 34 min). Younger patients viewing the mode-tailored website were more satisfied before consultation (P=.02) and reported lower anxiety after consultation (P=.046; vs text only). This pattern was not found in older patients. Mode tailoring yielded no other significant differences in patient outcomes. Regression analyses showed that website involvement (beta=.15; P=.03) and, to a lesser extent, website satisfaction (beta=.15; P=.05) positively associated with knowledge before consultation (T1). In turn, higher knowledge before consultation (beta=.39; P<.001), together with time on the website (beta=.21; P=.002; T1), predicted information recall from consultations (T3). Patients with higher knowledge before consultation (T1) also reported higher knowledge from the website afterward (T3; beta=.22; P=.003). Conclusions Offering preparatory online information before consultations benefits information processing and patient outcomes of both younger and older newly diagnosed patients with cancer. Younger patients benefit even more when information is offered in a mode-tailored manner. We discuss the theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for patient-provider communication research in an electronic health era. Clinical Trial Netherlands Trial Register NTR5904; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5750

Background Online adaptive radiotherapy has the potential to reduce toxicity for patients treated for rectal cancer because smaller planning target volumes (PTV) margins around the entire clinical target volume (CTV) are required. The aim of this study is to describe the first clinical experience of a Conebeam CT (CBCT)-based online adaptive workflow for rectal cancer, evaluating timing of different steps in the workflow, plan quality, target coverage and patient compliance. Methods Twelve consecutive patients eligible for 5 × 5 Gy pre-operative radiotherapy were treated on a ring-based linear accelerator with a multidisciplinary team present at the treatment machine for each fraction. The accelerator is operated using an integrated software platform for both treatment planning and delivery. In all directions for all CTVs a PTV margin of 5 mm was used, except for the cranial/caudal borders of the total CTV where a margin of 8 mm was applied. A reference plan was generated based on a single planning CT. After aligning the patient the online adaptive procedure started with acquisition of a CBCT. The planning CT scan was registered to the CBCT using deformable registration and a synthetic CT scan was generated. With the support of artificial intelligence, structure guided deformation and the synthetic CT scan contours were adapted by the system to match the anatomy on the CBCT. If necessary, these contours were adjusted before a new plan was generated. A second and third CBCT were acquired to validate the new plan with respect to CTV coverage just before and after treatment delivery, respectively. Treatment was delivered using volumetric modulated arc treatment (VMAT). All steps in this process were defined and timed. Results On average the timeslot needed at the treatment machine was 34 min. The process of acquiring a CBCT, evaluating and adjusting the contours, creating the new plan and verifying the CTV on the CBCT scan took on average 20 min. Including delivery and post treatment verification this was 26 min. Manual adjustments of the target volumes were necessary in 50% of fractions. Plan quality, target coverage and patient compliance were excellent. Conclusions First clinical experience with CBCT-based online adaptive radiotherapy shows it is feasible for rectal cancer. Trial registration Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) does not apply to this study and was retrospectively approved by the Medical Ethics review Committee of the Academic Medical Center (W21_087 # 21.097; Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).