Salvage brachytherapy for recurrent prostate cancer after radiotherapy: An expert-endorsed review by uroGEC.

Radiorecurrent prostate cancer remains a challenging clinical scenario. Salvage brachytherapy, either low-dose-rate (LDR) or high-dose-rate (HDR), offers a promising organ-preserving option in carefully selected patients. This narrative review, endorsed by the uroGEC (Urology - Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie), summarizes current evidence, indications, techniques, outcomes, and limitations of SBT in men with local recurrence after primary radiotherapy.

Five-year quality of life in patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy alone versus external beam radiotherapy with high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost: a prospective multicenter study.

Purpose: Brachytherapy (BT) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) are effective treatments for high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, the impact of these treatments on health-related quality of life (HRQL) remains unclear. In this study, we compared EBRT alone with EBRT plus a boost with high-dose rate (HDR)-BT to determine the impact on HRQL in patients with high-risk PCa.

Salvage Mastectomy Versus Second Conservative Treatment for Second Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Event: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Analysis of the GEC-ESTRO Breast Cancer Working Group Database.

Purpose: Second conservative treatment has emerged as an option for patients with a second ipsilateral breast tumor event after conserving surgery and breast irradiation. We aimed to address the lack of evidence regarding second breast event treatment by comparing oncologic outcomes after conservative treatment or mastectomy.

Methods And Materials: Oncologic outcomes were analyzed using a propensity score-matched cohort analysis study on patients who received a diagnosis of a second breast event between January 1995 and June 2017.

SKIN-COBRA (Consortium for Brachytherapy data Analysis) ontology: The first step towards interdisciplinary standardized data collection for personalized oncology in skin cancer.

Purpose: The primary objective of the SKIN-COBRA (Consortium for Brachytherapy data Analysis) ontology is to define a specific terminological system to standardize data collection for non-melanoma skin cancer patients treated with brachytherapy (BT, interventional radiotherapy). Through ontological characterization of information, it is possible to find, isolate, organize, and integrate its meaning.

Material And Methods: SKIN-COBRA is a standardized data collection consortium for non-melanoma skin patients treated with BT, including 8 cancer centers.

ESTRO-ACROP guideline: Interstitial multi-catheter breast brachytherapy as Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation alone or as boost - GEC-ESTRO Breast Cancer Working Group practical recommendations.

Purpose: This consensus statement from the Breast Cancer Working Group of Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie of European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) aims at generating practical guidelines for multi-catheter image-guided brachytherapy in the conservative management of breast cancer patients used for either Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) or for a breast boost.

Methods: Recent advances in techniques of multi-catheter brachytherapy were summarized and all the relevant literature was reviewed by a panel of experts. Panel members of the GEC-ESTRO experts participated in a series of conferences, supplemented their clinical experience, were surveyed to determine their current practices and patterns, performed a literature review, and formulated recommendations for implementing APBI with multi-catheter brachytherapy, focusing on treatment planning issues, catheter insertion, dosimetry and quality assurance.

GEC-ESTRO ACROP recommendations in skin brachytherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this publication is to compile available literature data and expert experience regarding skin brachytherapy (BT) in order to produce general recommendations on behalf of the GEC-ESTRO Group.

Methods: We have done an exhaustive review of published articles to look for general recommendations.

Results: Randomized controlled trials, systemic reviews and meta-analysis are lacking in literature and there is wide variety of prescription techniques successfully used across the radiotherapy centers.

Recommendations from GEC ESTRO Breast Cancer Working Group (II): Target definition and target delineation for accelerated or boost partial breast irradiation using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy after breast conserving open cavity surgery.

Objective: To prepare guidelines for target definition and delineations after open cavity breast conserving surgery in accelerated partial breast irradiations or boost treatments using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy based on the consensus of the Breast Working Group of GEC-ESTRO.

Method: Following a study on interobserver variations of target volume delineation in multicatheter breast brachytherapy after open cavity surgery and a number of discussions in consensus meetings these guidelines were worked out by experts on the field.

Proposed Recommendations: (1) Consistent windowing has to be used for proper cavity visualization.

Interobserver variations of target volume delineation in multicatheter partial breast brachytherapy after open cavity surgery.

Purpose: To investigate interobserver variations of target volume delineations in accelerated partial breast irradiation with multicatheter brachytherapy (BT) and to assess the impact of guidelines on consistency of contouring.

Methods And Materials: A contouring study with two phases in interstitial accelerated partial breast irradiation after open cavity surgery was conducted by the Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie-European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology Breast Cancer Working Group. Contours of cavity and planning target volume (PTV) on preimplant and postimplant CT images were delineated.

Salvage brachytherapy in prostate local recurrence after radiation therapy: predicting factors for control and toxicity.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy and toxicity after salvage brachytherapy (BT) in prostate local recurrence after radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Between 1993 and 2007, we retrospectively analyzed 56 consecutively patients (pts) undergoing salvage brachytherapy. After local biopsy-proven recurrence, pts received 145 Gy LDR-BT (37 pts, 66%) or HDR-BT (19 pts, 34%) in different dose levels according to biological equivalent doses (BED(2 Gy)).

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Patient-Oriented Prostate Utility Scale (PORPUS).

Objective: The Patient-Oriented Prostate Utility Scale (PORPUS) is a combined profile and utility-based quality of life measure for prostate cancer patients. Our objectives were to adapt the PORPUS into Spanish and to assess its acceptability, reliability, and validity.

Methods: The PORPUS was adapted into Spanish using forward and back translations and cognitive debriefing.

Exeresis and brachytherapy as salvage treatment for local recurrence after conservative treatment for breast cancer: results of a ten-year pilot study.

Purpose: To analyze the long-term results of a pilot study assessing excision and brachytherapy as salvage treatment for local recurrence after conservative treatment of breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: Between December 1990 and March 2001, 36 patients with breast-only recurrence less than 3 cm in diameter after conservative treatment for Stage I or II breast carcinoma were treated with local excision followed by high-dose rate brachytherapy implants (30 Gy in 12 fractions over a period of 5 days). No patient was lost to follow-up.