Publications by authors named "Wilma D Heemsbergen"

Background: Patients with prostate cancer (PC) invading into the seminal vesicles (SV) constitute a specific subgroup of high-risk patients (staged as T3b) with a particularly high risk of disease recurrence, even when lymph node or distant metastases are absent (N0M0). The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate efficacy of available treatments for men with PC invading the SV without metastasis.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Cochrane guidance and reported according to the guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses.

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Background: We evaluated locoregional failure (LRF) and survival after postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in selected high-risk oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.

Methods: In a retrospective OSCC cohort (n = 219) treated with local (n = 216) and/or regional (n = 87) PORT in 2011-2018, we determined the first location of tumor recurrence or progression, survival, and cause of death. Tumor control and survival was calculated using Kaplan Meier method.

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We have read the Letter to the Editor of Chen et al. with great interest, and appreciate their pursuit to expand the discussion on how patient-reported outcomes can inform toxicity risk stratification and supportive care strategies in real-world settings. We have added our vision to their raised points in order to contribute to this useful discussion.

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Background And Purpose: Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) with para-aortal (PAO) +/- para-iliac (dog-leg) fields in seminoma patients is an effective treatment, associated with a lifetime risk of developing infra-diaphragmatic radiation-induced second primary cancers (SPC). We performed a systematic review to investigate dose to organs at risk (OAR), associated SPC risks, and landmark changes in RT-protocols, with a special interest in proton therapy.

Methods: A systematic literature search (1990-2024) was conducted using PRISMA guidelines.

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Background/objectives: Extracting spatial features (texture analysis) from dose distributions (dosiomics) for outcome prediction is a rapidly evolving field in radiotherapy. To account for fraction size differences, the biological effective dose (BED) is often calculated. We evaluated the impact and added value of the BED in the dosiomics prediction modelling of grade ≥ 2 late rectal bleeding (LRB) probability within 5 years after treatment in three parts.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to create a predictive model for late rectal bleeding in prostate cancer patients undergoing different types of radiotherapy.
  • Candidate predictors were identified from prior research and five logistic regression models were tested based on various dose parameters.
  • Results indicated that certain dosimetric predictors and history of abdominal surgery were significant for predicting the outcome, with some models showing satisfactory internal validation, but external validation is necessary for confirmation.
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  • The review examines the risk of secondary bladder cancer (SBC) following radiotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa), noting that external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) carries a higher risk compared to less invasive treatments like brachytherapy.
  • It highlights that age plays a complex role in SBC risk, with older patients being more prone to bladder cancer, while younger patients may be more susceptible to radiation-related cancers; smoking further increases this risk.
  • The review stresses the importance of understanding the dose-response relationship between radiation exposure and SBC, as well as recognizing the lag time for SBC development, to improve clinical strategies and patient care.
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Purpose: In evaluating second primary cancers (SPCs) following External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT), the role of lifestyle factors is frequently not considered due to data limitations. We investigated the association between smoking, comorbidities, and SPC risks within EBRT-treated patients for localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients & Methods: The study included 1,883 PCa survivors aged 50-79, treated between 2006 and 2013, with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT).

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Objectives: Patients with head and neck cancer are routinely screened for dental foci prior to radiotherapy (RT) to prevent post- RT tooth extractions associated with an increased risk of osteoradionecrosis. We evaluated the risk factors for post-RT tooth extraction to personalise dental screening and prevention protocols prior to RT.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included dentulous patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer who had undergone radiation therapy at doses 60-70 Gy and achieved a disease-free survival of ≥ 1 year (N = 174).

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Purpose: Women with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing primary platinum-based chemoradiotherapy and brachytherapy often experience toxicities. Normal-tissue complication probability (NTCP) models quantify toxicity risk and aid in optimizing radiation therapy to minimize side effects. However, it is unclear which predictors to include in an NTCP model.

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Background And Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a severe complication following radiotherapy (RT). With a renewed interest in hypofractionation for head and neck radiotherapy, more information concerning ORN development after high fraction doses is important. The aim of this explorative study was to develop a model for ORN risk prediction applicable across different fractionation schemes using Equivalent Uniform Doses (EUD).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates whether biochemical recurrence (BCR) can predict overall survival (OS) in localized prostate cancer by analyzing patient data from 11 clinical trials focused on various treatment methods.* -
  • Results showed that while treatment methods like short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improved cancer outcomes, there was no significant treatment impact on OS when adjusting for BCR after 48 months.* -
  • The correlation between BCR-free survival and OS was moderate, with Kendall's tau values demonstrating a range between 0.59 and 0.69, indicating a potential relationship but underscoring the complexity of predicting overall survival based on BCR.*
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Background: Modelling studies suggest that advanced intensity-modulated radiotherapy may increase second primary cancer (SPC) risks, due to increased radiation exposure of tissues located outside the treatment fields. In the current study we investigated the association between SPC risks and characteristics of applied external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) protocols for localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: We collected EBRT protocol characteristics (2000-2016) from five Dutch RT institutes for the 3D-CRT and advanced EBRT era (N = 7908).

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Background/purpose: Post radiation mucosal ulcers (PRMU) after treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) can have a huge negative impact on patients' quality of life, but little is known concerning risk factors and the impact of fraction size. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the pattern of PRMU development and to identify risk factors after a hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy boost (SBRT) compared to conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for OPSCC.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study ( = 332) of OPSCC patients with ≥ 1-year disease-free survival, treated with 46 Gy Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) (2 Gy fractions) followed by either an SBRT boost of 16.

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Objective: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe late complication after radiotherapy but current knowledge on ORN risks in the setting of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is limited. We studied the incidence and risk factors of ORN in patients with oral cavity cancers (OCC, treated with PORT.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including OCC patients (mainly squamous cell) treated with postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy between 2010 and 2018 with > 1 year disease-free survival.

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Background: Organ-sparing treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer by maximal transurethral removal of the tumor (TURB) followed by chemoradiation (CRT) has shown promising results in recent studies, and is therefore considered to be an acceptable alternative for the standard of radical cystectomy (RC) in selected patients. We report on outcomes in a single-center, retrospective CRT cohort in comparison to a RC and radiotherapy only (RT) cohort.

Patients And Methods: The patient population included  = 84 CRT patients,  = 93 RC patients, and  = 95 RT patients.

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Introduction: The locoregional failure (LRF) rate in human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) remains disappointingly high and toxicity is substantial. Response prediction prior to or early during treatment would provide opportunities for personalised treatment. Currently, there are no accurate predictive models available for correct OPSCC patient selection.

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Article Synopsis
  • A network meta-analysis was conducted using data from 13 randomized trials involving 11,862 prostate cancer patients to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy dose escalation combined with short-term or long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
  • The primary focus was on metastasis-free survival (MFS), with findings indicating that long-term ADT provided the most significant improvement in outcomes compared to RT dose escalation alone.
  • Ultimately, while RT dose escalation did not enhance MFS, adding STADT or LTADT consistently improved MFS, with high-dose RT combined with LTADT emerging as the most effective strategy for biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) and overall outcomes.
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Purpose: External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) techniques dramatically changed over the years. This may have affected the risk of radiation-induced second primary cancers (SPC), due to increased irradiated low dose volumes and scatter radiation. We investigated whether patterns of SPC after EBRT have changed over the years in prostate cancer (PCa) survivors.

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Purpose: Many patients experience bowel and bladder toxicity during the acute phase of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Recent literature indicates that hypofractionation (HF) might increase this acute response but little is known on patient-reported outcome during this phase with HF. We evaluated the course of patient-reported acute symptoms during HF versus standard fractionated (SF) radiation therapy within the hypofractionated irradiation for prostate cancer (HYPRO) trial.

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For decades, dose-volume information for segmented anatomy has provided the essential data for correlating radiotherapy dosimetry with treatment-induced complications. Dose-volume information has formed the basis for modelling those associations via normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models and for driving treatment planning. Limitations to this approach have been identified.

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Purpose: Concerns have been raised that modern intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may be associated with increased second primary cancer risks (SPC) compared to previous three-dimensional conformal radiation techniques (3DCRT), due to increased low dose volumes and more out-of-field ionizing dose to peripheral tissue further away from the target. We assessed the impact of treatment technique on SPC risks in a cohort of prostate cancer (PCa) survivors.

Material And Methods: The study cohort comprised 1,561 PCa survivors aged 50-79 years at time of radiotherapy, treated between 2006-2013 (N=707 IMRT, N=854 3DCRT).

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Late gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity after radiotherapy for prostate cancer may have significant impact on the cancer survivor's quality of life. To date, little is known about local dose-effects after modern radiotherapy including hypofractionation. In the current study we related the local spatial distribution of radiation dose in the rectum to late patient-reported gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities for conventionally fractionated (CF) and hypofractionated (HF) modern radiotherapy in the randomized HYPRO trial.

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Background: Prognostication tools for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) are currently lacking. The purpose of this study was to develop and externally validate a nomogram to predict overall survival in individual patients with peripheral early-stage disease.

Methods: A total of 587 NSCLC patients treated with biologically effective dose > 100 Gy were eligible.

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