Ivica Ratosa1, Monica Emilia Chirilă2, Mateja Steinacher3, Elvisa Kozma4, Radovan Vojtíšek5, Pierfrancesco Franco6, Philip Poortmans7. 1. Division of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: iratosa@onko-i.si. 2. Radiation Oncology Department, Oncology Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 3. Department of Oncology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia. 4. Oncology Service, University Hospital, Tirana, Albania. 5. Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic. 6. Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 7. Iridium Kankernetwerk, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the prescription preference about hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) for breast cancer (BC) patients amongst radiation oncologists (ROs) practicing in Europe and to identify restraints on HFRT utilisation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was circulated amongst ROs in Europe through personal, RO and BC societies' networks, from October 2019 to March 2020. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared testing, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We received 412 responses from 44 countries. HFRT was chosen as the preferred schedule for whole breast irradiation (WBI) by 54.7% and for WBI with regional nodes irradiation (RNI) by 28.7% of the responding ROs. In the case of postmastectomy RT with or without reconstruction, HFRT was preferred by 21.1% and 29.6%, respectively. Overall, 69.2% of the responding ROs selected at least one factor influencing the decision to utilise HFRT, the most frequent of which included age (51.4%), RNI (46.9%), internal mammary lymph nodes irradiation (39.7%), BC stage (33.5%) and implant-based breast reconstruction (31.6%). ROs working in academic centres (odds ratio, (OR), 1.7; 95% confidence interval, (CI); 1.1-2.6, p = 0.019), practicing in Western Europe (OR, 4.2; 95%CI; 2.7-6.6, p < 0.0005) and/or dedicating >50% of clinical time to BC patients (OR, 2.5; 95%CI; 1.5-4.2, p = 0.001) more likely preferred HFRT. CONCLUSION: Although HFRT is recognised as a new standard, its implementation in routine RT clinical practice across Europe varies for numerous reasons. Better dissemination of evidence-based recommendations is advised to improve the level of awareness about this clinical indication.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the prescription preference about hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) for breast cancer (BC) patients amongst radiation oncologists (ROs) practicing in Europe and to identify restraints on HFRT utilisation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was circulated amongst ROs in Europe through personal, RO and BC societies' networks, from October 2019 to March 2020. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared testing, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We received 412 responses from 44 countries. HFRT was chosen as the preferred schedule for whole breast irradiation (WBI) by 54.7% and for WBI with regional nodes irradiation (RNI) by 28.7% of the responding ROs. In the case of postmastectomy RT with or without reconstruction, HFRT was preferred by 21.1% and 29.6%, respectively. Overall, 69.2% of the responding ROs selected at least one factor influencing the decision to utilise HFRT, the most frequent of which included age (51.4%), RNI (46.9%), internal mammary lymph nodes irradiation (39.7%), BC stage (33.5%) and implant-based breast reconstruction (31.6%). ROs working in academic centres (odds ratio, (OR), 1.7; 95% confidence interval, (CI); 1.1-2.6, p = 0.019), practicing in Western Europe (OR, 4.2; 95%CI; 2.7-6.6, p < 0.0005) and/or dedicating >50% of clinical time to BC patients (OR, 2.5; 95%CI; 1.5-4.2, p = 0.001) more likely preferred HFRT. CONCLUSION: Although HFRT is recognised as a new standard, its implementation in routine RT clinical practice across Europe varies for numerous reasons. Better dissemination of evidence-based recommendations is advised to improve the level of awareness about this clinical indication.
Authors: Fang Chen; Timothy S K Hui; Lingyu Ma; Yaqing Nong; Ying Han; Haiman Jing; Eric K W Lee; Zhiyuan Xu; Pingfu Fu; Amy Tien Yee Chang; Victor Hsue; Feng-Ming Spring Kong Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: Anna Cavallo; Maria Chiara Magri; Riccardo Ray Colciago; Angelo Vitullo; Eliana La Rocca; Carlotta Giandini; Francesca Bonfantini; Serena Di Cosimo; Paolo Baili; Milena Sant; Emanuele Pignoli; Riccardo Valdagni; Laura Lozza; Maria Carmen De Santis Journal: Med Oncol Date: 2021-08-03 Impact factor: 3.064