Frontiers in Oncology (Jan 2023)

Stomach and duodenum dose–volume constraints for locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated in 15 fractions in combination with chemotherapy

  • Sara Broggi,
  • Paolo Passoni,
  • Paolo Tiberio,
  • Alessandro Cicchetti,
  • Alessandro Cicchetti,
  • Giovanni Mauro Cattaneo,
  • Barbara Longobardi,
  • Martina Mori,
  • Michele Reni,
  • Michele Reni,
  • Najla Slim,
  • Antonella Del Vecchio,
  • Nadia G. Di Muzio,
  • Nadia G. Di Muzio,
  • Claudio Fiorino

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.983984
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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PurposeTo assess dosimetry predictors of gastric and duodenal toxicities for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy in 15 fractions.MethodsData from 204 LAPC patients treated with induction+concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy (44.25 Gy in 15 fractions) were available. Forty-three patients received a simultaneous integrated boost of 48–58 Gy. Gastric/duodenal Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v. 5 (CTCAEv5) Grade ≥2 toxicities were analyzed. Absolute/% duodenal and stomach dose–volume histograms (DVHs) of patients with/without toxicities were compared: the most predictive DVH points were identified, and their association with toxicity was tested in univariate and multivariate logistic regressions together with near-maximum dose (D0.03) and selected clinical variables.ResultsToxicity occurred in 18 patients: 3 duodenal (ulcer and duodenitis) and 10 gastric (ulcer and stomatitis); 5/18 experienced both. At univariate analysis, V44cc (duodenum: p = 0.02, OR = 1.07; stomach: p = 0.01, OR = 1.12) and D0.03 (p = 0.07, OR = 1.19; p = 0.008, OR = 1.12) were found to be the most predictive parameters. Stomach/duodenum V44Gy and stomach D0.03 were confirmed at multivariate analysis and found to be sufficiently robust at internal, bootstrap-based validation; the results regarding duodenum D0.03 were less robust. No clinical variables or %DVH was significantly associated with toxicity. The best duodenum cutoff values were V44Gy < 9.1 cc (and D0.03 < 47.6 Gy); concerning the stomach, they were V44Gy < 2 cc and D0.03 < 45 Gy. The identified predictors showed a high negative predictive value (>94%).ConclusionIn a large cohort treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy for LAPC, the risk of duodenal/gastric toxicities was associated with duodenum/stomach DVH. Constraining duodenum V44Gy < 9.1 cc, stomach V44Gy < 2 cc, and stomach D0.03 < 45 Gy should keep the toxicity rate at approximately or below 5%. The association with duodenum D0.03 was not sufficiently robust due to the limited number of events, although results suggest that a limit of 45–46 Gy should be safe.

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