BACKGROUND: This study assessed a palliative radiotherapy regimen using daily radiation over 4 days for three courses in inoperable head and neck cancers, emphasizing oral primary cancers.
METHODS: Retrospective data of 116 patients treated with a daily dose of 3.6-3.7 Gy in four fractions over 4 days to a total of three courses, with a 2-week gap after every course, were analyzed for survival outcomes. A subgroup analysis was done for oral cancer.
RESULTS: Ninety-nine (85%) completed three courses. Overall subjective response rate was 77%. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 12 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8-20) and 8 months (95% CI: 6-10), with numerically higher overall survival in oral cancer. The treatment was well tolerated, with no on-treatment hospitalization or grade 3-4 toxicities.
CONCLUSIONS: The modified QUAD SHOT regimen is practical for palliation in head and neck cancers.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 8502 \"QUAD shot\" regimen using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for incurable head and neck cancer (HNC).
METHODS: We included 105 patients with HNC in the study, undergoing at least one QUAD shot regimen cycle. We planned the radiotherapy using VMAT with 6 MV photons. One QUAD shot cycle included 14.8 Gy in 4 fractions with at least 6-hour intervals over 2 consecutive days, repeated every 3-6 weeks up to 3 cycles.
RESULTS: We completed 1, 2, and 3 cycles in 11 (10 %), 17 (16 %), and 77 (73 %) patients, respectively. We concurrently performed systemic therapy in 13 (12 %) patients. Tumor response was observed in 92 (88 %) patients and at least one symptom relief in 51 (71 %) of 72 patients. We observed an overall response (tumor response or symptom relief) in 98 (93 %) patients with all patients who completed 3 cycles achieving it. The median overall survival (OS) was 6.8 months. Our multivariate analysis revealed that non-squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.001), T category of 0-2 (p = 0.021), and 3 QUAD shot cycles (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of better OS. We observed Grade 3 toxicity in 2 (2 %) patients while no ≥ Grade 4 acute or ≥ Grade 3 late toxicity.
CONCLUSIONS: The QUAD shot regimen using VMAT exerts appropriate palliative effect in patients with incurable HNC. Treatment with higher QUAD shot cycle number would be recommended for better treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) have limited treatment options. \'QuadShot\' (QS), a hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen, can provide symptomatic relief and local control and may potentiate the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We compared outcomes of QS ± concurrent ICIs in the palliative treatment of HNC.
METHODS: We identified patients who received ≥three cycles of QS from 2017 to 2022 and excluded patients without post-treatment clinical evaluation or imaging. Outcomes for patients who received QS alone were compared to those treated with ICI concurrent with QS, defined as receipt of ICI within 4 weeks of QS.
RESULTS: Seventy patients were included, of whom 57% received concurrent ICI. Median age was 65.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 57.9-77.8), and 50% patients had received prior radiation to a median dose of 66 Gy (IQR: 60-70). Median follow-up was 8.8 months. Local control was significantly higher with concurrent ICIs (12-month: 85% vs. 63%, p = 0.038). Distant control (12-month: 56% vs. 63%, p = 0.629) and median overall survival (9.0 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.850) were similar between the two groups. On multivariable analysis, concurrent ICI was a significant predictor of local control (HR for local failure: 0.238; 95% CI: 0.073-0.778; p = 0.018). Overall, 23% patients experienced grade 3 toxicities, which was similar between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of QS with concurrent ICIs was well tolerated and significantly improved local control compared to QS alone. The median OS of 9.4 months compares favorably to historical controls for patients with HNC treated with QS. This approach represents a promising treatment option for patients with HNC unsuited for curative-intent treatment and warrants prospective evaluation.

UNASSIGNED: The primary approach for managing skin cancer involves surgery, although radical radiotherapy (RT) may be considered as an alternative option in cases where patients decline the treatment themselves or are not eligible for surgical intervention. Herein we assess single-institution material in terms of the use of hypofractionated QUAD SHOT RT in patients disqualified from surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Between December 2019 and December 2022, nine patients with locally advanced non-melanoma skin cancer were disqualified from surgery and as a result were treated at the Radom Oncology Centre, Poland. Patients were treated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 8502 QUAD SHOT regimen (14.8 Gy/4 fractions, twice-daily treatment with a 6 h interval, on 2 consecutive days). Courses were repeated every 4 weeks 3 times using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).
UNASSIGNED: Grade 2 toxicities were observed in 4 of 9 (44.4%) patients, no grade ≥ 3 acute toxicity was observed. The median age was 79.1 (60-98) years. Irradiated areas were as follows: nose skin (2), cheek (2), eyebrow with eyelid (1), forehead (1), temple (1), sternum (1), and scapula (1). Performance status was as follows: WHO II - 5 patients (55.6%), WHO I - 3 patients, WHO III - one patient. One patient underwent 3 RT courses in 2 areas for a total of 6 treatment courses, 6 patients received 3 courses of treatment, and 2 patients received 2 courses. Additionally, as of 14 March 2023, four patients died of non-malignant causes.
UNASSIGNED: QUAD SHOT schedule with VMAT RT may be an effective palliative treatment method with a good response rate, which positively affects patients\' quality of life in locally advanced non-melanoma skin cancer patients disqualified from surgery.

A 54-year-old man was diagnosed with descending colon cancer with metastases in the liver, para-aortic lymph nodes, and penis, and chemotherapy was introduced after construction of a colostomy. The patient reported only mild penile pain at the time of diagnosis; however, the pain gradually worsened and interfered with his daily life. Opioids did not provide sufficient analgesia, and the patient developed dysuria and priapism. Through construction of a cystostomy, palliative radiotherapy with QUAD Shot regimen (14 Gy in 4 fractions twice-daily on 2 days repeated every 4 weeks) to the penile metastasis was started for pain relief and tumor shrinkage. The radiation rapidly improved the penile symptoms, enabling opioid reduction and cystostomy removal. The patient remained pain-free and able to urinate on his own until his death. Metastatic penile tumors are rare, especially those derived from colon cancer. Penile metastases occur mainly in the late stages of cancer and may impair the patient\'s quality of life. In such cases, palliative radiotherapy, especially with QUAD Shot regimen, is useful with short treatment time, durable symptom control, and little adverse effect, maintaining quality of life.

QUAD SHOT is an ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) technique that prescribes 14.0-14.8 Gy over 2 days. Although this technique has already gained some status as an effective palliative treatment for inoperable head and neck cancer (HNC), its application in other situations has not been given much consideration. Herein, we report a case of a 62-year-old woman who received preoperative QUAD SHOT therapy for poorly differentiated parotid carcinoma. In this case, after two courses of QUAD SHOT plus a standard chemotherapy regimen with pembrolizumab, the patient\'s inoperable, bulky tumor shrank dramatically and became operable. Best of all, while adequate therapeutic effects were achieved, the patient\'s time commitment and physical exertion were limited. RT during this period consisted of only eight fractions over 4 days. According to previous reports, the response rate for QUAD SHOT is sufficiently high, and the rate of serious adverse events is quite low. This case asks the question of whether the indications for QUAD SHOT irradiation can be expanded as one of the preoperative interventions undertaken by HNC surgeons to achieve conversion surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The mainstay of oral cavity cancer treatment is surgery, often with adjuvant therapies. However, patients often present with locally advanced disease and downstaging would render surgery more feasible. We evaluated hypofractionated radiation therapy (QUAD Shot) prior to definitive surgery for head and neck cancers, with a goal of downstaging.
METHODS: Eighteen patients with primary head and neck malignancy, predominantly locally advanced oral cavity cancers, received QUAD Shot radiation therapy from June 2016 to July 2021. External beam radiation therapy was delivered to the primary lesion in four fractions over two days, two fractions/day at least six hours apart with total dose ranging from 1400 cGy to 1500 cGy. Twelve patients proceeded to definitive surgery.
RESULTS: Of the twelve patients receiving surgery, one had complete response to radiation therapy with no pathological disease seen at surgery. Four patients had a partial response, defined as downstaging on final pathology. Five patients showed no response, and two had progressive disease defined as upstaging on final pathology. Seven patients had radiographic primary tumor shrinkage ≥ 0.5 cm following Quad Shot. The Quad Shot was tolerated well with no reported adverse effects.
CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies between clinical- and pathological-staging are common and expected. However, ∼40 % of our patients experienced downstaging following QUAD Shot. Thus, neoadjuvant radiation therapy may be viable for temporizing tumor growth while awaiting surgery, or for downstaging and thus facilitating more technically feasible and less morbid surgery for locally advanced head and neck cancers.

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BACKGROUND: To review a single institutional experience of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 8502 \"QUAD shot\" regimen using volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) for incurable head and neck cancer (HNC).
METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive patients with HNC were treated with at least one cycle of the RTOG 8502 regimen. Treatment plans included the use of VMAT with 6 MV photons generated by a linear accelerator. Two daily fractions of 3.7 Gy were delivered with an interval of at least 6 h for 2 consecutive days, totaling 14.8 Gy over 4 fractions. This was repeated every 3-4 weeks for a total of three cycles. No concurrent systemic therapy was performed.
RESULTS: The number of completed cycles was 1 in 6 (18%) patients, 2 in 5 (15%), and 3 in 23 (68%). Tumor response was achieved in 29 (85%) patients and symptom relief in 20 (77%) of 26 patients. Overall response (tumor response or symptom relief) was achieved in 32 (94%) patients. All patients who received 2 or more treatment cycles achieved overall response. Median overall survival (OS) was 5.7 months. Multivariate analysis revealed that completion of all three treatment cycles was significantly associated with better OS (P = 0.002). Grade 2 toxicity was observed in four (12%) patients, but no acute Grade ≥ 3 or late toxicity was observed.
CONCLUSIONS: The RTOG 8502 \"QUAD shot\" regimen using VMAT is effective for incurable HNC with highly reduced toxicity. Treatment with multiple cycles is recommended for better treatment response and/or survival.