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. 2021 Feb 12:27:147-151.
doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2021.02.004. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Implementation of a stereotactic body radiotherapy program for unresectable pancreatic cancer in an integrated community academic radiation oncology satellite network

Alexander Augustyn  1 , Valerie I Reed  1 , Neelofur Ahmad  1 , Manoop S Bhutani  2 , Elizabeth S Bloom  2 , John R Bowers  3 , Gregory M Chronowski  1 , Prajnan Das  1 , Emma B Holliday  1 , Marc E Delclos  1 , Ryan W Huey  4 , Eugene J Koay  1 , Sunyoung S Lee  4 , Christopher L Nelson  1 , Cullen M Taniguchi  1 , Albert C Koong  1 , Stephen G Chun  1
Affiliations

Implementation of a stereotactic body radiotherapy program for unresectable pancreatic cancer in an integrated community academic radiation oncology satellite network

Alexander Augustyn et al. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. .

Abstract

With increasing interest in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for unresectable pancreatic cancer, quality improvement (QI) initiatives to develop integrated clinical workflows are crucial to ensure quality assurance (QA) when introducing this challenging technique into radiation practices.

Materials/methods: In 2017, we used the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) QI methodology to implement a new pancreas SBRT program in an integrated community radiation oncology satellite. A unified integrated information technology infrastructure was used to virtually integrate the planned workflow into the community radiation oncology satellite network (P - Plan/D - Do). This workflow included multiple prospective quality assurance (QA) measures including multidisciplinary evaluation, prospective scrutiny of radiation target delineation, prospective radiation plan evaluation, and monitoring of patient outcomes. Institutional review board approval was obtained to retrospectively study and report outcomes of patients treated in this program (S - Study).

Results: There were 12 consecutive patients identified who were treated in this program from 2017 to 2020 with a median follow-up of 27 months. The median survival was 13 months, median local failure free survival was 12 months and median progression free survival was 6 months from SBRT. There were no acute or late Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) version 5 toxicities ≥ Grade 3.

Conclusion: We report the successful implementation of a community pancreas SBRT program involving multiple prospective QA measures, providing the groundwork to safely expand access to pancreas SBRT in our community satellite network (A - Act).

Keywords: Community; Pancreatic cancer; Quality assurance; Quality improvement; SBRT; Satellite network.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Chun reports being a consultant for AstraZeneca, PLC., and for Norton Healthcare, Inc. Dr. Reed reports being a consultant for Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Dr. Koong reports holding stock in Aravice, Inc.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Multidisciplinary workflow for integrated SBRT program for pancreatic cancer in community-based satellites. Grey boxes demarcate the multiple quality assurance measures undertaken for pancreas SBRT in the program. DIBH, deep inspiratory breath hold; GRO, gastrointestinal radiation oncology.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Survival outcomes for patients treated as part of this QI initiative including overall, local failure free and progression free survival using Kaplan-Meier method.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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