FNCA

Radiation Oncology workshop

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Workshop

FNCA 2001 Workshop on Radiation Oncology

FNCA 2001 Workshop on Radiation Oncology,
January 15 - 18, 2002,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 
Dr. Rehir Dahalan
Senior Reseach Officer, Division of Medical Technology
Malaysian Institute for Nuclear technology Research (MINT)
 

This workshop was jointly organized by the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM), University of Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, in cooperation with the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. (JAIF). The representatives from 8 FNCA countries, i.e., China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, attended the Workshop.

Firstly, the Workshop discussed in detail the status and outcome of ongoing two projects, i.e., CERVIX-1 and CERVIX-2. As to the standardized protocol project (CERVIX-1), the booklet entitled as Radiation Therapy of Stage IIIB Cervical Cancer for Asians Report and Guideline from the Cooperative Group Trial has been published from the Asia Cooperation Center of JAIF. This booklet describes the Standardized Protocol, its procedures and achievements as of the end of year 2001 together with the information on the current status of radiation therapy of uterine cervix cancer in the participating countries.

In the AHF project (CERVIX-2), there was significant progress made in the number of registered cases, 102 in total by the end of year 2001, thanks to the efforts by participating countries. The results are promising with regards to the local control as well as complications, even though the number of registered patients and follow-up period were considerably limited. Participating countries are encouraged to increase the accrued number of patients for this trial to as many as possible. Registration of new patients will continue till the end of this year.

In relation to the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of radiation dosimetry for these clinical trials, Japan reported on her recent experience of the inter-comparison exercise performed on the irradiation equipments and treatment planning systems in the participating countries. While recognizing the importance of this aspect which not only directly affects the quality of current cooperative clinical trial, but also the appropriateness of radiation oncology practices as a whole, and hence the welfare of the patients, the meeting deliberated on this issue in some detail and recommended that more efforts be made in this regard through systematic and comprehensive approach.

The meeting discussed the following themes as the possible subjects of future cooperative clinical studies in order to establish Standardized Protocol.
   
  Uterine cervix cancer
 
a) Clinical study of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.
b) Clinical study of prophylactic para-aortic irradiation.
c) Randomized clinical study comparing AHF versus conventional radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy.
   
  Uterine cervix cancer
 
a) Clinical study of accelerated radiotherapy
b) Clinical study of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy
   
  These preliminary proposals and the results of the pilot studies done in the participating countries will be presented and discussed at the next Workshop.
   
  Discussions were also held on "Future plan on FNCA activities for medical use", several practical issues were discussed taking into account the general direction of the FNCA system which was explained by Japan to the meeting. Views were exchanged among participant countries on the subjects as follows.
   
 
a) Guidebook "Radiation Therapy of Stage IIIB Cervical Cancer for Asians":
This publication is considered a useful and noteworthy achievement of the project. The meeting encourages its effective use by the member countries.
b) AHF for uterine cervix cancer:
Registration of new patients will continue till the end of year 2002. Provisional evaluation of the protocol may be possible in 2003 as sufficient information should be available then to assess the trend of the data to date.
c) QA/QC of treatment process for radiotherapy, including dosimetry and source intensity calibration:
:QA/QC of dosimetry are of paramount importance in proper conduct of radiotherapy. Inter-comparison exercise and exchange of experts among FNCA countries will help meet these needs. The meeting expects Japan to take initiatives in this direction including the preparation of a guidebook.
d) Open Lecture:
Open Lecture of the current style is considered to be a useful modality in disseminating information on radiation oncology to the interested medical circles where the Workshop is held. The planning should be made taking the local needs and interests into consideration, for which the primary responsibility rests on the host organizations.
e) Database and usage of Homepage:
Development of an integrated database covering information on cancer incidence, medical facilities, treatment systems and list of experts involved etc. will be considered.
The homepage of AsiaNNet may be utilized for activities in medical fields. However, it is considered inappropriate to make use of the Homepage or open network for the registration of patients in the on-going cooperative study because of the ethical reasons.
f) Better communication for the FNCA program:
Efforts to strengthen communication among the FNCA countries as well as between the FNCA Coordinator and the FNCA Project Leaders in each country were encouraged.
   
  In parallel with the Workshop, Open Lectures were held at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) for doctors with interest in radiation oncology. The titles of the lectures and names of lecturers are:
   
 
a) Present Situation and Future Development of the High Dose Rate and Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy:
Dr. Chul-Koo Cho, Republic of Korea.
b) Use of Standardized Treatment Protocol with the Guidebook:
Dr. Miriam Joy Calaguas, The Philippines, and
c) High-tech Radiotherapy:
Dr. Takehiro Inoue, Japan
   
  Technical tours were made to UMMC and HUKM in Kuala Lumpur as an opportunity to understand current situation of radiation oncology at hospitals in Malaysia.
  The meeting proposed the next Workshop to be held in either Vietnam or Japan around the period from October 2002 to January 2003.
   
 
  Project leaders in each country which is pleased with
reunion after an interval of one year
 

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