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High-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for locally advanced cervical cancer: Oncological outcome and toxicity analysis of 4 fractionation schemes

ABSTRACT: Highlights • Brachytherapy boost is a standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer.• High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) boost procedure is not standardized.• The number of implants, fractions, doses and imaging differ in literature.• Bi-fractionated HDR-BT in 1 implant is feasible with good oncological outcome.• Bi-fractionated HDR-BT dose escalation slightly increases acute toxicity.

Purpose

Brachytherapy (BT) boost after radio-chemotherapy (RCT) is a standard of care in the management of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). As there is no consensus on high-dose-rate (HDR) BT fractionation schemes, our aim was to report the oncological outcome and toxicity profile of four different schemes using twice-a-day (BID) HDR-BT.

Patients and methods

This was an observational, retrospective, single institution study for patients with LACC receiving a HDR-BT boost. The latter was performed with a single implant and single imaging done on day 1. The different fractionation schemes were: 7 Gy + 4x3.5 Gy (group 1); 7 Gy + 4x4.5 Gy (group 2); 3x7Gy (group 3) and 3x8Gy (group 4). Local (LFS), nodal (NFS) and metastatic (MFS) recurrence-free survival as well as progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Acute (≤6 months) and late toxicities (>6 months) were reported.

Results

From 2007 to 2018, 191 patients were included. Median follow-up was 57 months [45–132] and median EQD210D90CTVHR was 84, 82 and 90 Gy for groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively (dosimetric data missing for group 1). The 5-year LFS, NFS, MFS, PFS and OS were 85% [81–90], 83% [79–86], 70% [67–73], 61% [57–64] and 75% [69–78] respectively, with no significant difference between the groups. EQD210D90CTVHR < 85 Gy was a prognostic factor for local recurrence in univariate analysis (p = 0.045). The rates of acute/late grade ≥ 2 urinary, digestive and gynecological toxicities were 9%/15%, 3%/15% and 9%/25% respectively.

Conclusion

Bi-fractionated HDR-BT boost seems feasible with good oncological outcome and slightly more toxicity after dose escalation.

SUBMITTER: le Guyader M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8592834 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundLocal recurrence is the most common pattern of failure in head and neck cancer. It can therefore be hypothesised that some of these patients would benefit from an intensified local treatment, such as radiation dose escalation of the primary tumour. This study compares treatment and toxicity outcomes from two different boost modalities in oropharyngeal cancer: simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) and brachytherapy boost.MethodsTwo hundred and forty-four consecutive patients treated with > 72 Gy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma between 2011 and 2018 at our institution were retrospectively analysed. Data on side effects were collected from a local quality registry and supplemented with a review of medical records. Patients receiving a brachytherapy boost first had external beam radiotherapy consisting of 68 Gy in 2 Gy fractions to the gross tumour volume (GTV), and elective radiotherapy to the neck bilaterally. The brachytherapy boost was typically given using pulsed dose rate, 15 fractions and 0.56-0.66 Gy per fraction [total dose in EQD2 = 75.4-76.8 Gy (α/β = 10)]. The typical dose escalated radiotherapy with external beam radiotherapy only, was delivered using SIB with 74,8 Gy in 2.2 Gy fractions [EQD2 = 76.0 Gy (α/β = 10)] to the primary tumour, 68 Gy in 2 Gy fractions to GTV + 10 mm margin and elective radiotherapy to the neck bilaterally.ResultsDose escalation by SIB was given to 111 patients and brachytherapy boost to 134 patients. The most common type of cancer was base of tongue (55%), followed by tonsillar cancer (42%). The majority of patients had T3- or T4-tumours and 84% were HPV-positive. The 5-year OS was 72,4% (95% CI 66.9-78.3) and the median follow-up was 6.1 years. Comparing the two different dose escalation modalities we found no significant differences in OS or PFS and these results remained after a propensity-score matched analysis was performed. The analysis of grade ≥ 3 side effects showed no significant differences between the two different dose escalation techniques.ConclusionsWe found no significant differences in survival or grade ≥ 3 side effects comparing simultaneous integrated boost and brachytherapy boost as alternative dose escalation modalities in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.