The impact of brachytherapy boost and radiotherapy treatment duration on survival in patients with vaginal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation

Design approach and benefits of the 3D-printed vaginal individualized applicator (VIA)

PURPOSE

Interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy necessitates precise needle placement, requiring time and expertise. We aimed to simplify interstitial procedures and facilitate optimal needle distribution with individualized vaginal templates to guide interstitial needles.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We developed the 3D-printed vaginal individualized applicator (VIA), a cylindrical template containing individualized internal channels that guide interstitial needles to cover the tumor extent. Eight patients underwent VIA only interstitial implants (VIA only), and five intact cervical cases were treated using tandem and customized VIA (VIA + T). Procedure length, number of needles utilized and dosimetric measures were evaluated.

RESULTS

VIA was successfully designed and used clinically for 24 procedures (8 VIA only, 16 VIA + T). Average procedure needle insertion time reduced from 80.9 min for traditional interstitial to 42.9 min for VIA only, approximately 47% shorter with a similar mean high risk CTV volume (28.3 cc VIA only vs. 32.4 cc) and excellent dosimetry with average CTV V100% (94.3% and 94.4%). VIA + T was particularly useful in patients with small vaginal canals and large tumor size. For the five VIA + T patients average tumor size was 68.0cc (range 26.6-143.5 cc). VIA + T procedures were approximately 20% shorter than hybrid procedures with other applicators with mean length of 20.1 min and an average of 6.8 needles (range 3-12).

CONCLUSION

Our novel 3D-printed VIA facilitates gynecologic interstitial brachytherapy by simplifying needle placement, reducing procedure time, and maintaining excellent dosimetry. VIA can be customized for various clinical scenarios, particularly beneficial for large tumors or small vaginal canals.

TRImodal DEfinitive invasive vagiNal carcinoma Treatment (TRIDENT protocol): how a standardized approach may change prognostic outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal carcinoma is a rare malignancy accounting for 1-2% of all gynecological cancers. Surgery has a limited role, while definitive radiotherapy-chemotherapy followed by interventional radiotherapy is considered a valid alternative. The aim of the TRIDENT (TRImodal DEfinitive invasive vagiNal carcinoma Treatment) pilot study was to report the results of a modern standardized trimodal protocol treatment consisting of image guided definitive radiotherapy-chemotherapy followed by image guided interventional radiotherapy in terms of safety and efficacy.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and December 2021, we analyzed 21 consecutive patients with primary vaginal cancer who had received radiotherapy-chemotherapy followed by interventional radiotherapy. The primary study endpoint was local control, and secondary endpoints were metastasis free survival, overall survival, and rate and severity of acute and late toxicities.

RESULTS

14 patients had FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage II, five patients had stage III, and two had stage IVB disease. Median total external beam radiotherapy dose for the tumor was 45 Gy. Median total dose on positive nodes was 60 Gy. Median total dose for interventional radiotherapy was 28 Gy over four high dose rate fractions to achieve between 85 and 95 Gy equivalent dose, in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2)α/β10, to the high risk clinical target volume, and 60 Gy EQD2α/β10 to the intermediate risk clinical target volume. All patients received weekly platinum based chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 20 months (range 10-56 months). Two year actuarial local control, metastasis free survival, and overall survival rate were 79.4%, 90.5%, and 79.4%, respectively. In terms of acute toxicity, there were no grade 4 events and only one acute grade (G) 3 toxicity (skin). Only vaginal stenosis (G3) was documented 12 months after therapy due to late toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, definitive radiotherapy-chemotherapy followed by interventional radiotherapy was a safe and effective treatment modality for primary vaginal cancer.

Characteristics and survival of primary vaginal malignancy: an analysis of the German nationwide cancer registry data

BACKGROUND

Vaginal neoplasms are rare. To study the survival of patients depending on tumour characteristics and age, the data from the national cancer registries in Germany were analysed.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis, data from 2006 to 2015 on disease stage, survival, and factors that might affect prognosis were analysed.

RESULTS

Altogether, out of 4004 datasets, 2194 were deemed adequate to be included in the analysis. Overall survival at 5 years (5YSR) and relative survival (5RSR) were 48.6% (95%CI 45.4-52.1%) and 58.7% (95%CI 55.3-61.2%) for carcinomas, but significantly worse at 20.2% (95%CI 8.3-32.0%) and 24.2% (95%CI 16.4-32.0%) for melanomas and 38.3% (95%CI 23.3-53.5%) and 44.4% (95%CI 31.5-56.8%) for sarcomas. 5YSR and 5RSR correlated significantly with FIGO stages (5YSR: 66.9-10.1%; 5RSR: 81.7-11.9%, p = 0.04). Furthermore, survival depended on the absence of LN metastases (5RSR: 59.1% vs. 38.0%, p < 0.001), and the tumour grading had an influence (5RSR: 83.7-52.1%). We also noted that prognosis was worse for older patients ≥75 years (5RSR:51.2%) than for patients <55 years (62.2%) and 55-74 years of age (61.6%).

CONCLUSION

Unless LN metastases, local advanced tumours and G3 grading are associated with a worse prognosis. Relative survival of older patients decreases, perhaps indicating that treatment compromises have been made.

Development and validation of models for predicting the overall survival and cancer-specific survival of patients with primary vaginal cancer: A population-based retrospective cohort study

Background

No models have been developed to predict the survival probability for women with primary vaginal cancer (VC) due to VC’s extreme rareness. We aimed to develop and validate models to predict the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of VC patients.

Methods

A population-based multicenter retrospective cohort study was carried out using the 2004–2018 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database in the United States. The final multivariate Cox model was identified using the Brier score and Harrell’s C concordance statistic (C-statistic). The decision curve, calibration plot, and area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to evaluate model prediction performance. Multiple imputation followed by bootstrap was performed. Bootstrap validation covered the entire statistic procedure from model selection to baseline survival and coefficient calculation. Nomograms predicting OS and CSS were generated.

Results

Of the 2,417 eligible patients, 1,692 and 725 were randomly allocated to the training and validation cohorts. The median age (Interquartile range) was 66 (56–78) and 65 (55–76) for the two cohorts, respectively. Our models had larger net benefits in predicting the survival of VC patients than the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, presenting great discrimination ability and excellent agreement between the expected and observed events. The performance metrics of our models were calculated in three cohorts: the training cohort, complete cases of the validation cohort, and the imputed validation cohort. For the OS model in the three cohorts, the C-statistics were 0.761, 0.752, and 0.743. The slopes of the calibration plots were 1.017, 1.005, and 0.959. The 3- and 5-year AUCs were 0.795 and 0.810, 0.768 and 0.771, and 0.770 and 0.767, respectively. For the CSS model in the three cohorts, the C-statistics were 0.775, 0.758, and 0.755. The slopes were 1.021, 0.939, and 0.977. And the 3- and 5-year AUCs were 0.797 and 0.793, 0.786 and 0.788, and 0.757 and 0.757, respectively.

Conclusion

We were the first to develop and validate exemplary survival prediction models for VC patients and generate corresponding nomograms that allow for individualized survival prediction and could assist clinicians in performing risk-adapted follow-up and treatment.

Updates in the treatment of vaginal cancer

Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer. A lot of the data used in the treatment of this cancer are extrapolated from cervical cancer data. Radiation therapy plays a significant role in the treatment of vaginal cancer. The advances in radiation therapy in both external beam and brachytherapy have improved local control, survival, and toxicity. Brachytherapy plays an important role in treating vaginal cancer, but treatment should be individualized to each tumor. Imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, plays an essential role in the management of patients with vaginal cancer, from diagnosis to staging to treatment management to surveillance.

Clinical outcomes of distal vaginal and vulvar cancer treated with image-guided brachytherapy

Purpose

To evaluate treatment outcomes with image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for distal vaginal and vulvar cancers.

Material and methods

Women treated for distal vaginal or vulvar malignancies utilizing IGBT were retrospectively reviewed, and acute and late toxicities were retrospectively graded. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

Results

Eighteen patients were included, out of which, twelve patients (66.7%) were with primary disease of the distal vagina and vulva, most commonly squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (n = 8, 66.7%), and six with recurrent disease, most commonly recurrent endometrial carcinoma (n = 5, 83.3%). All patients received external beam radiation (EBRT) to a median dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions, followed by IGBT (range of 15 to 27.5 Gy in 3 to 5 fractions). Mean follow-up was 20.6 months. Mean dose to high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) D₉₀ was 72.4 Gy. Mean D_2cc for the rectum, bladder, and urethra were 50 Gy, 50.6 Gy, and 62.9 Gy, respectively. Five patients (27.8%) recurred. Three patients (16.7%) had local recurrence, 1 patient (5.6%) had distant recurrence only, and 1 patient (5.6%) had simultaneous regional and distant recurrence. Grade 3 acute toxicities included 1 (5.6%) vaginal stenosis, 6 (33.3%) dermatitis/mucositis, 2 (11.1%) vaginal pain, and 1 (5.6%) vaginal/vulvar infection. Grade 3 late toxicities comprised 3 (17.7%) cases of vaginal pain and 1 (5.9%) skin/vaginal necrosis. There were no grade 4 or higher toxicities.

Conclusions

Definitive radiation therapy in the form of EBRT and IGBT provides meaningful loco-regional control in women with distal vaginal and vulvar cancers, with mainly skin and vaginal toxicity.

Advances in management of locally advanced cervical cancer

Globally, cervical cancer has the fourth highest cancer incidence and mortality in women. Cervical cancer is unique because it has effective prevention, screening, and treatment options. This review discusses the current cervical cancer advances with a focus on locally advanced cervical cancer. Topics discussed include diagnostic imaging principles, surgical management with adjuvant therapy and definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Emphasis is given on current advances and future research directions in radiation therapy (RT) with an emphasis on three-dimensional brachytherapy, intensity-modulated RT, image-guided RT, proton RT and hyperthermia.