High-dose (60 Gy) intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin followed by intracavitary radiation in locally advanced cervical cancer: A phase II prospective clinical trial

PET/CT-based dose-escalated definitive radiotherapy in cervical cancer: a single-institution series

Background

The objective was to evaluate clinical outcomes and toxicity of patients with cervical cancer treated by radiotherapy with dose escalation in involved lymph nodes based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) staging.

Materials and methods

Retrospective cohort study involving locally advanced cervical neoplasms treated with definitive radiotherapy. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and registration of PET/CT were employed in all. Involved lymph nodes were given higher doses simultaneously.

Results

Between February 2012 and September 2023, there were 37 patients, with median age of 48 (range 27-91) years. Almost 70% were stages III/IVA. Two-thirds were given retroperitoneal irradiation. The mean delivered doses to primary tumor and to involved lymph nodes were, respectively, 52.5 Gy, and 62.5 Gy. The 10-year rates of overall survival, event-free survival, local-recurrence-free survival, and metastasis-free survival were, respectively, 76%, 50%, 91%, and 82%. There were 13 and 2 cases of gastrointestinal toxicity grades II and III, respectively. Grades II and III of genitourinary toxicity were seen respectively in 7 and 3 patients. On univariate analysis, age was related to local recurrence-free survival (LRFS); standard uptake values (SUV) was related to event-free survival (EFS); lymph node dose was related to overall survival (OS), and EFS; primary tumor dose was directly related to EFS, albeit inversely to the likelihood of grade > II gastrointestinal toxicity. Retroperitoneal irradiation improved LRFS, and rates of grade > II gastrointestinal toxicity. On multivariate analysis, SUV remained an independent predictor of EFS; lymph node dose was an independent predictor of OS, and age was an independent predictor of lymph node recurrence.

Conclusion

Dose escalation radiotherapy (RT) based on PET/CT for cervical cancer may be feasible and safe. Further robust study results are needed.

Nomograms combining clinical factors and apparent diffusion coefficient to predict downstaging and progression-free survival after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is used as the primary treatment modality for currently limited cervical cancer and lacks non-invasive quantitative parameters to assess clinical outcomes of treatment for cervical cancer treatment.

PURPOSE

To develop nomograms based on clinical prognostic factors and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in predicting downstaging and progression-free survival (PFS) after CCRT for cervical cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

X-tile was used to calculate the optimal threshold for ΔADCmean(%) for prognostic stratification. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate the difference in PFS between high- and low-risk groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression models were used to identify clinical and radiological risk factors for prognosis and construct a prognostic nomogram model.

RESULTS

ΔADCmean(%) was significantly correlated with tumor downstaging; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.868. X-tile showed that the optimal threshold for ΔADCmean(%) to diagnose prognosis was 40.8. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the low-risk population in the training group had significantly longer PFS within 3 years (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed that ΔADC (%) is independent risk factor for PFS. The C-index of ΔADC(%) predicting 3-year PFS in the training set is 0.761 and the C-index of the nomogram model is 0.862.

CONCLUSION

ΔADCmean(%) is a non-invasive biomarker for predicting tumor downstaging in cervical cancer after CCRT. The nomograms based on ΔADCmean(%) predict PFS of patients with cervical cancer with moderate accuracy.

MRI-based volumetric tumor parameters before and during chemoradiation predict tumor recurrence and patient survival in locally advanced cervical cancer: a subgroup analysis of a phase II prospective trial

BACKGROUND

This subgroup analysis of a prospective phase II trial aimed to identify valuable and accessible prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

METHODS

Patients with FIGO II to IVA cervical cancer were assessed in this study. All patients underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by brachytherapy. Tumor parameters based on MRI scans before and during CCRT were evaluated for Overall survival (OS) and Progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

A total of 86 patients were included in this analysis with a median follow-up period of 31.7 months. Three-year OS and PFS rates for all patients were 87.1% and 76.5%, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that restaging tumor size (rTS) over 2.55 cm (p < 0.001), initial tumor volume (iTV) over 55.99 cc (p < 0.001), downstaging (p = 0.042), and restaging tumor volume (rTV) over 6.25 cc (p = 0.006) were significantly associated with OS. rTS (p < 0.001), iTV (p < 0.001), downstaging (p = 0.027), and rTV (p < 0.001) were identified as significant prognostic factors for PFS. In the stepwise multivariable analysis, only rTS > 2.55 cm showed statistically significant with OS (HR: 5.47, 95% CI 1.80-9.58, p = 0.035) and PFS (HR: 3.83, 95% CI 1.50-11.45; p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial tumor size and restaging tumor volume that are easily accessible during radiotherapy provide valuable prognostic information for cervical cancer. MRI-based measurable volumetric scoring system can be readily applied in real-world practice of cervical cancer.

CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION

This study is a subgroup analysis of prospective trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02993653.