A dummy-run evaluation of postoperative hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (POHIM-RT) trials for cervical cancer

Postoperative Hypofractionated Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy in Cervical Cancer: The POHIM-CCRT Nonrandomized Controlled Trial

Importance

Prospective data assessing the safety of hypofractionated (40 Gy in 16 fractions) radiotherapy (RT) among patients who receive postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate the acute toxic effects of hypofractionated pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent chemotherapy among women with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The POHIM-CCRT (Postoperative Hypofractionated Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy in Cervical Cancer) study was designed as a multicenter, phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial that accrued and followed up patients from June 1, 2017, to February 28, 2023. In total, 84 patients were enrolled from 5 institutions affiliated with the Korean Radiation Oncology Group. Eligible patients experienced lymph node metastasis, parametrial invasion, or positive resection margins after radical hysterectomy for treatment of confirmed cervical cancer.

Intervention

Postoperative pelvic radiation using hypofractionated IMRT with 40 Gy in 16 fractions to the whole pelvis combined with concurrent chemotherapy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was incidence of acute grade 3 or higher gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary, and hematologic toxic effects (based on the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0) in the evaluable population during RT or within 3 months after RT completion.

Results

Of 84 patients enrolled, 5 dropped out prior to RT, and data from 79 patients were analyzed. The patients' median (IQR) age was 48 (42-58) years, and the median (IQR) tumor size was 3.7 (2.7-4.5) cm. Of these patients, 31 (39.7%) had lymph node metastasis, 4 (5.1%) had positive resection margins, and 43 (54.4%) had parametrial invasion. Grade 3 or higher acute toxic effects occurred in 2 patients (2.5% [90% CI, 0%-4.8%]). After a median (IQR) follow-up of 43.0 (21.1-59.0) months, the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 79.3%, and the overall survival rate was 98.0%.

Conclusions

Findings from this nonrandomized control trial indicated that postoperative pelvic irradiation combined with concurrent chemotherapy using hypofractionated IMRT with 40 Gy in 16 fractions was safe and well-tolerated in women with cervical cancer. Studies assessing long-term toxic effects and oncological outcomes with longer follow-up periods are needed.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03239613.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer to Reduce Toxicity and Enhance Efficacy - an Option or a Must?: A Narrative Review

Radiotherapy (RT) is a fundamental modality in treatment of cervical cancer. With advancement of technology, conventional RT used for external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for over half a century has been rapidly replaced with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) especially during the last decade. This newer technique is able to differentiate the intensity of radiation within the same field, thus reduces the inevitable exposure of radiation to normal organs and enables better dose delivery to tumors. Recently, the American Society for Radiation Oncology has released a guideline for RT in cervical cancer. Although a section of the guideline recommends IMRT for the purpose of toxicity reduction, a thorough review of the literature is necessary to understand the current status of IMRT in cervical cancer. This narrative review updates the recent high-level evidences regarding the efficacy and toxicity of IMRT and provides a better understanding of the most innovative techniques currently available for EBRT enabled by IMRT.

Plan quality association between dummy run and individual case review in a prospective multi-institutional clinical trial of postoperative cervical cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG1402)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) 1402 conducted a multicenter clinical trial of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for high-risk uterine cervical cancer patients. We assess effectiveness of the quality assurance (QA) program in central review through dummy runs (DRs) performed before patient enrollment and post-treatment individual case review (ICR), and clarify the pitfalls in treatment planning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The ICRs were conducted using the same QA program as the DR for 214 plans. The deviations were compared with those demonstrated in the DRs, and the pitfalls were clarified. Fifteen face-to-face meetings were held with physicians at participating institutions to provide feedback.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and eighty-nine deviations and nine violations were detected in the 214 plans. The patterns of the deviations observed in the ICRs were similar to that in the DR. Frequent deviations were observed in clinical target volume (CTV) delineations, 50% in the DRs and 35% in the ICRs, respectively. In the ICRs, approximately 1.4 deviations/violations were observed per plan, which was lower than DR. Nine violations included inaccurate CTV delineation and improper PTV (planning target volume) margin, which had risks in loco-regional failures by inadequate dose coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our developed QA program commonly used in DR and ICR clarified the pitfalls in treatment plans. Although the frequent deviations in CTV delineations were observed in the ICR, the deviations decreased compared to that in the DR. More specified face-to-face meetings with participating institutions will be necessary to maintain the quality of IMRT in the clinical protocol.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japanese Clinical Trial Registry #: UMIN000027017 at https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000030672;language=J.

Practice changing data and emerging concepts from recent radiation therapy randomised clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

Oncology treatments are constantly and rapidly evolving. We aimed at highlighting the latest radiation therapy practice changing trials and emerging concepts, through an overview of recent randomised clinical trials (RCTs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Requests were performed in the Medline database to identify all publications reporting radiation therapy RCTs from 2018 to 2021.

RESULTS

Recent RCTs sustained the role of newer combinatorial strategies through radioimmunotherapy for early stage or metastatic lung cancer, newer pro-apoptotic agents (e.g. debio 1143 in locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma) or nanoparticles (e.g. NBTXR3 in locally advanced soft-tissue sarcoma). High-tech radiotherapy allows intensifying treatments and gaining ground in some indications through the development of stereotactic body radiotherapy for example. First randomised evidence on personalised radiation therapy through imaging-based (¹⁸FDG positron emission tomography-computed tomography for lung cancer or early stage unfavourable Hodgkin lymphoma, PMSA positron emission tomography-computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging for high-risk prostate cancer) or biological biomarkers (PSA for prostate cancer, HPV for head and neck cancer, etc) were conducted to more tailored treatments, with more favourable outcomes. Patients' quality of life and satisfaction appeared to be increasing aims. RCTs have validated (ultra)hypofractionated schemes in many indications as for breast, prostate or rectal cancer, resulting in equivalent outcomes and toxicities, more convenient for patients and favouring shared decision making.

CONCLUSION

Radiation therapy is a dynamic field of research, and many RCTs have greatly impacted therapeutic standards over the last years. Investments in radiotherapy research should facilitate the transfer of innovation to clinic.

Patterns of definitive radiotherapy practice for cervical cancer in South Korea: a survey endorsed by the Korean Radiation Oncology Group (KROG 20-06)

Objective

The Korean Radiation Oncology Group conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey to evaluate the patterns of clinical practice for patients with cervical cancer receiving definitive radiation therapy (RT) in South Korea.

Methods

Practicing radiation oncologists from 93 centers in South Korea were administered a questionnaire survey via e-mail. The survey focused on demographic characteristics, diagnostic evaluation, indications for definitive RT, RT techniques, RT field and dose prescription, lymph node (LN) boost RT, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy.

Results

The response rate was 62.4% (58/93 institutions). Of the 2,134 patients treated at the radiation oncology department in 2019, 48.8% underwent definitive RT. The selection of patients for definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy and RT field, and RT dose prescription varied greatly. The upper border of the pelvis was commonly used as the bony landmark for external beam RT (81%–88% of respondents). Most (96.6%) centers performed LN boost RT with median total doses of 59 Gy and 59.2 Gy for pelvic and retroperitoneal LN, respectively. With 50% of the centers offering brachytherapy, image-guided brachytherapy and volume-based prescription were applied in 48.3% and 37.9%, respectively. Upfront concurrent chemoradiation therapy with varying prescription doses was considered by 60.4% respondents in cases of supraclavicular LN metastasis.

Conclusion

Most differences were noted in the indications for treatment, RT field, and prescription dose. This finding can serve as a reference for establishing practical RT guidelines for the management of locally advanced cervical cancer.