Neutron brachytherapy is better than conventional radiotherapy in advanced cervical cancer

Californium-252 neutron brachytherapy combined with external pelvic radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy for cervical cancer: a retrospective clinical study

Background

Cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Chinese women. A standard treatment modality for cervical cancer is the combination of surgery, chemotherapy, external-beam radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the long-term treatment outcomes of patients with cervical cancer who were treated with californium-252 neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 150 patients with primary stages IB-IVB cervical cancer who received neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy concurrently with cisplatin chemotherapy. All patients were followed up. Using an actuarial analysis, patient outcomes and treatment-related adverse effects were evaluated and compared.

Results

The median overall survival (OS) was 33.2 months. The 3-year progression-free survival rates for patients with stages I–II, III, and IV diseases were 81.0% (68/84), 65.0% (39/60), and 0% (0/6), respectively; the 3-year OS rates were 90.5% (76/84), 85.0% (51/60), and 16.7% (1/6), respectively. Vaginal bleeding was controlled within the median time of 4.0 days. One month after treatment, 97.3% of patients achieved short-term local control. The local recurrence rates for patients with stages I–II, III, and IV disease were 4.8% (4/84), 11.7% (7/60), and 33.3% (2/6), respectively, and the occurrence rates of distant metastasis were 16.7% (14/84), 25.0% (15/60), and 100.0% (6/6), respectively. Cancer stage, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were identified as prognostic risk factors, but only lymph node metastasis was found to be an independent prognostic factor. The most common adverse effects during treatment were grades 1 and 2 irradiation-related proctitis and radiocystitis.

Conclusion

For patients with cervical cancer, neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy produces a rapid response and greatly improves local control and long-term survival rates with tolerable adverse effects.

Combination of external beam radiotherapy and Californium (Cf)-252 neutron intracavity brachytherapy is more effective in control of cervical squamous cell carcinoma than that of cervical adenocarcinoma

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of combined external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and Californium (Cf)-252 neutron intracavity brachytherapy (ICBT) on cervical squamous versus adenocarcinoma. A total of 106 patients with stage IB-IIIB cervical cancer were accrued between January 2005 and May 2011 and divided into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) as a pair with 53 patients in each group according to tumor size, stage, age, and hemoglobin level using matched-pair design. The whole pelvic EBRT was performed with 2 Gy/fraction, 4 fractions/week. The total dose was 48-54 Gy (the center of whole pelvic field was blocked by 4 cm in width after 20-36 Gy). Cf-252 neutron ICBT was delivered with 11 and 12 Gy-eq/f with the total dose at point A of 44 and 48 Gy-eq for SCC and AC patients, respectively. The mean follow-up time was 43 months. The 5-year LC, OS, DFS, LAC rates, and mean survival time were 66.0, 56.6, 52.8.0, 17.0%, and 76.4 ± 6.2 months, respectively, for AC patients, whereas they were 81.1, 69.8, 67.9, 11.3%, and 93.3 ± 4.3 months, respectively, for SCC patients. Furthermore, the early treatment toxicity was mild in both groups, the late treatment complications were mainly radiation-induced proctitis and cystitis, and there were no grade 3 or higher complications. Although the combination of Cf-252 neutron ICBT and EBRT was effective in both histology types of cervical cancer, a more aggressive strategy is needed to control cervical AC.

Carbon beam therapy overcomes the radiation resistance of uterine cervical cancer originating from hypoxia

PURPOSE

High linear energy transfer (LET) particles are believed to decrease tumor radiation resistance originating from hypoxia. However, no proof of this effect has been provided by clinical trials and related clinical research. Hence, we investigated the radiation biological aspects of high LET carbon beam therapy on cervical cancer.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This study involved 49 patients with stage IIIb bulky and stage IVa cervical cancer treated with high LET carbon beams between October 1995 and June 2000. Oxygen partial pressure (pO(2)) was measured by using a needle-type polarographic oxygen electrode.

RESULTS

The 4-year disease-free survival rates of patients with pO(2) </= 20 mm Hg (hypoxic tumor) and pO(2) > 20 mm Hg (oxygenated tumor) before treatment were 37% and 21%, respectively. The local control rates of hypoxic and oxygenated tumors before treatment were 58% and 54%, respectively. The disease-free survival rates of hypoxic and oxygenated tumors assessed by oxygen status at the 5th day of irradiation were 33% and 32%, respectively. The local control rates of hypoxic and oxygenated tumors at the 5th day were 60% and 58%, respectively. There was no significant prognostic difference between hypoxic and oxygenated tumors.

CONCLUSION

The similar disease-free survival and local control rates between hypoxic and oxygenated tumors before and during treatment indicated that the role of the tumor oxygenation status was not so important in local control in carbon beam therapy. These results indicated that high LET carbon beam irradiation might reduce the radiation-resistant nature stemming from tumor hypoxia.

A review of californium-252 neutron brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Since 1976 a clinical trial has been conducted to test the feasibility, the potential, and to develop methods for using the neutron-emitting radioactive isotope, californium-252 (Cf-252), for the treatment of cervical cancer. A total of 218 patients were treated in the initial study period from 1976 until 1983. The trials initially treated advanced (Stages III and IV) cervical cancer patients using different doses and schedules; they were extended to include unfavorable presentations of Stages I and II because of favorable results in the initial trials. The authors began to treat patients with Stage IB bulky or barrel-shaped tumors and the majority were treated with both radiation and hysterectomy. Actuarial survival was determined for Stage IB disease and was 87% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. For those tested with preoperative radiation it was 92% at 5 and 87% at 10 years. For Stage II, it was 62% 5 years and 61% at 10. Survival 5 years after combined radiation and surgical therapy for Stage II disease was 68%. For Stage III, it was 33% at 5 years and 25% at 10. However, 5-year survival using the early neutron implant was 46% versus approximately 19% for delayed Cf-252 or cesium 137. Different schedules and sequences of neutrons and photons greatly altered outcome. Neutron treatment before external photon therapy was better for all stages of disease. Only about 5% of all patients developed complications after neutron therapy. No hematologic or mesenchymal second tumors were observed. Neutron brachytherapy was found to be very effective for producing rapid response and greatly improved local control of bulky, barrel, or advanced cervical cancers. The clinical trial identified and evolved schedules, doses, doses per session, and developed methods different from standard photon therapy but highly effective for local control and cure of cervical cancers of all stages. Clinical and radiobiologic understanding for the use of neutron therapy was greatly advanced by this trial. Future trials will focus on patients with advanced disease and will require evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy studies and neutron-enhancing chemicals.

Evaluation of time-dose and fractionation for 252Cf neutrons in preoperative bulky/barrel-cervix carcinoma radiotherapy

Time-dose fractionation factors (TDF) were calculated for 252Cf (Cf) neutron therapy versus 137Cs for intracavitary use in the preoperative treatment of bulky/barrel-shaped Stage IB cervix cancers. The endpoint assessed was gross and microscopic tumor eradication from the hysterectomy specimen. We reviewed the data obtained in clinical trials between 1976-1987 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Preoperative photon therapy was approximately 45 Gy of whole pelvis irradiation in 5 weeks for both 137Cs and Cf treated patients. 137Cs implant was done after pelvic irradiation x1 to a mean dose of 2104 +/- 36 cGy at point A at a dose rate of 50.5 cGy/h. There were 37.5% positive specimens. Using Cf intracavitary implants, dose varied from 109 to 459 neutron cGy in 1-2 sessions. Specimens were more frequently cleared of tumor (up to 100% at appropriate dose) and showed a dose-response relationship, both by nominal dose and by TDF adjusted analysis of dose, dose-rate, number of sessions, and overall time. Limited understanding of relative biological effectiveness, schedule, effect of implants, and dose rate all made it difficult to use TDF to study neutron effects. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was estimated and showed that for Cf, RBE was a complex function of treatment variables. In the pilot clinical studies, a value of 6.0 had been assumed. The present findings of RBE for tumor destruction are larger than those assumed. Cf was effective for cervix tumor therapy and produced control without significant side effects due to the brachytherapy method used. The TDF model was of limited value in the present analysis and more information is still needed for RBE, dose-rate, and fractionation effects for Cf neutrons to develop a more sophisticated and relevant model.

Regeneration in cervix cancer after 252Cf neutron brachytherapy

Regeneration of clonogens in human cervical cancer was assessed by the pathological evaluation of the hysterectomy specimen after intracavitary 252Cf neutron brachytherapy implants separated by varying time intervals followed by extrafascial hysterectomy. In this study, patients with bulky/barrel shaped Stage IB cervical cancers received 252Cf implants plus approximately 45 Gy of whole pelvis linear accelerator radiotherapy in approximately 25 fractions in 5 weeks followed by hysterectomy 4-6 weeks after radiotherapy. The specimens were studied grossly and microscopically for residual tumor. It was found that the fraction of positive specimens increased with elapsed time interval between implants. These findings support the hypothesis that there is repopulation of surviving clonogens with increased time interval between the implants. The observation also supports current concerns that rapid depopulation of tumor can lead to rapid repopulation, that is, rapid shrinkage of tumor can alter the physiological environment such that clonogens can rapidly regenerate.

Neutron brachytherapy for the treatment of malignant neoplasia

In the 1930's both neutrons and the cyclotron were discovered, developed and used almost immediately for neutron beam therapy. Cf-252 was discovered in 1950 but its potential for cancer therapy was not postulated until 1965. Early sporadic clinical trials were used to treat only a few patients. The recognition of its curative properties and usefulness for bulky localized and radioresistant cancer therapy was not made until recently. In 1985, the Lexington Workshop led to a sharing of independent experiences from the USA, Japan, and the USSR; early trial experiences were related to neutron beam results. Localized neutron therapy using brachytherapy methods was found effective against radioresistance and bulky tumors. However, it needed to be used properly and with full appreciation of clinical oncology and the role of photon adjuvant therapy.

Neutron therapy in cervical cancer: results of a phase III RTOG Study

Between October 1976 and May 1984, 156 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were entered into a Phase III trial with the participation of five institutions. Patients were randomly assigned to receive photons only (50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks plus intracavitary applications or external-beam boost) or mixed-beam radiotherapy (2 fractions a week of neutrons, 3 fractions a week of photons to a total RBE-adjusted dose of 50 Gy over 5 weeks plus intracavitary applications or external mixed-beam boost). Only patients with squamous carcinoma of FIGO Stages IIB, III, or IVA with negative para-aortic nodes on lymphangiogram were eligible. Ten patients were excluded from the analysis because of ineligibility or cancellation. Of the 146 patients analyzed, 80 were treated with mixed-beam radiotherapy and 66 with photons. Patients were grouped by stage and institution. The percentage of patients undergoing intracavitary applications was 50% on mixed beam and 75% on photons (p less than 0.01). Tumor clearance was 52% and 72% for mixed beam and photons, respectively (p less than 0.03). Local control at 2 years was 45% for mixed beam and 52% for photons. Median survivals were 1.9 years on mixed beam and 2.3 years on photons. Severe complications occurred in 19% and 11% in mixed beam and photons respectively (p less than 0.13). The inferior outcome with neutron therapy in this study may have resulted from the use of horizontal neutron beams of varying energy and penetration. A new randomized trial using high-energy hospital-based cyclotrons with gantry-mounted beam-delivery systems has recently been activated to evaluate more rigorously the role of fast-neutron therapy for advanced cervical cancer.

Phase I-II clinical trial of Californium-252. Treatment of stage IB carcinoma of the cervix

Intracavitary Californium-252 combined with whole-pelvis photon radiotherapy was tested as the sole form of treatment for 22 patients with Stage IB carcinoma of the cervix. Californium-252 (Cf) is a fast neutron-emitting radioisotope currently being tested in trials of neutron brachytherapy (NT). The outcomes of the treated group of patients were traced for local tumor control, survival, patterns of failure, and complications. The Cf intracavitary therapy combined with whole-pelvis photon radiotherapy resulted in 95% 2-year and 91% 5-year actuarial survival. There were 9% Grade II-III complications by the Stockholm scale and 4% local failures. These results were obtained in an early clinical trial with a group of largely poor-risk patients with tumors of mean diameter of 4.3 cm.

Cf-252 leukemogenesis in the C57BL mouse

Radiation-induced leukemia/lymphomas were induced in C57BL mice using four weekly acute 60Co fractionated irradiation exposures (to 188 cGy, or graded doses of low dose rate (LDR) Cf-252 irradiation given in fractionated exposure sessions at four weekly intervals. The acute 60Co radiation produced 84% thymic lymphomas with a median survival time (MST) of 162 days for mice developing tumors. Mice were exposed to Cf-252 n + gamma radiation in graded doses of 50, 62.5, 80, 112, and 188 cGy per week repeated 4X. Mice exposed to Cf-252 radiation developed thymic lymphomas on a much delayed time schedule. Mice irradiated at 50-80 cGy Cf-252 were killed after the 60Co induced thymoma mice had died to detect tumors. At Cf-252 doses of 112 or 188 rads 79 or 70% of mice, respectively, developed thymic lymphomas and had similar survival times which gave an estimated leukemogenesis RBEn of approximately 1.0-2.0. These studies show that for Cf-252 n + gamma radiation, compared to 60Co for leukemogenic efficiency, had a much longer latent period, and had a low RBE (1.0-2.0) at the large doses per fraction used in these studies. Under the experimental fractionated conditions tested, Cf-252 neutrons were leukemogenic, but only slightly more so than fractionated 60Co.