Evaluating contemporary radiotherapy approaches in the primary treatment of cervical cancer

Impact of High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy Training via Telehealth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

PURPOSE

Our objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of a telehealth training course on high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for gynecologic cancer treatment for clinicians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

A 12-week course consisting of 16 live video sessions was offered to 10 cancer centers in the Middle East, Africa, and Nepal. A total of 46 participants joined the course, and 22 participants, on average, attended each session. Radiation oncologists and medical physicists from 11 US and international institutions prepared and provided lectures for each topic covered in the course. Confidence surveys of 15 practical competencies were administered to participants before and after the course. Competencies focused on HDR commissioning, shielding, treatment planning, radiobiology, and applicators. Pre- and post-program surveys of provider confidence, measured by 5-point Likert scale, were administered and compared.

RESULTS

Forty-six participants, including seven chief medical physicists, 16 senior medical physicists, five radiation oncologists, and three dosimetrists, representing nine countries attended education sessions. Reported confidence scores, both aggregate and paired, demonstrated increases in confidence in all 15 competencies. Post-curriculum score improvement was statistically significant (P < .05) for paired respondents in 11 of 15 domains. Absolute improvements were largest for confidence in applicator commissioning (2.3 to 3.8, P = .009), treatment planning system commissioning (2.2 to 3.9, P = .0055), and commissioning an HDR machine (2.2 to 4.0, P = .0031). Overall confidence in providing HDR brachytherapy services safely and teaching other providers increased from 3.1 to 3.8 and 3.0 to 3.5, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A 12-week, low-cost telehealth training program on HDR brachytherapy improved confidence in treatment delivery and teaching for clinicians in 10 participating LMICs.

The Impact of High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy: Measuring Clinical Outcomes in the Primary Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Purpose

Radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy with combined external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy is used to treat locally advanced cervical cancer. Our institution has transitioned to high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) from low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy in 2008, and a review was conducted on the effect of this change on patient outcomes.

Methods and Materials

A single-arm retrospective chart review was performed on locally advanced (Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique stage IB-IVA) patients with cervical cancer treated with combined external beam radiation therapy and HDR-ICBT with curative intent between 2008 and 2014. Clinical outcomes were evaluated, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors.

Results

Of the 76 patients selected, median age was 47.9 years and median follow-up was 5.2 years. Thirteen patients (17.1%) developed locoregional recurrence and 23 patients (30.3%) patients developed distant recurrence. Five-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 63.7% and 69.3%, respectively. A significant survival difference was found between stages (P < .001). Multivariate analysis found nodal involvement was strongly associated with poorer survival (P = .007).

Conclusions

Our experience with the transition to HDR-ICBT as part of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer resulted in acceptable long-term outcomes and toxicity to that of LDR brachytherapy. Potential further improvement of treatment outcomes for patients may be possible with image guided brachytherapy and the addition of effective systemic therapy.

Analysis of factors contributing to the low survival of cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in Kenya

BACKGROUND

In contrast to the developed nations, invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is the most common womens malignancy in Kenya and many other locations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, studies on survival from this disease in this area of the world are severely restricted by lack of patient follow-up. We now report a prospective cohort study of ICC in Kenyan women analysing factors affecting tumour response and overall survival in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Between 2008 and 2010, 355 patients with histologically confirmed ICC were recruited at the Departments of Gynaecology and Radiotherapy at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Structured questionnaires were completed recording socio-demographics, tumour response and overall survival following treatment with combinations of external beam radiation (EBRT), brachytherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 355 patients, 42% (146) were lost to follow-up while 18% (64) died during the two year period. 80.5% of patients presented with advanced stage IIB disease or above, with only 6.7% of patients receiving optimal combined EBRT, brachytherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Kaplan Meier survival curves projected two year survival at <20%.

CONCLUSION

Cervical cancer is preventable yet poverty, poor education, lack of cancer awareness coupled with an absence of regular screening programs, late patient presentation, sub-optimal diagnosis and treatments are major factors contributing to the alarmingly low survival rate of cervical cancer patients in Kenya. It is concluded that simple cost-effective changes in clinical practice could be introduced which would have a marked impact on patient survival in this setting.