Reirradiation for recurrent gynecologic cancer using high-dose-rate brachytherapy in Japan: A multicenter survey on practice patterns and outcomes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to examine the present status of reirradiation with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for recurrent gynecologic cancer in Japan and to determine the role of this therapy in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective multicenter chart review was performed for reirradiation for gynecologic cancer using HDR brachytherapy. Each center provided information on patient characteristics, treatment outcomes, and complications.

RESULTS

The study included 165 patients treated at 9 facilities from 2000 to 2018. The analysis of outcomes included 142 patients treated with curative intent. The median follow-up time for survivors was 30 months (range 1-130 months). The 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) rates were 53 % (95 %CI: 42-63 %), 44 % (35-53 %), and 61 % (50-70 %) for cervical cancer; 100 % (NA), 64 % (30-85 %), and 70 % (32-89 %) for endometrial cancer; and 54 % (13-83 %), 38 % (6-72 %), and 43 % (6-78 %) for vulvar and vaginal cancer, respectively. In multivariate analysis, interval to reirradiation (<1 year) was a significant risk factor for OS, PFS and LC; Gross Tumor Volume (≥25 cm3) was a significant risk factor for OS. Toxicities were analyzed in all enrolled patients (n = 165). Grade ≥ 3 late toxicities occurred in 49 patients (30 %). A higher cumulative EQD2 (α/β = 3) was significantly associated with severe complications.

CONCLUSION

Reirradiation with HDR brachytherapy for recurrent gynecologic cancer is effective, especially in cases with a long interval before reirradiation.

Decision-making for Subsequent Therapy for Patients With Recurrent or Advanced Endometrial Cancer Based on the Platinum-free Interval

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) of patients with recurrent endometrial cancer (REC) or advanced endometrial cancer (AEC) retreated with platinum-containing chemotherapy (PCC) based on the platinum-free interval (PFI). We compared our results with those reported in the KEYNOTE-775 study (that used pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 65 patients with REC or AEC retreated with PCC between 2005 and 2020 at our hospital. Various clinicopathologic variables were analyzed: (1) age, (2) performance status, (3) histology, (4) history of pelvic irradiation in the adjuvant setting, (5) PFI, (6) chemotherapy regimen, (7) PFS and overall survival after retreatment with PCC, and (8) best ORR. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.

RESULTS

The best ORR and PFS were 43.3% and 9.5 months, respectively, in patients with REC/AEC with a PFI ≥6 months. These results were comparable with those of patients treated with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. The best ORR and PFS of patients with a PFI of <6 months appeared to be inferior to those of patients treated with pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib.

CONCLUSIONS

Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib seems to be a better treatment choice for patients with REC or AEC with a PFI of <6 months. For a PFI of ≥6 months, pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib or PCC can be used depending on the degree of residual side -effects associated with cytotoxic agents.

Capecitabine in treating patients with advanced, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer: an active and safe option?

Introduction: Advanced, persistent or recurrent cervical cancer in patients not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy predicts a dismal prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy based on paclitaxel/cisplatin ± bevacizumab is the current standard of care. However, once progression occurs, the possibility of alternative treatment options is very limited.Areas covered: The usefulness of capecitabine has been well-established against several cancer types, including head and neck, breast, and colorectal cancer. This review covers current literature evidence on the clinical efficacy and safety of capecitabine in cervical cancer treatment, either as monotherapy or combined with other agents or chemo-radiotherapy.Expert opinion: Recent clinical data, albeit scant, suggested a promising role for capecitabine both as monotherapy in patients with platinum-resistant cervical cancer and in combination with cisplatin in chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. In our opinion, capecitabine, especially in combination regimens, could represent a valid treatment option and further research is warranted to better understand its effectiveness in these challenging patients.

Pharmacological Treatment of Patients with Metastatic, Recurrent or Persistent Cervical Cancer Not Amenable by Surgery or Radiotherapy: State of Art and Perspectives of Clinical Research

Cervical cancer patients with distant or loco-regional recurrences not amenable by surgery or radiotherapy have limited treatment options, and their 5-year overall survival (OS) rates range from 5% to 16%. The purpose of this paper is to assess the results obtained with chemotherapy and biological agents in this clinical setting. Several phase II trials of different cisplatin (CDDP)-based doublets and a phase III randomized trial showing a trend in response rate, progression-free survival, and OS in favor of CDDP + paclitaxel (PTX) compared with other CDDP-based doublets have been reviewed. The factors predictive of response to chemotherapy as well as the benefits and risks of the addition of bevacizumab to CDDP + PTX have been analyzed. The FDA has recently approved pembrolizumab for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer in progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors were PD-L1 positive. Interesting perspectives of clinical research are represented by the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors alone or in addition to chemotherapy, whereas PARP inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors are still at the basic research phase, but promising.

The upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in surgically treated patients with recurrent/radioresistant cervical cancer of the uterus

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have been utilized for the treatment against advanced or recurrent cervical carcinoma as a novel therapeutic modality. However, the expression level of VEGF in post-radiotherapy relapsed/persistent cervical cancer remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of VEGF and associated molecules using tumor samples from patients with post-radiotherapy relapsed/persistent cervical cancer. From a database of 826 patients who were treated at our institution between 2003 and 2015, eight patients with post-radiotherapy relapsed/persistent cervical cancer were identified, and 20 patients who underwent initial surgery alone were used as a control. Using samples from these patients, the expression levels of VEGF-A, VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were immunohistochemically categorized as negative or weakly, moderately, or strongly positive according to the size of the staining area, and intensity. In carcinoma cells, the expression levels of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1 and HIF-1α were significantly higher in post-radiotherapy relapsed/persistent cervical cancer compared with control patients (P=0.0003, 0.0003, and 0.0001, respectively). In stroma cells, similar tendencies with statistical significance were observed (P=0.0014 and P<0.0001, respectively). In addition, the expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGFR-1 in carcinoma cells were significantly correlated with each other (P<0.0001). A significantly higher expression of VEGF was identified in post-radiotherapy relapsed/persistent cervical cancer compared with typical specimens from cervical cancer. The findings provide a novel insight into the clinical treatment for recurrent/persistent cervical cancer using a VEGF antagonist.

Image-guided interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy for locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer: A single-institution study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of image-guided high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for reirradiation of locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between 2008 and 2015, patients receiving reirradiation using HDR-ISBT for local gross recurrence of uterine cervical cancer after definitive or postoperative radiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. The prescription doses per fraction ranged 2.5-6.0 Gy, whereas the cumulative equivalent doses in 2 Gy fractions ranged 48.6-82.5 Gy. The effects of prognostic factors on the local control (LC), progression-free survival, and overall survival were analyzed, and late toxicity data were evaluated.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were included in the analysis, with a median followup of 18.1 months. A tumor response was obtained in all patients, with radiological and pathological complete remission seen in 12 (66.7%) patients. The 2-year LC, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates for all patients were 51.3%, 20.0%, and 60.8%, respectively. The hemoglobin level and maximum tumor diameter were shown to be statistically significant prognostic factors for LC (p = 0.028 and 0.009, respectively). Late ≥ Grade 2 adverse events were observed in 5 patients (27.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Image-guided HDR-ISBT for the reirradiation of locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer may play an important role for local tumor control in a subgroup of patients. However, the treatment indication must be weighed against the risk of higher-grade late toxicity.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of cervical cancer

INTRODUCTION

Worldwide, most cervical cancer (CC) patients require the use of drug therapy either adjuvant, concurrent with radiation or palliative.

AREAS COVERED

This review briefly discusses the current achievements in treating CC with an emphasis in emerging agents.

EXPERT OPINION

Concurrent cisplatin with radiation and lately, gemcitabine-cisplatin chemoradiation has resulted in small but significant improvements in the treatment of locally advanced and high-risk early-stage patients. So far, only antiangiogenic therapy with bevacizumab added to cisplatin chemoradiation has demonstrated safety and encouraging results in a Phase II study. In advanced disease, cisplatin doublets yield median survival rates not exceeding 14 months. The first Phase III study of bevacizumab, added to standard chemotherapy cisplatin- or non-cisplatin-containing doublet, has shown significant increase in both overall survival and progression-free survival. Further studies are needed before bevacizumab plus chemotherapy can be considered the standard of care for advanced disease. The characterization of the mutational landscape of CC and developments of novel targeted therapies may result in more effective and individualized treatments for CC. The potential efficacy of knocking down the key alterations in CC, E6 and E7 human papilloma virus oncoproteins must not be overlooked.

Platinum-free Interval in Second-line Chemotherapy for Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the platinum-free interval (PFI) was a predictive indicator in second-line treatment of cervical cancer in patients who had undergone prior platinum-based chemotherapy. The role of the PFI in selecting the second-line regimen in other gynecologic malignancies is also discussed.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we examined the clinical records of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer who had received platinum-containing combination regimens as second-line chemotherapy. All patients had received prior platinum-containing chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Results

The overall response rate to second-line chemotherapy was 25.8%; 7 patients achieved a complete response and 17 a partial response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.1 months and median overall survival (OS) was 13.5 months. The response rate was 12.5%, 14.2%, 20.0%, 22.2%, and 55.0%; median PFS was 4.0, 5.1, 4.4, 5.8, and 7.4 months; and median OS was 10.2, 14.4, 11.9, 16.3, and 19.7 months when PFI was within 3, 3 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 23, and more than 24 months, respectively. Age (>50 years), size (>3 cm), prior radiotherapy, and PFI (>24 months) were identified as prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis for PFS and OS.

Conclusions

The results indicate that a PFI of more than 24 months is the discriminating point between platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistance cervical cancer. This indicates that PFI offers a useful tool in selecting agents for second-line chemotherapy in a wide range of gynecologic malignancies.

Phase II Trial of Capecitabine and Cisplatin in Advanced, Persistent, or Recurrent Carcinoma of the Cervix

Purpose:

Platinum-based drugs are the most active agents in cervical carcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess the activity and toxicity of the association of cisplatin and capecitabine as first-line treatment in patients with advanced, persistent, or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix.

Patients and Methods:

Patients with histological proven primary carcinoma, presence of measurable tumors, age 18 years or older, performance status of 2 or less, and adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic functions were potentially eligible for this trial. Prior chemotherapy was allowed only in the context of radiosensitization. Treatment consisted of 50 mg/m2of intravenous cisplatin on day 1 with 2500 mg/m2oral capecitabine daily in 2 divided doses for 14 consecutive days in 21-day cycles. Responses were assessed using response evaluation criteria in solid tumors.

Results:

Between November 2004 and October 2007, 22 women were entered into the trial. Median age was 51 years (range, 37-70 years). Seventeen patients had prior radiotherapy, and 13 received a radiation sensitizer, whereas 2 patients underwent surgery exclusively and 3 patients had no prior treatment. A median of 5 cycles was administered (range, 2-8 cycles). There were one septic death, one grade 4 neutropenia, and one grade 4 anemia. Grade 3 fatigue, gastrointestinal toxicity, renal toxicity, and hand-foot syndrome were seen in 31.8%, 22.7%, 9%, and 9% of the patients, respectively. There were 1 complete response and 6 partial responses for an overall response rate of 31.8%. Seven patients (31.8%) each had stable disease, and 8 patients showed progression. The median time to progression was 7.6 months, with a median overall survival of 20 months.

Conclusion:

These results seem to suggest that the capecitabine-cisplatin combination is a moderately tolerated and active regimen in advanced, persistent, or recurrent cervical carcinoma patients. Further evaluation of this drug combination may be warranted.

Treatment options in recurrent cervical cancer (Review)

The management of recurrent cervical cancer depends mainly on previous treatment and on the site and extent of recurrence. Concurrent cisplatin-based chemo-radiation is the treatment of choice for patients with pelvic failure after radical hysterectomy alone. However, the safe delivery of high doses of radiotherapy is much more difficult in this clinical setting compared with primary radiotherapy. Pelvic exenteration usually represents the only therapeutic approach with curative intent for women with central pelvic relapse who have previously received irradiation. In a recent series, the 5-year overall survival and operative mortality after pelvic exenteration ranged from 21 to 61% and from 1 to 10%, respectively. Free surgical margins, negative lymph nodes, small tumour size and long disease-free interval were associated with a more favourable prognosis. Currently, pelvic reconstructive procedures (continent urinary conduit, low colorectal anastomosis, vaginal reconstruction with myocutaneous flaps) are strongly recommended after exenteration. Concurrent cisplatin-based chemo-radiation is the treatment of choice for isolated para-aortic lymph node failure, with satisfactory chances of a cure in asymptomatic patients. Chemotherapy is administered with palliative intent to women with distant or loco-regional recurrences not amenable by surgery or radiotherapy. Cisplatin is the most widely used drug, with a response rate of 17-38% and a median overall survival of 6.1-7.1 months. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy achieves higher response rates (22-68%) when compared with single-agent cisplatin, but median overall survival is usually less than one year. In a recent Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) trial the combination topotecan + cisplatin obtained a significantly longer overall survival than single-agent cisplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent or persistent cervical cancer. A subsequent GOG study showed a trend in terms of longer overall survival and better quality of life for the doublet cisplatin + paclitaxel vs. the doublets cisplatin + topotecan, cisplatin + vinorelbine, and cisplatin + gemcitabine. Molecularly targeted therapy may represent a novel therapeutic tool, but its use alone or in combination with chemotherapy is still investigational.