Radiotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Radiotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects.

Comparison of late toxicity between continuous low-dose-rate and pulsed-dose-rate brachytherapy in cervical cancer patients.

Bachtiary B, Dewitt A, Pintilie M, Jezioranski J, Ahonen S, Levin W, Manchul L, Yeung I, Milosevic M, Fyles A

Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Ontario Cancer Institute and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PURPOSE: To compare survival and severe late radiation toxicity between patients who received continuous low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy (BT) and pulsed-dose-rate (PDR) BT for cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of cervical cancer patients who underwent primary radiotherapy with or without concurrent cisplatin was performed. Late Grade 3 or worse toxicities were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria. The study endpoints were overall and disease-free survival and the probability of severe late toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients (65.7%) received LDR BT and 57 (34.3%) received PDR BT. Seventy patients received concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 70% and 57% for the LDR group and 82% and 70% for the PDR group, respectively (p = 0.25 and p = 0.19). The 3-year probability rate for late Grade 3 or worse toxicity was 7.4% for LDR BT patients and 7.6% for PDR BT patients, respectively (p = 0.69) and 6.9% and 7.6%, respectively, for concurrent chemotherapy vs. none (p = 0.69). CONCLUSION: No difference was found in severe late toxicity, overall survival, or disease-free survival between the LDR and PDR groups.

Published 28 October 2005 in Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 63(4): 1077-82.
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