Possiel, Jacqueline and Ammon, Hanne Elisabeth and Guhlich, Manuel and Conradi, Lena-Christin and Ghadimi, Michael and Wolff, Hendrik Andreas and Schirmer, Markus Anton and Samel, Stephan and Muegge, Michael and Rieken, Stefan and Leu, Martin and Droege, Leif Hendrik (2021) Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Improves Outcomes in Definitive Radiochemotherapy for Anal Cancer Whilst Reducing Acute Toxicities and Increasing Treatment Compliance. CANCERS, 13 (11): 2533. ISSN , 2072-6694
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Simple Summary Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the standard of care in definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anal cancer. Only a limited number of studies have analyzed the clinical results with VMAT (volumetric modulated arc therapy, the advanced form of IMRT). We conducted a retrospective study on patients treated at our institution. We compared the outcomes of VMAT-treated and 3DCRT (3D conformal radiotherapy)-treated patients. VMAT reduced acute toxicities (i.e., primarily dermatitis and enteritis) to a great extent. Additionally, VMAT relevantly improved treatment compliance (i.e., less CRT interruptions/delays, shorter overall treatment time, and higher absolute 5-fluorouracil dose applied). Finally, we found improved cancer-specific survival and distant control in VMAT-treated patients. The present study underlines the great progress that has been achieved with IMRT/VMAT in the CRT of anal cancer. Our study is the first to demonstrate an improvement in treatment compliance and outcomes with VMAT. Future studies could address whether VMAT is advantageous when compared to conventional IMRT. Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the standard of care in chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anal cancer. Until now, only a limited number of studies have analyzed the results with VMAT (volumetric modulated arc therapy). We conducted a retrospective study on patients treated at our institution. Patients and Methods: We included patients who received curative CRT for anal cancer. We compared VMAT-treated and 3DCRT (3D conformal radiotherapy)-treated patients. We analyzed toxicities (acute: CTCAE criteria; late: LENT/SOMA criteria), treatment compliance, overall survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS), distant control (DC), and locoregional control. Results: A total of 149 patients (3DCRT: n = 87, VMAT: n = 62) were included. The median follow-up was longer in 3DCRT-treated patients (3DCRT: 61.3 months; VMAT: 39.1 months; p < 0.05). VMAT-treated patients had more G3 tumors (3DCRT: 12/87 (13.8%); VMAT: 18/62 (29.0%), p < 0.001). VMAT reduced acute toxicities >= grade 3 (3DCRT: n = 48/87 (55.2%); VMAT: n = 11/62 (17.7%), p < 0.001). VMAT improved treatment compliance (less interruptions/delays) (3DCRT: 37/87, 42.5%; VMAT: 4/62, 6.5%; p < 0.001), provided a shorter median overall treatment time (3DCRT: 41 days; VMAT: 38 days; p = 0.02), and gave a higher median absolute 5-fluorouracil dose (3DCRT: 13,700 mg; VMAT: 14,400 mg; p = 0.001). Finally, we found improved CSS (p = 0.02; 3DCRT: 81.9% at 3 years; VMAT: 94.1% at 3 years) and DC (p = 0.01; 3DCRT: 89.4% at 3 years; VMAT: 100.0% at 3 years) with VMAT. Summary: Our study is the first to demonstrate improved treatment compliance and outcomes with VMAT for anal cancer. Previous studies have indicated that organs at risk sparing might be more improved with the use of VMAT vs. with conventional IMRT. Future studies should address whether these advantages lead to a further reduction in CRT-associated morbidity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA; RADIATION-THERAPY; CONCURRENT CHEMORADIATION; CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY; CANAL CANCER; MITOMYCIN; FLUOROURACIL; IMPACT; IMRT; COMBINATION; anal cancer; radiochemotherapy; 3D conformal radiotherapy; volumetric modulated arc therapy; survival; acute toxicity; late toxicity; hematologic toxicity; treatment compliance |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Strahlentherapie |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Sep 2022 09:48 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Sep 2022 09:48 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/47656 |
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