Postoperative accelerated radiotherapy with cytoprotection followed by three-dimensional conformal boost in patients with early endometrial/cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Adjuvant external beam radiotherapy is highly recommended for uterine carcinomas invading beyond the inner half of the myometrium or cervical stage IIa carcinomas. The addition of a booster intracavitary dose is widely used.


METHODS
We assessed the feasibility and toxicity of a hypofractionated accelerated conformal radiotherapy scheme (2.7 Gy per fraction, for 14 consecutive fractions to the pelvis) supported with the cytoprotective agent amifostine (HypoARC). The amifostine dose was individualized (500-1000 mg daily subcutaneously). A booster dose of radiation was given to the vagina and stump using a 6-field 3D-conformal technique (3 x 4 Gy or 4 x 3 Gy) instead of intracavitary radiotherapy.


RESULTS
Grade 2 diarrhea appeared in 9/25 (36%) and grade 1 cystitis in 7/25 (28%) cases. Analysis according to the amifostine dose level clearly showed reduced toxicity in patients receiving a daily dose of 750-1000 mg (P < 0.009). Within a median follow-up of 31 months (range, 11-52), there was only one case with grade 2 colitis (the patient had received no amifostine). None of the patients treated has relapsed locally or to distant organs within a median of 31 months of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that HypoARC followed by 3D-conformal booster dose to the vagina is feasible and convenient for patients and for busy radiotherapy departments, as it reduces the overall time by 50%. When supported by high-dose daily amifostine, it has an impressively low rate of early and late radiation toxicity.
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Democritus University of Thrace, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece. targ@her.forthnet.gr
Michael I
MI
Koukourakis
Pelagia G
PG
Tsoutsou
Ioannis
I
Abatzoglou
Georgia
G
Soulimioti
Kyriaki
K
Sismanidou
Vassilios
V
Liberis
Alexandra
A
Giatromanolaki
Efthimios
E
Sivridis
George
G
Galazios
D004999:Amifostine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019610:Cytoprotection; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D004999:Amifostine