Abstract
Simple SummaryChemoradiation with photon radiotherapy is very effective as a locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) treatment. However, the majority of women with LACC experience treatment-related toxicity involving the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts and the immune system. Compared to that of photon therapy, proton therapy substantially reduces undesired dose to the organs around the tumor, leading to a decrease in radiotherapy-related side-effects. At present, few studies on proton therapy in patients with LACC will be conducted. The PROTECT trial aims to evaluate the differences in side effects between photon therapy and proton therapy, both combined with chemotherapy, for LACC. Fifteen patients will be enrolled per treatment group. Information will be collected on the differences in dose to the organs around the tumor, treatment-related side effects, and the impact on the immune system. This information will be used to assess the potential of proton therapy as an innovative treatment for LACC.External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with concurrent chemotherapy followed by brachytherapy is a very effective treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). However, treatment-related toxicity is common and reduces the patient’s quality of life (QoL) and ability to complete treatment or undergo adjuvant therapies. Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) enables a significant dose reduction in organs at risk (OAR), when compared to that of standard intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). However, clinical studies evaluating whether IMPT consequently reduces side effects for LACC are lacking. The PROTECT trial is a nonrandomized prospective multicenter phase-II-trial comparing clinical outcomes after IMPT or IMRT/VMAT in LACC. Thirty women aged >18 years with a histological diagnosis of LACC will be included in either the IMPT or IMRT/VMAT group. Treatment includes EBRT (45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy), concurrent five weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2), and 3D image (MRI)-guided adaptive brachytherapy. The primary endpoint is pelvic bones Dmean and mean bowel V15Gy. Secondary endpoints include dosimetric parameters, oncological outcomes, health-related QoL, immune response, safety, and tolerability. This study provides the first data on the potential of IMPT to reduce OAR dose in clinical practice and improve toxicity and QoL for patients with LACC.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the most frequent gynecological cancer worldwide, with an estimated 604,000 newly diagnosed patients and 342,000 cancer-related deaths in 2020 [1]
The PROTECT trial is the first prospective clinical trial to compare Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)/V
Compared to that of IMRT/volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), Thetherapy accrualisofexpected the patients for IMRT/VMAT
Summary
Cervical cancer is the most frequent gynecological cancer worldwide, with an estimated 604,000 newly diagnosed patients and 342,000 cancer-related deaths in 2020 [1]. The current standard treatment for LACC combines external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy followed by MR-guided brachytherapy [4]. This combination of treatment modalities was proven highly effective for local and pelvic tumor control and improved survival in patients with. We showed a 5-year local control, pelvic control, and cancer specific survival of respectively 90.4%, 82.4%, and 72.7% for women with LACC, which is very comparable to the outcomes of the prospective EMBRACE-I trial [6,8]. Cumulative incidences of severe late bladder, vaginal, rectal, bowel, and bone toxicity were 0.8%, 1.4%, 3.3%, 3.6%, and
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
