Helical tomotherapy provides efficacy similar to that of intensity-modulated radiation therapy with dosimetric benefits for endometrial carcinoma

Abstract

Chen-Hsi Hsieh,1,4–6 Pei-Wei Shueng,1,3 Sheng-Mou Hsiao,2 Ming-Chow Wei,2 Wen-Yih Wu,2 Hsu-Dong Sun,2 Hui-Ju Tien,1 Li-Ying Wang,7 Yen-Ping Hsieh81Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, 3Department of Radiation Oncology, National Defense Medical Center, 4Department of Medicine, 5Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, 6Oriental Institute of Technology, New Taipei City, 7School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 8Department of Senior Citizen Service Management, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, ChinaBackground: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and helical tomotherapy for endometrial cancer.Methods: Between November 1, 2006 and November 31, 2010, 31 patients with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer were enrolled. All enrolled patients received total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with adjuvant whole pelvic IMRT or helical tomotherapy.Results: The actuarial 3-year overall survival, disease-free survival, locoregional control, and distant metastasis-free rates for the IMRT and helical tomotherapy groups were 87.5% versus 100%, 91.7% versus 51.7%, 91.7% versus 83.3%, and 91.7% versus 51.7%, respectively. The conformal index and uniformity index for IMRT versus helical tomotherapy was 1.25 versus 1.17 (P = 0.04) and 1.08 versus 1.05 (P < 0.01), respectively. Two of 31 patients with cervical stump failure were noted, one in the IMRT group and the other in the helical tomotherapy group. No acute or late grade 3 or 4 toxicities were noted, including proctitis, or genitourinary or gastrointestinal disturbances.Conclusion: Helical tomotherapy is as effective as IMRT and has better uniformity and conformal indices, and critical organ-sparing properties. Prospective clinical trials are needed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of IMRT versus helical tomotherapy.Keywords: endometrial cancer, helical tomotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy