AI Article Synopsis
- Cervical cancer represents a major global health challenge, with improvements in treatment leading to better patient outcomes, yet vaginal toxicities negatively affect their quality of life post-treatment.
- A systematic review of 24 studies found an overall vaginal toxicity rate of 39%, predominantly vaginal stenosis at a median rate of 61.5%, with various severity reported based on different scoring systems.
- Factors influencing toxicity included age, initial vaginal involvement, and radiation dose, highlighting the need for standardized assessment methods in future research to enhance treatment strategies.
Article Abstract
Purpose: Cervical cancer is a significant global health burden, with advancements in treatment modalities improving outcomes. However, vaginal toxicities following definitive chemoradiation remain a concern, impacting patients' quality of life. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the incidence of vaginal toxicities, explore associated factors, and assess the relationship with radiation dose in intact cervical cancer patients undergoing radical chemoradiation.
Material And Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases was conducted. Studies reporting on vaginal toxicities post-radical chemoradiation in intact cervical cancer patients were included. Data extraction and analysis were performed according to PRISMA guidelines.
Results: Twenty-four studies with various designs were included. The meta-analysis revealed a pooled estimate of 39% (95% CI: 21-56%) for overall vaginal toxicities among cervical cancer patients following definitive chemoradiation. Vaginal stenosis was the most commonly reported toxicity, with a median incidence of 61.5% (range, 20-77.8%) across the studies. Severe toxicities (grade ≥ 3) were reported at rates of 12.74% (CTCAE v. 4.0), 0.98% (CTCAE v. 3.0), 10.41% (RTOG/EORTC), and 0% (LENT-SOMA). Factors, such as age, initial vaginal involvement, and radiation dose were associated with increased toxicity risk. Significant heterogeneity was observed in study populations and methodologies.
Conclusions: Vaginal toxicities are common following definitive chemoradiation in intact cervical cancer patients, with vaginal stenosis being predominant. Standardization of toxicity scoring methods and radiotherapy dose reporting parameters is crucial for accurate comparison and interpretation of findings. Future research should focus on optimizing treatment strategies to minimize vaginal toxicities while maximizing efficacy and patient outcomes.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11609866 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/jcb.2024.141402 | DOI Listing |
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