Risk factors and dose-effects for bladder fistula, bleeding and cystitis after radiotherapy with imaged-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer: an EMBRACE analysis

Forfattere Spampinato S, Fokdal LU, Pötter R, Haie-Meder C, Lindegaard JC, Schmid MP, Sturdza A, Jürgenliemk-Schulz IM, Mahantshetty U, Segedin B, Bruheim K, Hoskin P, Rai B, Huang F, Cooper R, van der Steen-Banasik E, Van Limbergen E, Sundset M, Westerveld H, Nout RA, Jensen NBK, Kirisits C, Kirchheiner K, Tanderup K; EMBRACE Collaborative Group.

Kilde Radiother Oncol . 2021 May;158:312-320 Publiceringsdato 02 feb 2021

Abstrakt

Purpose: To identify patient- and treatment-related risk factors for fistula, bleeding, cystitis, pain and difficulty in voiding in locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with radio(chemo)therapy and image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT).

Material and methods: Morbidity within the EMBRACE-I study was prospectively reported for physician-assessed (CTCAE) fistula, bleeding and cystitis and patient-reported (EORTC) pain and difficulty in voiding. Analysis of risk factors was performed in patients without bladder infiltration. Risk factors were tested with Cox regression for G≥3 cystitis, for G≥2 fistula, bleeding and cystitis, and for EORTC "very much" and "quite a bit" or worse.

Results: Of 1416 patients enrolled, 1153 and 884 patients without bladder infiltration were evaluable for the analysis of CTCAE and EORTC items, respectively. Median follow-up was 48[3-120] months. Crude incidence rates for G≥2 fistula, bleeding and cystitis were 0.7%, 2.7% and 8.8%, respectively, and 16% and 14% for "quite a bit" or worse pain and difficulty in voiding, respectively. Baseline urinary morbidity and overweight/obesity were significant risk factors for most endpoints. Bladder D_2cm3 correlated with G≥2 fistula, bleeding and cystitis, while ICRU bladder point dose correlated with EORTC pain "quite a bit" or worse. An increase from 75Gy to 80Gy in bladder D_2cm3 resulted in an increase from 8% to 13% for 4-year actuarial estimate of G≥2 cystitis.

Conclusion: Clinical and treatment-related risk factors for bladder fistula, bleeding and cystitis were identified within a prospective and multi-institutional setting. A dose-effect was established with bladder D_2cm3, reinforcing the importance of continued optimization during individualized IGABT planning.