A prospective single-arm study on the relationship between dose-volume parameters of pelvic functional bone marrow and acute hematological toxicities during intensity-modulated radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy for uterine cervical/endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND: FLT-PET/CT can accurately identify and locate functional bone marrow (FBM) with hematopoietic capability, the FBM were divided into two levels as FBM(1) (strongest hemopoietic ability region)and FBM(2) (moderate hemopoietic ability region) via FLT-PET/CT. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between dose-volume parameters of pelvic FBM and hematologic toxicity (HT) during radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy for uterine cervical/endometrial cancer. METHODS: From December 2016 to September 2021, ninety-seven uterine cervical/endometrial cancer patients received intensity-modulated radiation therapy were prospectively recruited in this single-arm, prospective, phase II trial. Blood counts were reviewed weekly during radiotherapy. Single- and multifactor regression methods were used to analyze the relationships between dose-volume parameters of FBM(1/2) and grade ≥ 2 HT. ROC curves were used to determine the cutoff values for the dose-volume parameters of FBM(1/2). RESULTS: The incidence of grade ≥ 2 leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia in patients during radiotherapy was 63.9%, 45.4%, 19.6% and 38.8% respectively, and the median occurrence time was the 29th, 42th, 35th and 31th day, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the D(max) of FBM(1) was significantly related to grade ≥ 2 leukopenia (OR = 1.277 95% CI 1.067–1.528, P = 0.008), D(mean) of FBM(2) was significantly related to grade ≥ 2 thrombocytopenia (OR = 1.262 95% CI 1.066–1.494, P = 0.007), and V(10) of FBM(1) was significantly related to grade ≥ 2 anemia (OR = 1.198 95% CI 1.003–1.431, P = 0.046). The incidence of grade ≥ 2 leukopenia for patients with FBM(1) D(max) < 53 Gy was lower than that for patients with FBM(1) D(max) ≥ 53 Gy (53.4% vs. 95.8%, P < 0.001). The incidence of grade ≥ 2 thrombocytopenia in patients with FBM(2) D(mean) < 33 Gy was lower than that in patients with FBM(2) D(mean) ≥ 33 Gy (0 vs. 28.4%, P < 0.001). The incidence of grade ≥ 2 anemia for patients with FBM(1) V(10) < 95% was lower than that in patients with FBM(1) V(10) ≥ 95% (24.4% vs. 57.1%, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Grade ≥ 2 HT usually occurs in the 4th week of radiotherapy for patients with uterine cervical/endometrial cancer. The D(max) and V(10) of FBM(1) and the D(mean) of FBM(2) were significantly associated with the occurrence of grade ≥ 2 HT. The recommended optimal dose constraints were FBM(1) D(max) < 53 Gy, V(10) < 95%, and FBM(2) D(mean) <33 Gy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13014-023-02380-8.