Clinical outcomes of patients treated with template-based high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy boost for post-operative recurrent gynecological malignancies: A retrospective analysis

PURPOSE: To report the clinical outcomes in patients treated with Martinez universal perineal interstitial template (MUPIT)-based interstitial brachytherapy boost for primary and recurrent vault and vaginal cancers, and to perform a comparative analysis with our previously published series of similar patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and seventeen patients treated between January, 2009 and December, 2015 were evaluated. Descriptive statistics for the patterns of relapse, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and late toxicities were carried out. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis. All variables with the potential to affect outcomes were tested using log-rank test for statistical significance. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 63 months, LRFS, DFS, and OS at 3/5 years were 77.1%/74.7%, 61%/52%, and 72.3%/63.1%, respectively. Overall treatment time (OTT) of 56 days did not affect outcomes. Bulky tumors and OTT > 63 days adversely affected LRFS. Overall treatment time also significantly impacted DFS and OS. Grade 3-4 late bladder toxicities were observed in 1.7% patients, and grade 3-4 late rectal toxicities in 5% patients. Compared to our previous series, the outcome in the current series is better in terms of severe late toxicities (5% improvement in rectal toxicity, and 2.7% improvement in bladder toxicity) and OS by 10%. This could be attributed to the increasing use of concurrent chemotherapy and relative optimization strategies for organs at risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with primary and recurrent vault and vaginal cancers treated with high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy boost using MUPIT resulted in modest clinical outcomes and acceptable late toxicities. OTT was the most important factor affecting the outcomes.