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In a randomized clinical trial, researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the (the U) have found that short-course, higher dose vaginal brachytherapy for endometrial cancer had similar effectiveness to more frequent, lower dose sessions.
Gita Suneja, MD, MS, physician-scientist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of radiation oncology at the U, is the first author of the SAVE trial report鈥攚hich stands for, Short-Course Adjuvant Vaginal Cuff Brachytherapy in Early Endometrial Cancer Compared with Standard of Care.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 high quality-data on optimal dose and schedule for brachytherapy treatments. Because of this, practice patterns really vary,鈥 says Suneja. 鈥淭he SAVE trial sought to try to lower the number of treatments that patients were receiving but maintain short-term quality of life and disease control.鈥
Endometrial cancer is a disease that begins in the lining of the uterus. The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery, including the removal of the uterus, cervix, and upper vagina. , a form of internal radiation, is used as a secondary treatment to prevent the cancer鈥檚 return. Patients receiving vaginal cuff brachytherapy are treated with internal radiation by way of an applicator in the vaginal cavity.
The SAVE trial compared two groups who received different treatment doses over a varying number of sessions. The control group received the standard treatment鈥攂etween three to five appointments with lower doses. The experimental group received higher doses of radiation in just two sessions.
鈥淭he study outcomes will help improve cancer care for Huntsman Cancer Institute patients across the five states of the Mountain West.鈥
Gita Suneja, MD, MS
The researchers found similarly effective short-term outcomes and few acute toxicities for the patients in the experimental group.
Suneja says the study outcomes will help improve cancer care for Huntsman Cancer Institute patients across the five states of the Mountain West.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard for patients to get to us, especially those in a rural and frontier environment like many of our patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute,鈥 says Suneja. 鈥淲e recognize this is an enormous burden for people to come here for treatment, on top of dealing with a difficult diagnosis. We are motivated to better serve our rural population, and the results of this study will give us a way to do that.鈥
David Gaffney, MD, PhD, FACR, FABS, FASTRO, physician-scientist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of radiation oncology at the U, developed the idea for the SAVE study after seeing patient need. According to the American Cancer Society, of the female reproductive organs. Incidence is on the rise, as is the mortality rate.
鈥淚t is a big win when we can preserve good outcomes and make cancer care easier.鈥
David Gaffney, MD, PhD, FACR, FABS, FASTRO
鈥淲e are very grateful for the support and the enthusiasm from our clinical colleagues at MD Anderson, Loyola, Intermountain Healthcare, and Stanford, the institutions that also participated in the SAVE trial,鈥 says Gaffney. 鈥淲e are particularly grateful for the patients that agreed to participate in the study. It is a big win when we can preserve good outcomes and make cancer care easier.鈥
The were published in JCO Oncology Advances. The National Clinical Trial number for this trial is 03422198.
The research described in this release is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute including P30 CA042014 and Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
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About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the 香蕉视频 of Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient鈥檚 unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.