open access: Intraoperative radiotherapy electron boost in advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma: a retrospective study - 45 pts

Blogger's Note: interesting study worth reading

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and toxicity of intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy (IOERT) in advanced and recurrent EOC.

Conclusions

IOERT may be feasible and effective as a boosting technique for advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer. IOERT plus IP chemotherapy may achieve high locoregional disease control and survival benefit with a low risk of toxicity. Peripheral nerves in the IOERT field are dose-limiting structures requiring nerve protection policies or a dose compromise to ensure against severe neurological damage.

Patients

This study was a non-randomized trial and included retrospective analysis of 45 women with EOC who were treated with IOERT at the 1st Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January 2000 and January 2010.........The mean follow-up time was 78 months (range: 11-123 months).........

Table 1

Patient Characteristics

	Total	PD	ILR
Cases	45	25	20
Histology type
serous adenocarcinoma	36	21	16
papillary adenocarcinoma	9	4	4
CA-125 level
≥ 35 U/ml	38	20	18
< 35 U/ml	4	3	1
unknown	3	2	1

Conclusions
IOERT may be feasible and effective as a boosting technique to treat advanced and recurrent ovarian cancers. IOERT plus IP chemotherapy may achieve high locoregional disease control and survival benefit with a low risk of toxicity. However, careful attention should be paid to peripheral nerves as specific IOERT dose-limiting structures.