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Radiation-related toxicities and outcomes in endometrial cancer: are obese women at a disadvantage?

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) on radiotherapy toxicities in endometrial cancer patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer between January 2006 and December 2014 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust. Women who received radiotherapy as part of their treatment, including external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and/or vaginal brachytherapy were included. Radiation-related toxicities were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) guidelines. Toxicity outcomes were compared across BMI groups—non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2)—according to radiotherapy treatment received (EBRT, brachytherapy or a combination).

Results

Of a total of 159 women who received radiotherapy, 110 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Sixty-three women had a BMI <30 kg/m2 and 47 women were obese. Obese women had poorer Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (P = 0.021) and more comorbidities (P < 0.001) compared to the non-obese group. Total (any) toxicity rates were 60.3, 72.7 and 52.0% for EBRT and brachytherapy (N = 63), single-mode EBRT (N = 22) and brachytherapy (N = 25), respectively. BMI was not associated with the incidence of acute and late radiation toxicities in the different radiotherapy groups, and there were no differences in individual complications between the BMI groups.

Conclusion

When comparing obese to non-obese women, obesity does not negatively impact the incidence of radiation toxicities in endometrial cancer. However, toxicities remain an important challenge as they are common and negatively influence the quality of life (QoL) of survivors. Future studies need to further explore the role of BMI and possible interventions to improve toxicities and QoL.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the radiotherapy planning team at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust including Elaine Buck, Marina Cousins, Claire Cartledge and Tom Durnall for their contribution to the data collection. In addition, we would like to thank Frederique Bouwman for her contribution to data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynae-oncology Surgical Team, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, UK

    A. Smits, A. Lopes, E. Kent & K. Galaal

  2. Sunrise Oncology Centre, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, UK

    J. McGrane & N. Simpson

  3. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    R. Bekkers & L. Massuger

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  1. A. Smits
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  2. J. McGrane
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Correspondence to J. McGrane.

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Conflict of interest statement

(1) I declare that the contents of this paper have not been published or considered for publication elsewhere. (2) All authors made a substantial contribution to conception and design, and/or acquisition of data and/or analysis and interpretation of data; participated in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and gave final approval of the version to be submitted and any revised version to be published. (3) There is no financial support or relationship that may pose conflict of interest.

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Smits, A., McGrane, J., Lopes, A. et al. Radiation-related toxicities and outcomes in endometrial cancer: are obese women at a disadvantage?. Int J Clin Oncol 22, 945–953 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-017-1147-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-017-1147-5

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