International Journal of Womens Health

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REVIEW

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Brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical

cancer: a review
This article was published in the following Dove Press journal:
International Journal of Womens Health
28 May 2014
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Robyn Banerjee 1
Mitchell Kamrava 2
Department of Radiation Oncology,
Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary,
Alberta, Canada; 2Department of
Radiation Oncology, University of
California Los Angeles, Los Angeles,
CA, USA
1

Abstract: Dramatic advances have been made in brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Radiation
treatment planning has evolved from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, incorporating
magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography into the treatment paradigm. This
allows for better delineation and coverage of the tumor, as well as improved avoidance of surrounding organs. Consequently, advanced brachytherapy can achieve very high rates of local
control with a reduction in morbidity, compared with historic approaches. This review provides
an overview of state-of-the-art gynecologic brachytherapy, with a focus on recent advances and
their implications for women with cervical cancer.
Keywords: cervical cancer, brachytherapy, image-guided brachytherapy

Introduction

Correspondence: Mitchell Kamrava

200 UCLA Medical Plaza Suite B265,
Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Tel +1 310 825 9775
Email [email protected]

Cervical cancer is the third-most common cancer among women worldwide, with an
annual incidence of 530,000 cases and 250,000 deaths. In the developing world, it is
the second leading cause of cancer death among women.1,2 Its incidence in developed
countries has (fortunately) decreased by 70% over the past 50 years, with the adoption of improved screening methods in cervical cytology.3 Additional reduction in its
incidence is anticipated with the implementation of human papilloma virus vaccine,
which targets the high-risk subtypes most responsible for cervical cancers.4
For women who develop locally advanced cervical cancer, the standard of
care has evolved from external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) alone, to EBRT
plus brachytherapy, to combined EBRT plus brachytherapy with concurrent
chemotherapy.5,6 The external beam portion of treatment encompasses treatment
to the pelvic lymph nodes, parametria, and primary tumor, to a dose adequate to
control microscopic disease. The addition of brachytherapy serves to boost the gross
tumor, and improves disease control and survival.711 The addition of chemotherapy
serves predominantly as a radiosensitizer, resulting in improvements of about 5%
in overall survival.5
Brachytherapy involves the application of a radioactive source in close proximity
to the tumor. It takes advantage of the inverse-square law, whereby radiation dose is
inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. In practical terms,
this allows for a very high dose to the tumor with relative sparing of the surrounding normal structures. Brachytherapy is the only demonstrated method of providing
the high dose required to control cervical cancer (.80 Gray [Gy]), without causing
undue side effects.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S46247

Banerjee and Kamrava

The aim of this review is to explore current best practice and state-of-the-art developments in cervical cancer
brachytherapy, including patient selection, applicator selection, operative technique, and radiation treatment planning. It
is intended for those with a general interest in the treatment of
cervical cancer. A detailed analysis of historical approaches
to brachytherapy and treatment planning is beyond the scope
of this review.

Patient evaluation and staging

In general, all women with locally advanced cervical cancer
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
stage IB2-IVA should be considered for brachytherapy as
part of their definitive treatment management. The initial
work-up should include a cervical biopsy for histopathologic
diagnosis. As per FIGO recommendations, an examination
under anesthesia should be performed to determine clinical stage. This includes a pelvic exam, sigmoidoscopy, and
cystoscopy. Initial bloodwork should include a complete
blood count, basic metabolic panel, liver function tests, and
evaluation of renal function. In cases of hydroureter and/
or hydronephrosis from direct tumor extension toward the
pelvic sidewall or ureteral obstruction from metastatic lymphadenopathy, ureteral stents or nephrostomy tube placement
may be indicated, to relieve significant obstruction prior to
therapy.
Although not included as part of routine FIGO staging,
additional imaging at diagnosis can provide valuable information to guide prognosis, determine management, and assist
in treatment planning.12 For locally advanced disease, pelvic
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission
tomography-(PET) computed tomography (CT) should be
obtained at diagnosis when possible. T2-weighted pelvic
MRI is superior to clinical exam or CT, for determining the
initial disease extent, with overall staging accuracy estimated
between 75%96%.1315 Compared with CT, MRI has superior
soft tissue resolution. It has been shown to better detect tumor
extent, parametrial involvement, and invasion of surrounding
organs. In a series of patients, staged with MRI, followed by
surgery, MRI staging accuracy was 81%.16 Obtaining an MRI
at diagnosis also aids the radiation oncologist in treatment
planning, for both EBRT and brachytherapy.
PET-CT provides complementary information at the time
of diagnosis. It is the superior imaging method for lymph
node detection, with a sensitivity and specificity of .99%
for metastatic lymph nodes of .5 mm.17 Kidd et al have
shown PET-staged lymph nodes to be highly prognostic of
progression-free survival, independent of FIGO stage.18

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Following staging evaluation, patients who proceed with

definitive radiation treatment will have a planning CT simulation prior to the start of their EBRT. This is a simulation
of how the patient will be set up and treated daily during the
course of their EBRT. Patients are typically simulated in the
supine position, with some type of immobilization device
for the pelvis and/or lower extremities. Often, intravenous
contrast will be used to help better delineate the pelvic
vasculature, and some physicians also use oral contrast to
improve delineation of the bowel. Patients are commonly
asked to have a comfortably full bladder for the simulation
and daily treatments, as this helps displace the bowel from
the pelvis, thereby reducing dose and (ultimately) toxicity to the bowel. Prior to the simulation, patients should
also have marker seeds implanted into the lowest extent
of disease, to ensure that the inferior field border of the
external beam radiation field adequately encompasses the
most distal extent of disease. A discussion of the pros and
cons of using a three-dimensional (3D) conformal 4-field
box technique (versus using intensity modulated radiation therapy) for treating the pelvis is beyond the scope
of this review.
EBRT to the pelvis is generally delivered daily, Monday
to Friday, for 5 weeks (2528 treatments). Concurrent chemotherapy (most commonly, weekly bolus cisplatin 40 mg/m2)
is begun at Day 1 of radiotherapy. Cisplatin should be
given before radiation, on the day the patient receives both
treatments. Ideally, chemotherapy is given at the beginning
of the week, rather than the end. It should not be given on
the same days as brachytherapy. EBRT, also, should not be
given on the same day as brachytherapy.
Brachytherapy treatments are either interdigitated
with EBRT (generally, starting no earlier than week 3 of
treatment) or are given after EBRT is completed. Starting
brachytherapy later in the treatment course allows for
maximal tumor shrinkage, thus allowing for smaller
brachytherapy treatment volumes. Ultimately, the most
critical part of deciding when to start brachytherapy is the
monitoring of treatment response, through regular pelvic
examinations during the course of EBRT. At each visit, the
remaining disease extent should be clearly documented and,
ideally, drawn on a diagram. Each individuals treatment
response will determine the appropriate time and method
to initiate brachytherapy. Patients undergoing concurrent
chemotherapy should also have bloodwork measured weekly,
especially prior to brachytherapy implants. In the setting
of neutropenia, brachytherapy implants should be delayed
until it has resolved.19

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It is well established that the overall treatment time of

EBRT and brachytherapy should be less than 8 weeks, for
patients treated with radiotherapy alone. Beyond this duration, local control and survival has been shown to decrease
by 1% per day.2023

High dose rate brachytherapy

versus low dose rate brachytherapy
When starting the brachytherapy component of treatment,
one must first decide on whether to use high dose rate
(HDR) or low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy. Historically,
cervical brachytherapy used exclusively LDR sources.
Treatments were delivered over 12 fractions, with treatment times of (typically) 13 days, requiring prolonged
patient immobilization. LDR brachytherapy is delivered at
a point A dose rate of ,0.4 Gy/hour, typically using the
cesium-137 isotope.
Since the early 2000s, there has been increasing adoption and utilization of HDR, as opposed to LDR. Eighty-five
percent of respondents to a recent American Brachytherapy
Society (ABS) survey reported having HDR at their
institution.24
With HDR, a remote afterloading technology allows a
small iridium source attached to the end of a cable to be
robotically driven through multiple channels, stopping at
predetermined points (dwell positions) for varied lengths
of time.
HDR brachytherapy is delivered at a point A dose rate
of .12 Gy/hour, primarily using the iridium-192 isotope.
The advantages of HDR include the precise positioning
of the source, infinitely variable dwell times and dwell
positions allowing for dose sculpting shorter treatment
times (minutes versus days), and the protection of health
care personnel from radiation exposure.2527 Overall clinical
outcomes and toxicities are felt to be similar with both HDR
and LDR.25
A third type of treatment, not commonly used in
the United States, is known as pulsed-dose rate (PDR)
brachytherapy. This hybrid form of treatment uses an HDR
source and remote afterloader to mimic the radiobiologic
effects of LDR treatment,28,29 which is accomplished by
deploying the source for a brief period of time, hourly, over
a prolonged treatment delivery period (23 days). PDR has
potential radiobiologic advantages, but it requires prolonged
patient immobilization and hospitalization. It remains in use
at several key academic centers, but patients treated with
PDR represent only a small proportion of all cervical cancer
patients who are treated with brachytherapy.

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Brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer

Applicator selection
Brachytherapy for cervical cancer can be performed using
an intracavitary, interstitial, or combination approach.
Intracavitary brachytherapy involves placing the radioactive
source using an applicator, through the vaginal cavity, and
can treat the upper vagina, cervix, and uterus. In interstitial
brachytherapy, catheters (small tubes) are placed in and around
residual disease, using a transperineal/vaginal approach.
The choice of technique depends primarily on disease
extent and anatomy (Figure 1). It is imperative to consider
which approach should be used, starting at the time of
diagnosis. There are few centers with true expertise in interstitial brachytherapy and the early recognition of a patient
who needs this type of treatment allows for appropriate
coordination of care.19

Intracavitary brachytherapy
Intracavitary brachytherapy remains the most commonly
practiced form of brachytherapy for cervical cancer.30 A wide
variety of commercially available applicators exists for intracavitary brachytherapy. Two of the most common include
variations on the Tandem and Ovoid (T&O) or Tandem and
Ring (T&R) design (Figure 2). The T&O consists of a tandem,

Figure 1 Selecting intracavitary versus interstitial brachytherapy.

Notes: (A) the red tumor at the time of diagnosis (left) reduces to a small size, and
the green tandem and ovoids fit appropriately, so that the orange distribution of
radiation dose adequately encompasses the residual disease. (B) a large red tumor at
the time of diagnosis does not respond well, so an interstitial approach with multiple
(green) little tubes is used to cover the full extent of residual disease, which would
not have been possible using an intracavitary approach.

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Figure 2 Examples of an intracavitary implant.

Notes: (A) the tandem, extending to the top of the uterine fundus. The ovoids are
located at the level of the cervical os, and a white rectal paddle is noted posterior
to the ovoids. The apparatus is held in place by a base plate. (B) three-dimensional
rendering of the tandem and ovoid (top) and tandem and ring (bottom) in relation
to the rectum and bladder. (C) coronal CT slice of the distribution of radiation using
a tandem and ovoids (top) and tandem and ring (bottom).
Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.

Figure 3 Examples of an interstitial implant.

Notes: (A) three-dimensional rendering of the organs at risk, in relation to
the brachytherapy catheters and radiation dose cloud. (B) a completed implant.
(C) axial CT slice showing the distribution of radiation dose achievable with an
interstitial implant.
Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.

an intrauterine tube placed through the cervix to the level of

the uterine fundus, and two ovoids (colpostats) that are placed
on either side of the cervix in the lateral vaginal fornices. The
T&R also consists of a tandem, and utilizes a ring that sits on
either side of the cervix. There are some differences in ease
of use and distribution of radiation dose between these two
applicators. However, both result in similar outcomes. So, the
decision to use one over the other is mostly user-dependent.
These brachytherapy procedures are performed as outpatients, when using HDR, and as inpatients, when using LDR.

gynecologic brachytherapy, and can be used for the widest

variety of clinical scenarios.
Hybrid applicators have also been developed that allow
for several interstitial catheters to be placed in combination
with a T&R or T&O applicator.31,32 These applicators allow
for many fewer needles to be placed, but offer a much more
restricted spatial distribution, compared with a template. Conversely, these applicators are potentially less user-dependent,
and are more amenable to day procedures than are templatebased approaches.

Interstitial brachytherapy

Applicator placement

Interstitial brachytherapy utilizes a transperineal template,

through which several hollow tubes are inserted directly into
tissues (Figure 3). A tandem and central vaginal cylinder are
incorporated into the template. Commonly used templates
include the Syed-Neblett template and the Martinez Universal
Perineal Interstitial Template.
Interstitial brachytherapy has been characterized as
the treatment of choice when intracavitary applicators are
deemed unsuitable. Recognized indications for interstitial
brachytherapy include large tumors, lower vaginal involvement, lateral extension of disease (beyond the reach of intracavitary applicators), and ill-fitting intracavitary applicators
(which may result from an effaced cervix or narrow vaginal
fornices).19,26 Patients who have had a supracervical hysterectomy and who develop cancer in the cervical stump should
also be considered for interstitial implants. Template-based
interstitial methods are (ultimately) the most flexible form of

The placing of an intracavitary applicator can be performed

either in the operating room or a procedure suite at a clinic.
Some practitioners prefer the patient to be kept under general
anesthesia for the insertion process. Other practitioners perform the procedure under either conscious sedation or local
anesthesia. Some physicians place a Smit sleeve into the cervical os at the time of the first applicator insertion. This allows
the cervical os to be easily identified and dilated, allowing
easier insertion of the tandem at subsequent treatments.33,34
For the procedure itself, a Foley catheter is placed in the
bladder. A speculum is then placed, to visualize the cervix. If
marker seeds were not placed at the time of EBRT, then seeds
should be placed in at least two locations in the cervix (eg,
11:00 and 2:00). A single tooth tenaculum can then be used
on the anterior lip of the cervix, to provide counter traction
when trying to sound the uterus, and later for inserting the
tandem. It is important that this be done carefully, so as not

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to perforate the uterus. Based on the length and curvature

of the uterus, one then selects an appropriate tandem to
insert. Many physicians now use either transabdominal or
transrectal ultrasound to ensure appropriate placement of the
tandem, rather than relying on fluoroscopy alone.35
After the tandem has been inserted, the ovoids/ring can
be placed. It is important to select the largest ovoids/ring that
can fit in the fornices, to ensure the best dose differential
between the tumor and normal tissues. After the applicator
is in place, it must be stabilized, and the rectum and bladder
should be displaced from the applicator as much as possible.
Two-inch gauze packing, with a radiopaque lining, is commonly used to accomplish this. The radiopaque lining allows
one to view the packing using X-ray. One must be cautious
to not displace the ovoids/ring inferiorly from the os during
this process. This is the most technique-dependent portion
of the procedure, and tends to be the most uncomfortable
part for the patient. An alternative to using gauze packing
which appears to be more consistent between insertions and
more comfortable is using balloon-type vaginal packing.36
After packing is complete, it is important to verify that
the applicator is in the proper position. Most commonly, an
anteroposterior and lateral X-ray are taken, to ensure the
appropriate positioning of the tandem relative to the ovoids/
ring, cervical os, and packing.
The technique for interstitial brachytherapy is more
involved, as it requires the insertion of multiple small, hollow tubes to encompass the residual disease. The procedure
is done in the operating room, with either general anesthesia
or some combination of spinal/epidural and sedation. There
are multiple techniques available to guide the placement of
the catheters, including laparoscopic assistance (to ensure the
bowel is not perforated), fluoroscopic guidance, ultrasound
guidance, CT guidance, and MRI guidance. A discussion of
the pros and cons of each of these techniques is beyond the
scope of this review.
Performing brachytherapy implants is a user-dependent
skill. Like other surgical procedures, high-volume centers
demonstrate superior outcomes, and poor quality implants
result in less-desirable patient outcomes.3739 It is alarming
that reductions in cause-specific and overall survival have
been noted with decreasing utilization of brachytherapy
for cervical cancer patients in the United States.40 As
cervical cancer is a rare disease in the United States,
it is important that teams taking care of these women
maintain an adequate volume of cases, as brachytherapy
technique is a critical part of ensuring ideal outcomes for
these patients.

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Brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer

Treatment planning/dosimetry
Determining the appropriate
treatment target volume
Ideally, following the completion of applicator insertion, a simulation is performed using an MRI or CT scan.
Traditionally, this has been done using plain film X-rays
only, but one can quickly appreciate the limitations of this.
On X-rays, you have limited ability to see the actual tumor
and the organs at risk (rectum, bladder, and sigmoid). This
necessitates prescribing to points in two dimensions rather
than being able to prescribe to 3D volumes, as can be done
with CT and MRI images (Figure 4).
The International Committee on Radiation Units and
Measurements Report 38 (ICRU38) outlines the most commonly applied conventions for prescribing dose to points.41
The radiation dose should be prescribed to point A a point
located 2 cm superior to the cervical os, and 2 cm lateral,
along the plane perpendicular to the intrauterine tandem.19,42
Point A derives from the Manchester system, and was defined
by Tod and Meredith in a paper that detailed the nature
and course of radiation necrosis following radium-based
brachytherapy.43 They noted that, following radiation, there
was necrosis at the paracervical vessels. They defined point
A within this paracervical triangle (commonly thought of
as where the ureter crosses the uterine artery) as a point of
limiting tolerance. As improvements in imaging from X-ray
to CT/MRI occurred, studies by Potter et al and Narayan
et al demonstrated that defining point A using plain films
often results in point A lying inside or outside the uterus,
thereby under- or overdosing the true volume of interest.44,45
This discrepancy could contribute to local failures and/or
complications.
Beyond just adequately dosing the tumor, the limitations of
a two-dimensional (2D) approach also extend to constraining
the dose to normal tissues (bladder, rectum, sigmoid). Based on
ICRU38, organs at risk doses are calculated based on surrogate

Figure 4 Examples of brachytherapy.

Notes: (A) X-ray. (B) axial CT slice. (C) axial MRI slice. One can see the increasing
amount of anatomic detail that is apparent on MRI, compared with the other imaging
modalities.
Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

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Banerjee and Kamrava

points. The bladder point is defined as the surface of the foley

catheter balloon (filled with 7 cc contrast medium), to represent
the maximal dose to the bladder. The rectal point is specified
as 0.5 cm posterior to the vaginal wall, directly posterior to the
center of the ovoids or the ring applicator. Studies using 3D
imaging demonstrate that the ICRU38 organs at risk points do
not always accurately estimate the true highest dose to the organ
at risk, and that using 3D contouring of the entire organ at risk
is necessary to accurately determine maximum doses.46
While the use of ICRU38 reference points provides
a useful standard practice for cervical brachytherapy, the
incorporation of 3D imaging into brachytherapy practice has
clear advantages. The GEC-ESTRO working group released
a series of recommendations, beginning in 2005, which
sought to establish a common language and set of parameters
for 3D image-(MRI) based treatment planning.12,4749 These
recommendations introduced new fundamental concepts to
gynecologic brachytherapy. While the key concepts from
these recommendations are presented here, practitioners are
referred directly to these papers for reference.
Rather than prescribing to a point, the working group
suggested prescribing to a high-risk clinical target volume
(HR-CTV). They define this volume as the area of gross residual disease at the time of brachytherapy. It includes the gross
disease at the time of implant (determined on T2-weighted
MRI), the entire cervix, and any areas clinically suspicious
for residual disease (palpable abnormalities or indurations)
or suspicious on imaging (residual gray zones on T2 MRI).
The optimal dose to the HR-CTV remains undefined, though
it is commonly prescribed to the same dose as would have
been prescribed to point A (generally, .80 Gy).
They also define a second volume called the intermediate
risk clinical target volume (IR-CTV). It includes the HRCTV, the gross disease at diagnosis, plus an additional margin
of 515 mm, based on the clinical situation. The IR-CTV
should receive more than 60 Gy, through dose contributed
by EBRT and brachytherapy.
The GEC-ESTRO recommendations promote an adaptive brachytherapy strategy; that is, a volume-based treatment approach, whereby the target is modified with each
brachytherapy fraction, based on response to treatment.
Ideally, an MRI is obtained (with the applicator in place)
with each fraction. Where logistic and financial challenges
prohibit this approach, an alternative strategy is to obtain an
MRI with the first fraction, and CT for subsequent fractions.50
CT-based determination of cervical volumes is known to be
inferior to MRI-based determinations, and so using MRI as
much as possible is thought to be best.51

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The GEC-ESTRO guidelines also suggest several parameters to describe target dose coverage. These include D90 and
D100 (the dose delivered to 90% and 100% of the volume), as
well as V100 (the volume receiving 100% of the prescription
dose). The combined total dose from EBRT and brachytherapy
can be calculated using a linear quadratic model to determine
the equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2). It is important to
understand that the doses from EBRT and brachytherapy using
HDR are not additive. For example, a patient who receives
45 Gy EBRT, followed by 6 Gy 5 fractions of HDR, does
not receive a total dose of 75 Gy but an EQD2 of 84.3 Gy.
Sample worksheets to conduct these calculations are available
from the ABS website.52
For organs at risk, GEC-ESTRO recommendations suggest reporting the dose for the most exposed 0.1 cc, 1.0 cc,
and 2.0 cc (D0.1cc, D1cc, and D2cc), of the rectum, sigmoid,
and bladder.
As data regarding optimal treatment volumes evolve,
recording the dose to point A (and taking care not to under
dose point A) is still recommended. Internationally, prescription to point A remains the norm. But practice is rapidly shifting away from prescriptions based solely on ICRU reference
points, to volume-based prescriptions.30

Determining the appropriate

dose and fractionation scheme
After determining what volume or point to prescribe to, one
must select a dose fraction scheme (how many treatments,
and the size of the dose, per treatment). A variety of dose/
fractionation schedules are used in clinical practice for HDR
brachytherapy. The most common fractionation schedules in
the United States are 56 Gy 5 fractions. However, shorter
regimens are also in use, including 7 Gy 4, 8 Gy 3, and
10 Gy 2.53,54 Hesitation for adopting higher doses per
fraction comes from studies which suggest higher rates of
complications with doses .7 Gy per fraction.55 Intracavitary
brachytherapy fractions are typically delivered 12 times
per week. For template-based interstitial implants, the entire
treatment is commonly done during one insertion, given
the complexities involved with proper placement of the
brachytherapy catheters. Fractions may be delivered twicedaily, separated by 6 hours, with the total brachytherapy
course delivered over 23 days.
Direct comparisons between dose/fractionation schedules
for cervical brachytherapy are limited.5658 The European
study on MRI-guided brachytherapy (EMBRACE) is a
multicenter trial (sponsored by GEC-ESTRO) that will
prospectively assess MRI-guided cervical brachytherapy.

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Brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer

A variety of brachytherapy prescriptions will be used at the

discretion of individual institutions. Therefore, the results of
this study will provide the best information yet on the merits
of different fractionation options, in the era of adaptive,
image-guided brachytherapy.
In the absence of convincing outcomes data, most
fractionation schemes are influenced by practicalities and
resource constraints. Fewer insertions are associated with
less anesthesia, less chance for operative complications, less
demand for operating room time, shorter overall treatment
time, with the potential for less repeat imaging and lower
use of treatment planning resources. The potential disadvantages include requirements for inpatient care, prolonged
patient immobility and its attendant risks, and uncertainty
associated with applying a single treatment plan for multiple
fractions.
Finally, interstitial and intracavitary brachytherapy have
not been compared using similar fractionation schedules;
however, slightly lower doses are recommended by the
ABS, when using interstitial approaches.53 This is mostly
related to issues with meeting rectal constraints when treating larger volumes, as is often the case with interstitial
brachytherapy.

that in 592 patients (with a median follow-up of 31 months)

that a D90 to the HR-CTV of .92 Gy resulted in an overall
local control rate of 95%. Ultimately, the EMBRACE study
will provide us with definitive data regarding the true value
of image-guided brachytherapy.
Outcomes for template-based interstitial brachytherapy
cannot be directly compared to intracavitary or hybrid
intracavitary/interstitial treatments, because of differences
in patient selection. Moreover, individual interstitial series
are highly varied, in terms of patient selection, size, and
treatment technique. Pinn-Bingham etal reported the largest
series of HDR interstitial brachytherapy for cervical cancer.64
One hundred and sixteen women were treated with 50.4 Gy
EBRT and two applications of HDR to a dose of 36 Gy. About
60% of patients also received interstitial hyperthermia. At a
median follow-up of 35.1 months, the clinical locoregional
control rate was 85%, and the 5-year disease survival rate
was 60%. Approximately 13% of patients had late grade 3
toxicities. While this study utilized CT-based planning, it did
not use the GEC-ESTRO definitions of HR-CTV, nor did it
report D2cc doses to organs at risk. In addition the use of
hyperthermia and the timing of the implants make generalization and comparison of these results challenging.

Clinical outcomes using

image-guided brachytherapy

Toxicity

Early series using advanced, image-guided adaptive

brachytherapy have shown major improvements in both
local control and reduced normal tissue toxicity.59,60 One of
the first studies to compare 2D versus 3D planning was the
French STIC study.61 In the cohort of patients treated with
EBRT plus chemotherapy followed by brachytherapy, at
24 months, local relapse-free survival was 74% and 79%,
while grade 34 toxicity rates were 23% versus 3% in the 2D
versus 3D groups, respectively. There was also an improvement seen in overall survival: 65% versus 74%. Similar
improvements with image-guided brachytherapy were presented in a series of 156 patients from Vienna.60 At 3 years,
overall local control was 95% (98% for tumors 25 cm, and
92% for tumors .5 cm). Cancer-specific survival rates at
3 years were 83% for stage IB, 84% for stage IIB, and 52%
for stage IIIB. Grade 34 toxicities were low, at around 8%.
The same group also showed a strong doseeffect relationship
for local control, with local control rates .90% being associated with HR-CTV D90 of .86 Gy.62 Similar importance of
the D90 was presented at ESTRO 2013, on retro-EMBRACE
data (patients with MRI- or CT-guided 3D treatment prior
to the start of the EMBRACE study).63 It was demonstrated

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Despite the limitations in 2D brachytherapy planning, toxicity

can be reliably correlated to dose based on ICRU points.6569
With the introduction of 3D-based planning, volume-based
dose parameters have been investigated, and also appear to
provide clinically meaningful correlation with toxicities.
Early investigations demonstrated a clinical correlation
between rectal dose volume and toxicity.70,71 The most consistently validated organ at risk parameter has been the D2cc
rectum. Georg etal prospectively studied 141 cervical cancer
patients treated with image-guided adaptive brachytherapy in
combination with EBRT, with or without chemotherapy.59,72
At a median follow-up of 51 months, the 5-year actuarial side
effect rate for the rectum was 12%, using the LENT-SOMA
scoring system. Using a cut-off D2cc of .75 Gy, overall late
rectal side effects were 20% versus 5%, and 12% versus 4%,
for grade $2 rectal toxicity. A 10% rate of grade $2 rectal
toxicity was associated with a D2cc of .78 Gy. A study
of 51 women with a variety of gynecologic malignancies
(including recurrences), treated with interstitial brachytherapy at Brigham and Womens Hospital, demonstrated that a
10% risk of grade $2 rectal toxicity correlated with a D2cc
of .62 Gy.73 These studies had important differences in
design, population, toxicity scoring, follow-up, and treatment

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Banerjee and Kamrava

method, but nonetheless, illustrate a clear correlation between

rectal D2cc and toxicity.
Dosevolume relationships have also been shown to
correlate with late bladder toxicities. Georg etal showed a
correlation for all dose volume histogram points (D0.1cc,
D1cc, and D2cc) and ultimately suggested a cut-off of D2cc
,100 Gy, which corresponded to 9% versus 13% rates of
grade 01 versus grade 24 toxicity.59
No clear correlation between dosevolume and toxicity has been determined for the vaginal mucosa, sigmoid,
urethra, or ureters.
Overall, in the era of image-guided brachytherapy, later
grade $3 rectal, bowel, and bladder toxicity rates are typically in the #10% range. Ongoing prospective trials (and
the ABS) suggest limiting the D2cc rectum to ,7075 Gy,
D2cc sigmoid to ,75 Gy, and D2cc bladder to ,90 Gy.53
Moving forward, consistency in toxicity scales is required, for
comparison between series as well as for improved reporting
of patient-reported morbidity.

Alternatives to brachytherapy
The possible disadvantages of brachytherapy include that it
is invasive, resource-intensive, can be technically challenging, and is ideally performed in women who have a good
performance status. Investigators have started to publish
early experiences of using an EBRT technique called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), as a substitute for
brachytherapy in patients who are not deemed appropriate
brachytherapy candidates. SBRT still delivers radiation from
outside, as in standard EBRT, but at a much higher dose per
fraction. It is typically completed in five or fewer sessions.
Its goal is to noninvasively mimic the dose distribution that
can be achieved with HDR brachytherapy. Dosimetric studies
have shown these methods to provide good target coverage,
and doses to organs at risk similar to brachytherapy, but clinical data is very limited.7477 At the current time, techniques
such as SBRT, in place of brachytherapy, should only be
performed in clinical trials.

Conclusion
Progress from 2D- to 3D-based imaging and treatment planning for cervical cancer brachytherapy has improved local
control, reduced toxicity, and improved overall survival for
women. Further data from 3D-based techniques is accumulating, and results from the EMBRACE trial will provide strong
evidence regarding the true merits of this approach. This is
indeed an exciting time for brachytherapy.

562

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Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in relation to this
work.

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