Dr. Klopp on a Comparison of Standard Radiation to IMRT in Gynecologic Malignancies

Ann H. Klopp, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the results of a study that compared the respective toxicities and quality of life outcomes associated with standard radiation and pelvic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with various gynecologic malignancies.

The overall goal of this study was to look at acute toxicities that occurred during the course of a patient's treatment with the use of the bowel domain of the expanded prostate cancer index composite (EPIC) questionnaire, which evaluated patient bowel function and bowel bother.

According to Klopp, the researchers found that there was a greater decline in gastrointestinal function in patients that received standard radiation, whereas the patients who received experienced less of a decline. Moreover, this was also associated with improved quality of life.

Remaining questions regarding this research should focus on whether these differences in technique are persistent in a long-term sense, says Klopp.