GEC ESTRO ACROP consensus recommendations for contact brachytherapy for rectal cancer

Alexandra J Stewart*, Evert J Van Limbergen, Jean-Pierre Gerard, Ane L Appelt, Frank Verhaegen, Maaike Berbee, Te Vuong, Ciarna Brooker, Tim Rockall, Arthur Sun Myint

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To issue consensus recommendations for contact X-Ray brachytherapy (CXB) for rectal cancer covering pre-treatment evaluation, treatment, dosimetric issues and follow-up. These recommendations cover CXB in the definitive and palliative setting.

Methods: Members of GEC ESTRO with expertise in rectal CXB issued consensus-based recommendations for CXB based on literature review and clinical experience. Levels of evidence according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence based medicine guidance are presented where possible.

Results: The GEC ESTRO ACROP consensus recommendations support the use of CXB to increase the chances of clinical complete remission and cure for patients who are elderly with high surgical risk, surgically unfit or refusing surgery. For palliative treatment, the use of CXB is recommended for symptomatic relief and disease control. The use of CXB in an organ-preservation setting in surgically fit patients is recommended within the setting of a clinical trial or registry.

Conclusions: The GEC ESTRO ACROP recommendations for CXB are provided. Recommendations towards standardisation of reporting and prescription are given. Practitioners are encouraged to follow these recommendations and to develop further clinical trials to examine this treatment modality and increase the evidence base for its use. The routine collection of outcomes both clinical and patient-reported is also encouraged.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15-22
Number of pages8
JournalClinical and Translational Radiation Oncology
Volume33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • ADENOCARCINOMA
  • CHEMORADIATION
  • Consensus recommendations
  • Contact X-Ray brachytherapy
  • ELDERLY-PATIENTS
  • LOCAL EXCISION
  • ORGAN PRESERVATION
  • Papillon treatment
  • RADIATION-THERAPY
  • RANDOMIZED-TRIAL
  • Rectal cancer
  • SHORT-COURSE RADIOTHERAPY
  • SPHINCTER PRESERVATION
  • X-RAY BRACHYTHERAPY

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'GEC ESTRO ACROP consensus recommendations for contact brachytherapy for rectal cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this