Should we embrace hypofractionated radiotherapy for cervical cancer? A technical note on management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lucas C Mendez; Hamid Raziee; Melanie Davidson; Vikram Velker; David D'Souza; Elizabeth Barnes; Eric Leung

doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2020.05.032

Should we embrace hypofractionated radiotherapy for cervical cancer? A technical note on management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Radiother Oncol. 2020 Jul:148:270-273. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.05.032. Epub 2020 May 28.

Authors

Lucas C Mendez¹, Hamid Raziee², Melanie Davidson³, Vikram Velker⁴, David D'Souza⁴, Elizabeth Barnes⁵, Eric Leung⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Radiation Oncology, London Health Sciences Centre, Canada; Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Radiation Oncology, BC Cancer, Surrey, Canada.
³ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.
⁴ Division of Radiation Oncology, London Health Sciences Centre, Canada; Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Canada.
⁵ University of Toronto, Department of Radiation Oncology, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a deadly disease and the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to further impact its lethality. Hypofractionated radiotherapy could mitigate this impact, however robust data in cervical cancer setting still is lacking. Information provided here could help institutions in reducing radiotherapy fractions for cervical cancer patients.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Covid-19; Hypofractionation; Radiotherapy.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections*
Female
Humans
Pandemics*
Pneumonia, Viral*
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Radiation Dose Hypofractionation
SARS-CoV-2
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / radiotherapy*