Predicting outcomes in cervical cancer: A kinetic model of tumor regression during radiation therapy

Abstract

Applications of mathematical modeling can improve outcome predictions of cancer therapy. Here we present a kinetic model incorporating effects of radiosensitivity, tumor repopulation, and dead-cell resolving on the analysis of tumor volume regression data of 80 cervical cancer patients (stages 1B2-IVA) who underwent radiation therapy. Regression rates and derived model parameters correlated significantly with clinical outcome (P < 0.001; median follow-up: 6.2 years). The 6-year local tumor control rate was 87% versus 54% using radiosensitivity (2-Gy surviving fraction S2 < 0.70 vs. S 2 ≥ 0.70) as a predictor (P = 0.001) and 89% vs. 57% using dead-cell resolving time (T1/2 < 22 days versus T1/2 ≥ 22 days, P < 0.001). The 6-year disease-specific survival was 73% versus 41% with S2 < 0.70 versus S2 ≥ 0.70 (P = 0.025), and 87% vs. 52% with T1/2 < 22 days versus T1/2 ≥ 22 days (P = 0.002). Our approach illustrates the promise of volume-based tumor response modeling to improve early outcome predictions that can be used to enable personalized adaptive therapy. ©2010 AACR.