Overall treatment time and oncologic outcomes after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

What was studied

This review looked at how long radiotherapy takes for cervical cancer. The treatment was definitive radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. The team asked if a longer overall treatment time goes with worse outcomes. 15,859 patients were included.

What they found

A longer overall treatment time was linked to poorer survival. The hazard ratio was 1.61. A second analysis compared more than 56 days with 56 days or less. The link held, with a hazard ratio of 1.16. A longer time was also linked to more local failure of treatment. The hazard ratio was 1.80. The survival link was consistent across subgroups. The main analysis used a set of independent patient groups.

What it means for patients

The authors said these findings support finishing radiotherapy on time. They said the 56-day mark is still a useful benchmark for care.

Why it is not certain yet

The studies observed patients, so a link does not prove cause. Results differed between studies. A review can only be as good as the studies in it. The abstract does not say how long patients were followed.

Source

Overall treatment time and oncologic outcomes after definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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