Comparison of Tomotherapy Versus Intensity-modulated Step-and-shoot and Conventional Radiation Treatment Plans for Patients With Locally-advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Detailed Summary

Standard treatment for non-operable cervix cancer is radiation and chemotherapy. This treatment combination can result in significant radiation side-effects involving the bladder, small bowel and rectum. To improve results with radiation/chemotherapy, higher radiation doses have been tried for cervix cancer patients. Results from using higher radiation doses show that cervix tumours may be better controlled, but the radiation side-effects are worsened. Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and Tomotherapy are new radiation planning and delivery technologies which may allow for delivery of higher radiation doses with less damage to normal organs. The purpose of this project is to determine whether or not IMRT and/or Tomotherapy technology can produce radiation plans that deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor and lower doses to normal organs when compared to standard radiation plans. The results from this project will provide the basis for possibly treating future cervix cancer patients with Tomotherapy and providing them with improved cure rates along with decreased rates of radiation side effects. No patients will be treated on this protocol, as the investigators plan to only compare radiation dose calculations from different treatment plans created for test cervix cancer cases. There will be absolutely no patient contact in this protocol.

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