ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVANCED RADIATION THERAPY TECHNIQUES IN IMPROVING SURVIVAL AND REDUCING SIDE EFFECTS AMONG CANCER PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Advanced radiation therapy techniques, such as IMRT and VMAT, are increasingly integral to cancer care, aiming to improve tumour control and reduce treatment-related toxicity. However, a comprehensive and contemporary synthesis of their comparative effectiveness across various malignancies is needed to guide clinical practice.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced radiation therapy techniques in improving survival outcomes and reducing adverse effects compared to conventional radiotherapy in adult cancer patients.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies published between 2014 and 2024. Studies were included if they compared advanced techniques (e.g., IMRT, VMAT, SBRT) to conventional radiotherapy or other advanced techniques, reporting on overall survival, progression-free survival, or toxicity. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers.

Results: Eight studies (n=1,842 patients) were included, encompassing prostate, head and neck, lung, and pancreatic cancers. The evidence indicated that advanced techniques consistently led to significant reductions in toxicity, particularly xerostomia in head and neck cancer (e.g., Grade ≥2 xerostomia: 25% vs. 68%, p<0.001) and gastrointestinal effects in prostate cancer. Survival benefits were more variable, with significant improvements observed in specific contexts, such as SBRT for early-stage lung cancer (3-year overall survival: 65% vs. 48%, p=0.02).

Conclusion: Advanced radiation therapy techniques demonstrate a robust and consistent benefit in reducing treatment-related morbidity. While survival advantages are context-dependent, the significant improvement in patient quality of life supports the widespread adoption of these technologies. Further high-quality trials are warranted to solidify survival benefits and compare advanced modalities directly.