Assessing toxicities of curative radiotherapy combined with concomitant non anti-cancer drugs: A sub-analysis of the prospective epidemiological RIT trial

Abstract

Background and purpose: Limited data are available about non-anticancer treatment (NACTs)/radiation combinations. MORSE 02-17 was the first study to report on the interaction resulting from such combinations in a heterogeneous population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe acute and late toxicities in a homogenous cohort of cancer patients receiving NACTs and undergoing radiation therapy.

Material and methods: An analysis of the RIT (Radiation Impact on Thromboembolic events) prospective trial was carried-out. Patients with non-metastatic solid tumors and treated with radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy in a curative intent between 2016 and 2019 were included. Data about NACTs and toxicities were then collected.

Results: Out of 382 patients, 293 were prescribed NACTs (76.7%) with a median number of 3.6 (range: 1-14) NACTs per patient. Among1006 NACTs, the most prescribed drugs were anti-hypertensive, in 153 patients (52.2%). In accordance with MORSE 02-17 data, four of the main side effects of radiotherapy were analysed: genitourinary, gastrointestinal, dermatitis/mucositis and fatigue. Regarding acute and late toxicities -whatever the grade- no statistical difference was found between NACTs classes and these toxicities.

Conclusion: When we compared the rates of toxicities with literature data, NACTs did not seem to have a worsening effect. One could conclude that NACTs concomitantly given with RT do not influence toxicity outcome. We then advocate a development of new platform for toxicity profile investigation of drugs-RT combination.

Keywords: Non-anticancer drugs; Radiotherapy; Side effect; Toxicity.