Identification and Prevention of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Gynecologic Cancer Survivors

Washington University School of Medicine22 enrolled

Overview

The two goals of this study are to establish a standardized method of assessing the pelvic floor for patients undergoing pelvic radiation and to determine the feasibility of inverse-RT planning using MRI to identify dosimetric constraints of the pelvic floor musculature for use in radiation planning. The investigators hypothesize that an exam-based diagnostic tool will provide more information about the areas of injury related to pelvic radiation than patient-reported outcomes, and could be used in future studies of preventive strategies. An exam-based tool will also allow measurement of the pain dose-response to radiation treatment of specific areas, which could be excluded from radiation fields during treatment planning.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Gynecologic Cancer

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria - Prospective Cohort * Undergoing primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer with definitive, curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (chemotherapy must be a radiosensitizing platinum agent). * At least 18 years of age. * English speaker. * Able to understand and willing to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document. Exclusion Criteria - Prospective Cohort * Received any form of pelvic radiation (excepting diagnostic studies). * Currently taking and does not plan to take anti-estrogenic hormonal therapy. * Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/chronic bladder pain, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease. * Currently being treated for a chronic non-cancer pain condition (treatment for pain after enrollment is acceptable). Inclusion Criteria - Retrospective Cohort (historical control) * Received primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer with definitive, curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (chemotherapy must be a radiosensitizing platinum agent). * At least 18 years of age. Exclusion Criteria - Retrospective Cohort (historical control) * Received any form of pelvic radiation (excepting diagnostic studies). * Took anti-estrogenic hormonal therapy during treatment or in the 6 months following treatment. * Diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/chronic bladder pain, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease at the start of treatment. * Simultaneously treated for a chronic non-cancer pain condition at the start of treatment.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Comparison of patient-reported symptoms as measured by EORTC QLQ-CX2 compared to findings of single digit pelvic exam

An exam will be considered positive for PFMD if pain at any examined site is reported as greater than or equal to four (\>4) out of 10. The EORTC QLQ-CX2 contains 24 items scored 1-4 by frequency with which the patient experiences each. The minimum possible score is 24, and maximum 96, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life. The questionnaire will be considered positive if any vaginal, sexual, or genitourinary module question is rated 4 and otherwise will be analyzed as a continuous variable.

Time frame: Prior to starting treatment, at treatment mid-point (3 weeks after treatment), at end of treatment (after 6 weeks of treatment), and at 6 month follow-up visit after end of treatment

Comparison of patient-reported symptoms as measured by PFDI-20 compared to findings of single digit pelvic exam

An exam will be considered positive for PFMD if pain at any examined site is reported as \>4 out of 10. The PFDI-20 includes 20 items in three domains and provides a scaled score of 0-100 indicating how much a patient is bothered by pelvic floor-related issues. The questionnaire will be considered positive if the scaled score is greater than or equal to 16, indicating at least "moderate distress" and otherwise will be analyzed as a continuous variable.

Time frame: Prior to starting treatment, at treatment mid-point (3 weeks after treatment), at end of treatment (after 6 weeks of treatment), and at 6 month follow-up visit after end of treatment

Comparison of patient-reported symptoms as measured by PFIQ-7 compared to findings of single digit pelvic exam

An exam will be considered positive for PFMD if pain at any examined site is reported as \>4 out of 10. The PFIQ-7 includes 7 items each repeated across three domains and provides a scaled score and total score indicating how much a patient is bothered by pelvic floor-related issues. The questionnaire does not have an established severity scale, and therefore will be analyzed as a simple continuous variable.

Time frame: Prior to starting treatment, at treatment mid-point (3 weeks after treatment), at end of treatment (after 6 weeks of treatment), and at 6 month follow-up visit after end of treatment

Secondary Outcomes

Time course of pelvic floor dysfunction evolution over the course of treatment for cervical cancer using pelvic exam

Continuous variables of scales and total scores will be calculated for the exam at each time point and represented in spider-type plots. Results of the exam will be analyzed using the thresholds described in the primary outcome measure, and frequencies of positive scores reported for each time point.