Influence of Radiation Therapy on Glomerular Filtration Rate after Treating Pelvic Malignancy

Abstract Introduction. Pelvic malignancy (cervical, rectal and endometrial carcinoma) is a very common and deadly disease. Adjuvant therapy consists of regimens that include both concurrent chemotherapy/radiotherapy (RT) and adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate and analyze renal function through the changes in GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate), using 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) techniques in the treatment of patients with pelvic malignancy. Methods. This study was conducted at the Clinical Center of Kosovo, Oncology Department. Several variables were evaluated in 75 patients: sex, age, type of primary malignancy, median tumor dose (TD) evidence over 50 and above 50 Gray (Gy). Time of the appearance of toxicity was followed by GFR changes during3- and 6-month follow-up period. Patients with pretreatment genitourinary morbidity (PGUM) were excluded from the study. Results. Our cohort consisted of 75 patients with pelvic malignancy, of whom 53(70.7%) were female and 22(29.3%) male. The average age of the patients included in the study was 57.5±11.2 years. Thirty (40.0%) of the 75 patients had rectal carcinoma, 28 (37.3%) cervical cancer (CC) and 17 (22.7%) endometrial carcinoma. The average value of GFR in the beginning was 71.7± 23.1ml/min, it was 75.6±25.6ml/min three months after beginning of therapy and 79.1±25.9 ml/min six months after therapy. The test of comparison showed a signifycant statistical difference between the values of GFR at the baseline of treatment vs three months after therapy (P<0.05), baseline of therapy vs six months after therapy (P<0.001), while there was no difference between GFR values three months and six months after therapy. Conclusion. Overall, the kidney function improved at 3 and 6 months in majority of patients.