Original Title: Efectividad y seguridad de la radioterapia adaptativa en pacientes con linfoma, cáncer de cabeza y cuello y carcinoma de pulmón

Authors' objectives: To assess the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of adaptive radiation therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer, lung cancer and lymphoma compared to conventional radiation therapy.

Authors' results and conclusions: The evidence found indicates that ART in patients with head and neck cancer has the potential to improve on some aspects of conventional radiotherapy, especially regarding strengthening local and regional control of the disease, reducing acute skin toxicity and possibly enhancing quality of life in the long term. In lung cancer, ART seems to offer significant advantages compared to conventional radiotherapy in terms of improvements in overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and reductions in rates of severe and fatal pneumonitis (grades 3-5 and grade 5, respectively), while differences do not reach significance for mild pneumonitis (grade 1-2). Nonetheless, research to date is based on retrospective cohort studies, with potential selection bias, meaning that the evidence is not robust and limited confidence should be placed in these results. Regarding ART in patients with lymphoma, no evidence was found comparing its effectiveness and safety with those of conventional radiotherapy.

Authors' methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using the methods described in the «Guideline for the elaboration and adaptation of rapid health technology assessment reports», developed in the methodological process framework of the Spanish Network of Agencies for Assessing National Health System Technologies (RedETS). The following databases were consulted: the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Medline (PubMed), Embase, PsycINFO, the database of scientific health information from Latin America and the Caribbean countries (LILACS), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Campbell Collaboration online library, the Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, the Evidence for Policy & Practice Information (EPPI) Centre Evidence Library, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL).

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2025

URL for published report: https://www.euskadi.eus/contenidos/informacion/osteba_publicacion/eu_def/adjuntos/E-25-05-Efectividad_y_Seguridad_de_la_Radioterapia.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Rapid Review

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: C/ Donostia – San Sebastián, 1 (Edificio Lakua II, 4ª planta) 01010 Vitoria - Gasteiz

Contact Name: Lorea Galnares-Cordero

Contact Email: lgalnares@bioef.eus

Copyright: <p>Osteba (Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment) Health Department of the Basque Government</p>