Molecular Profiling Cuts Radiation for Women with Endometrial Cancer: Study
New Delhi: A recent study has shown that molecular profiling can safely reduce the use of radiotherapy in women with early-stage endometrial cancer, marking a major step forward in personalised cancer treatment. The research highlights how analysing a tumour's unique characteristics can help doctors decide which patients truly need additional therapy and which can avoid it.
Endometrial cancer is a common type of gynaecological cancer, often affecting women after menopause. For patients with high- or high-intermediate-risk disease, doctors typically recommend adjuvant radiotherapy, especially vaginal brachytherapy, after surgery to prevent the cancer from returning. However, not every patient benefits equally from this treatment, and some may receive unnecessary radiation, increasing the risk of side effects.
The study, presented at ESTRO 2025—the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology annual congress in Vienna, Austria—involved 592 women from eight European countries. All participants had been diagnosed with high- or high-intermediate-risk endometrial cancer.
Researchers used molecular profiling to examine the genetic and biological traits of each woman’s tumour. Based on the results, they adjusted the radiotherapy approach for each patient. Women with low-risk tumor profiles were able to safely skip radiation, while those with more aggressive tumor types received intensified radiotherapy, such as pelvic radiation instead of the standard vaginal brachytherapy.
The outcomes were encouraging. Almost 50% of patients avoided unnecessary radiation without increasing the risk of cancer recurrence. Patients with high-risk tumour profiles had better cancer control with targeted treatment, showing a recurrence rate of 8.4%, compared to 30.5% in those who received standard care without profiling.
Lead researcher Dr. Anne Sophie V.M. van den Heerik from Leiden University Medical Centre said, “This study shows that we can tailor treatment to each patient, reducing harm and improving outcomes.”
The findings support the growing use of precision medicine to create safer, more effective cancer care tailored to individual patient needs.
Kanchan Chaurasiya joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Media and Marketing Intern. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Arts from Delhi University and has completed certifications in digital marketing. She has a strong interest in health news, content creation, hospital updates, and emerging trends. At Medical Dialogues, Kanchan manages social media and also creates web stories to enhance mobile content reach and audience engagement.