Evaluation of role of radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cervical cancer patients- A preliminary report

Background: Carcinoma of uterine cervix is the commonest cancer affecting females in developing countries. Concurrent chemoradiation has remained the sole definitive treatment available in the advanced stages. The study was planned to take the advantage of radiosensitisation accruing due to chemotherapy at the time of brachytherapy, when approximately 40% of total tumor dose is applied. Subjects and Methods: Sixty-four patients were enrolled who had locally advanced uterine cervix carcinoma (Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IIB–IVA) from July 2011 to May 2013 for concurrent chemotherapy and intracavitory brachytherapy after completion of concurrent chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy followed by three insertion of brachytherapy separated by a week by flexitron brachytherapy unit to Point A, for each application was 6 Gy by high dose rate. Cisplatin was given (35 mg/m²) 1 day before brachytherapy in each application. Results: At medium follow-up of 19 months (range 8–30 months) clinical complete response rate was found to be 89% at 3 months of follow-up. Acute side effect as nausea and vomiting Grades I and II were recorded as 55% and 28% respectively, no renal dysfunction and no thrombocytopenia were encountered. No patients had Grade IV or life threatening toxicity. Overall survival and disease free survival after 30 months of follow-up is 88% and 75% respectively. Conclusion: Use of concurrent chemotherapy with brachytherapy is effective and feasible with acceptable toxicity for locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix.