title: Hydroxyurea as a radiation sensitizer in women with carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
abstract: Hydroxyurea was evaluated as a possible radiation sensitizer in 130 evaluable women with Stages IIB and IIIB (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) carcinoma of the uterine cervix. This was a prospective double-blind randomized study in which hydroxyurea or placebo was compared in conjunction with continuous or split-course radiation therapy. Of all patients with Stage IIB cancer without biopsy proof of aortic node metastasis, a significant improvement in survival (P less than 0.01) was achieved in the hydroxyura group (74.0%) as compared to the patients receiving placebo (43.5%). In women with Stage IIIB cervical cancer there was a trend toward longer survival in those receiving hydroxyurea (52.1%) as compared to those receiving placebo (33.3%). However, there was a statistically significant improvement in survival in those women with Stage IIIB cervical cancer who had staging done at operation, were found to have negative para-aortic nodes, and subsequently received continuous radiation therapy (90.9%) as compared to those receiving split-course therapy (29.4%) (P = 0.005).
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009518:New York; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D006918:Hydroxyurea