Metronidazole as a radiosensitizer and high-dose radiation in advanced vulvovaginal malignancies, a pilot study.
Advanced vulvovaginal cancers have a survival of less than 25% in 5 years when treated with radiotherapy alone. The radiosensitizer metronidazole was used with unconventional radiation fractions in 10 patients. Local control was achieved in 9 out of 10 patients treated. Five of 10 patients have remained free of disease 9-30 months postdiagnosis. Two patients died with metastatic disease, but with local control. In only 1 patient did this approach fail to control local disease. The outcome of these 10 patients represents a significant improvement over conventional radiation. A randomized prospective study has been started on the basis of this pilot study.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D008795:Metronidazole