Management of stage I-B, II-A, and II-B carcinoma of the cervix with high-dose-rate brachytherapy: initial results of an institutional clinical trial.
In 1989, the University of Miami began a program incorporating high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy into the definitive treatment of patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Patients received an average total dose to point A of 5,511 cGy (range 4,280-6,360 cGy) in an average of 57 days (range 39-84 days). An analysis of the first 24 cases found 11 FIGO Stage I-B, four Stage II-A, and nine Stage II-B tumors. At the end of all radiation therapy, 19/24 patients' tumors (79.2%) had undergone a clinical complete response (CR). With median follow-up of 26 months (range 14-63 months), three have relapsed locally, two regionally, and six in extrapelvic sites. Almost two-thirds of all failures occurred in patients with tumors >4 cm, who also took more than 8 weeks to complete their treatment. Overall 2-year actuarial survival for the entire study group is approximately 74%. A univariate analysis determined that clinical stage (P = 0.02), overall treatment time (P = 0.03), tumor size (P = 0.05), and response at the end of therapy (P = 0.005) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor response to therapy was the most important prognosticator of outcome (P = 0.001). Besides five cases of apical vaginal stenosis, there have been no reported chronic complications in this cohort of patients. A prospectively randomized trial is recommended to compare the efficacy of HDR vs. low-dose-rate brachytherapy in cervical carcinoma.
Abitbol
A A
AA
Department of Radiation Oncology, Baptist Hospital of Miami, FL 33176, USA.
Wolfson
A H
AH
Lewin
A A
AA
Houdek
P V
PV
Laufer
K A
KA
Brandon
A H
AH
Ting
J Y
JY
Raub
W A
WA
Averette
H E
HE
Sevin
B U
BU
Markoe
A M
AM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*