title: Phase III randomized pilot study comparing interferon alpha-2b in combination with radiation therapy versus radiation therapy alone in patients with stage III-B carcinoma of the cervix.
abstract: This randomized pilot study was designed to determine whether the addition of interferon alpha-2b to standard radiation therapy offered an advantage in loco-regional control and survival over radiation therapy alone in a homogeneous group of patients with stage IIIB carcinoma of the cervix. Thirty-six patients were treated with a combination of interferon alpha-2b plus radiation therapy, and 38 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone. Patients with evidence of ureteral obstruction were excluded from the study. Evaluation of loco-regional response was determined by pelvic examination, cervical cytology, biopsies and CT scans when indicated. Survival time was measured from initiation of treatment to date of death or last follow-up. Patient characteristics were comparable between both study arms. The objective complete response rate was 67% in the combined therapy group and 55% in the radiation alone group (P = 0.454). With a median follow-up of 17 months for all patients and 31 months for live patients, 50% of the combined group survived vs. 39.5% of the radiation alone group (P = 0.424). We conclude that the addition of interferon alpha-2b to standard radiation therapy did not significantly improve loco-regional response or survival, although such a trend was noted. We encourage the design of a larger randomized study with sufficient power to detect meaningful differences to prove whether the tendency observed in the present investigation holds any promise to improve the outcome of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica las Condes, Santiago, Chile. ryazigi@clinicalascondes.cl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazigi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aliste
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ciudad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solá
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cumsille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reyes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002677:Chile; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins