Radiotherapy alone and chemoirradiation in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent vulvar cancer, emphasising the prognostic factors and outcomes.


METHODS
Twenty women with loco-regional recurrence of vulvar carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients were managed with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, seven out of these with concomitant radio-chemotherapy and four with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine patients were submitted to radiotherapy alone. The total dose of radiation therapy ranged from 30 Gy to 70 Gy.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 6 months (range 2-70 months). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival for the entire cohort was 20%. The outcomes included 6 complete response (CR), 10 partial response (PR) and 4 no change (NC). Patients with one site of recurrence and size of lesion < or = 3 cm were long survivors and disease-free at 5 years; all these women received a total dose of radiation therapy > or = 6480 cGy.


CONCLUSIONS
We emphasize the importance of the number, site and diameter of recurrences as prognostic indicators; the outcomes of these patients were also affected by the total dose of radiation therapy.
Raffetto
Nicola
N
Chair of Radiotherapy, University of L'Aquila, Department of Experimental Medicine, Radiotherapy Unit of S. Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
Tombolini
Vincenzo
V
Santarelli
Mario
M
Valeriani
Maurizio
M
Galla
Domenico A
DA
Enrici
Riccardo Maurizi
RM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*