Radiochemotherapy combined with regional pelvic hyperthermia induces high response and resectability rates in patients with nonresectable cervical cancer > or =FIGO IIB "bulky".
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate preoperative radiochemotherapy combined with regional pelvic hyperthermia in patients with nonresectable cervical cancer >/= International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IIB "bulky" in a Phase II study.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with nonresectable FIGO IIB-IVA cervical cancer confined to the pelvis were treated with radiochemotherapy (5 x 1.8 Gy/wk, 45-50.4 Gy; cisplatin, 40 mg/m2/wk) and weekly regional pelvic hyperthermia (SIGMA-60 applicator, system BSD-2000; BSD Medical Corp., Salt Lake City, UT). Responders underwent hysterectomy if possible, whereas patients still unresectable received definitive hyperthermic radiochemotherapy. Feasibility, toxicity, as well as response and resectability, local progression free- and overall survival rates, were evaluated.


RESULTS
Thirty of 32 patients completed treatment. Grade III/IV toxicities (National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria) were diarrhea (n = 5), weight loss >10 kg (n = 4), and nausea (n = 2). Twenty-four of 32 patients (75%) achieved a partial remission after 45-50 Gy, and 20 patients underwent hysterectomy (18 patients, R0; 8 patients pCR). Three-year overall survival was 60%, with moderate (13%) rates of severe late toxicity. R0-resected patients had a favorable chronic toxicity profile and an excellent prognosis (3-year survival rate: 93%). Response depended on thermal parameters (vaginal reference point), whereas response, R0-resection, and FIGO stage are significant prognostic factors for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative hyperthermic radiochemotherapy (45-50 Gy) induces high response rates and enables curative surgery in a high proportion of patients with nonresectable cervical cancer. Therefore, the use of hyperthermia in conjunction with standard chemo-/radiotherapy +/- surgery may allow for more effective tumor treatment while decreasing the risk of complications in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.
Sreenivasa
Geetha
G
Clinic for Radiation Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Univesitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
Hildebrandt
Bert
B
Kümmel
Sherko
S
Jungnickel
Kirsten
K
Cho
Chie Hee
CH
Tilly
Wolfgang
W
Böhmer
Dirk
D
Budach
Volker
V
Felix
Roland
R
Wust
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin