title: The role of radiation therapy for uterine cervical cancer with distant metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We carried out a review to determine the role of radiation therapy in uterine cervical cancer with distant metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with uterine cervical cancer with distant metastasis underwent radiation therapy; 29 of these also underwent chemotherapy. A total dose of 19.8-90.4 Gy (median 62.9 Gy) was delivered to the cervical tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients died during the follow-up period of 1-94 months (median 10 months) after irradiation. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 20%, and the estimated median survival time was 15 months. Ten patients developed primary tumor progression, and the primary tumor control rate at 3 years was 49%. A distant metastatic site and primary tumor size were significant prognostic factors for their survival. Total radiation dose was considered a significant and useful variable for primary tumor control. With the exception of transient hematologic reactions and hemorrhagic cystitis, there were no therapy-related toxicities of grade 3 or greater.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation therapy was safe and effective for local control in patients with uterine cervical cancer with distant metastasis. More aggressive treatment, including radiation therapy with a curative radiation dose, should be considered for patients with favorable prognostic factors for survival.
authors: Department of Radiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. mhata@syd.odn.ne.jp
authors: Masaharu
authors: M
authors: Hata
authors: Motoko
authors: M
authors: Omura
authors: Etsuko
authors: E
authors: Miyagi
authors: Izumi
authors: I
authors: Koike
authors: Reiko
authors: R
authors: Numazaki
authors: Mikiko
authors: M
authors: Asai-Sato
authors: Yoshibumi
authors: Y
authors: Tayama
authors: Ichiro
authors: I
authors: Ogino
authors: Fumiki
authors: F
authors: Hirahara
authors: Tomio
authors: T
authors: Inoue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*