title: Comparison of concurrent chemoradiation therapy with weekly cisplatin versus monthly fluorouracil plus cisplatin in FIGO stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. Although the optimal chemotherapeutic regimen is not yet defined, previous randomized trials have demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus cisplatin every 3 weeks and weekly cisplatin are the most popular regimens. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of weekly CCRT with cisplatin and monthly CCRT with 5-FU plus cisplatin for locally advanced cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed data from 255 patients with FIGO stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer. Patients were classified into two CCRT groups according to the concurrent chemotherapy: weekly CCRT group, consisted of CCRT with weekly cisplatin for six cycles; and monthly CCRT group, consisted of CCRT with cisplatin and 5-FU every 4 weeks for two cycles followed by additional consolidation chemotherapy for two cycles with the same regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 255 patients, 152 (59.6%) patients received weekly CCRT and 103 (40.4%) received monthly CCRT. The mean follow-up period was 39 months (range, 1 to 186 months). Planned CCRT was given to 130 (85.5%) patients in weekly CCRT group and 84 (81.6%) patients in monthly CCRT group, respectively. Severe adverse effects were more common in the monthly CCRT group than in the weekly CCRT group. There were no statistically significant differences in progression-free survival and overall survival between the two groups (p=0.715 and p=0.237).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both weekly CCRT and monthly CCRT seem to have similar efficacy for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, but the weekly cisplatin is better tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Wook
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Suk-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jiheum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.forename: Seung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jong-Hyuck
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ki-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Mison
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Hee-Sug
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ryu
keywords: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy; Locally advanced cervical cancer; Survival