Efficacy and safety of chemotherapy as monotherapy in patients with recurrent intermediate/high-risk factors following radical hysterectomy for stage IB-IIA cervical cancer: a single-center retrospective analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy (CT) as a monotherapy in patients with recurrent intermediate/high-risk factors following radical hysterectomy for stage IB-IIA cervical cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of patients diagnosed with stage IB-IIA cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy at the People's Hospital of Suzhou High-tech District between 2010 and 2020. A total of 66 patients with intermediate or high-risk factors for recurrence were treated exclusively with CT. This cohort included 42 patients in the intermediate-risk group and 24 in the high-risk group. Treatment protocols consisted of 4-6 cycles of paclitaxel and cisplatin drugs for the intermediate-risk group, and 6 cycles for the high-risk group. The relapse-free survival (RFS), recurrence rates, and common CT-related adverse reactions, including bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea, were assessed for both groups.

Results: (1) The cumulative 3-year RFS rates for the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups were 97.3% (36/37) and 82.4% (14/17), respectively, with cumulative 5-year RFS rates of 97.1% (34/35) and 82.4% (14/17), respectively. The Log rank test revealed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05), (χ² = 2.718, P = 0.099). The 5-year recurrence rates in the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups were 2.38% (1/42) and 12.50% (3/24), respectively. (2) The incidence of grade III bone marrow suppression in the intermediate-risk and high-risk groups was 21.19% (11/42) and 25.00% (6/24), respectively, while the incidence of grade IV bone marrow suppression was 11.90% (5/42) and 8.33% (2/24), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in bone marrow suppression grades between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: CT with paclitaxel and cisplatin, administered as monotherapy post-radical hysterectomy for stage IB-IIA cervical cancer, demonstrates satisfactory survival benefits with an acceptable safety profile. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in prognosis or adverse reactions between the different risk groups treated solely with CT.

Keywords: Adjuvant chemotherapy; Effectiveness; Radical hysterectomy; Safety; Stage IB-IIA.