The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of anemia in uterine cervical carcinoma patients treated with irradiation.
Methods and materials: A total of 162 patients diagnosed with stage IIA-IIIB cervical carcinoma by the criteria of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and treated with irradiation were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox regression model were performed to determine statistical significance of some tumor-related factors. Patients were divided into two groups according to the hemoglobin level before treatment: <120 g/l (68 patients) and > or =120 g/l (94 patients).
Results: In univariate analysis, the hemoglobin level before treatment showed a significant influence on overall survival (p=0.000), disease-free survival (p=0.003), local relapse-free survival (p=0.002). Lymph node status (>10 mm) assessed by computed tomography had impact on overall survival (p=0.008), disease-free survival (p=0.023) and relapse-free survival (p=0.028). Using multivariate analysis, the hemoglobin level before treatment was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (p=0.001), disease-free survival (p=0.040) and local relapse-free survival (p=0.013); lymph node status assessed by computed tomography had impact on overall survival (p=0.030) and local relapse-free survival (p=0.038).
Conclusion: Hemoglobin level before treatment is a significant prognostic factor for patients with uterine cervical carcinoma treated with irradiation.