Adjuvant Small Pelvic Radiotherapy in Patients with Cervical Cancer Having Intermediate Risk Factors Only - Is It Sufficient?

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine the outcomes of adjuvant small pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and prognostic factors for survival and disease control.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 113 cervical cancer patients treated with postoperative median 50.4-Gy small pelvic EBRT. We treated the surgical bed, bilateral parametria, paravaginal soft tissues, upper third of the vagina, and presacral lymphatics.

Results: Median follow-up of all patients and survivors was 58 and 67 months, respectively. The 2- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rates were 91 and 82%, and 85 and 74%, respectively. The locoregional failure rate was 10%. Age was a significant predictor for OS and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) on univariate analysis. The number of dissected lymph nodes being < 30 negatively affected the pelvic recurrence-free survival. The only independent predictor on multivariate analysis was older age for DMFS. Although no severe acute toxicity was observed, late grade ≥ 3 toxicity developed in 8 patients.

Conclusion: Small pelvic EBRT produces satisfactory survival and locoregional control with acceptable toxicity, and can be an alternative to whole pelvic EBRT in selected cervical cancer patients.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; External beam radiotherapy; Prognostic factor.