Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer With Lung Metastases Including Oligometastases

Abstract

Background/aim: To investigate the role and outcomes of radiation therapy (RT) for stage IVB uterine cervical cancer (UCC) patients with lung (oligo) metastases due to the lack of recent reports on the subject.

Patients and methods: The cohort for this retrospective study comprised 23 consecutive patients with UCC (squamous cell carcinoma, n=13) and lung metastases who had received pelvic RT. Ten had lung metastases only, including 7 with oligometastases (≤4 lung metastases); the remaining 13 also had other distant metastases.

Results: Nine (39.1%) of the 22 patients (95.7%) completed RT without interruption. The 1-year primary progression-free rate was 95.2%. The 1-year overall survival rate was 47.2 % (estimated median survival: 9 months). Significant prognostic factors for survival included: i) ≤4 lung metastases (p=0.035), ii) unilateral lung metastases (p=0.039), iii) primary tumor diameter <100 mm (p<0.001), and iv) ECOG performance status <1 (p=0.015).

Conclusion: RT is safe and effective for stage IVB UCC patients with lung metastases.

Keywords: Uterine cervical cancer; gynecological malignancies; lung metastases; oligometastases; radiation therapy.