Advanced cervical cancer

Several large, prospectively randomized clinical trials run by multi-institutional cooperative groups have established that the best treatment for advanced cancer of the cervix is primary radiotherapy with concurrent, cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In fact, patients with earlier stage cervix cancer with poor prognostic indicators (large, bulky tumors, positive pelvic lymph nodes, or unexpected parametrial disease at the time of surgery) also show a survival benefit with this approach. Adequate radiation dosing (both external beam and intracavitary) is essential. The additional benefit of periaortic lymph node irradiation is debated, but generally accepted, for patients with locally advanced disease or pelvic lymph node involvement.