Prognostic factors in definitive radiotherapy of uterine cervical cancer

To determine the prognostic factors related to local control and survival in 257 patients with uterine cervical cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT).

The medical records of 257 patients treated with definitive RT from January 1987 to December 1998 were reviewed retrospectively. Pretreatment and treatment parameters were analyzed to determine their prognostic value onlocal control and survival. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analyses and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate analyses.

Median age was 55 (range 25-82). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type (89.1%). The distribution per FIGO Stage was IIA: 13.2%; IIB: 54.9%; IIIA: 3.9%; IIIB: 19.8%; IVA: 8.2%. Ninety-eight patients (38.1%) were treated with external RT alone; 134 (52.1%) received both external RT and intracavitary brachytherapy; 21 (8.2%) received external RT and chemotherapy and four (1.6%) received external RT, intracavitary brachytherapy and chemotherapy. Median follow-up duration was 50 months (range 24-155 months). The failure rate was 51.8% with 26.5% of patients having only local failure, 16.7% only distant failure and 8.6% both local and distant failure. Five-year local progression-free, disease-free and overall survival rates were 58.1%, 44% and 63.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis the prognostic factors identified for local progression-free survival were histology (p = 0.008), FIGO stage (p < 0.001), initial hemoglobin (Hgb) level (p = 0.001), total radiation dose (p = 0.039), use of brachytherapy (p = 0.001) and of chemotherapy (p = 0.037) and enlarged paraaortic nodes (p = 0.016). In multivariate analysis the prognostic factors were FIGO stage (p = 0.014), initial Hgb level (p = 0.040), and use of brachytherapy (p = 0.013). The prognostic factors identified for disease-free survival were histology (p = 0.011), FIGO stage (p < 0.001), initial Hgb level (p < 0.001), use of brachytherapy (p = 0.001) and of chemotherapy (p = 0.014) in univariate analysis; and FIGO stage (p < 0.001), initial Hgb level (p = 0.017), total tumor dose (p = 0.034), use of brachytherapy (p = 0.006) and of chemotherapy (p = 0.021) in multivariate analysis. Factors influencing overall survival were FIGO stage (p < 0.001), initial Hgb level (p = 0.006), overall treatment time (p = 0.028), total tumor dose (p = 0.007), use of brachytherapy (p < 0.001), enlarged paraaortic (p < 0.001) and pelvic nodes (p = 0.004) in univariate analysis; and FIGO stage (p < 0.001), overall treatment time (p = 0.031), enlarged paraaortic (p = 0.007) and pelvic lymph nodes (p = 0.043) in multivariate analysis.

Definitive RT is an effective treatment for patients with uterine cervical cancer. There are many prognostic factors influencing treatment outcome. Brachytherapy and chemotherapy must be added in appropriate patients to improve the outcome. Future prospective trials should be undertaken to confirm the validity of these factors and to individualize the treatment strategy for every patient.