A randomized phase III trial of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: preliminary results

Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. This study was a preliminary result of a randomized two arms, prospective, open-label phase III trial comparing the activity and safety of the concurrent chemoradiation of Tegafur-Uracil and carboplatin or carboplatin alone in locally advanced cervical cancer.

The stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer patients were randomized to have Tegafur-Uracil 225 mg/m(2)/day orally, 5 days a week and carboplatin 100 mg/m(2) IV over 30-60 min, weekly on day 1 concurrent with standard radiotherapy (Group A) or carboplatin alone concurrent with standard radiotherapy (Group B).

Four hundred and sixty-nine patients were randomized to Group A (n=234) or Group B (n=235). The tumor response at 3-month follow-up time showed no significant difference. The only prognostic factor to improve the complete response rate was the hemoglobin level. The patients in Group A, who had Hb <10 gm/dL had the relatively better change to complete response of 1.48 compared to that in Group B (P 0.025, 95% CI 1.07, 2.04). No severe toxicity or adverse event had been reported. The median follow-up time for Group A and Group B was 12.6 and 11.8 months, respectively. There was no statistical difference in PFS and OS.

Concurrent chemoradiation by Tegafur-Uracil and carboplatin showed no difference in tumor response rate or treatment toxicity compared to carboplatin alone. The combination drugs might have benefit in poor prognostic patients such as the baseline Hb <10 gm/dL.