Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy in cases of recurrent and advanced gynecologic cancer

Transcatheter internal iliac arterial embolization therapy (TAE) using Gelfoam particles was performed in 24 patients with recurrent gynecologic cancer and ten patients with advanced gynecologic cancer who had previously undergone radiotherapy. The tumor showed complete response (CR) to the therapy in six patients, partial response (PR) in 12, minor response (MR) in three, and no changes (NC) in 13 patients, with the response rate (CR + PR) of 52.9% (18 of 34). No serious or prolonged side effects were encountered except for vesicovaginal fistula in three patients and renal failure in one. The median duration of survival was 299 days, and the 1-year cumulative survival rate was 32.5%. The factors that were associated with favorable outcome after TAE were good general condition, no distant metastases, tumors less than 5 cm in diameter, and responses to the therapy of PR or better. Thus, TAE appears useful for the treatment of recurrent and advanced gynecologic malignancies.