Evaluation of outcomes in patients of cervical Cancer with lower one third vaginal involvement: A single...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors affecting survival of cervical cancer patients presenting with lower third vaginal involvement.

The patients with histologically proven invasive cervical cancer with clinical FIGO-2009 stage IIIA and IIIB with lower one-third vaginal involvement, treated with radio (chemo) therapy between 2010 and 2016 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed.

There were 118 cervical cancer patients with lower third vaginal involvement with median age of 56.5 years (Range: 33-77 years). Forty-five patients were of FIGO stage IIIA, 73 patients staged as stage IIIB at diagnosis with predominant squamous histology. At a median follow up of 30 months, 12 patients (10.1%) developed local vaginal recurrences and 4 patients (3.3%) had developed loco regional recurrences, 27 patients (23%) developed distant and 2 patients developed loco-regional and distant relapses. The 3- year DFS and OS rates were 61.5% and 69.8% respectively. The 3-year DFS and OS of patients with IIIA was significantly better than IIIB patients (71% vs 56%, p: 0.02 and 76% vs 66%, p: 0.01 respectively) on univariate analysis. Concurrent chemotherapy and absence of persistent disease emerged as independent predictors of survival on multi-variate analysis.

The outcome of patients with FIGO IIIA is better than IIIB with lower vaginal involvement. Elderly patients, patients not receiving concomitant chemotherapy and presence of residual disease at BT are associated with poorer outcomes.