[Epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix at operable bulky stages IB and II treated with combined primary radiation therapy and surgery]

Cancer Radiother. 2002 Apr;6(2):85-98. doi: 10.1016/s1278-3218(02)00148-8.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors and treatment toxicity in a series of operable bulky stages I and II cervical carcinomas treated with a therapeutic modality combining primary irradiation and surgery.

Patients and methods: Between July 1982 and May 1996, 66 patients with bulky squamous-cell cervical carcinomas (stage IB2, IIA, and IIB with 1/3 proximal parametrial invasion) underwent primary external beam pelvic radiation therapy (37.40 Gy to 40 Gy over 4.5 weeks) and low-dose-rate uterovaginal brachytherapy (20 Gy) followed, 5 to 6 weeks later, by class II modified radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The four last patients received concomitant chemotherapy during the first and the fourth radiation week combining 5-FU and cisplatin. A clinical pelvic lymph node involvement had been observed in 7 patients. The clinical median tumor size was 5 cm in diameter (range: 4.5-8 cm). The median follow-up was 97 months.

Results: Pathologic complete tumor response in specimen of hysterectomy were observed in 46 patients. Six patients had pathologic unilateral iliac lymph node involvement. The 5- and 10-year specific survival rates were 79 and 74%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 76% and 71%, respectively. The 10-year local control rate was 85%. The 10-year probability for pelvic recurrence was significantly influenced by the pathologic tumor response: 26% in the residual group vs 5% in the complete tumor response group, P = 0.024). After multivariate analysis, the independent factors decreasing the probability of disease-free survival were: pathologic pelvic lymph node involvement (P = 0.029), and parametrial invasion (P = 0.031). Five late severe complications requiring surgical intervention were observed: 2 bowel obstructions, 1 ureteral stenosis, 1 vesicovaginal fistula, and 1 radiation induced unilateral femoral necrosis.

Conclusion: A good local control is obtained after combined primary radiation therapy and surgery for bulky stages I and II cervical carcinomas. In our more recent practice, the treatment combines primary concomitant chemoradiation followed by surgery including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / mortality
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / surgery*