Definite chemoradiotherapy is a competent treatment option in FIGO stage IB2 cervical cancer compared with radical surgery +/− neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: To compare the treatment outcomes of different treatment modalities for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2 cervical cancer. Methods: From January 2002 to July 2016, 91 patients with FIGO stage IB2 squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix were enrolled. All of them received one of the following treatment modalities, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy (CCRT group, n = 27), radical surgery with or without adjuvant treatment (RH group, n = 25), or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery with or without adjuvant treatment (NACT group, n = 39). Overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), loco-regional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were compared among the three different groups. Results: The median follow up durations were 63.3 months for the CCRT group, 83.5 months for the NACT group, and 89.8 months for the RH group, respectively. The 5-year OS, DFS, LRFFS and DMFS for CCRT group vs. NACT group vs. RH group were 80.1% vs. 94.1% vs. 93.8% (p = 0.197), 79.5% vs. 79.3% vs. 91.0% (p = 0.401), 88.1% vs. 81.8% vs. 95.8% (p = 0.253), and 83.3% vs. 88.8% vs. 95.2% (p = 0.422). No significant prognostic factor was found in OS. Age > 48 was significant in predicting poor DFS and DMFS. The non-squamous cell carcinoma was a significant predictor of poor DFS, LRFFS and DMFS. Conclusion: CCRT is a feasible therapeutic option with acceptable acute and chronic treatment-related toxicities for patients who cannot tolerate radical surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Keywords: Chemoradiation therapy, FIGO stage IB2 cervical carcinoma, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Radical hysterectomy, Surgery