Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the high-risk uterine cervical cancer

Aim: To determine whether concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) can improve the survival rate of high-risk uterine cervical cancer. Material & Methods: We analyzed 16 cases of uterine cervical cancer that had undergone radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy from 2003 to 2008. The patients were eligible if they had histologically confirmed positive parametrial involvement, positive pelvic lymph nodes or non-squamous cell carcinoma. They received 50 Gy of external beam radiotherapy (RT) for the pelvis which was combined with chemotherapy. Cisplatin was administered intravenously every 3 weeks at a dose of 70 mg/m2 during the RT. For renal function complication case, carboplatin was administered weekly. For control purposes, there were 14 cases treated in our hospital from 1995 to 2003 who had received only RT. Results: We did not find any statistically significant difference in the disease-free survival rate between the CCRT group and the RT group. However, the overall survival rate was significantly higher for patients in the CCRT group compared with the RT group in positive lymph node cases and non-squamous cell carcinoma cases. Adverse effects were more frequent in the CCRT group. Over grade 3 toxicities were manifested as leukopenia, diarrhea and anemia. There was no local recurrence in CCRT group patients. Conclusion: CCRT seems to be beneficial for improving the survival rate of either positive lymph node or non-squamous cell carcinoma cases in high-risk uterine cervical cancer patients.