Purpose: This study was undertaken to assess local control and toxicity with adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT) for early stage cervical cancer.
Patients and methods: Between June 2004 and February 2007, 54 patients with early stage cervical cancer (stage IB-IIA) with high-risk factors for treatment failure after surgery were treated with adjuvant pelvic IMRT and CCRT. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin (50 mg/m2) weekly for 4 to 6 courses. All the patients received 50.4 Gy of external beam radiotherapy with IMRT in 28 fractions and 6 Gy of high-dose rate vaginal cuff brachytherapy in 3 insertions.
Results: Adjuvant CCRT with IMRT provided good local tumor control in posthysterectomy cervical cancer patients with high-risk pathologic features. The 3-year locoregional control and disease-free survival were 93% and 78%, respectively. Histology and lymph node metastasis were indicators for disease-free survival. Low acute and chronic treatment-related toxicities were noted with IMRT. All the patients completed the radiotherapy treatment without any major toxicity. In terms of chronic toxicity, only 1 patient had grade 3 genitourinary toxicity and none had grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that adjuvant CCRT with IMRT technique for adjuvant treatment of early stage cervical cancer is associated with excellent local control and low toxicity.