A randomized clinical trial of radiation therapy versus thermoradiotherapy in stage IIIB cervical carcinoma

Int J Hyperthermia. 2001 Mar-Apr;17(2):97-105. doi: 10.1080/02656730010001333.

Abstract

To clarify the role of thermoradiotherapy for FIGO Stage IIIB cervical carcinomas, both the clinical response and survival of patients treated with radio- or thermoradiotherapy were investigated. Forty patients with Stage IIIB uterine cervix carcinoma were treated with external beam irradiation to the pelvis, combined with iridium 192 high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy. All patients were divided randomly into the following two groups: the radiotherapy (RT) group of 20 patients, who underwent radiotherapy alone; and the thermoradiotherapy (TRT) group of 20 patients, who underwent three sessions of hyperthermia in addition to radiotherapy. The primary endpoint of this study was local complete response and survival. A complete response was achieved in 50% (10 of 20) in the RT group versus 80% (16 of 20) in the TRT group (p = 0.048). The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival of the patients who were treated with TRT (58.2 and 63.6%) were better than those of the patients treated with RT (48.1 and 45%), but these differences were not significant. The 3-year local relapse-free survival of the patients who were treated with TRT (79.7%) was significantly better than that of the patients treated with RT (48.5%) (p = 0.048). TRT, as delivered in this trial, was well tolerated and did not significantly add to either the relevant clinical acute or long-term toxicity over radiation alone. TRT resulted in a better treatment response and 3-year local relapse-free survival rate than RT for patients with FIGO Stage IIIB cervical carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brachytherapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced* / adverse effects
  • Iridium Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Radio Waves / adverse effects
  • Radiofrequency Therapy
  • Radiotherapy, High-Energy
  • Survival Rate
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Iridium Radioisotopes