Application of Da Vinci robotic surgery system in cervical cancer: A single institution experience of 557 cases

Abstract

ObjectiveConflicting data have been published regarding the oncologic appropriateness of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the treatment of cervical cancer. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether our experience in the treatment of early cervical cancer using a robotic surgical approach was safe and oncologically effective. MethodsThe data of 557 patients with cervical cancer treated by robotic surgery were retrospectively collected, including the perioperative and survival outcomes. Tumor stage was based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2009). The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. ResultsOf the 557 patients, 196 (35.2%) patients were stage IA1 to IB1, and 304 (54.6%) patients were stage IB2 to I1A2. Also included were 57 (10.2%) patients with either recurrent or persistent disease following concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Two patients (0.4%) experienced severe intraoperative complications and 11 patients (2.0%) developed postoperative complications. A stratified analysis of survival was conducted in 91 patients who met a follow-up time of 3-year or more. The median follow-up time was 49 (range, 6–57) months. Both the 3-year DFS and OS of early-stage (stage IA1 to IB1) cervical cancer were 97.6%. For patients with locally advanced (stage IB2 to IIA2) disease, DFS and OS were 88.1% and 90.5%, respectively. The patients with recurrent or persistent disease had DFS and OS of 62.5%. ConclusionOur study results demonstrated that the robotic surgical approach could achieve satisfying therapeutic outcomes in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, with a low complication rate. For advanced cervical cancer patients with recurrent or persistent disease following concurrent chemoradiotherapy, robotic surgery undertaken as supplementary therapy may improve prognosis. However, there remains a need for additional prospective data reporting long-term survival of cervical cancer patients treated with a robotic surgical approach.