Comparative Study on Symptomatic Response and Toxicity of Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy and Radiotherapy Alone in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Abstract

This prospective observational study was carried out to compare the symptomatic response and acceptable toxicity in concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and radiotherapy alone in the treatment of cervical cancer. A total of 60 patients (30 patients in arm A & 30 patients in arm B) who have biopsy proven cervical carcinoma with no history of previous treatment were selected from the Department of radiotherapy Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi & in the department of Radiation & Oncology, National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital. All patients in both arms received external beam radiation with 50Gy in 25 daily fractions over five weeks. Followed by three insertions (one insertion per week) of Intracavitary brachytherapy each 700 cGy. Patients in arm-A received Inj. Cisplatin 40mg/m2 in IV infusion on the first day of each treatment per week in addition to radiotherapy. In this study it was observed that a significant symptomatic improvement was found in arm-A after treatment than arm-B and no severe unwanted reaction was noted in most of the patients. Systematic toxicity developed in both groups and comparatively more in arm-A (chemo radiation) but that was not statistically significant and well managed with conservative treatment. Regarding performance status patients treated with concurrent chemo radiation showed better performance status than the patient treated with radiotherapy alone. In this study it was observed that patients of carcinoma cervix treated with concurrent chemo radiotherapy was effective for symptomatic improvement and feasible with acceptable toxicity for advanced cancer of the uterine cervix than those with radiation alone.