Curative effects of pure radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for patients with cerical cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the curative effects and adverse reactions of pure radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer. Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients with cervical cancer who accepted treatment in the Affliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from May 2010 to May 2012 were collected. All patients were divided into two groups: pure radiotherapy group (n=65) and concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy group (n=62). The curative effects, adverse reactions and survival of two groups were observed. Results All patients were completed treatment. The median follow-up time was 42 months. The rate of complete response in the pure radiotherapy group was 80.0% (52/65), and the rate in the concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy group was 82.26% (51/62), with no significant difference (χ2=1.22, P=0.352). The 1-year overall survival rates in the pure radiotherapy group and the concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy group were 95.38% and 95.16% respectively, with no significant difference (χ2=0.32, P=0.533), but the 3-year overall survival rates were 81.54% and 90.32% respectively, the 5-year overall survival rates were 72.31% and 83.87% respectively, with significant differences (χ2=5.09, P=0.015; χ2=3.87, P=0.039). However, for the patients who were ≥ 60 years, the 1-year overall survival rates in the two groups were 94.62% and 93.91% respectively, the 3-year overall survival rates were 85.02% and 87.25% respectively, the 5-year overall survival rates were 70.06% and 73.58% respectively, with no significant differences (χ2=0.06, P=0.753; χ2=1.16, P=0.279; χ2=0.48, P=0.511). The adverse reactions were mainly in grades 1-2. There were significant differences in the rates of leucopenia (56.10% vs. 72.20%), thrombocytopenia (58.82% vs. 76.80%), nausea and vomiting (34.04% vs. 56.90%) among the two treatment groups (χ2=11.23, P=0.003; χ2=11.82, P=0.002; χ2=12.77, P=0.000). Conclusion The curative effect of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy is better than that with pure radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer, which can improve the 3-year and 5-year overall survival. But at the same time, it should be noted that the rates of adverse reactions may be increased during the same period. For the age of 60 or more patients with cervical cancer, concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy does not achieve even greater survival benefit. Key words: Uterine cervical neoplasms; Radiotherapy; Concurrent chemoradiotherapy