Research advances in postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for high-risk early stage cervical cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancy, ranking fourth in new cases and deaths in 2012.High-risk early stage cervical cancer after operative need adjuvant treatment. Compared with postoperative radiotherapy alone, CCRT can reduce the pelvic recurrence rates and improve survival rates. And CCRT can extend median survival time and survival rates than sequential CRT after operative. CCRT plus consolidation chemotherapy may play a potential role in further improving survival outcomes for high-risk early stage cervical cancer patients compared with CCRT alone. Retrospective studies show that CCRT had equivalent effects with postoperative chemotherapy alone, but further research is needed. Factors influencing the efficacy of postoperative CCRT include chemotherapy regimens, radiotherapy technology, the interval time between surgery and CCRT, multiple pelvic lymph node metastasis and number of pelvic lymph node dissection. Toxicities mainly include hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity. Hematologic toxicity is the most common. The incidence of toxicity can be reduced by improving radiotherapy techniques. Key words: Cervical neoplasms/concurrent chemoradiotherapy; High-risk; Untoward effect