Sixty patients, treated with postoperative radiation therapy following radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage lb carcinoma of the uterine cervix between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1984 at Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, were retrospectively analysed. The minimum follow-up period was 5 years. The indications for postoperative radiotherapy were positive pelvic lymph node (34 pts), a large tumor size more than 3 cm in longest diameter (18 pts), positive surgical margin (10 pts), deep stromal invasion (10 pts), and lymphatic permeation (9 pts). The overall 5-year survival rate was 81.8%. The univariate analysis of prognostic factors disclosed tumor size (less than 3cm, greater than or equal to 3cm) and the status of the surgical margin (positive, negative) as significant factors (tumor size; 88.1% vs 6.3%, surgical margin; 85.5% vs 60%, p less than 0.05). Age (less than or equal to 40, greater than 40 yrs) was marginally significant (90.2% vs 73.1%, p less than 0.1). Multivariate analysis clarified two independent prognostic factors; tumor size (p = 0.010) and surgical margin (p = 0.004). Analysis of the tumor factors with the radiation dose disclosed a better survival rate for patients with a positive surgical margin who were given over 50 Gy than for those who were given below 50 Gy in patients (4/4, 100% vs 2/6, 33.4%; p = 0.06). Significant complications requiring surgical correction were not observed. In conclusion, it is believed that the status of the surgical margin and tumor size both have important prognostic significance, and that a radiation dose over 50 Gy is advisable for patients with a positive surgical margin.
Adult ; Carcinoma/mortality/*radiotherapy/surgery ; Cervix Neoplasms/mortality/*radiotherapy/surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

We investigated the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and clinical outcome in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiotherapy alone. The immunohistochemical study was performed for fortytwo paraffin embedded specimens with anti-VEGF mouse monoclonal antibody. Staining was defined as positive for VEGF when more than 10% of the tumor cells were stained from 500 cells counted. Positive VEGF expression was observed in twenty-one among forty-two patients. VEGF expression according to stage (p=0.101), lymph node status (p=0.621), parametrial invasion (p=0.268), and age (p=0.5) revealed no significant difference. But the VEGF expression was significantly higher in tumors larger than 4 cm (p=0.031). Five year survival rates according to VEGF expression status were 89% for VEGF negative group and 47% for VEGF positive group (p=0.02). FIGO stage (p=0.007), tumor size (p=0.025) and the duration of external beam radiation therapy (p=0.006) were also significant prognostic factors for overall survival. We suggest that VEGF expression may be a prognotic factor of the cervix cancer patients treated with radiation therapy alone.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism/mortality/*radiotherapy ; Cervix Neoplasms/*metabolism/mortality/*radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Regression Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Markers, Biological/metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*metabolism

To evaluate the toxicities and efficacies of two fractionation regimens of high-doserate brachytherapy in uterine cervical cancer, patients were stratified by stage Ib- IIa versus IIb-IVa, and randomly assigned to receive 3 Gy fractions (group A) or 5 Gy fractions (group B). External radiotherapy was performed using a 10 MV radiography with a daily 1.8 Gy up to 30.6 Gy to the whole pelvis, and then with a midline shield up to 45.0 Gy. Brachytherapy was performed with 3 Gy x 10 times or 5 Gy x5 times, and this was followed by booster brachytherapy of a smaller fraction to the residual tumor. Between August 1999 to July 2000, 46 patients were eligible. Median follow-up period was 42 months (5-49). The range of age was 37-83 yr (median, 58). The three-year disease-specific survival rates of group A (n=23) and B (n=23) were 90.5%, 84.9%, respectively (p=0.64). The three-year pelvic control rates of group A and B were 90.0% and 90.9%, respectively (p=0.92). The incidences of late complications of the rectum or bladder of grade 2 or greater in groups A and B were 23.8% and 9.1%, respectively (p=0.24). Our study showed that the results of two regimens were comparable. Fractionation regimen using 5 Gy fractions seems to be safe and effective, and offers shorter treatment duration.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brachytherapy/*methods ; Carcinoma/mortality/*radiotherapy ; Cervix Neoplasms/mortality/*radiotherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; *Dose Fractionation ; Female ; Human ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence and mortality of patients with invasive cervical carcinoma have decreased. However, therapeutic results in advanced cervical carcinoma with systemic metastasis was not satisfactory and the therapeutic modalities had lots of morbidities. To know exact extent of disease is important in order to decide pertinent therapeutic modality to each patient. OBJECTIVES: We intended to evaluate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and survival of the cervical cancer patients with scalene lymph node metastasis and, to assess the need of the scalene lymph node biopsy in baseline study of advanced carcinoma of cervix or recurrent carcinoma of cervix. Materials and METHODS: We have reviewed clinical charts of total 3624 patients treated for carcinoma of cervix at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of medicine, from Jan.1981 to Dec.1995. 25 patients (0.68%) were proven to have scalene lymph node metastasis by way of studies including radiologic imaging, physical examination, and lymph node biopsy. RESULTS: Patient' s age ranged from 22 to 80 years with a median of 50 years. The incidence of metastasis was related with the stage at initial diagnosis, pathological type of tumor, existence of para-arotic lymph node metastasis. The patients had other metastasis in 14 cases(66%) and 5 cases had multiple metastatic sites. In spite of aggressive systemic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the survivial after diagnosis of metastasis was extremely poor, 2- year survival rate was only 9.52%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of scalene lymph node metastasis in patients with carcinoma of cervix was very rare in our series, we couldn' t recommend the scalene lymph node biopsy as a modality of baseline study. In patients with paraaortic lymph node metastasis or clinically palpable lymph node, the scalene lymph node biospy may help patients omit aggressive, unnecessary treatment. To prove the value of biopsy of scalene lymph node, well-designed large prospective study would be necessary.
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Obstetrics ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Radiotherapy ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of surgical management for patients with locally advanced carcinomas of uterine cervix after radical radiation therapy who were prone to develop central recurrence.

METHODSThese 40 patients were treated by combined pre-operative radiotherapy with dose at point A of > 70 Gy in 30 patients, 60 approximately 70 Gy in 7, 50 approximately 59 Gy in 2 and 44 Gy in 1. The interval between radiation and surgery was 1 - 6 weeks. Extrafascial hysterectomy was performed in 15 patients, subradical hysterectomy in 23 and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy in 2 cases.

RESULTSThese patients have been followed up for 1 - 8 years with 2 died of other diseases and 12 died of cancer. Eighteen of the 26 survivors have been followed up for more than 5 years. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 74.9% and 66.8%. Half of the death occurred within the first year after treatment. The 2-year death rate was 9/12 (75.0%). Three patients suffered from long term complications after the treatment, but all were cured by conservative management.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of hysterectomy performed shortly after radical radiotherapy, ie, for patients with locally poor prognostic cervical carcinoma is reasonable and feasible.

Adult ; Cervix Uteri ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of 395 previously untreated cervical cancer patients with at least one high risk factor following concurrent chemoradiation and to assess the toxicities. Two different chemotherapy regimens were used for concurrent chemoradiation. In the patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 100 mg/m2 of cisplatin was infused intravenously, followed immediately by five consecutive daily administrations of 5-fluorouracil, 1,000 mg/m2/day, each infused intravenously over 24 hr. As for the patients with adenocarcinoma, 70 mg/m2 of cisplatin, 250 mg/m2 of cytoxan and 45 mg/m2 of adriamycin were administered intravenously on days 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 54.4+ACU- with stage III and IV, 62.6+ACU- with lymph node metastasis on computed tomogram or MRI, 77.9+ACU- with stage I-II disease with lesion size +AD4- or +AD0-4 cm, and 50.3+ACU- with small cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Side effects from concurrent chemoradiation such as nausea, vomiting, and alopecia were present in all 395 cases. Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity were observed to varying degrees, but there was no toxic death. This study suggests that cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiation in treating cervical cancer patients with high risk factors is effective and relatively well tolerated, with acceptable toxicity.
Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy ; Adenocarcinoma/mortality ; Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/therapeutic use+ACo- ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/adverse effects ; Carboplatin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy ; Cervix Neoplasms/radiotherapy+ACo- ; Cervix Neoplasms/mortality ; Cervix Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects ; Cisplatin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Comparative Study ; Cyclophosphamide/administration +ACY- dosage ; Doxorubicin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration +ACY- dosage ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology ; Hematologic Diseases/etiology ; Hematologic Diseases/epidemiology ; Hepatitis, Toxic/etiology ; Hepatitis, Toxic/epidemiology ; Human ; Kidney Diseases/epidemiology ; Kidney Diseases/chemically induced ; Korea/epidemiology ; Life Tables ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Age ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy+ACo-/adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of 395 previously untreated cervical cancer patients with at least one high risk factor following concurrent chemoradiation and to assess the toxicities. Two different chemotherapy regimens were used for concurrent chemoradiation. In the patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 100 mg/m2 of cisplatin was infused intravenously, followed immediately by five consecutive daily administrations of 5-fluorouracil, 1,000 mg/m2/day, each infused intravenously over 24 hr. As for the patients with adenocarcinoma, 70 mg/m2 of cisplatin, 250 mg/m2 of cytoxan and 45 mg/m2 of adriamycin were administered intravenously on days 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 54.4+ACU- with stage III and IV, 62.6+ACU- with lymph node metastasis on computed tomogram or MRI, 77.9+ACU- with stage I-II disease with lesion size +AD4- or +AD0-4 cm, and 50.3+ACU- with small cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. Side effects from concurrent chemoradiation such as nausea, vomiting, and alopecia were present in all 395 cases. Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity were observed to varying degrees, but there was no toxic death. This study suggests that cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiation in treating cervical cancer patients with high risk factors is effective and relatively well tolerated, with acceptable toxicity.
Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy ; Adenocarcinoma/mortality ; Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/therapeutic use+ACo- ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/adverse effects ; Carboplatin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy ; Cervix Neoplasms/radiotherapy+ACo- ; Cervix Neoplasms/mortality ; Cervix Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects ; Cisplatin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Comparative Study ; Cyclophosphamide/administration +ACY- dosage ; Doxorubicin/administration +ACY- dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration +ACY- dosage ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology ; Hematologic Diseases/etiology ; Hematologic Diseases/epidemiology ; Hepatitis, Toxic/etiology ; Hepatitis, Toxic/epidemiology ; Human ; Kidney Diseases/epidemiology ; Kidney Diseases/chemically induced ; Korea/epidemiology ; Life Tables ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Age ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy+ACo-/adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome