Objective To investigate the treatment effects and toxicities of extended-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (EF-IMRT) and intra-cavitary brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy for stage Ⅰ b1-Ⅳa cervical cancer with positive para-aortic lymph nodes.Methods A total of 46 stage Ⅰ b1-Ⅳa cervical cancer patients with positive para-aortic lymph nodes treated at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed.Neoadjuvant,concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin were administrated for one cycle before radiation therapy,two cycles during radiation therapy or three cycles after radiation therapy.All patients received EF-IMRT and intra-cavitary brachytherapy.The positive lymph nodes received an additional boost dose.Results All patients received EF-IMRT to 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy per fraction).Twenty-six patients was treated with boost dose of 6.0-8.0 Gy in 2.0 Gy per fraction to positive para-aortic lymph nodes.Thirty-seven patients received a positive paraaortic lymph nodes boost or(and) parametrial boost.All patient also received a high-dose-rate intra-cavitary brachytherapy at the point A dose of 20.0-30.0 Gy in 5.0 Gy per fraction.Total chemotherapy cycles were 189,and the average patient received 4.1 courses.Two cases (4％,2/46) experienced grade Ⅲ gastrointestinal toxicities,no patients suffered grade Ⅳ gastrointestinal toxicities.Fifteen cases (33％,15/46) experienced grade Ⅲ hematological toxicities,and 3 (7％,3/46) experienced grade Ⅳ hematological toxicities.Late grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ toxicity was seen in 3 cases (7％,3/46).The 3 year progressionfree survival rate was 46.2％,and the 3 years overall survival rate was 61.2％.Conclusion EF-IMRT and intra-cavitary brachytherapy combined with chemotherapy is safe and effective for stage Ⅰ b1-Ⅳa cervical cancer with positive para-aortic lymph nodes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in uterine cervical cancer and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in diagnosis and predicting treatment response.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with advanced primary cervical cancer confirmed by pathology and 10 cases of normal uterine cervix as control were recruited in this prospective clinical trial. To analyze the correlation between tumor volume measured in DWI and tumor maximum diameter measured according to the RECIST criteria. To compare the ADC value differences among the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium, and normal uterine cervix. To compare the ADC values in 17 cancer patients before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe illustration of tumor boundary in DWI was superior to conventional T2WI and post-enhancement T1WI. The DWI with higher b value (2000 s/mm(2)) had a better signal-to-noise ratio. The tumor volume measured in DWI has good correlation with tumor maximum diameter according to RECIST criteria (r = 0.759, P < 0.01). When b = 800 s/mm(2), the ADC values of the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium, and normal uterine cervix were (9.85 ± 1.55)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, (14.20 ± 2.80)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, and (14.14 ± 0.45) ×10(-3) mm(2)/s. When b = 2000 s/mm(2), the ADC values of the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium and normal uterine cervix were (7.38 ± 0.98)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, (8.52 ± 2.38)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, and (8.60 ± 0.63)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. There were significant differences between the cervical cancer and normal cervix or uterine myometrium (P < 0.001 for both). When b = 800 s/mm(2), the ADC value was (9.85 ± 1.55)×110(-3) mm(2)/s before and (13.41 ± 2.93)×10(-3) mm(2)/s after treatment (P < 0.001). When b = 2000 s/mm(2), the ADC value was (7.38 ± 0.98)×10(-3) mm(2)/s before and (8.93 ± 1.92)×10(-3) mm(2)/s after treatment (P = 0.008). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that 25% ADC, 50%ADC, and 75%ADC in the tumor ADC value histogram before treatment were significantly correlated to the treatment outcome of cervical cancer (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate regression analysis showed that 25%ADC, 50%ADC, and 75%ADC in the tumor ADC value histogram before treatment were not significantly correlated to the treatment outcome of cervical cancer (P > 0.05 for all). The values of ROC curves were 25%ADC = 0.818, 50%ADC = 0.775, and 75%ADC = 0.716 (P > 0.05), however, the 25% ADC showed a relatively stronger statistical power.

CONCLUSIONSDWI helps to confirm the morphology and exact target zone of the tumor for radiotherapy. DWI volume measurement is well correlated with RECIST criteria, particularly in volume measurement of irregular tumors. ADC value has a potential in quantitatively monitoring treatment response and predicting outcome of cervical cancers.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervix Uteri ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myometrium ; pathology ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy

Objective Bladder filling in patients with cervical cancer before and after operation during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was controlled by using bladder volume measurement instrument (BVI 9400).The displacement errors of the target area and the changes of the irradiation dose and the morphology of the filling bladder were compared.The significance of consistency of preoperative and postoperative bladder filling in IMRT for cervical cancer was investigated.Methods Forty-five patients with cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy in our hospital in 2018 were recruited and divided into A,B and C groups (n=15).In group A,patients did not undergo surgery,patients in group B received radical resection of cervical cancer (bladder volume measurement (BVI 9400) was utilized to monitor the bladder urine volume in both A and B groups before treatment).In group C,patients who self-controlled urination without monitoring bladder urine volume before treatment were randomly selected.All patients in three groups underwent KV-CBCT scan before treatment for online registration analysis.The displacement errors in the x-(left and right),y-(head and foot),z-axis directions (ventral and dorsal),PTV coverage volume percentage (V10o) and percentage difference (△ V100) of the prescription dose were calculated.Results The average displacement errors in the x-,y-,z-axis directions were as follows:1.67 mm,1.55 mm and 1.67 mm in group A,1.43 mm,1.58 mm and 1.84 mm in group B,and 2.27 mm,2.30 mm and 2.08 mm in group C,respectively.In group A,the V1oo was calculated as 96.96％ and △ V1oo was 1.17％.In group B,V1oo was 9 5.9 ％ and △ V10o was 1.2 9 ％.In group C,V10o was 9 4.0 2 ％ and △ V100 was 2.1 7 ％.Conclusions Controlling the consistency of bladder filling can reduce the effect of inconsistency of bladder filling upon the displacement errors to certain extent,which can guarantee the accuracy of the target location and the irradiation dose of the target,protect the bladder,small intestine and rectum,and alleviate the radiation-induced response of cervical cancer patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical target volume (CTV)-planned target volume (PTV) setup margins during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for cervical cancer patients with different body mass index (BMI),aiming to provide reference for precise individual therapy.Methods Forty patients diagnosed with cervical cancer undergoing IMRT in Cancer Hospital of Fudan University between March and September 2017 were recruited and assigned into the BMI ≤ 18.4,18.5-23.9,24.0-27.9 and ≥ 28 kg/m2 groups according to the BMI classification criteria proposed by National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of the People's Republic of China.Assisted with the bladder volume measurement device,9 cycles of kilo-voltage cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were subject to online registration and imaging analysis.CTV-PTV setup margins were calculated based on the formula of MPTV =2.5∑+0.7σamong four groups.Single factor variance analysis was performed.LSD test was utilized for two-group comparison.Results Among four groups,the CTV-PTV setup margins in the x,y and z directions were (6.87 mm,6.06 mm,8.49 mm),(3.13 mm,3.02 mm,3.14 mm),(4.70 mm,4.86 mm,5.31 mm) and (7.63 mm,8.28 mm,8.54 mm),respectively (P=0.038,0.048 and 0.004).Conclusions The setup errors in the BMI ≤ 18.4 and ≥28 kg/m2 groups are significantly larger compared with those in the remaining groups Consequently,CTV-PTV setup margins should be enlarged to certain extent for patients with BMI≤ 18.4 and ≥≥28 kg/m2.