Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare outcomes and adverse events of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin single-agent chemotherapy vs. CCRT with cisplatin combined with paclitaxel dualagent therapy. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM) and the occurrence of adverse events. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB1-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical CCRT. Patients were divided into groups A and B, treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching. Results: Medical records of 1,203 patients were reviewed and 572 patients were finally included for propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, 121 pairs of patients were selected for analysis. The OS, PFS, LR and DM rates were 78.5% and 83.5% (p=0.417), 73.3% and 78.5% (p=0.312), 6.6% and 2.5% (p=0.123), 19% and 15.7% (p=0.497) for groups A and B, respectively. Further subgroup analysis according to stage and lymph node metastatic status showed no difference in survival between the two groups. The incidence of grade 3–4 acute haematological toxicities was different between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion Cisplatin combined with paclitaxel CCRT couldn’t improve the survival rates of patients with LACC. However, the hematological toxicity of combination chemotherapy is more severe but controllable. Cisplatin single-agent therapy remains the first choice for CCRT. Further prospective studies are indicated to provide evidence for the efficacy of cisplatin plus paclitaxel in dual-agent concurrent therapy.

Objective:To explore the recurrence pattern and prognosis of cervical cancer after radical chemoradiotherapy.Methods:Clinical and follow-up data of 1 359 patients with stage Ⅰ-ⅣA (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 staging) who received radical radiotherapy in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from August 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The survival and prognostic factors of 249 patients with recurrence / metastasis with detailed data were analyzed. The primary endpoint was post-recurrence / metastasis survival time. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate, log-rank test was used for single factor analysis, and Cox model was used for multi-factor analysis.Results:The distant metastasis rate of 249 patients was 77.5%, and the local recurrence rate was 36.9%. According to the location of metastasis and recurrence, 56 cases with recurrence in the field of radiotherapy alone were assigned into group A, 157 cases with recurrence outside the radiation field alone were allocated into group B (56 cases with lymph node recurrence in group B1, 78 cases with blood metastasis in group B2, and 23 cases with lymph node and blood metastasis simultaneously in group B3), and 36 cases with combined recurrence and metastasis in and out of the field of radiotherapy were assigned into group C. The median survival time of patients in groups A, B1, B2, B3 and C was 13, 24, 13, 11 and 9 months, respectively (all P<0.001). According to the interval from initial diagnosis to recurrence / metastasis, 110 cases were classified in ≤1 year group, 74 cases in >1-2 years group, and 65 cases in >2 years group. The median survival time of patients in the three groups was 11, 14, and 22 months, respectively (all P<0.001). According to the management of recurrence / metastasis, 138 cases received palliative treatment, 15 cases received local treatment, 45 cases received systemic treatment, and 51 cases received combined treatment. The median survival time of patients among four groups was 9, 37, 20 and 32 months, respectively (all P<0.001). The results of multi-factor analysis showed that age, recurrence / metastatic site, retreatment methods, time interval between initial treatment and recurrence /metastasis were the independent prognostic factors affecting the survival (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Distant metastasis is the main failure pattern after radical radiotherapy. Patients with metastasis out of irradiated regions, especially those with only lymph node metastasis, have good prognosis. Active retreatment and time interval between initial diagnosis and recurrence / metastasis are important prognostic factors.

Objective:To compare the difference of prognosis in ⅢCr stage cervical cancer patients with different T stage and lymph node status who received radical radiotherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 279 patients with ⅢCr stage cervical cancer treated with radical radiotherapy at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from September 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the latest American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage, all patients were divided into T 2a, T 2b, T 3a and T 3b stage groups, and N 1 and N 2 stage groups based on lymph node status. They were also divided into <1.85 cm and ≥1.85 cm groups according to the maximum short diameter of lymph node. In addition, they were assigned into ≤3 and>3 groups according to the number of lymph node metastasis. The differences of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between patients with different T stage and lymph node status were compared by Kaplan-Meier test and log-rank test. Multivariate survival analysis was performed by Cox regression analysis. Results:Among 279 patients with ⅢCr stage cervical cancer receiving radical radiotherapy, 6 (2.2%) patients were diagnosed with stage T 2a stage, 109 (39.1%) patients with T 2b stage, 13 (4.7%) patients with T 3a stage, and 151 (54.1%) patients with T 3b stage. And 246 (88.2%) patients were diagnosed with N 1 stage and 33 (11.8%) patients with N 2 stage. According to the maximum short diameter of lymph nodes, there were 229 (82.1%) patients in the<1.85 cm group and 50 (17.9%) in the ≥1.85 cm group. According to the number of lymph node metastasis, there were 269 (96.4%) patients in the ≤3 group and 10 (3.6%) in the>3 group. There was no significant difference in the 5-year PFS ( P=0.136) and OS rates ( P=0.050) among patients with different T stages, and patients with T 3a stage had the worst prognosis (5-year OS rate was 38.5%). The 5-year PFS (48.0% vs. 64.2%, P=0.016) and OS rates (52.0% vs. 73.8%, P=0.001) in the ≥1.85 cm group were significantly lower than those in the<1.85 cm group. There was no significant difference in the 5-year PFS (61.0% vs. 63.6%, P=0.796) and OS rates (67.5% vs. 69.7%, P=0.770) between patients with N 1 and N 2 stages. There was no significant difference in the 5-year PFS (61.0% vs. 70.0%, P=0.653) and OS rates (67.3% vs. 80.0%, P=0.447) between patients in the number of metastatic lymph nodes ≤3 and>3 groups. The prognosis of patients with T 2b stage and the maximum short diameter ≥1.85 cm was the worst (5-year OS rate was 31.3%), while patients with T 2b stage and the maximum short diameter <1.85 cm obtained the best prognosis (5-year OS rate was 76.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that the maximum short diameter and radiation dose of lymph nodes were the independent relevant factors for the OS of ⅢCr stage cervical cancer patients (both P<0.05). Conclusions:Among ⅢCr stage cervical cancer patients receiving radical radiotherapy, clinical efficacy and prognosis significantly differ according to different T stage and lymph node status. Current staging system should be optimized to provide effective diagnostic and therapeutic regimens.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer.Methods:Clinical data of 1002 patients with cervical cancer treated with radical radiotherapy at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from September 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into the IMRT group and 3D-CRT group according to the technology of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). After 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM), clinical prognosis of patients receiving IMRT or 3D-CRT was compared. Continuous data were expressed as Mean ± SD or median . Categorical data were described by case number (percentage). Quantitative data were compared by t-test. Qualitative data were compared by chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Survival rates in two groups were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results:The percentage of patients who received pelvic and para-aortic radiotherapy in the IMRT group was significantly higher than that in the 3D-CRT group (14.9% vs. 1.2%, P<0.001). The percentage of patients whose positive lymph nodes dose reached 55 Gy or more in the IMRT group was significantly higher than that in the 3D-CRT group (26.6% vs. 15.5%, P=0.002). In the IMRT group, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate (74.6% vs. 68.9%, P=0.084) and overall survival (OS) rate (79.4% vs. 74.9%, P=0.270) were slightly higher than those in the 3D-CRT group, but there were no significant differences between two groups. In the IMRT group, the local recurrence (3.0% vs. 6.9%, P=0.020) and distant lymph node metastasis rates (4.2% vs. 9.0%, P=0.013) were significantly lower compared with those in the 3D-CRT group. In terms of acute radiotherapy toxicities, grade 3-4 leukopenia (46.3% vs. 37.9%, P=0.028) and anemia (18.8% vs. 14.0%, P<0.001) occurred significantly more frequently in the IMRT group than in the 3D-CRT group. Conclusions:Both IMRT and 3D-CRT could achieve good therapeutic outcomes in radical radiotherapy of cervical cancer. IMRT can boost the radiation dose of metastatic lymph nodes and has significant advantages in reducing local recurrence and distant lymph node metastasis.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic factors and the value of definitive pelvic radiotherapy in patients with stage Ⅳ B hematogenous metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methods:Clinical data of 80 patients with Ⅳ B stage squamous cell carcinoma admitted to Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from 2006 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan- Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Cox models. Results:The 1-, 2-and 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 52.5%, 26.3%, 16.8% and 25%, 13.8%, 8.8%, with a median OS of 13.8 months and a median PFS of 5.6 months, respectively. The most common site of metastasis was bone (51.3%), followed by lung (36.3%) and liver (26.3%). Univariate analysis revealed that chemotherapy combined with definitive pelvic radiotherapy and ≥6 cycles of chemotherapy were positively correlated with OS and PFS, whereas ECOG performance status score of 3-4 and liver metastasis were negatively correlated with OS and PFS. In multivariate analysis, liver metastasis ( HR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.01-4.91, P=0.048) and ECOG performance status score of 3-4( HR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.03-3.91, P=0 0.040) were significantly correlated with poor OS. Subgroup multivariate analysis showed that compared with chemotherapy±palliative radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy combined with definitive pelvic radiotherapy significantly improved OS ( HR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.18-0.84, P=0.016). Compared with double drugs combined with<4 cycles of chemotherapy, double drugs in combination with ≥4 cycles of chemotherapy significantly improved OS ( HR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.68, P=0.003). Conclusions:Patients with low ECOG performance status score or liver metastasis obtain poor prognosis. Definitive pelvic radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy can enhance clinical prognosis of patients with Ⅳ B stage hematogenous metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in early cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: The clinicopathological data and follow-up information of 1435 patients with stage ⅠA2-ⅡA cervical squamous cell carcinoma were collected. The correlation between serum SCC-Ag level and clinicopathological feature and prognosis were analyzed. The best cut-off of serum SCC-Ag for predicting pelvic lymph node metastasis and survival of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients were also identified. Results: The result of univariate analysis showed that The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, tumor size, depth of cervical stromal invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, pelvic lymph node metastasis, common iliac lymph node metastasis and para-aortic lymph node metastasis were significantly related with serum SCC-Ag level (all P<0.05). The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size, depth of cervical stromal invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis and common iliac lymph node metastasis were the independent risk factors of preoperative serum SCC-Ag>2.65 ng/ml (all P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lymphovascular space involvement, SCC-Ag>3.15 ng/ml, common iliac lymph node metastasis and tumor size >4 cm were the independent prognostic risk factors (all P<0.05). The univariate analysis showed that, the tumor size, FIGO stage, depth of cervical stromal invasion and SCC-Ag level were significantly related with the recurrence of 1 096 patients without postoperative high risk factors (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FIGO stage (OR=1.671) and SCC-Ag>2.65 ng/ml (OR=4.490) were the independent risk factors for recurrence (both P<0.05). The best cut off of SCC-Ag for predicting early postoperative cervical lymph node metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma was 2.65 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 60.8%, the specificity was 71.8%. The best cut off of SCC-Ag for predicting prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma was 3.15 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 53.5%, the specificity was 71.1%. Conclusions Preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen is an independent prognostic risk factor of survival of patients with early cervical squamous cell carcinoma, and is significantly related with recurrence of patients without postoperative high-risk factors. It can be used as a reference factor for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.

Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is one of the major complications after lymph node dissection or radiotherapy for gynecologic cancer. It′s mainly due to the injury of lymphatic vessels by surgery or radiotherapy, and hinders the lymphatic drainage pathway and causes large amounts of lymph fluid to enter the interstitial space, which leads to LLL, If the treatment is not timely, edema will be further aggravated and affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the early assessment of cancer patients is particularly important. Improving the treatment method and early prevention are helpful to reduce the incidence of LLL.This article reviews the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lymphedema associated with gynecological malignancy.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC?Ag) in early cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The clinicopathological data and follow?up information of 1435 patients with stageⅠA2?ⅡA cervical squamous cell carcinoma were collected. The correlation between serum SCC?Ag level and clinicopathological feature and prognosis were analyzed.The best cut?off of serum SCC?Ag for predicting pelvic lymph node metastasis and survival of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients were also identified. Results The result of univariate analysis showed that The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, tumor size, depth of cervical stromal invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, pelvic lymph node metastasis, common iliac lymph node metastasis and para?aortic lymph node metastasis were significantly related with serum SCC?Ag level (all P＜0.05). The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size, depth of cervical stromal invasion, pelvic lymph node metastasis and common iliac lymph node metastasis were the independent risk factors of preoperative serum SCC?Ag＞2.65 ng／ml ( all P＜0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lymphovascular space involvement, SCC?Ag＞3.15 ng／ml, common iliac lymph node metastasis and tumor size ＞4 cm were the independent prognostic risk factors ( all P＜0.05). The univariate analysis showed that, the tumor size, FIGO stage, depth of cervical stromal invasion and SCC?Ag level were significantly related with the recurrence of 1 096 patients without postoperative high risk factors ( all P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FIGO stage (OR＝1.671) and SCC?Ag＞2.65 ng／ml (OR＝4.490) were the independent risk factors for recurrence (both P＜0.05). The best cut off of SCC?Ag for predicting early postoperative cervical lymph node metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma was 2.65 ng／ml, the sensitivity was 60.8%,the specificity was 71.8%. The best cut off of SCC?Ag for predicting prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma was 3.15 ng／ml, the sensitivity was 53.5%, the specificity was 71.1%.Conclusions Preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen is an independent prognostic risk factor of survival of patients with early cervical squamous cell carcinoma, and is significantly related with recurrence of patients without postoperative high?risk factors. It can be used as a reference factor for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.