Concomitant chemoradiotherapy versus pure radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: a retrospective analysis of complications and clinical outcome

Purpose: To assess the complications and clinical outcomes of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or pure radiotherapy (RT) in local advanced cervical carcinoma (LACC) patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in 113 consecutive LACC (FIGO Stage IB2-IIIB) patients, of whom 68 received CCRT; the others received pure RT. Five-year overall survival (OS) and the incidence, type, and severity of postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: The five-year survival rate for CCRT and pure RT were 67.7% and 46.8%, respectively (p = 0.018). The incidences of bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reaction for CCRT and pure RT were 100% vs. 88.89% (p < 0.001) and 70.6% vs. 33.33% (p < 0.001). Only 16.18% patients received CCRT developed chronic radiation enteritis, and 4.35% developed chronic radiation cystitis. While 11.11% patients received pure RT experienced chronic radiation enteritis (p = 0.449), 4.44% experienced chronic radiation cystitis (p = 0.312). Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated that CCRT followed by radical surgery achieved a better outcome compared with pure RT in LACC patients, but could apparently rise the incidence and severity of hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity.

Local advanced cervical carcinoma; Concurrent chemoradiotherapy; pure radiotherapy; Complications; Clinical outcome.

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