e16525 Background: The standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is combination weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT). Toxicity and compliance issues often result in failure to complete the recommended six cycles of weekly chemotherapy. Our objective was to retrospectively evaluate the effect of number of chemotherapy cycles and other clinical and pathologic factors on progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Methods: Between January 2004 and May 2007 we identified 118 patients at our institution with locally advanced cervical cancer (stage 1B2-IVA) treated with combined weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) and RT from chemotherapy log records. PFS and OS were evaluated for associations with number of chemotherapy cycles as well as other clinical and pathologic factors. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were utilized for statistical analyses. Results: The median age and BMI were 51 years (25–86) and 29.2 kg/m2 (15–69). The majority of patients had stage IB2 or II disease (70%), squamous histology (91%), and size <6 cm (65%). Median RT duration was 50 days and 95% received brachytherapy. 30% of patients completed fewer than 6 cycles of chemotherapy and estimated PFS and OS were 63% and 75% respectively. 32 recurrences were detected with a median time to progression of 27 months. In multivariate analyses, number of chemotherapy cycles was independently predictive of PFS and OS. Patients that received <6 cycles of cisplatin had a worse PFS (HR 2.65; 95%CI 1.35–5.17; p = 0.0045) and OS (HR 4.47; 95% CI 1.83–10.9; p = 0.001). Additionally, advanced stage, longer time to RT completion, and absence of brachytherapy were associated with decreased OS and PFS (p < 0.05). Higher grade was associated with decreased PFS (p = 0.03) but not OS. Age, race, BMI, tumor size, smoking, histology, and IMRT were not statistically significant for OS or PFS. Conclusions: Number of cisplatin cycles, stage, grade, time to radiotherapy completion, and brachytherapy, are prognostic of PFS and OS in patients with cervical cancer undergoing treatment with combined cisplatin and RT. Efforts to decrease toxicity and improve compliance allowing for completion of six cycles of cisplatin may be associated with increased progression free and overall survival. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy in Two 9 Gy Fractions in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer - a South Indian Institutional Experience