Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prognostic and tumor parameters of cervical cancer patients, such as tumor size (TS), tumor volume (TV), and tumor volume reduction rate (TVRR) after external beam radiotherapy.Methods: A total of 217 patients with advanced cervical cancer, classified as Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IIa–IVa, were enrolled in the study. Pre- and mid-RT pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed twice, during RT and just before brachytherapy.Results: The median follow-up time was 51 months (range, 7–111 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local failure-free survival (LFFS) rates were 81.3, 85.1, and 92.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor parameters including FIGO stage >II (Hazard Ratio, 2.377 and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.091–5.182; P = 0.029), pre-RT TV >61.6 cm³ (HR, 0.417 and 95% CI, 0.188–0.926; P = 0.032), and mid-RT TV >11.38 cm³ (HR, 3.192 and 95% CI, 1.094–9.316; P = 0.034) were observably associated with OS. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor volume reduction rate (TVRR) was dramatically associated with overall survival (HR, 0.204 and 95% CI 0.033–1.282; P <0.001) and local failure-free survival (P = 0.050).Conclusions: In this retrospective study, TVRR and mid-radiotherapy tumor volume are independent and strong prognostic parameters for patients with local advanced cervical cancer receiving CCRT.

Background: The optimal radiotherapy regimen for treating metastatic lymphadenopathy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes, as well as associated toxicities, of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes (LNs).

The aim of the study to evaluate the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR1/2) expression levels and to correlate these levels with clinicopathological parameters in patients with cervical cancer.Forty-two patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IIB-IVB cervical cancer were analyzed between January 2011 and December 2012. RNA expression levels of VEGFR1/2 were assessed by branched DNA-liquidchip technology and immunohistochemistry. Associations between RNA expression levels, important clinicopathological parameters, and patient survival were statistically evaluated.Higher VEGFR1/2 expression levels were predictive of poor overall survival (P = 0.009 and P = 0.024, respectively). Patients with higher VEGFR1 expression levels were associated with poorer progression-free survival than those with lower VEGFR1 expression levels (P = 0.043). In addition, patients with higher VEGFR1 expression levels were more likely to develop distant metastases than those with lower VEGFR1 expression levels (P = 0.049). Higher VEGFR2 expression levels were associated with larger tumor size (P = 0.037).VEGFR1/2 expression levels were prognostic factors for patients with cervical cancer. Higher VEGFR1/2 expression levels were also predictive of poor overall survival.

Purpose: To report the efficacy and late side effects(LSEs) of CT-based image-guided brachytherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term survival outcome and late toxicity in patients with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IIB cervical carcinoma after two treatment modalities, ie, concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy. Methods: Between November 2004 and November 2011, 240 patients with FIGO stage IIB cervical carcinoma were analyzed, comprising 119 patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery (group 1) and 121 patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (group 2). Local control, overall survival, progression-free survival, and treatment-related complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The median follow-up duration was 36 months. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery showed a survival benefit when comparing group 1 and group 2 (3-year overall survival, 94.9% versus 84.6%, P=0.011; 3-year progression-free survival, 91.0% versus 81.8%, P=0.049, respectively). Three-year local pelvic control was 94.6% in group 1 and 93.3% in group 2 (P=0.325). Prognostic factors in group 1 were: age (≤35 years versus >35 years), 3-year progression-free survival (74.1% versus 90.9%, P=0.037); tumor diameter (≥6 cm versus <6 cm); and 3-year progression-free survival, (60.6% versus 92.9%, P=0.004). Prognostic factors in group 2 were: tumor diameter (≥4 cm versus <4 cm); 3-year overall survival (78.0% versus 94.8%, P=0.043); tumor diameter (≥6 cm versus <6 cm); 3-year progression-free survival (42.9% versus 84.2%, P=0.032); and 3-year overall survival (42.9% versus 87.1%, P=0.013). Further, 50 patients (42.02%) in group 1 and 46 patients (38.02%) in group 2 suffered from late complications. Analysis of the difference in composition of late complications showed that the rate of leg edema was higher in group 1 (35.29% versus 4.96%, P=0.000) while the rate of radiation enteritis was higher in group 2 (30.58% versus 5.04%, P=0.000). Conclusion: In patients with FIGO stage IIB cervical carcinoma, concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery achieved higher overall survival and progression-free survival rates in comparison with radical radiotherapy associated with concurrent chemotherapy. Tumor diameter could be a common prognostic factor in these two groups of patients.