Efficacy of preoperative brachytherapy for controlling vaginal bleeding in early-stage cervical cancer: a retrospective study

Preoperative brachytherapy for early-stage cervical cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the rate of pathological response rate, and the oncological outcomes of preoperative brachytherapy (PBT) in early-stage cervical cancer.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases were searched from inception until April 2022. Only English and French articles were included. Studies containing data about pathology response or oncological outcomes among patients who received PBT as compared to those who underwent up-front surgery in early-stage cervical cancer were included. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022319036).

RESULTS

Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 3 randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 10 non-randomized studies (NRS). The 5-year survival was significantly higher in the PBT group compared with the up-front surgery group (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.11-2.84, I² = 0%) in the NRS. Recurrence rate was significantly lower in the PBT group compared with in up-front surgery group in the analysis of the RCT but not in NRS, (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.91, I² not applicable) and (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.26-1.95, I² = 51%) respectively. PBT was associated with a statistically significant lower rate of positive margins (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09-0.89; I² = 42%) in the RCT and with a significantly higher rate of complete pathology response (CPR) in the RCT analysis (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.11-5.85, I² = 0%) and in the NRS (OR 9.64, 95% CI 1.88-49.48, I² = 76%) compared with the up-front surgery group.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative brachytherapy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer could improve pathologic and oncologic outcomes, but it should be assessed in high-quality randomized controlled trials before its implementation in clinical practice.

Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Combined with Intracavitary Posterior Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Medium-Term and Advanced Cervical Cancer: Efficacy, Safety and Prognostic Factors

Objective

To explore the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy for medium-term and advanced cervical cancer.

Methods

Retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 104 patients with medium-term and advanced cervical cancer who were treated in the radiotherapy department of our hospital from September 2015 to March 2017. According to the different radiotherapy techniques, they were divided into the IMRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group (n = 52) and the 3D-CRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group (n = 52). Observe and compare the short-term efficacy, occurrence of adverse reactions and overall survival rate of the two groups. The clinicopathological characteristics of the survival group and the death group were compared, and univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the clinicopathological characteristics and the patient’s prognosis.

Results

The total effective rate of IMRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group was 96.15%, which was higher than that of 3D-CRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group (88.46%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The incidence of digestive system injury, thrombocytopenia, and radiation proctitis in the IMRT combined intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group was lower than that of the 3D-CRT combined intracavitary posterior radiotherapy group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The prognosis and survival of the two groups of patients were similar, and the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Pathological classification, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis are independent influencing factors of 3-year prognosis in patients with medium-term and advanced cervical cancer (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

IMRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy is equivalent to 3D-CRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy, but it can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions in patients with medium-term and advanced cervical cancer, and has higher safety. Pathological typing, clinical staging, Lymph node metastasis were independent factor affecting the prognosis of patients. In clinical treatment, IMRT combined with intracavitary posterior radiotherapy is more recommended as a treatment plan for patients with medium-term and advanced cervical cancer.