Toxicity and clinical outcomes with definitive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma

Objective(s) This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the toxicity and clinical outcomes in patients of locally advanced cervical cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and concurrent chemotherapy. Material and methods Two hundred and ten newly diagnosed patients of locally advanced cervical cancer of FIGO 2009 Stage II-III treated with 3DCRT (46 Gy/23 fractions/41/2 weeks) and weekly concurrent Cisplatin (40 mg/m(2)), from January 2013 to 2015 were analyzed. A planning computed tomography was performed and contouring was done according to published guidelines. External radiotherapy was followed by Intracavitary brachytherapy delivered to a dose of 9 Gy HDR in 2-fractions, given one week apart. The endpoints were treatment related toxicities and clinical outcomes. Local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were evaluated and toxicities were documented using the common terminology criteria for adverse events (v3.0) (CTCAE). Results The median follow up time was 37 (range, 19-54) months. The 3 year OS, DFS and LC were 84.2%, 80.6% and 81% respectively. Grade 3 acute skin, upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity was observed in 3 (1.4%), 11 (5.2%), 12 (5.7%) and 0 (0%) patients, respectively. Grade 2 hematological toxicity was observed in 154 (73.3%) patients. Grade 3 late GI and GU toxicity was seen in 9 (4.2%) patients and 2 (0.9%) patients, respectively. Conclusion 3DCRT with concurrent chemotherapy results in good loco-regional control with acceptable normal tissue toxicity. In the background of indeterminate evidence regarding routine practice of intensity modulated radiotherapy in carcinoma of the cervix, 3DCRT may be considered as the treatment of choice.