Carcinoma of the uterine cervix. I: Impact of prolongation of overall treatment time and timing of brachytherapy on outcome of radiation therapy

Abstract Purpose: Some studies have described pelvic tumor control and survival rates in invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix when the overall time in a course of definitive irradiation is prolonged. We attempt to confirm or deny these observations and evaluate the impact of timing of brachytherapy on outcome. We also explore the hypothesis that more extensive tumors technically require prolongation of the course of irradiation; thus decreased tumor control and survival in these patients may not necessarily be the result of time/dose factor. Methods and Materials: Records of 1224 patients (Stage IB to III) treated with definitive irradiation (combination of external beam and two intracavitary insertions to deliver doses of 70 to 90 Gy to point A) were reviewed. Follow-up was obtained in 97% of the patients (median, 12 years; minimum, 3 years; maximum, 28 years). The relationship between outcome and overall treatment and time of intracavitary insertions was analyzed in each stage and according to tumor size/extent. Results: There was strong correlation between overall treatment time (OTT) and tumor stage (≤ 7 weeks: 81% for Stage IB; 74% for Stage IIA; 52% for Stage IIB; and 47% for Stage III). Interuptions of therapy accounting for prolongation of treatment time ocurred in 25–30% of patients, most frequently because of holidays and weekends and side effects of therapy. Overall treatment time had a major impact on pelvic tumor control in Stages IB, IIA, and IIB; in Stage IB 10-year actuarial pelvic failure rates were 7% with OTT ≤ 7 weeks, 22% with 7.1 to 9 weeks, and 36% with >9 weeks ( p ≤ o .01). For Stage IIA the corresponding values were 14%, 27% and 36% ( p = 0.08), and in Stage IIB pelvic failure rates were 20%, 28%, and 34%, respectively ( p = 0.09). In Stage III, pelvic failure was 30%, 40%, and 505 respectively ( p = 0.08). There was also a strong correlation between OTT and 10-year cause-specific survival (CSS); in Stage IB rates were 86% with OTT of ≤7 weeks, 78% for 7.1 to 9 weeks, and 55% for ≥9 weeks ( p p ≤ 0.01). For patients with Stage IIB, CSS rates were 72% for OTT ≤7 weeks, 60% for 7.1 to 9 weeks, and 70 for >9 weeks ( p = 0.01). Patients with Stage III disease had 45% to 10-year CSS when treatment was delivered in 9 weeks or less and 36% for longer overall ( p = 0.16). In multivariate analysis of patients with Stage IB and IIA, OTT and clinical stage were the most important prognostic factors for pelvic tumor control, disease-free survival, and CSS. Tumor size was a prognostic factor for CSS. In Stages IIB and III, OTT, clinical stage, unilateral or bilateral parametrical invasion, and dose to point A were significant prognostic factors for pelvic tumor control, disease-free survival, and CSS. Prolongation of time had a significant impact on pelvic tumor control and CSS regardless of tumor size, except in Stage IB tumors ≤3 cm. Regression analysis confirms previous reports that prolongation of OTT results in decreased pelvic tumor control rate of 0.85% per day for all patients, 0.37% per day in Stages IB and IIA, 0.68% per day in Stage IIB, and 0.54% for Stage III patients treated with ≥85 Gy to point A. Performance of all intracavity insertions within 4.5 weeks from initiation of irradiation of yeilded decreased pelvic failture rates in some groups of patients (8.8 vs. 18% in Stage IB and IIA tumors ≤4 cm and 12.3 vs. 35% in Stage IBB) ( p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Prolongation of treatment time in patients with Stage IB, IIA, IIB, and III carcinoma of the uterine cervix has a significant impact on pelvic tumor control and CSS. The effect of OTT was present regardless of tumor size except in Stage IB tumors ≤3 cm. This may be related to biologic factors such as cell repopulation and increased proliferation resulting from treatment interruptions, in addition to initial clonogenic cells burden. Irradiation for patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix should be delivered in the shortest possible overall time.