Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiotherapy for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer

Objective: To discuss the clinical value of interventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with subsequent pelvic radiotherapy in treating patients with advanced cervical cancer. Methods: According to the therapeutic scheme, 195 patients with phase IIb or beyond advanced cervical cancer were divided into two groups: (1) study group (n = 99), treated with TACE combined with subsequent pelvic radiotherapy (i.e. combination group); (2) control group(n = 96), treated with radiotherapy alone (i. e. radiotherapy alone group). The short-term and long-term clinical results as well as the occurrence of complications were compared between two groups. Results: Different degrees of the tumor shrinkage were found in patients of both groups after treatment. The short-term remission rate of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.012). After the procedure, the anaemia in patients of study group was markedly corrected. The difference in hemoglobin between preoperative levels and postoperative ones was significant (T-test, P < 0.01). Long-term follow-up for 3 years the survival rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (P = 0.032). Both the recurrence rate and metastatic rate at one and three years after the therapy in the study group were distinctly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in one-year, five-year survival rate and in five-year recurrent rate existed between two groups. The main short-term complications included digestive untoward reaction, bone marrow depression, hepatic and renal toxicity, etc., which could be well relieved after active symptomatic medication. The long-term complications included radiodermatitis, radiocystitis and / or radioproctitis. The incidence of radiocystitis and radioproctitis in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: TACE combined with subsequent pelvic radiotherapy is an effective therapy for advanced cervical cancer, its clinical result is superior to simple radiotherapy. This therapy can enhance both the short-term and the long-term effects, relieve the clinical symptoms, reduce the occurrence of long-term complications, thus, improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients. (authors)