Clinical efficacy of preoperative vaginal intracavitary irradiation for Stage Ib2 and IIa cervical cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of preoperative vaginal intracavitary irradiation for Stage Ib2 and IIa cervical cancer.From June 2008 to June 2014, data from 78 Stage Ib2 and IIa cervical cancer patients (age ≤75 years) with a diameter of local lesions >4 cm were collected in our hospital. Before treatment, all cases were confirmed by biopsy. The patients' general state was good, Karnofsky Performance Score ≥90, heart and lung functioning was normal, and patients were able to tolerate the surgery. The 78 patients were randomly divided into two groups: neoadjuvant radiotherapy group (NRG) (n = 38) and radical surgery group (n = 40). Patients in NRG received 2000~3000 cGy192 Ir irradiation of preoperatively intracavitary brachytherapy (radioactive source at 1 cm distance). After a rest of 10-14 days, radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. Surgery alone group (SAG) (n = 40) underwent radical surgery directly. The treatment outcomes between these two groups were compared, and the effect of preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy and presence of postoperative complications were evaluated.The total clinical efficacy for intracavitary brachytherapy was 94.7% (36/38) with complete response 13 (34.2%), partial response 23 (60.5%), and stable disease 2 (5.3%). Moreover, no patients developed progression disease; for SAG patients, 32 cases successfully finished the extensive hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Operation time <240 min was found in 19 patients. Moreover, the positive complication for lymphatic cyst and urinary retention was 20.0% and 15.0%, respectively. For NAG group, 36 patients successfully finished the extensive hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Operation time <240 min was found in 22 patients. Moreover, the positive complication for lymphatic cyst and urinary retention was 15.8% and 13.2%, respectively. The median follow-up time for NRG and SAG was 28 and 30 months, respectively. Three cases lost to follow-up in the SAG with the follow-up rate of 92.5% (37/40). In the NRG group, 3 cases lost to follow-up with the follow-up rate of 92.1% (35/38). The locoregional control rate for 1, 3, and 5 years was 80.0%, 61.3%, and 52.6%, respectively, for SAG group and 89.5%, 82.9%, and 76.9%, respectively, for NRG group with significant statistical difference for 3 and 5 years.Preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy is an effective procedure for the treatment for Stage Ib2 and IIa cervical cancer and can significantly improve the locoregional control rate.