A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY TO COMPARE THE CONCURRENT CHEMO-RADIATION VERSUS HYPO-FRACTIONATED CHEMO-RADIATION IN LOCALLY ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER.

Abstract

Background: Concurrent chemo-radiation is the standard treatment worldwide for locally advanced squamous Cell carcinoma cervix. However, conventional chemo-radiotherapy is also associated with unacceptable local and systemic failure rates for locally advanced disease. Biologically squamous cell carcinoma of head- neck cancer and cervical cancer behaves quite similarly in response to radiotherapy. So, it can be expected that, altered fractionation can increase the local control in case of squamous cell carcinoma cervix than conventional radiotherapy. There is no randomised control trial for carcinoma cervix till date, which compares conventional chemo-radiation with hypo-fractionated chemo-radiation. Aims And Objectives: The present study was planned to compare local disease control and acute toxicity of conventional chemo-radiation with hypo-fractionated chemo-radiation in locally advanced carcinoma cervix. Materials And Methods: In Conventional Chemo-radiation Arm A patients (n=30) received external beam radiotherapy 50 Gy in 25 fractions in 5 weeks accompanied by weekly intravenous Cisplatin 40mg/m2 followed by intracavitary brachytherapy 7 Gy per fraction once in a week for 3 weeks. The second group of hypo-fractionated Arm B received external beam radiotherapy 45 Gy in 20 fractions in 4 weeks accompanied by weekly intravenous Cisplatin 40mg/m2 followed by intracavitary brachytherapy 9 Gy per fraction once in a week for 2 weeks. Results: Grade II diarrhea were seen more in Arm B 17 (56.66%) compare to Arm A 12(40%) and grade III diarrhea was seen 4 (3.33%) in Arm B and 2(6.66%) in Arm A. At 2 months and 6 months after completion of treatment Complete response were 25 (83.4%) in Arm A compare to 22 (73.3%) in Arm B and 20 (74.1%) in Arm A and 18 (72%) in Arm B respectively. Conclusion: Hypo-fractioned radiotherapy may be used as an alternate protocol for treatment of locally advanced carcinoma cervix with acceptable toxicities.