Prospective randomized comparison of monthly fluorouracil and cisplatin versus weekly cisplatin concurrent with pelvic radiotherapy and high-dose rate brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer

Objective.To compare monthly fluorouracil (FU) plus cisplatin and weekly cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods.A total of 158 patients (stages IIB through IVA) without para-aortic lymph nodes were randomized to receive 3 monthly cycles of FU (1000 mg/m2/day i.v.) plus cisplatin (20 mg/m2/day i.v.) for 5 days (group I, n = 79) or 6 cycles of weekly cisplatin (30 mg/m2 i.v.) (group II, n = 79), concurrent with definitive radiotherapy. Radiotherapy consisted of external irradiation to the whole pelvis of 41.4–50.4 Gy in 23–28 fractions plus high-dose rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (30–35 Gy in 6–7 fractions) to point A, together with a parametrial boost. Compliance with treatment, toxicity, response, and survival was analyzed and compared.Results.Of the 158 women, 155 women were eligible for analysis; the median follow-up of surviving patients was 39 months. Full planned chemoradiotherapy was delivered to 47 (60%) and 55 (71%) patients in groups I and II, respectively. The incidence of acute grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity was 43% and 26% (p = 0.037). The complete response rate of each group was 91%. Four-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 70% and 67%, respectively, in group I and 67% and 66%, respectively, in group II.Conclusions.The regimen of chemoradiation using weekly cisplatin significantly improves compliance with treatment and reduces acute hematologic toxicity, while not affecting response and survival rates.