Californium-252 versus conventional gamma radiation in the brachytherapy of advanced cervical carcinoma: comparative treatment results of a 10-year, randomized study

Abstract In this study, we have shown that the application of 252 Cf, as a source of gamma/neutron radiation in brachytherapy, provides properties and new treatment modalities that help to overcome this factor. There were 117 patients with stages IIb and IIIb treated intracavitarily with 252 Cf during the first week of therapy by 6 Gy (40 Gy-eq) of the neutron component. Supplementation by a 16 Gy dose of intracavitary gamma radiation was done in the fifth week. There were 110 patients with stages IIb and IIIb intracavitarily treated solely by gamma radiation. An intracavitary dose of 56 Gy was applied in two fractions at the third and fifth weeks, respectively. In all patients the same dose of 56 Gy-eq was applied intracavitarily, supported by an external radiation of 40 Gy. The total applied doses at points A (paracevical space) and B (pelvis wall) were 85 and 59 Gy, respectively. The importance of 252 Cf application in the brachytherapy of cervical carcinoma by overcoming the tumor resistance to conventional photon irradiation has been confirmed.