Outcomes for hyperthermia combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of hyperthermia (HT) combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy (RCT) and treatment related toxicity in patients with cervical cancer (CC) stage IB-IV. METHODS: This study was conducted between 2009 and 2013 in CC patients with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB-IV. The patients were randomly assigned into two treatment groups: RCT and RCT plus hyperthermia (RCHT) group. 5-year survival, treatment related toxicity and other prognostic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: 373 patients completed treatment and were analyzed by per protocol (PP) analysis. The 5-year overall survival (OS) in RCHT group (81.9%) was better than that in RCT group (72.3%) and the log-rank test showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.040). Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis for 5-year OS showed statistically significant difference (p=0.043, p=0.045, respectively). The 5-year local relapse-free survival (LRFS) in RCHT (86.8%) was also better than that in RCT (82.7%), but the difference was not significant. Acute or late toxicity was not significantly different between the two groups. Advanced clinical stage (FIGO) and larger tumor size showed higher risk of death and relatively poor prognosis in univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that HT combined to RCT yielded a better 5-year OS in CC. Acute or late toxicity was similar between RCT and RCHT group. Clinical stage (FIGO) and tumor size were independent prognostic factor in CC.