Pattern of Failure with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer– A Retrospective Audit and Analysis of Contributory Factors

BACKGROUND: The majority of the global burden of cervical cancer is affecting developing countries. Despite improvement in treatment of patients presenting at a locally advanced stage, approximately 50% experience recurrence within the 1st two years. This study was conducted to analyse contributory factors for recurrence within 24 months. METHODS: The present retrospective study was undertaken to analyse factors affecting recurrence, type of failure and the follow up pattern of patients who completed treatment with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months during the study period of 5 years. RESULTS: Out of 323 patients included in the study, 112 (34.7%) presented with recurrence within the follow-up period. The stage and histology had a significant impact on disease free survival (DFS). Of those who were followed-up regularly, recurrence was observed in 28.7% with a DFS of 81.3 months, in contrast to the 48. 5% patients with a DFS of 45.0 months for whom follow-up was irregular. The failure pattern was mostly in the form of nodal recurrence (61%). On univariate analysis, treatment time, EBRT and ICBT gap and mean EQD2 point A were found to associated with a better outcome in terms of 2yr DFS. On Cox regression analysis, stage, histology, treatment gap (HR-0.48) and follow up pattern (HR-0.24) retained their effects on survival. Point A dose was higher in patients without recurrence (P value 0.000) unlike other assymmetric parameters. CONCLUSION: Apart from point A cumulative dose (mean EQD2), stage, histology and treatment gap were the factors that affected early local failure. An interesting result was that follow-up pattern had a significant impact on DFS period.