Efficacy and Safety of Image-Guided Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Combined with Paclitaxel Liposomes and Cisplatin for Locally Advanced Stage IIB–IIIB Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study at a Single Center

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) combined with administration of paclitaxel liposomes and cisplatin for locally advanced stage IIB–IIIB cervical cancer at a single center in China. MATERIAL/METHODS: The clinical data of 126 patients with stage IIB–IIIB cervical cancer treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the IMRT group (n=63) and the VMAT group (n=63). The short-term clinical efficacy, the incidence of adverse reactions, the quality-of-life score, and the changes in levels of T-lymphocyte subsets, serum inflammatory factors, and tumor markers were compared pre- and posttreatment between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The clinical response rate was 90.5% and 96.8% in the IMRT group and the VMAT group, respectively; the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment, the levels of CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD4(+)/CD8(+) subsets rose significantly, while the CD8(+) level declined significantly in both groups compared with the pretreatment levels. After treatment, the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 125 declined in both groups compared with pretreatment levels. After treatment, the Karnofsky performance scale score rose in both groups, and it was higher in the VMAT group than in the IMRT group. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT and VMAT combined with paclitaxel liposomes and cisplatin have similar short-term clinical efficacy and long-term survival rates in the treatment of stage IIB–IIIB cervical cancer.