Clinical Efficacy of Image-Guided Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer and Its Impact on Patients' Serum Tumor Markers and KPS Scores

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for cervical cancer and its impact on patients' serum tumor markers and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores. METHODS: Between August 2018 and July 2020, 94 patients with cervical cancer diagnosed and treated in our hospital were recruited and assigned via the random number table method to receive either IGRT (study group) or conventional radiotherapy (control group), with 47 cases to each group. The primary endpoint was clinical efficacy, and secondary endpoints included serum tumor markers levels and KPS scores. RESULTS: IGRT was associated with a significantly higher efficacy (97.87%) versus convention radiotherapy (74.46%) (P < 0.05). IGRT resulted in significantly lower levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA50), and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) versus conventional radiotherapy (P < 0.05). The eligible patients after IGRT showed significantly higher KPS scores versus conventional radiotherapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IGRT enhances the survival of patients with cervical cancer, lowers their serum tumor marker levels, and elevates the KPS scores. Further clinical trials are, however, required prior to clinical promotion.