Role of adjuvant chemotherapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer

Objectives: With the use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), survival outcomes are still not optimal. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) for patients with LACC after treatment with CCRT. Methods: Patients diagnosed with stage IIA-IIIB LACC, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received cisplatin-based CCRT and were divided into two groups: ACT after CCRT (CCRT + ACT group) and observation after CCRT (CCRT group). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse effects were recorded and analyzed. Results: In total, 375 patients were included; 262 patients accepted ACT after CCRT while the remaining 113 patients chose observation. With a median follow-up of 40 months, no significant differences were found in the OS rates for patients in the CCRT + ACT and CCRT groups at 1 year, 3 years and the end of follow-up. There was also no significant discrepancy in PFS between groups. Subgroup analysis showed the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and age had negligible influence on both OS and PFS. Acute adverse events (grades 3-4) happened more frequently in CCRT + ACT group than in the CCRT group, with significant differences in neutropenia, anemia and creatinine. Conclusion: ACT after CCRT did not show benefit in survival but did induce some adverse effects. Therefore, this regimen is not recommended unless further large-scale randomized controlled trials are executed.