Concurrent Radiation Therapy and Irinotecan in Stage
IIIB Cervical Cancer
NAN SUNTORNPONG, MD*, PITTAYAPOOM PATTARANUTAPORN,MD*,
YAOWALAK CHANSILP,MD*, KULLA THORN THEPHAMONGKHOL, MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University,
Bangkok I 0700, Thailand.
AbstractThe present study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent radiation therapy and
irinotecan in patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer. Fifteen patients with no prior radiation therapy
and chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. These patients received 50 Gy of external radiation to
whole the pel vis, 50 Gy with an additional dose of 6-10 Gy to the parametrium and 1 or 2 sessions of
intracavitary Cesium-137. Weekly intravenous infusion of 40 mg/m2 irinotecan was given for 5 cycles
during the course of radiation therapy. Of 14 evaluable patients, 4 (28.6%) achieved complete response
and 7 (50.0%) achieved partial response. Treatment-related toxicity included grade I & 2 anemia, grade
I & 2 leucopenia, grade I & 2 neutropenia and 7.1 per cent grade 3 diarrhea. No grade 4 toxicity or
treatment-related death occurred in the present study.
Conclusion : Irinotecan is a promising new cytotoxic agent in treatment concurrently with
radiation therapy in newly diagnosed locally advanced cervical cancer. This modality of treatment
appeared to be effective with acceptable toxicity.
Keywords : Cervical Cancer, Radiation Therapy, Irinotecan
All Articles
Download
