Patterns of First Relapse and Outcome in Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer After Radiochemotherapy: A Single Institutional Experience

Purpose Radiochemotherapy followed by brachytherapy is the standard treatment in locally advanced cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns of first relapse, the treatment given and its outcome. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of electronic records of locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated in prospective trials from 2003 to 2014. Results Out of 1388 patients, relapse was seen in 316 (23%). Relapse was seen as—pelvic: 105 (7.6%), distant: 136 (10%), and both: 75 (5.4%). Local, regional, paraaortic and systemic relapses were seen in 148 (10.8%), 65 (4.7%), 102 (7.4%) and 163 (11.8%) patients, respectively. Post-relapse, 201/316 (63.6%) received palliative care alone. Treatment in the form of concurrent or sequential chemo-radiotherapy, surgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy and reirradiation using brachytherapy was received by 15 (4.7%), 7 (2.2%), 1 (0.3%) and 1(0.3%) patients, respectively; 65 (20.6%) received palliative chemotherapy, and 28 (8.9%) received palliative radiotherapy. Median post-relapse survival was 7 months (95% CI 5.9–8.1); and in those who received treatment versus supportive care was 10 (95% CI 7.0–13.0) versus 5 (95% CI 3.9–6.1) months ( p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with > 1-year post-relapse survival was 85.7% in surgery, 66.7% in concurrent or sequential chemotherapy plus radiation, 32.3% in palliative chemotherapy, 14.3% in palliative radiotherapy and 13.4% in supportive care. Conclusion Distant failure is the predominant pattern of relapse seen in patients undergoing radiochemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer. Well-selected single-site relapses treated with surgery or chemotherapy plus radiation can have good post-relapse survival.