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Introduction Chemoradiation (CRT) is the standard of care for the treatment of carcinoma cervix, more benefits of CRT are seen in the early stage as compared to a locally advanced stage. Altered fractionation such as accelerated radiotherapy (ART) in locally advanced carcinoma cervix has not been explored much. Here, we have reported the long-term outcome of ART in comparison to conventional CRT in locally advanced cervical cancer patients. Methods From September 2011 to January 2014, 191 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, FIGO stage IIB - IIIB were included in this study. They were randomized into two arms: the CRT arm (95 patients) versus the ART arm (96 patients). During external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), the patients in the CRT arm received conventional radiotherapy 50 Gy/25 fractions, 2 Gy/fraction, 5 fractions/week with cisplatin 40 mg/m2/week while patients in the ART arm received 50 Gy/25 fractions, 2 Gy/fraction, 6 fractions per week (Monday to Saturday) radiation alone. This was followed by three insertions of 6.5 Gy per fraction of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy at one-week intervals in both arms to keep the total treatment time 50 days in the CRT arm versus 45 days in the ART arm. Results The median follow-up of the study population was 57 months (range: 4-108 months). The patients with no residual disease (NRD) after EBRT and complete response (CR) at first follow-up were statistically less in the ART arm as compared to the CRT arm (30.2% versus 53.7% and 42.7% versus 63.2%; p = 0.006 and p = 0.024, respectively). However, there was no statistical difference in response at six months. High-grade acute toxicities hematological (9.5%) and gastrointestinal (15.8%) were more prevalent in the CRT arm in comparison to the ART arm, with no statistical significance (p>0.05) and Grade 1/2 genitourinary toxicity was significantly higher in the CRT arm. Late toxicities in both groups were equivalent. Recurrence, distant type of recurrence, and time to recurrence were similar in both groups. Five-year rates of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 51.2% versus 37.2% (p = 0.087) and 57.1% versus 46.3% (p = 0.223) in the CRT arm versus ART arm, respectively. Conclusion ART is a compelling alternative to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, particularly in patients with significant comorbidities, elderly women, and those in higher stages where concurrent chemotherapy's efficacy diminishes. It should be strongly considered when chemotherapy is contraindicated.

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Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a well-known entity in gastrointestinal and ovarian tumors of mucinous histology. It has important implications on prognosis depending on whether seen in conjunction with a benign or a malignant tumor. In the current report, we describe a case of PMP in a case of advanced endocervical adenocarcinoma of the cervix which was managed surgically.

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INTRODUCTION: Locally advanced carcinoma cervix (LACC) is a heterogeneous disease with variable combinations of primary tumour extensions with or without nodal involvement. Metabolic information from 18 fluro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (FDG PET-CT) may potentially augment treatment decision-making for LACC. This study ascertained FDG-PET CT influence on chemoradiation therapy (CTRT) decisions in LACC. We report oncologic and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). METHODS: FDG PET-CT scans were reviewed independently by two nuclear medicine specialists and two radiation oncologists. Pelvic CTRT plan digressions were documented and therapy was adapted accordingly. Pelvis radiation (50 Gy/25#/5 weeks) using tomotherapy with weekly cisplatin was used in node-negative disease. Dose-escalated simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) 60 Gy/25#/5 weeks was delivered to involved pelvic nodes. All received brachytherapy. Post-treatment PET-CT scans were at 6 months. Functional assessment of cancer therapy scores were calculated at baseline, treatment completion, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and January 2018, 85 patients were screened, and 77 consented. Extrapelvic disease was seen in 12 (16%) patients (9 para-aortic nodes, 2 distant metastases and 1 synchronous carcinoma breast); 60 patients were included in the final analysis. Decision changes were seen in 10/77 (13%) screened, 8/60 (13%) included and 32 (53.3%) received SIB. Post-treatment, 27 (45%) had grade 2 GI/GU/GYN toxicity, one (2%) had grade 3 GI and five (8.3%) had grade 3 neutropenia. At median overall survival of 54.2 months (95% CI 52.8-58.3), 5-year local failure, pelvic nodal and para-aortic nodal-free survival were 86.8% (95% CI 78.0-96.6), 85.2% (95% CI 76.1-95.3) and 85.2% (95% CI 76.2-95.4). Functional assessment of cancer therapy trial outcome index (FACT TOI) improved by 10.43 at 3 months with no further decline. Grade 3 toxicity was noted for abdominal pain in one (1.7%), cystitis in four (6.7%) and lymphoedema in one (1.7%) at 5 years. CONCLUSION: PET-CT resulted in major decision changes in 13%. PET-adapted CTRT was associated with acceptable toxicity, encouraging long-term survival and improvement in PROMS.

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Purpose: The aim of the study was to dosimetrically compare intra-cavitary brachytherapy technique (ICBT) with free-hand (intra-cavitary + interstitial, IC + IS) technique. Material and methods: Twenty seven locally advanced carcinoma cervix patients were included in the study. Patients with more than medial 1/3rd parametrial residual disease without extending upto lateral pelvic wall were included, following external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), in which cobalt-60 high-dose-rate (60Co HDR) brachytherapy source was used. Dose for both plans were 6.5 Gy × 4 fractions, 2 fractions per day, 6 hours apart, over 2 days. Free-hand brachytherapy technique, consisted of placement of central tandem and 2 ovoids along with needles without using template, was applied. Two plans were generated by activating and deactivating the needles, and compared by normalizing to V100. Results: A total of 79 needles were applied. Using paired-t test, dosimetric comparison of both the plans was done. Free-hand plan had a significant higher mean V90 (volume receiving 90% of the dose) of 94.2% compared with 87.22% in ICBT plan (p ≤ 0.0001). Free-hand and ICBT plans presented a mean V100 values of 89.06% and 81.51% (p ≤ 0.0001), respectively, favoring free-hand plan. The mean D90 (dose to 90% volume), D98, and D100 of free-hand plan were 6.28 Gray (Gy), 4.91 Gy, and 3.62 Gy, respectively, but equivalent parameters in ICBT plan were 5.26 Gy, 3.72 Gy, and 2.61 Gy, with p value ≤ 0.0001. In both the plans, D2cc of the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 4.59 Gy, 3.98 Gy, 2.77 Gy, and 4.46 Gy, 3.90 Gy, 2.67 Gy, respectively, with no statistical significance. Conclusions: Free-hand brachytherapy (IC + IS) achieves a statistically significant better dose distribution to high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) comparing with ICBT technique with similar dose to organs at risk.

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BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the cervix is a globally significant cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy, a standard approach for locally advanced cervical cancer, invariably involves pelvic irradiation. Although this strategy is effective, it inevitably affects the pelvic bone marrow, a crucial hematopoietic site, and leads to hematological toxicity The potential of IMRT to spare bone marrow in pelvic irradiation settings has been an area of significant interest, with the aim to mitigate the hematological toxicity associated with pelvic radiotherapy. Radiotherapy techniques have evolved in terms of conformity and normal tissue sparing. Our study intends to explore the use of BM sparing techniques among patients of carcinoma cervix. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients of carcinoma cervix FIGO Stage IIIB treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy were selected for this study. The external contour of bones was delineated on planning CT as a surrogate for BM. We generated three plans on a single patient:1. without BM as the dose constraint, namely N-IMRT plan; 2. with BM constraint, namely BMS-IMRT plan; 3. VMAT plan in which BM constraint was given. The dose volume histogram (DVH) for planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR) were analyzed. BM parameters: V10, V20, V30, V40, mean, maximum and minimum dose were compared.  Results: PTV coverage was comparable in all techniques. VMAT plans resulted in superior BM sparing compared with N-IMRT plan (P-<0.001) and BMS-IMRT plan (P-<0.001, 0.021 and 0.001 respectively for V20, V30 and V40). VMAT plans had better CI compared with BMS-IMRT (P-0.002) and N-IMRT (P-0.001) plans. CONCLUSION: Our study adds to the growing evidence that VMAT might be the preferred technique for patients with carcinoma of the cervix undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy, as it provides comparable target coverage and better sparing of bone marrow compared to IMRT.

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Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) is a sub-fraction of the tumor antigen TA-4, first isolated by Kato and Torigoe, the most commonly used tumor marker in cervical cancer. It can be used as a serum marker to detect residual disease, early local recurrence, or distant metastasis in locally advanced cervical cancer even before the clinical symptoms of recurrence or metastasis. Methods and Materials: Between January 2018 and August 2018, 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma cervix (FIGO) stages IB2-IVA, who received concurrent chemoradiation, followed by brachytherapy, were included in the study. Serum SCC Ag levels were collected at four time points during the course of the treatment, and their correlation with tumor and treatment factors were analyzed. Results: As the FIGO stage increases, mean pre-treatment SCC Ag also increases. Node-positive patients had higher pre-treatment SCC Ag as compared to those who were negative (P = 0.05). There was a statistically significant decreasing trend in the mean SCC Ag at the end of EBRT (P = 0.015). After completion of treatment, 78% had a complete response, 8% had a partial response, and 14% had progressive disease with statistically significant elevation of SCC Ag at 6 weeks of follow-up (P = 0.01). Patients who progressed or had the residual disease at follow-up were found to have high pre-treatment SCC Ag values. Conclusion: SCC Ag can be potentially used as a reference indicator of biological behavior of cervical cancer, to monitor the treatment response, and as a prognostic marker, especially in those with node-positive disease.

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Background: Carcinoma cervix is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with an estimated 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths worldwide in 2020. Carcinoma cervix is an uncommon malignancy in Kashmir. In this retrospective study, we have tried to find clinicopathological characteristics of carcinoma cervix along with the survival rates at our tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Case records of cervical cancer patients registered from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2019, were retrieved. A total of 138 patients was registered. 22 had undergone surgery, and out of these 17 had received postoperative radiotherapy. 109 patients were treated with definitive chemoradiation and 13 with palliative radiotherapy. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient and treatment-related variables, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for survival analysis. Results: A total of 138 cases that were registered from 2015 to 2019 were included in this study. The median age at the presentation was 56 years. Most of the patients had a performance status of 1 (98 patients (71.01)). Most of the patients 110 (79.71%) were married before 20 years of age, only 1 patient was unmarried, and 85 (61.59) patients were multiparous in our study group. Only 14 (10.14%) patients in our study group had a history of oral contraceptive use and most of them were non-smokers [124 (89.80%)]. Multiple marriages were present in 8 (5.79%) patients only. The most common presenting symptom was bleeding per vagina (78.26%), and the maximum number of patients fall in the post-menopausal group (67.39%). 116 patients had squamous cell carcinoma histology while 10 patients had adenocarcinoma histology. Most of the patients had stage II and stage III disease (85 patients). At last, follow up out of 138 patients 75 (54.35) were alive. 3 year disease-free survival was 54.34% and 3-year overall survival was 72.46%. Conclusion: Carcinoma cervix is an uncommon malignancy in Kashmir because of different socio-cultural and religious practices but the response to treatment, toxicity profile, and survival are similar to the rest of the world.

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Despite being one of the commonest malignancies among women worldwide, carcinoma of the cervix, due to its nonspecific symptoms, goes undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages. This is especially true among women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the rate of screening for them is much less as compared to noninfected women. HIV infection greatly impacts the treatment and the prognosis of the diagnosed carcinoma. The existing common linkage between the occurrence of HIV and that of cervical cancer has some significant common elements such as low socio-economic conditions and poor hygiene. The treatment methods in such cases, prove to be of concern, taking into consideration the seropositive status of the case. Here, we discuss one such case of a seropositive patient who presented with complaints of leukorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia. She had stable vitals, with a pulse rate of 86/minute and blood pressure of 100/80 mmHg. On clinical examination, she was diagnosed with stage International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IIIB cervical carcinoma. Under all aseptic precautions, a cervical biopsy was taken and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix was diagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach was decided as the course of action, after which she was referred to the department of medical oncology for chemoradiation. Five cycles with a dose of ten Gray (GY) per cycle were planned with concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin per week. The patient was advised to follow up in the gynecology outpatient department after completion of her chemoradiation cycles for further evaluation and management.

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Background: The current standard of treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is concurrent chemo-radiation with improved overall survival (OS) by 6% with manageable toxicities. The cisplatin 40 mg/m2 given weekly is the widely practiced regimen for 4-6 cycles concurrently with irradiation. Materials and methods: Two hundred and twelve patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of cervix with stages IIB to IIIB were enrolled between 2007-2011. External beam radiation dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions was delivered over 5 weeks. Brachytherapy was delivered by manual afterloading cesium-137 (Cs137) low dose brachytherapy (LDR) using modified Fletcher suit intracavitary applicators to a total dose of 30 Gy to Point A or interstitial template to dose of 21 Gy/3 fractions with remote afterloading iridium-192 (Ir192) high dose brachytherapy (HDR). Patients were randomized to arm A receiving 40 mg/m2 of concurrent cisplatin weekly and arm B receiving 100 mg/m2 of concurrent cisplatin triweekly. Results: One hundred and nine patients were randomized to weekly cisplatin and one hundred and three patients to triweekly cisplatin at the end of recruitment. At ten years, the OS was higher in the weekly arm (79.8%) compared to triweekly arm (70.9%). Disease free survival (DFS) was almost equal (76.1% and 73.8%) in the weekly and three-weekly arms. There is definite significance in overall DFS with patients receiving the cumulative cisplatin doses of more than 250 mg (p = 0.028). The patients with more than 45 years of age had better overall survival (OS) (79%) with statistical significance 31 (p = 0.020). Conclusion: Both cisplatin based triweekly and weekly concurrent chemotherapy are equally effective in terms of OS and DFS.

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Background and Objectives: This is a prospective trial of the endo-stapler application for vaginal closure before colpotomy in cases of carcinoma endometrium and carcinoma cervix, managed by minimally invasive surgery with due consideration of its surgical technique and short-term oncologic follow-up outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective, single center study completed between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. A total of 62 patients (43 cases of carcinoma endometrium and 19 cases of carcinoma cervix) were recruited for the study. Oncologic survival outcomes at the end of 1 and 2 years were documented. Results: There were no major intraoperative bowel, urinary, or vascular injuries. None of the cases required conversion to laparotomy peroperatively. Our study had 8 patients with carcinoma endometrium (8/43) and 7 patients of carcinoma cervix (7/19) who have completed 24 months of follow-up without any recurrence to date. Conclusion: Endo-stapler application for enclosed colpotomy to prevent tumor spillage is a futuristic step in gynecologic oncology cases managed by laparoscopy.

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Purpose: To report the feasibility of performing hybrid intra-cavitary and interstitial (IC/IS) brachytherapy in patients with carcinoma cervix under trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance. Material and methods: All patients who received an external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions with weekly chemotherapy, followed by a brachytherapy boost (21 Gy in 3 fractions) were prospectively included for analysis. IC/IS brachytherapy was performed using Fletcher style tandem and ovoid applicator with interstitial component under TRUS guidance. Parameters of implant quality analyzed included ability to insert tandem, ratio of needles loaded to the number of needles inserted, and incidence of uterine or organ at risk (OARs) perforation. Dosimetric parameters evaluated were dose to point A*, TRAK, D90 high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), and D2cc to OARs (bladder, rectum, and sigmoid). Width and thickness of the target was compared between TRUS (TRUSw and TRUSt) and MRI (MRIw and MRIt). Results: Twenty carcinoma cervix patients treated with IC/IS brachytherapy were included for analysis. The mean HR-CTV volume was 36 cc. The median number of needles used were 6 (range, 2-10 needles). None of the patients had uterine perforation. Two patients had bowel and bladder perforation. The mean D90 HR-CTV and D98 HR-CTV were 87.3 Gy and 82 Gy EQD2, respectively. The mean D2cc to the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 80 Gy, 70 Gy, and 64 Gy EQD2, respectively. The mean dose to point A* was 70.4 Gy EQD2. The mean TRAK was 0.40. The mean TRUSw (±SD) and MRIw (±SD) were 4.58 cm (±0.44) and 4.49 cm (±0.50), respectively. The mean TRUSt (±SD) and MRIt (±SD) were 2.7 cm (±0.59) and 2.62 cm (±0.59), respectively. On statistical analysis, there was a significant correlation between TRUSw and MRIw (r = 0.93), and TRUSt and MRIt (r = 0.98). Conclusions: TRUS-guided IC/IS brachytherapy is feasible and provides adequate coverage of the target, with acceptable doses to OARs.

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The standard treatment for post-irradiation cancer cervix with central residue or recurrence is pelvic exenteration. Some of the carefully selected patients with lesions of size less than 2 cm may be treated with radical hysterectomy. Patients treated by radical hysterectomy have less morbidity rates when compared to pelvic exenteration. The parameters for defining a subset of these patients have not been addressed. Given the changing scenario of organ preservation, we have to determine the role of radical hysterectomy after radical or defaulted radiotherapy treatment. Retrospective analysis of patients with post-irradiation cancer cervix with central residue or recurrence who were treated by surgery from 2012 to 2018 was done. The initial stage of the disease, radiation treatment details, recurrence/residue, extent of disease as per imaging, surgical findings, histopathological examination report, post-surgery local recurrence, distant recurrence and 2-year survival rates were analysed. A total of 45 patients were found eligible for the study from the database. Nine (20%) patients, who had tumours that were confined to cervix, size less than 2 cm with preserved planes of resection, underwent radical hysterectomy and the other 36 (80%) patients underwent pelvic exenteration. Among patients who underwent radical hysterectomy, one (11.1%) patient had parametrial involvement and all of them had tumour-free resection margins. Among patients who underwent pelvic exenteration, 11 (30.6%) patients had parametrial involvement and five (13.9%) patients had tumour infiltrated resection margins. Among patients who were treated by radical hysterectomy, the local recurrence rate was high in patients who had a pretreatment FIGO stage of IIIB when compared to stage IIB (33.3% vs. 20%). Out of the nine patients treated by radical hysterectomy, two patients had local recurrence and both of them did not receive brachytherapy preoperatively. In patients with an early stage carcinoma cervix with post-irradiation residue or recurrence, radical hysterectomy can be considered if the patient consents to participate in a trial, willing to be on strict follow-up and understands the postoperative complications. Large-scale studies for radical hysterectomy have to be done on post radical irradiation small volume early stage residue or recurrence, to identify the parameters for safe and comparable oncological outcomes.

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A prospective analysis of a retrospective data of patients with cervix carcinoma treated by minimal invasive surgery at high-volume gynecology oncology center analyzing that minimal access surgery is an acceptable treatment modality in cervix carcinoma. The study included 423 patients who underwent laparoscopic/robotic radical hysterectomy after pre-operative evaluation after taking their consent and obtaining ethical approval from the IRB. Post-operatively, patients were followed up at regular intervals for clinical examination and ultrasonography for a median range of 36 months. A PET scan was done only if there was any suspicious finding on clinical examination or ultrasonography. Patients with parametrial involvement, positive vaginal margins, and nodal involvement were treated with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Four hundred twenty-three patients of cervix carcinoma were treated with minimal access surgery. Average duration of surgeries was 92 min. Median range of duration of post-operative follow-up was 36 months. None of the patients had positive resection margins indicating adequate parametrectomy with complete oncological clearance. On post-operative follow-up, only 2 patients had vaginal recurrence which is comparable to that observed in open surgery and no pelvic recurrence. With the understanding of the anatomical landmarks of the anterior parametrium and development of skills for adequate oncological clearance, minimal access surgery should be the preferred surgical modality in carcinoma of the cervix.

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PURPOSE: To study the effect of various dose-volume parameters on the severity of vaginal stricture (VS) and the correlation of the latter with the posterior-inferior border of symphysis (PIBS) points in locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation and brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A prospective study was done on 45 histologically proven locally advanced cervical cancer patients between January 2020 and March 2021. All of them were treated with concurrent chemoradiation with 6 MV photon linear accelerator to a dose of 45 Gy/25 fractions in 5 weeks. Twenty-three patients were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy with a dose of 7 Gy/fraction/week for three fractions. Twenty-two patients were treated with interstitial brachytherapy, with 6 Gy/fraction for four fractions, each fraction 6 h apart. Grading of VS was done as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5. RESULTS: The median followup was 21.5 months. About 37.8% of patients had VS with a median duration of 8.0 months (4.0-12 months). About 22.2% had Grade 1, 6.7% had Grade 2, and 8.9% had Grade 3 toxicity. Doses at PIBS and PIBS-2 points had no correlation with vaginal toxicity, however, the dose at PIBS+2 was significantly associated with VS (p = 0.004). The treated length of the vagina at the time of brachytherapy (p = 0.001), initial tumor volume (p = 0.009), and vaginal involvement after completion of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (p = 0.01) were also statistically significant with the development of VS of Grade 2 or more. CONCLUSIONS: Dose at PIBS + 2, treated length of the vagina with brachytherapy, initial tumor volume, and post-EBRT vaginal involvement are strong predictors for the severity of VS.

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Background and Aim: The natural history of cervical cancer is unique that it is preceded by a precancerous condition for a long time. Morphometry as a tool can be used in early and accurate diagnosis of these precancerous and cancerous lesions. The present study aims at assessing the utility of cellular and nuclear morphometry in differentiating squamous cell abnormality from benign conditions and also differentiating the categories of squamous cell abnormalities. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight diagnosed cases of squamous epithelial cell abnormality, that is, 10 cases each of atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade SIL (HSIL), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and eight cases of ASC-H (ASC cannot exclude HSIL), were made the sample population and compared with a control population of 10 cases of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM). Parameters like nuclear area (NA), nuclear perimeter (NP), nuclear diameter (ND), nuclear compactness (NC), cellular area (CA), cellular diameter (CD), cellular perimeter (CP), and nucleocytoplasmic (N/C) ratio were used. Results: There was a significant difference in the six groups of squamous cell abnormality based on NA, NP, ND, CA, CP, and CD (P < 0.05) using one-way analysis of variance. Nuclear morphometry parameters like NA, NP, and ND were found to be the maximum for HSIL, followed by LSIL, ASC-H, ASC-US, SCC, and NILM groups in decreasing order. The mean CA, CP, and CD were found to be the maximum for NILM, followed by LSIL, ASC-US, HSIL, ASC-H, and SCC in decreasing order. On post hoc analysis, the lesions can be divided into three groups: NILM/normal; ASC-US and LSIL; and ASC-H, HSIL, and SCC, based on N/C ratio. Conclusion: In cervical lesions, holistic parameter of cytonucleomorphometry should be taken rather than taking nuclear morphometry only. N/C ratio is a highly statistically significant parameter that can differentiate between low-grade lesions and high-grade lesions.

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Introduction: Palliative care (PC) has been classically synonymous with end-of-life care offered to patients with advanced incurable cancers with an aim to improve their quality-of-life (QoL). However, there is growing evidence to suggest that early integration of PC (EIPC) along with cancer-directed management improves patient-reported outcomes. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of EIPC on QoL of cervical cancer patients treated with curative intent. Material and Methods: Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IB2 to IIIB) having eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance score 0-2 were randomized into EIPC arm and standard of care arm of concurrent chemoradiation by a computer-generated table of random numbers. QoL was assessed by functional assessment of cancer therapy - general (FACT-G) questionnaire twice in both arms. The first assessment was done prior to starting treatment and second assessment at three months after treatment completion. The mean scores on physical, mental, emotional, social, and functional well-being subscales of FACT-G scale were calculated in both arms, and Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate differences in QoL scores within and in between the arms. This trial was registered with Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) vide CTRI/2017/05/008704. Results: Fifty patients were enrolled in each arm. However, only 42 and 45 patients in EPIC and standard oncological care arm were evaluated in the final analysis. Comparing QoL scores between the two time points in each arm, the mean pre-treatment scores in EIPC arm was significantly higher than post-treatment scores in the domains of physical and emotional well-being, whereas social and functional well-being scores improved significantly after treatment as compared with that as baseline. However, when compared between two arms, the difference of mean scores pre- and post-treatment were almost similar for physical and functional well-being but statistically significant differences were found only in social and emotional well-being scales. Conclusions: Our study is a feasibility study done in an attempt to test the validity of EIPC in cervical cancers. The results are inspiring to conduct robust studies in the future to explore this new domain of integration of palliative services in curable cancers.

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BACKGROUND: To assess and compare the local control and toxicities between HDR Intracavitary Brachytherapy with 7.5 Gy and 9 Gy per fraction after EBRT in treatment of carcinoma cervix. METHODOLOGY: A total of 180 patients were randomly assigned to 2 arms. Arm A received HDR intracavitary brachytherapy with a dose of 7.5 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction per week for 3 fractions and Arm B received 9 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction per week for 2 fractions. Patients were evaluated on follow up for assessment of local control and toxicities. RESULTS: The median follow up was 12 months (6-18 months). In arm A 89% of the patient had complete response and 11% had recurrence or metastasis. In arm B 93% of the patient had complete response and 7% had recurrence or metastasis. Grade 2/3 diarrhoea was seen in 4.4% of patients in Arm A and in 7.7% in Arm B. Grade 2/3 proctitis was seen in 3.3% of patients in 7.5 Gy arm and in 6.6% in 9 Gy arm. One patient in each arm had grade 1 haematuria. The overall duration of treatment was significant lower in Arm B compared to Arm A (59 days vs 68 days, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The result of this clinical study shows that Intracavitary brachytherapy with a dose of 9 Gy per fraction is non inferior to other schedules in term of local control and does not result in increased toxicity.

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Cervical cancer usually metastasizes to the lung, liver, bone, and brain. Metastasis to the skin from cervical cancer is relatively uncommon. The management options are systemic therapy, palliative radiotherapy, or best supportive care. Here, we report the case of a female patient with cervical cancer, stage IIB, who received radical treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy and later presented with disseminated skin nodules. She was treated with combination chemotherapy (nano-dispersible paclitaxel and carboplatin), bevacizumab, and a bone-stabilizing agent (zoledronic acid). There was a complete metabolic response to the therapy. There was also a dramatic improvement in the general condition of the patient. Skin metastasis in cervical cancer often presents as non-tender skin nodules. A biopsy is mandatory to establish the diagnosis. There are no specific guidelines about management. The intention of management is palliative. The combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab produces substantial clinical improvement.

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INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (NECC) is a rare variant of cervical cancer with poor prognosis and high mortality. Recurrence is seen with multi-organ metastasis including liver. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65 year old female presented with vaginal bleeding for the past one year. Cervical cancer screening and biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed positive expression of chromogranin, synaptophysin, pancytokeratin, TTP1, and CEA and negative expression of p40 and estrogen receptors. An adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine tumor was suggested. Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy was performed. This was followed by carboplatin and etoposide therapy to have clinical remission for a year. Then recurrence was observed to start same drugs again resulting in to partial improvement. It was followed by radiotherapy. The patient succumbed to death approximately after three months. CONCLUSION: A metastatic lesion in liver may be a case of Neuroendocrine tumor of cervix, a rare condition that can be easily missed on histopathological examination. More studies are required to establish a standard therapeutic protocol.

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PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible role of a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and semiquantitative fusion map for the prediction of response to radiotherapy in carcinoma cervix. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, longitudinal observational study performed on patients with locally advanced carcinoma cervix. Relative blood flow (rBF), relative blood volume (rBV), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained before and after the onset of radiotherapy. rBV, rBF, and ADC values were used to generate a semiquantitative pharmacokinetic model map to identify any hypoxic component of the tumor. The subjects were retrospectively classified as responders and nonresponders based on response to treatment. Prospective prediction of response status was done using pretreatment multiparametric MRI parameters (rBF, rBV, and ADC) and semiquantitative parametric map. RESULTS: In 32 patients (29 with parametrial involvement and 15 with lymphadenopathy), pretreatment ADC of the primary tumor was the most accurate measure for predicting response to treatment as well as for treatment-induced fractional volume reduction. Although rBV and rBF were insignificant metrics in isolation for predicting response status, a combination with ADC in the form of parametric map had a sensitivity of 86.4% and 77.2%, specificity of 70% and 70%, positive predictive value of 86.4% and 85%, and negative predictive value 70% and 59% respectively by two independent observers. CONCLUSION: ADC is the most accurate measure for predicting the response to treatment. A manual parametric map generated by an off-line fusion of the above map with those generated by pharmacokinetic modeling of perfusion-weighted MRI may be a useful tool for the prediction of response to radiotherapy.

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