RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The value of prognostic factors in patients with advanced cervix carcinoma treated by radiotherapy was assessed in a retrospective study. METHODS: From January 1977 through December 1990, 261 patients (average age 60 years) were treated at the Radiotherapy Department of the University of Turin. Distribution by stage was: 142 T2b (54%), 8 T3a (3%), 98 T3b (38%) and 13 T4 (5%). 83% of the patients underwent radiotherapy alone; the total dose was 45-88 Gy in 91 patients (42%) with poor clinical conditions, 60-75 Gy in 121 (56%) and 75-80 Gy in 5 cases. 17% of the patients was treated by surgery combined with radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 50 months (minimum 2, maximum 177 months). RESULTS: The 5-year NED survival and local control were 42% (52% for T2b, 33% for T3 and 15% for T4). The severe (G3-G4) complication rate was very low (1.9%). CONCLUSION: In our series, the prognostic factors which significantly influenced survival in the uni-variate analysis were: advanced T stage, contemporary infiltration of parametrium and vagina, nodal status, non squamous neoplasm, younger age and the absence of brachytherapy in the radiotherapy alone protocol.