Clinical efficacy analysis of radioactive 125I particle implantation for the treatment of pelvic local recurrence of cervical cancer after radiotherapy

Purpose:
To explore the efficacy of CT-guided iodine-125 (¹²⁵I) radioactive particle implantation for the treatment of pelvic local recurrence of cervical cancer after radiotherapy.

Material and methods:
To analyze clinical data of 46 patients with pelvic local recurrence of cervical cancer after radiotherapy, who underwent ¹²⁵I particle implantation, post-operative follow-up using Kaplan-Meier method to calculate the rate of local control, and observation of complications. Univariate and multi-factorial analyses were performed with log-rank test and Cox regression statistical method to observe changes in serum SCC-Ag and CEA levels.

Results:
A total of 57 lesions in 46 patients had a short-term local control rate of 87.72% (50/57) and effective rate of 68.42% (39/57). As of the end of follow-up, the median local progression-free survival time of 46 patients was 12.2 (range, 3.5-32) months, the median overall survival time was 16.3 (range, 3.5-40) months, with 1-year and 2-year OS of 63.04% and 41.30%. Univariate and multi-factorial analyses suggested that local recurrent mass size and recurrence site were the main factors affecting survival. Loco-regional progression-free survival (LPFS) time was 15.5 and 11.25 months in cases with recurrent mass diameter < 3 cm and ≥ 3 cm, respectively (χ² = 10.83, p = 0.001 < 0.05). In patients with pelvic wall recurrence and central recurrence, the time to LPFS was 15.80 and 10.00 months, respectively (χ² = 8.833, p = 0.0030 < 0.05). Tumor markers serum SCC-Ag and CEA decreased to different degrees after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant. The median LPFS in the SCC-Ag ≤ 3.5 ng/ml group was significantly higher than that in the SCC-Ag > 3.5 ng/ml group (χ² = 4.241, p = 0.036 < 0.05). No serious post-operative complications were observed.

Conclusions:
CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation has significant short-term efficacy in the treatment of pelvic local recurrence of cervical cancer after radiotherapy. It can improve the effective rate in patients with initial clinical stage II, especially in those with locally recurrent masses < 3 cm and in those with a recurrence in the pelvic wall.