PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. Yazigi
AU  - G. Aliste
AU  - R. Torres
AU  - A. M. Ciudad
AU  - M. Cuevas
AU  - J. Garrido
AU  - S. Prado
AU  - A. Solá
AU  - R. Castillo
AU  - B. Cerda
AU  - M. A. Cumsille
AU  - M. González
AU  - C. Navarro
AU  - J. M. Reyes
TI  - Phase III randomized pilot study comparing interferon α- 2b in combination with radiation therapy versus radiation therapy alone in patients with stage III-B carcinoma of the cervix
AID  - 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200303000-00011
DP  - 2003 Feb 01
TA  - International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
PG  - 164--169
VI  - 13
IP  - 2
4099  - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/13/2/164.short
4100  - http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/13/2/164.full
SO  - Int J Gynecol Cancer2003 Feb 01; 13
AB  - This randomized pilot study was designed to determine whether the addition of interferon α-2b to standard radiation therapy offered an advantage in loco-regional control and survival over radiation therapy alone in a homogeneous group of patients with stage IIIB carcinoma of the cervix. Thirty-six patients were treated with a combination of interferon α-2b plus radiation therapy, and 38 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone. Patients with evidence of ureteral obstruction were excluded from the study. Evaluation of loco-regional response was determined by pelvic examination, cervical cytology, biopsies and CT scans when indicated. Survival time was measured from initiation of treatment to date of death or last follow-up. Patient characteristics were comparable between both study arms. The objective complete response rate was 67% in the combined therapy group and 55% in the radiation alone group (P = 0.454). With a median follow-up of 17 months for all patients and 31 months for live patients, 50% of the combined group survived vs. 39.5% of the radiation alone group (P = 0.424). We conclude that the addition of interferon α-2b to standard radiation therapy did not significantly improve loco-regional response or survival, although such a trend was noted. We encourage the design of a larger randomized study with sufficient power to detect meaningful differences to prove whether the tendency observed in the present investigation holds any promise to improve the outcome of these patients.