Preliminary results of mitomycin C local application as post-treatment prevention of vaginal radiation-induced morbidity in women with cervical cancer

• Published in: European journal of gynaecological oncology 2006, Vol.27 (4), p.356
• Main Authors: Sobotkowski, J, Markowska, J, Fijuth, J, Pietraszek, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Brachytherapy - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Iridium Radioisotopes - adverse effects; Middle Aged; Mitomycin - administration & dosage; Morbidity; Radiation Injuries - etiology; Radiation Injuries - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Vaginal Diseases - etiology; Vaginal Diseases - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0392-2936

To determine the usefulness of local mitomycin C application in the prophylaxis of vaginal narrowing after irradiation. 31 patients with advanced cervical cancer qualified for the study. They underwent brachytherapy with iridium-192 isotope and external beam therapy with linear accelerators. In a blind probe method 16 patients were chosen to have an aqueous solution of mitomycin C applied to the vagina. Radiotherapy caused a shortening of vaginal length in both groups (study and control). In the "mitomycin C group" complete vaginal occlusion was visibly less frequent as were solid fibrotic vault changes. This mode of morbidity prevention can potentially diminish the occurrence of local vaginal fibrosis and thus may improve patients' quality of life. Further investigations are needed to confirm these results.