Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore novel therapeutic approaches for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), we evaluated the efficacy and safety of hyperthermia (HT) and/or targeted therapy combined with cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 119 LACC patients (tumor diameter ≥4 cm) treated at our institution (Jan 2021-Oct 2024), stratified into: CCRT (n = 48), targeted therapy + CCRT (T-CCRT, n = 44), and HT + targeted therapy + CCRT (HT-T-CCRT, n = 27). Complete/objective response rates (CRR/ORR) at 3/12 months were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using standard software to compare efficacies and evaluate adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: 1. EFFICACY: At 3 months, HT-T-CCRT achieved the highest CRR (85.19 % vs. CCRT 58.33 %, P < 0.05) and ORR (96.30 %). T-CCRT showed significantly higher ORR (95.46 % vs. CCRT 81.25 %, P < 0.05). At 12 months, no significant intergroup differences existed in CRR (58.33 %/61.36 %/77.78 %) or ORR (70.83 %/75.00 %/77.78 %). 2. SAFETY: CCRT had lower diarrhea (52.08 % vs. 81.82 %) and vomiting (50.00 % vs. 86.36 %) rates than T-CCRT (both P < 0.05). HT-T-CCRT further reduced vomiting (55.56 % vs. 86.36 %), diarrhea (55.56 % vs. 81.82 %), and liver impairment (22.22 % vs. 47.73 %) versus T-CCRT (all P < 0.05), with comparable safety to CCRT. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy: The targeted combination group had higher ORR and CRR at 3/12 months than chemoradiation, with a significant 3-month ORR difference. The thermotherapy-targeted group showed the highest CRR/ORR, with significantly better 3-month CRR vs chemoradiation but not vs targeted alone. SAFETY: Diarrhea/vomiting were lower with chemoradiation than targeted; thermotherapy-targeted had lower diarrhea/vomiting/liver injury than targeted alone, with comparable overall AEs to chemoradiation.