Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of primary recurrence patterns on the prognosis of squamous cervical cancer after initial treatment. METHODS: Primary recurrence patterns and prognostic factors were examined in stage IB-IIA cervical cancer patients after initial treatment. Recurrence site (locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis or in-field and out-field recurrence for patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy) and subtype (nodal and organ recurrence) were examined. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates were evaluated to generate a prognostic nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 472 patients were included. The median follow-up period, 5-year overall (OS) rate, and median OS were 59.1 months, 33.7%, and 24.0 months, respectively. Overall, 38.8% and 61.2% of the patients had locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis, respectively, and survival rates were comparable in these groups. Patients with nodal recurrence had better OS than those with organ recurrence (38.3% vs 30.7%, respectively; P = 0.001). Patients not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy had increased risk of pelvic recurrence [odds ratio (OR) = 0.148; 95% confidence interval[(CI): 0.075-0.291, P = 0.000]. Positive lymph-vascular space invasion (OR= 1.928; 95% CI: 1.151-3.229, P = 0.013) and no chemotherapy (OR = 0.521; 95% CI: 0.317-0.733, P = 0.040) increased the risk of distant metastasis. Positive lymph node status after initial treatment were associated with nodal recurrence (OR = 3.729; 95% CI: 1.838-7.563, P = 0.000), while elevated preoperative squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels were associated with organ recurrence (OR = 1.642; 95% CI: 1.325-2.265, P = 0.002). Recurrence subtype, therapy for relapse, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, adjuvant radiotherapy, preoperative SCC-Ag levels, and risk subgroup were independently associated with OS. CONCLUSIONS: Primary recurrence patterns were associated with specific clinicopathological characteristics of cervical cancer. Recurrent cervical cancer prognosis was mainly affected by recurrence location and subtype.