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

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the usefulness of local mitomycin C application in the prophylaxis of vaginal narrowing after irradiation.

Material and methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.