One hundred-ninety-two patients with cancer of the cervix treated by primary radiation therapy during the years 1957 thru 1960 were studied by SR, serial RR and serial cervical biopsies. It has been impossible to demonstrate any value of SR as a prognostic index. Patients with "good" RR have a higher survival rate than patients with "poor" RR but the differences are not statistically significant. RR is influenced by numerous factors. The prognostic accuracy of examining cervical biopsies is greater than with the cytologic techniques and differences in survival rate are statistically significant. It is concluded that radiosensitivity testing techniques offer little advantage in the clinical management of patients with cancer of the cervix.
ANCER OF THE CERVIX IS GENERALLY A RADIO-
c sensitive tumor and the skillful use of radiation therapy can achieve very high cure rates.4~ 16, 22 However, some tumors appear radioresistant. A method of predicting lack of radiosensitivity prior to radiation therapy, or early in the course of radiation therapy, might allow selection of those patients who would be treated better by surgery. To make these 2 therapeutic modalities complimentary rather than competitive, tumor-host response to radiation therapy has been considered in many laboratories.l,2,5-10,12-15,17,19-21 Previously we presented preliminary results of our experience with various radiosensitivity-testing procedures.20921 T h e present paper reports our experience with a greater number of patients with adequate follow-up.
h'IETHODS AND MATERIALS
During the years 1957 through 1960 vaginal smears and cervical biopsies were taken weekly from patients with carcinoma of the cervix receiving radiation therapy at the University ol California Medical Center, San Francisco. During this time a few patients were treated with primary surgery but the results of this Froin the Dcpartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics,