Histological and immunohistochemical prediction for local control of cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone.

Predictability of local control following radiotherapy was evaluated with morphological methods such as histology and immunohistochemistry for 36 cervical squamous cell carcinomas. All these patients showed viable cancer cell predominance on the specimens excised with drill biopsy after radiation therapy. These specimens were stained with routine haematoxylin and eosin staining as well as with antibodies against epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), carcinoembryonic antigen, and S-100 protein. Five histological features, the number of the cancer nests per 22.5mm2 section, stromal reaction, space formation in the cancer nests, foamy cell or foreign body giant cell (FBG) clusters, and epithelial membrane antigen reactivity on the specimens excised after radiation therapy, were significantly related to the local control probability. Namel, less than 20 cancer nests, granulomatous stroma, presence of the space formation, absence of the foamy cell or foreign body giant cell clusters, and epithelial membrane antigen negativity were favorable for local control of the cervical cancer with radiation therapy. These data suggested that radiation sensitivity of cancer and stromal reaction for drainage of the degenerated cancer debris were important for local control of the tumors.