Definitive evidence for hypoxic cells influencing cure in cancer therapy.

From an analysis of 2803 patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated by radiation therapy, a 62% cure rate can be shown. In those patients with Stage IIb and III disease, a haemoglobin level during treatment of below 12 g% was associated with a significantly higher pelvic recurrence rate, and also lower cure rate, than for those with a haemoglobin level 12g% or more. A prospective study shows that the correction of anaemia is associated with a decreased pelvic recurrence rate and an increased cure rate consistent with tumour hypoxia being greater in anaemic patients than in those with a normal haemoglobin level. It is also consistent with the thesis that hypoxia controls the radiation local control rate in patients with advanced carcinoma of the cervix.