Serum Inflammatory Markers Predict Short-Term Efficacy of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Approximately one-third of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) experience treatment failure with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), underscoring the need for reliable predictive biomarkers. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical value of serum inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting the short-term efficacy of CCRT in patients with LACC. Methods: Patients with LACC treated with CCRT were categorized into remission and non-remission groups based on their short-term treatment response. Pre-treatment serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP were measured, and their predictive value for treatment efficacy was assessed. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent factors associated with short-term treatment outcomes. Results: The non-remission group (nRG) showed significantly raised serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP compared to the remission group (RG). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed that these serum levels could predict the short-term efficacy of CCRT. Furthermore, lymph node metastasis (LNM), maximum tumor diameter, and elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP were identified as independent risk factors for poor short-term treatment efficacy. Consequently, patients with LACC with elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP following CCRT showed a significantly lower 12-month progression-free survival rate. Conclusions: Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP serve as valuable predictors of the short-term efficacy of CCRT in LACC patients. Maximum tumor diameter, LNM, and elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP are independent risk factors influencing treatment outcome.