Clinical trial of ²⁵²Cf neutron brachytherapy vs. conventional radiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer

²⁵²Cf, a neutron emitting radioactive transplutonium isotope, was tested for its efficacy against advanced bulky Stage III-IV cancers of the cervix in a clinical trial at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Eighty-two patients were treated during 1976-1979 and followed for 5-year survival and tumor control. Three different treatment methods went on sequentially and concurrently, that is, (a) conventional whole pelvis photon with delayed ¹³⁷Cs implants, (b) conventional photon therapy with delayed ²⁵²Cf implants, and (c) ²⁵²Cf implants ("early") preceding photon therapy. There were 12% 5-year survival for Stage IIIB cancers by conventional therapy, and 15% by delayed Z5ZCf implant therapy. For early Z5ZCf implant therapy there were 54% 5-year survivals with 4% complications and 65% 5-year local control, but distant metastases became a prominent delayed failure pattern.