An Evaluation of the Sensitization Response as a Method for Determining Radiation Sensitivity

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Abstract
A series of 133 cases of carcinoma of the cervix uteri, are reported, and the prognostic significance of the sesitization response (SR) is considered on the basis of their 5-year survival. The number of cases with good SR, 27, or 20% of the series, is somewhat lower than other reports. The SR incidence increased with advancing age, especially in women over 50 in the postmenopausal group, and supports the belief that the SR phenomenon is related to the hormonal status of the patient. The potential significance of SR, the sensitization response, as a means of determining radiation sensitivity is not es-tablished in this series. One must conclude that even if some trends reported here are meaningful, the small number of cases in which good SR is found in this study mitigates against the hope and prediction that the presence of SR can be used as a practical test applied to the indi-vidual patient as a prognostic aid, and accurately guide the choice between surgical and radiation therapy.