Abstract:Objective To study the factors associated with bone marrow (BM) suppression during concurrent chemotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for cervical cancer. Methods A total of 126 cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and pelvic IMRT were retrospectively analyzed. The variables in this study included age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, clinical stage, physical condition, initial white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin, platelet count, initial serum creatinine, chemotherapy before concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), BM suppression before CCRT, total dose of external beam radiotherapy, mean dose of radiation to pelvic bone marrow (PBM), dose-volume parameters of PBM, chemotherapy regimens, and cycles of chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the known and hypothesized factors associated with bone marrow suppression. Results Univariate analysis showed that mean dose to PBM, the volume of PBM receiving 40 and 50 Gy (V40 and V50), chemotherapy before CCRT, and BM suppression before CCRT were associated with severe bone marrow suppression (P < 0.05). By multivariate analysis, mean dose to PBM [■ = 1.004, (95%CI: 1.001, 1.007)], V40 ( < 41% vs ≥ 41%), [■ = 0.123, (95%CI: 0.031, 0.487)] and V50 ( < 9% vs ≥ 9%), [■ = 0.040, (95%CI: 0.013, 0.128)] were factors significantly correlated with grades 3 and 4 bone marrow suppression. Conclusions V40 < 41% and V50 < 9% are factors associated with low incidence of grades 3 and 4 bone marrow suppression in concurrent chemotherapy and IMRT for cervical cancer. Mean dose to PBM is a factor correlated with high incidence of bone marrow suppression. As the mean dose to bone marrow increases, the incidence of grades 3 and 4 BM suppression rises. Strictly controlling the irradiated volume of PBM and the dose of IMRT to PBM can reduce the occurrence of BM suppression and ensure cervical cancer patients finishing CCRT.