OBJECTIVES:
* To determine if the presence and heterogeneity of hypoxia can be detected by fluorine F 18 EF5 binding in tumors during PET/CT imaging in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix.
* To determine if fludeoxyglucose F 18 uptake correlates with fluorine F 18 EF5 uptake.
* To assess the relationship between fluorine F 18 EF5 uptake and disease-free and overall survival.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to disease stage (locally advanced vs recurrent or metastatic disease).
Patients receive fluorine F 18 EF5 IV followed by PET/CT imaging from the base of skull to upper thigh at baseline and during radiotherapy or chemotherapy (i.e., at 3-4 weeks after the initiation of radiotherapy or after the 4th, 5th, or 6th course of chemotherapy). Patients also undergo fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET/CT imaging within 7 to 10 days of the second fluorine F 18 EF5 scan.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days and then annually thereafter.
