Potential for use of amifostine in cervical cancer

Cisplatin-based combined chemoradiotherapy is now the standard of treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. Although combined-modality treatment has improved survival, it has also increased the already high frequency of toxicity observed with traditional radiotherapy alone. Cervical cancer patients with para-aortic metastasis may be at particularly high risk of toxicity with combined-modality treatment. The few clinical trial data available on the use of amifostine in cervical cancer or pelvic cancer patients suggest benefit in reducing treatment toxicity. The potential role of amifostine in combination with currently used cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy regimens is being assessed in a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group phase I/II study in cervical cancer patients with positive para-aortic or high common iliac lymph nodes.