Concurrent radiation therapy and irinotecan in stage IIIB cervical cancer

The present study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent radiation therapy and irinotecan in patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer. Fifteen patients with no prior radiation therapy and chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. These patients received 50 Gy of external radiation to whole the pelvis, 50 Gy with an additional dose of 6-10 Gy to the parametrium and 1 or 2 sessions of intracavitary Cesium-137. Weekly intravenous infusion of 40 mg/m2 irinotecan was given for 5 cycles during the course of radiation therapy. Of 14 evaluable patients, 4 (28.6%) achieved complete response and 7 (50.0%) achieved partial response. Treatment-related toxicity included grade 1 & 2 anemia, grade 1 & 2 leucopenia, grade 1 & 2 neutropenia and 7.1 per cent grade 3 diarrhea. No grade 4 toxicity or treatment-related death occurred in the present study.

Irinotecan is a promising new cytotoxic agent in treatment concurrently with radiation therapy in newly diagnosed locally advanced cervical cancer. This modality of treatment appeared to be effective with acceptable toxicity.