Combined modality therapy in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies

During the last several years, combined modality therapy has become increasingly important in the treatment of several malignancies. This trend holds true in the treatment of the gynecologic malignancies. In this review we examine the evolving role of combined modality therapy in the treatment of patients with cervical, vulvar, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Definitive combined chemoradiation has become the new standard of care for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Combined chemoradiation provides for improvements in many clinical endpoints, including overall and disease-free survival. Chemoradiation has been used with some success in the treatment of patients with locally advanced vulvar carcinoma and has allowed some patients to avoid disfiguring surgery. Combined chemoradiation is being used in the treatment of patients with endometrial cancer who are found to be at high risk of recurrence after hysterectomy. In the setting of ovarian cancer, abdominopelvic radiation, either with or without chemotherapy, has shown some promise in the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease after resection. Combined modality therapy has played an increasingly important role in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies and its role continues to evolve and expand.