Chemotherapy as initial treatment for cervical carcinoma: clinical and tumor marker response

Chemotherapy was given as initial therapy to 23 patients with previously untreated early and advanced cervical carcinoma. A combination of cisplatin and VP-16 was given in squamous cell carcinoma, and cisplatin, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide in adenocarcinoma in one to three courses at 4-week intervals. The overall clinical response rate to initial chemotherapy was 78% (80% in early and 78% in advanced disease). A complete response was achieved in 3 (13%) and a partial response in 15 (65%) patients. To obtain independent information on treatment response serial tumor marker determinations were used in patients with elevated pretreatment levels. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) responded to chemotherapy by decreasing levels in 91% of the cases, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 33%, CA 125 in 83%, and tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) in 50%, respectively. These results show that cervical carcinoma is a drug-responsive tumor and that SCC and CA 125 can be used as an aid in the evaluation of response to chemotherapy. Initial chemotherapy appears be of value by reducing tumor volume thus providing better conditions for surgery and radiotherapy.