Complete remission after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in a stage IV vulvar cancer patient

Surgery is the standard in the management of vulvar cancer. Several studies assessed the feasibility of radiochemotherapy as definitive therapy and/or neoadjuvant procedure in order to limit the extent of surgery. Combined radiochemotherapy is associated with considerable toxicity. The authors report on a modified neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy schedule which is isoeffective to the GOG (Gynecologic Oncology Group) protocol, but associated with less therapy-related toxicity.

A 36-year-old woman with stage IV vulvar cancer and long-distance rectal infiltration is reported. Laparoscopic pretherapeutic staging confirmed pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases.

The patient received a neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. After complete remission, a simple vulvectomy carried out 3 months later showed no evidence of tumor. Up to now, there is no evidence of tumor progression or recurrence.

Preoperative conventionally fractionated simultaneous radiochemotherapy seems to be a feasible and safe treatment option for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer in order to avoid exenterative surgery.