Cervical cancer therapy: current, future and anti-angiogensis targeted treatment

While the incidence of cervical cancer has declined significantly in the USA, ethnic disparities remain in terms of increased mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, this disease continues to be a significant burden on developing countries, with cervical cancer currently ranked as the second most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and the third most common cause of mortality worldwide. Treatment of cervical cancer has typically been viewed as surgical with possible adjuvant therapy versus initial radiotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. Prognosis and therapy for patients with recurrent disease is dependent upon the site of recurrence and ability to pursue curative therapy. This article will review the management of cervical cancer, including studies that have evaluated the treatment of distant metastasis or recurrent disease, as well as discussing the importance of angiogenesis and the use of therapies targeted against this phenomenon.