Advanced cervical cancer therapy: concurrent radiation therapy and cisplatin chemotherapy for advanced cervical...

It is estimated that in 1988 there will be 12,900 cancers of the uterine cervix, representing 2.6% of cancers in women. Radiation therapy has been the primary mode of therapy/palliation; for the past 15-20 years survival results achieved with radiotherapy have plateaued. Attempts have been made to find agents to use with radiation aimed at decreasing recurrence and increasing survival. Phase II studies suggest cisplatin may be an excellent agent to combine with radiotherapy. This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of this combination. Between December 10, 1980, and August 29, 1986, nine patients with advanced cervical cancer and poor prognosis and one patient with recurrent disease were enrolled. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) criteria for adverse effects were used in this study. Hematologic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skin parameters were examined. Most adverse criteria had a score of 2 or less. Grade 2 nausea/vomiting was the most frequent problem. Anemia was the next most frequent and was the most serious problem encountered. Overall, the toxicity was acceptable; therefore it seems appropriate to proceed to larger studies to evaluate efficacy.