Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on patients with primary vaginal squamous cell carcinoma

Vaginal cancer is a rare gynecological malignancy, mainly treated by radiotherapy and surgery. However, the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on patients with vaginal cancer has not been extensively evaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of irinotecan and cisplatin in the management of patients with vaginal squamous cell cancer (SCC). Two patients with International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) stage I and one patient with FIGO stage II vaginal SCC were treated with irinotecan (240 mg) and cisplatin (100 mg) every 3-4 weeks. The effect of chemotherapy after 2-4 courses was assessed and the next step of treatment was determined according to the outcome. In the present study, all 3 patients had complete remission after 2-4 courses of chemotherapy. In case 1, the patient received a total of 6 courses of chemotherapy and had no recurrence after 45 months of follow-up. In case 2, the patient received 4 courses of chemotherapy and partial vaginal resection, and had no recurrence after 48 months of follow-up. In case 3, the patient underwent laparoscopic radical surgery and peritoneal vaginoplasty after 2 courses of chemotherapy, and no residual tumors were identified in the resected tissues on postoperative pathological examination. Effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy may decrease the size of the tumor, induce tumor regression, or even achieve pathologically-confirmed complete tumor eradication. Thus, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan combined with cisplatin is a feasible treatment for patients with early-stage vaginal SCC. In the present study, all the patients achieved good therapeutic results following chemotherapy.