cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum II based combination chemotherapy for the control of extensive paraaortic lymph node...

A prospective study was carried out in nine consecutive patients with extensive paraaortic lymph node metastasis from locally advanced cervical cancer. Patients were treated with pelvic radiation and weekly cis-platinum during radiation followed by cis-platinum based combination chemotherapy given on a monthly basis. Three weeks after completion of pelvic radiation and weekly cis-platinum, and prior to monthly combination chemotherapy, pelvic examination confirmed a 100% local response rate: 78% complete and 32% partial response. All patients have been followed for greater than or equal to 1 year or until death and only 22% (2) are alive NED while 56% (5) are dead of cervical cancer and 22% (2) are alive with cervical cancer. Although there was a significant response to local pelvic tumor by pelvic radiation and weekly cis-platinum, it is concluded that this protocol would not result in a significant increase in 5-year survival for patients with extensive paraaortic lymph node metastasis, because of the inability to control disease outside of the radiated area.