Chemosensitivity testing with CIS-platinum (2) diamminedichloride in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri

The prophylactic Papanicolaou Test contributes in diagnosing dysplasias and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix with a realistic 100% cure. Surgery and radiotherapy improved considerably quantity and quality of life in stages 1 and 2 lesions. However, stages 3 and 4 have shown little improvement in results. Systemic treatment with chemotherapy offers hope for control. Most of the drugs are ineffective against squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Experimental and clinical trials with CIS-platinum (2) diamminedichloride (DDP) show effectiveness against cervical carcinoma. In an effort to individualize the treatment, a chemosensitivity testing (CST) is applied analogous to the radiosensitivity testing (RST). Basically, a control biopsy and posttest dose of DDP biopsies are studied to evaluate the response using objective morphological criteria. This safe, relatively simple, clinically applicable approach offers an objective dimension in selecting the patients and in monitoring the treatment. An important observation that gives this study an original authenticity is the fact that radiation and chemotherapy affects the cells in an identical way. This similar morphological reaction most probably means an analogous biological expression of cellular injury and necrosis of the neoplastic cells.