Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, ifosfamide and paclitaxel for locally advanced squamous-cell cervical cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of bulky and locally-advanced cervical cancer. Cisplatin and ifosfamide are known to be effective in cervical cancer, while paclitaxel is one of the promising new drugs for the treatment of this neoplasm.

To assess the toxic effects and antitumor activity of a multidrug neoadjuvant regimen consisting of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and paclitaxel in bulky and locally advanced cervical cancer.

Thirty-eight patients with pathology-confirmed squamous-cell cervical cancer (27 IB2-IIA, two IIB, eight IIIB, one IVA) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Their treatment consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 given over three hours on day 1, cisplatin 50 mg/m2 (75 mg/m2 in 10 patients), ifosfamide 5 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion and mesna 5 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion on day 2, and mesna 3 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion on day 3. The course was repeated every three weeks for three courses and all of the patients, except those with disease progression or who were inoperable, were scheduled for radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

All patients are evaluable for response. Eleven achieved clinical complete responses, 21 had partial responses, five had stable disease and one had progression of disease. Of 34 patients who underwent surgery, six (16%) had pathology-documented complete responses, seven (18%) had partial responses with only microscopic residual disease in the cervix, 19 had sub-optimal partial responses, and two had stable disease, for an overall response rate of 84% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 68.7%-94%). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was recorded for 27 (71%) patients, grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia for four (10.5%), and grade 2 peripheral neuropathy for two (2.5%). At a median follow-up of 16 months (range 7-22), 29 (76%) women are alive without recurrence, seven are alive with persistent/recurrent disease and two have died of their disease.

According to pathology examination, this regimen yields a 34% complete and optimal partial response rate with acceptable toxicity, and it should be prospectively compared to other regimens.