Comparison of effectiveness between intra-arterial and intra-venous neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage Ib2-IIb cervical carcinoma

Abstract

To compare the effect between intra-arterial and intra-venous neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in stage Ib2-IIb cervical carcinoma. A retrospective analysis was done on 52 cases of intra-venous NACT and 95 cases of intra-arterial NACT for stage Ib2-IIb cervical carcinoma treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1999. The response rate of intra-venous NACT and intra-arterial NACT was 88% (46/52) and 79% (75/95), and the operative rate after NACT was 81% (42/52) and 72% (68/95) respectively (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in surgery time, blood loss and post-operative morbidity between these two groups. Pathological parametrial positive rate after NACT in arterial group (6%) was significantly lower than that of venous group (50%, P > 0.05). The venous group had very similar recurrence rates (13% vs 17%) and death rates (9% vs 12%) when compared with the arterial group (P > 0.05). The intra-arterial and intra-venous NACT for stage Ib2-IIb cervical carcinoma show similar response rate, operative rate and surgical difficulties. Arterial NACT shows a better effect on parametrial infiltration.