Neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin followed by radical surgery in (bulky) squamous cell carcinoma of cervix stage IB2

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with cervical carcinoma stage IB2. Patients and methods Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologic diagnosis of squamous cell cervical carcinoma staged as IB2 were treated with 2 cycles of cisplatin (70 mg/m 2 on day 1) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8), given every 21 days. After chemotherapy, patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Patients judged to have a non-resectable disease were treated with standard pelvic radiation. Results Between September 2000 to March 2004, 28 patients were enrolled in the study, of which 27 were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity. The mean age was 39 years (30–55). The overall clinical response rate was 88.9% (24/27), with complete response (CR) in 9/27 patients (33.3%) and partial response in 15/27 patients (55.5%). Three patients (11.1%) did not respond and nobody progressed. A pathological CR was noted in 2 of 24 patients who underwent radical surgery. The 3 non-responding patients were subsequently treated with radiation and achieved CR. Grades 3 or 4 neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia was observed in 18.5%, 7.4%, and 3.7% patients respectively. Non-hematological toxicity was mild except grade 3 nausea/vomiting in 18.5% patients. At median follow-up time of 36.7 months (range 7–51 months), the 3-year survival was 88.9%. Conclusion Neoadjuvant treatment with gemcitabine/cisplatin combination for patients with cervical cancer (stage IB2) appears encouraging, with manageable and acceptable toxicity profile.