Retrospective study of the efficacy and safety of docetaxel/carboplatin combination therapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract

Optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for nonsquamous cervical carcinoma has not yet been established. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel/carboplatin (DC) for early-stage nonsquamous cell cervical carcinoma after radical hysterectomy (RH). We evaluated 157 patients with stage IB-IIB nonsquamous cervical carcinoma with intermediate risk and high risk treated at our institution with DC after type IIor III RH from 2007 to 2021. Patients received docetaxel (60-70mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve 5-6) every 3weeks for six cycles. The primary endpoint was 2year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and the secondary endpoint was adverse events (AEs). There were 106 intermediate-risk and 51 high-risk patients. The high-risk patients included 11 with positive parametrial involvement, 20 with pelvic lymph node metastases, and 20 with both parametrial involvement and pelvic lymph node metastases. The 2year RFS rates for intermediate-risk, high-risk, and positive pelvic lymph nodes were 94.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87.9-97.8), 80.1% (95% CI, 64.1-89.5), and 74.5% (95% CI, 55.4-86.4), respectively. Sixteen patients had recurrence, including local recurrence (n = 6), distant metastasis (n = 9), and local and distant metastasis (n = 1). Hematologic toxicity was the most frequent AE, especially leukopenia and neutropenia. Nausea and constipation were the most frequent nonhematologic toxicities. DC therapy at our institution showed good 2year RFS, and postoperative adjuvant therapy with DC therapy is suggested as a useful strategy for patients with nonsquamous cervical carcinoma.