Sustained complete remission with taxane-based chemotherapy in stage IVB primary vaginal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2(2) Second Quarter 2009 hemoncstem.edmgr.com 362 Primary vaginal cancer is a rare gynecological malignancy, constituting only 1% to 2% of all gynecological cancers.1 The majority of vaginal cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); other types include adenocarcinoma, melanomas and sarcomas. Most vaginal SCC are believed to develop from pre-cancerous vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. SCC usually involves the posterior wall of the upper-third of the vagina and may directly invade the bladder or rectum. It initially spreads superficially within the vaginal wall and later invades the paravaginal tissues. Distant metastases occur commonly to lungs and liver. Prognosis depends primarily on the stage of disease. Mardsen et al reported 5-year survival rate of stage I, II, III, IV disease as 69%, 48%, 33% and 18%, respectively.2 The survival rate of stage IVB vaginal cancer in particular, is not clearly documented, considering the rarity of the disease. We document a sustained complete remission with a taxane-based chemotherapy in stage IVB primary vaginal SCC.