Will the carboplatin-paclitaxel-bevacizumab combination become the preferred option as the first line in advanced cervical cancer? A small experience from a single oncologic Center

Abstract

Background: Despite the widespread introduction of screening programs, cervical cancer remains an important health problem, particularly in developing countries. Treatment options for patients with metastatic cancer and persistent or recurrent disease after curative therapy are limited and represent an unmet medical need. Patients and
 Methods: We report three clinical cases of metastatic cervical cancer in women treated with the combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab. We also discuss current and future therapy for metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer, including ongoing investigations into the addition of bevacizumab to carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and the role of bevacizumab as maintenance therapy.
 Results and Conclusion: All three women received clinical benefit from the combination, including one complete and two partial responses. The tolerability of bevacizumab was excellent. Carboplatin/paclitaxel appears to be an acceptable and better tolerated alternative to cisplatin/paclitaxel in advanced or recurrent/persistent disease, and the carboplatin/paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination is under investigation for metastatic, recurrent or persistent cervical cancer in clinical trials such as the CECILIA trial (NCT02467907); the awaited results will add to the evidence for the use of this combination chemotherapy regimen in advanced cervical cancer.