Treatment of (“bulky”) stage IB cervical cancer with or without neoadjuvant vincristine and cisplatin prior to radical hysterectomy and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy: A phase III trial of the gynecologic oncology group

The Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery in Cervical Cancer

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in "bulky" and locally advanced cervical cancer has been of interest for the last 25 years, and in many countries, NAC has become the standard of care. In the present paper, we review our 10 years' experience with high-dose-density NAC in cervical cancer management in 141 women (CervNAC I protocol). High-dose-density neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery has resulted in high clinical response rates and seems to be feasible in the management of stage IB bulky cervical cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduces tumor volume and positivity of lymph nodes and thus minimizes the need for postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Tumor size reduction and node negativity allows less radical surgical procedures such as modified radical hysterectomy or nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy. Early and especially late toxicity of our high-dose density chemotherapy is acceptable. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery represents a valid alternative to primary chemoradiotherapy in young and sexually active patients. Five-year survival in patients who underwent surgery in our study was 80.6%.

Currently, 3 papers with 3 approaches have been published on NAC before fertility-sparing surgery. One of the limitations of fertility-preserving surgery is deep stromal invasion and tumors larger than 2 cm. The idea underlying NAC is to reduce the size of the cervical tumor to preserve fertility. In the present paper, we also review our experience with high-dose-density NAC in fertility-sparing surgery in 15 women (LAP3-NAC protocol).

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy plus postoperative chemotherapy but no radiotherapy for Stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer--irinotecan and platinum chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical hysterectomy plus postoperative chemotherapy but no radiotherapy for stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer.

METHODS

Forty-six consecutive patients with stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer were treated with NAC followed by radical hysterectomy plus postoperative chemotherapy. Median (range) body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 20.2 (16.2-26.4). Regimens for NAC and postoperative chemotherapy were irinotecan and cisplatin (CPT-11/CDDP) or CPT-11 and nedaplatin (CPT-11/NDP). A total of six cycles of NAC and postoperative chemotherapy were prescribed. No use of radiotherapy was scheduled, except in the case of a recurrence.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up period for survivors of 38.8 months (range 24-54 months), the 2- and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 91.2% and 86.1%, respectively. Overall response rate of NAC was 80.4%. Recurrence was observed in seven patients. In the absence of radiotherapy, pelvic recurrence was observed in only three patients; another two had para-aortic lymph nodes and the remaining two distant metastases. Toxicities due to chemotherapy were generally tolerable. Postoperative complications included urinary fistula (four patients, 8.7%) and bowel obstruction (two patients, 4.3%), all of which required surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that NAC followed by surgery plus postoperative chemotherapy but no radiotherapy offers a viable option in the treatment of stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer. Although a relatively large incidence of postsurgical complications was observed among low-BMI patients, this treatment offers the advantage of minimizing radiation-induced morbidity, allowing radiotherapy to be reserved for the possible event of pelvic recurrence.

Pulmonary toxicity after a quick course of combinatorial vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer

Pulmonary toxicity is one of the most serious adverse effects associated with a quick course of vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC-VBP). The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary toxicity related to a quick course NAC-VBP. A total of consecutive 61 patients, who underwent at most 3 cycles of NAC-VBP every 10 days in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB-IIB cervical cancer from 1995 to 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 61 study subjects, 7 (11.5%) were identified to have pulmonary toxicity and 2 (3.3%) died of pulmonary fibrosis progression despite aggressive treatment and the use of a multidisciplinary approach. No factor predisposing pulmonary toxicity was identified. Initial symptoms were non-specific, but bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis were characteristic findings by high-resolution computed tomography of the chest. The benefit of steroid therapy was uncertain and was associated with steroid-induced diabetes mellitus requiring insulin therapy in two patients. Fatal pulmonary toxicity is a major concern of a quick course NAC-VBP. In conclusion, these patients require special monitoring for bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery versus surgery for cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

A prior systematic review found that giving neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery improved survival compared with radiotherapy. However, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery versus surgery alone is still unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with early or locally advanced cervical cancer.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), (Issue 2, 2009), MEDLINE (to March 2009), LILACS (to March 2009), Physician's Data Query (PDQ) (to March 2009). Both published and unpublished trials were sought and systematic searches of a number of trial sources were undertaken with no restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with surgery in women with early or locally advanced cervical cancer who had not undergone any prior treatment likely to interfere with the treatment comparison. Trials giving radical radiotherapy for inoperable tumours and/or post-operative radiotherapy were also eligible. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), local and distant recurrence, rates of resection and surgical morbidity.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data were extracted from trial reports and independently checked by two review authors. Depending on the type of outcome, trial hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were obtained or estimated from trial reports or sought from trial investigators.

MAIN RESULTS

Six trials (1072 women) were identified for inclusion in the review. Although data on PFS was available for all six trials (1036 women), data on overall survival, resection rates and pathological response were only available for five trials (909 to 938 women) and data on recurrence were only available for three trials (604 women). Whilst PFS was significantly improved with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.94, p = 0.01), no OS benefit was observed (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.67 to 1.07, p = 0.17). Furthermore, estimates for both local (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.49 to 1.17, p = 0.21) and distant (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.41 to 1.13, p = 0.13) recurrence and rates of resection (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 0.96 to 2.50, p = 0.07) only tended to be in favour of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and heterogeneity was observed. Exploratory analyses of pathological response showed a significant decrease in adverse pathological findings with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.73, p = < 0.0001 for lymph node status; OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.82, p = 0.002 for parametrial infiltration) which despite a high level of heterogeneity was still significant when the random effects model was used. There was also no difference in the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to total cisplatin dose, chemotherapy cycle length or by cervical cancer stage.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Despite outcomes tending to be in favour of neoadjuvant chemotherapy few, including overall survival, were significant. Therefore, it remains unclear whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy consistently offers a benefit over surgery alone for women with early-stage or locally advanced cervical cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in bulky stage IB-IIA cervical cancer: results of a quick course with vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin

We retrospectively analyzed 51 consecutive patients with bulky International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IIA cervical cancer who were treated with vincristine (1 mg/m), bleomycin (25 mg/m; days 1-3), and cisplatin (50 mg/m) every 10 days between 1995 and 2005 to assess the efficacy and the safety of a quick course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A clinical response occurred in 37 patients (72.5%), including 7 patients (13.7%) with a complete response and 30 patients (58.8%) with a partial response; 13 patients (25.5%) had a stable disease, and 1 patient (2.0%) had a progressive disease. Among the 50 patients who were surgically explored, 42 patients had a radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy; radical surgery was aborted in 8 patients because of paracervical and para-aortic lymph node involvement. Hematologic toxicity was the most common adverse event with anemia occurring most frequently, followed by leukopenia. Importantly, pulmonary toxicity occurred in 7 patients, 2 of whom died of complications from pulmonary fibrosis 1 and 3 months after radical surgery. With a median follow-up of 53 months (range, 2-129 months), the estimated 2- and 5-year survival rates were 74.9% and 61.3%, respectively. In conclusion, the survival benefit of a quick course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin may be uncertain despite the significant clinical response in bulky International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2-IIA cervical cancer. Special care is required to monitor bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Comparative study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical hysterectomy and radical surgery alone in stage IB2-IIA bulky cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus platinum followed by radical hysterectomy with radical surgery alone in patients with stage IB2-IIA bulky cervical cancer.

METHODS

From November 1999 to September 2007, stage IB2-IIA cervical cancers with tumor diameter >4 cm, as measured by MRI, were managed with two cycles of preoperative paclitaxel and platinum. As a control group, we selected 35 patients treated with radical surgery alone.

RESULTS

There were no significant between group differences in age, tumor size, FIGO stage, level of SCC Ag, histopathologic type and grade. Operating time, estimated blood loss, the number of lymph nodes yielded and the rate of complications were similar in the two groups. In surgical specimens, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), nodal metastasis and parametrial involvement did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the neoadjuvant group, pathologic tumor size was significantly smaller and fewer patients had deep cervical invasion. Radiotherapy, alone and in the form of concurrent chemoradiation, was administered to more patients treated with radical surgery alone (82.9% vs. 52.9%, p=0.006). No recurrence was observed in patients who could avoid adjuvant radiotherapy owing to improved risk factors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There were no significant differences in 5-year disease free and overall survival.

CONCLUSION

As neoadjuvant chemotherapy would improve pathologic prognostic factors, adjuvant radiotherapy can be avoided, without worsening the prognosis, in patients with locally advanced bulky cervical cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy would be improving the quality of life after radical hysterectomy in patients with bulky cervical cancer.

Concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2 cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of primary chemoradiation for stage IB(2) cervical carcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study of patients treated with primary chemoradiation at selected hospitals in Cleveland, OH, from 1992 to 2006 was performed. Patients with regional or distant metastasis on pretreatment imaging were excluded. Patients received pelvic teletherapy with weekly concurrent cisplatin and high- or low-dose-rate brachytherapy.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients with a median age of 51 years were identified. The majority of patients were white (81.6%) and had squamous cell carcinomas (81.6%) and a median tumor diameter of 5 cm (range, 4.1-10 cm). The median duration of follow-up was 41 months. Progression of disease was observed in 10 (20.4%) patients. The local control rate was 86%. At 36 months, the progression-free survival (PFS) was 79% and the overall survival (OS) was 86%.

CONCLUSION

Primary chemoradiation has a high clinical response rate, PFS, and OS for women with stage IB(2) cervical cancer.

Treatment options in bulky stage IB cervical carcinoma

Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in the developing countries. Treatments of bulky stage IB cervical cancer have been challenged as the local control is relatively poor compared to smaller stage I disease, whether treated by radical surgery or irradiation. The treatment options are definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy or radical surgery with or without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. The treatment decision is based on the patients' status and preferences, tumor characteristics, and experiences of clinician. This study will review and compare the treatment modalities and rationales of a combination of treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for bulky stage IB cervical carcinoma.