Correlation Among Six Biologic Factors (p53, p21WAF1, MIB-1, EGFR, HER2, and Bcl-2) and Clinical Outcomes After Curative Chemoradiation Therapy in Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer

Prevalence of HER2 overexpression and amplification in cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The reported rates of HER2 positivity in cervical cancer (CC) range from 0% to 87%. The importance of HER2 as an actionable target in CC would depend on HER2 positivity prevalence. Our aim was to provide precise estimates of HER2 overexpression and amplification in CC, globally and by relevant subgroups. We conducted a PRISMA compliant meta-analytic systematic review. We searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane database, and grey literature for articles reporting the proportion of HER2 positivity in CC. Studies assessing HER2 status by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization in invasive disease were eligible. We performed descriptive analyses of all 65 included studies. Out of these, we selected 26 studies that used standardized American Society of Clinical Oncology / College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) Guidelines compliant methodology. We conducted several meta-analyses of proportions to estimate the pooled prevalence of HER2 positivity and subgroup analyses using geographic region, histology, tumor stage, primary antibody brand, study size, and publication year as moderators. The estimated pooled prevalence of HER2 overexpression was 5.7% (CI 95%: 1.5% to 11.7%) I2 = 87% in ASCO/CAP compliant studies and 27.0%, (CI 95%: 19.9% to 34.8%) I2 = 96% in ASCO/CAP non-compliant ones, p < 0.001. The estimated pooled prevalence of HER2 amplification was 1.2% (CI 95%: 0.0% to 5.8%) I2 = 0% and 24.9% (CI 95%: 12.6% to 39.6%) I2 = 86%, respectively, p = 0.004. No other factor was significantly associated with HER2 positivity rates. Our results suggest that a small, but still meaningful proportion of CC is expected to be HER2-positive. High heterogeneity was the main limitation of the study. Variations in previously reported HER2 positivity rates are mainly related to methodological issues.

Exploiting somatic alterations as therapeutic targets in advanced and metastatic cervical cancer

It is estimated that 604,127 patients were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide in 2020. While a small percentage of patients will have metastatic disease at diagnosis, a large percentage (15-61%) later develop advanced disease. For this cohort, treatment with systemic chemotherapy remains the standard of care, with a static 5-year survival rate over the last thirty years. Data on targetable molecular alterations in cervical cancer have lagged behind other more common tumor types thus stunting the development of targeted agents. In recent years, tumor genomic testing has been increasingly incorporated into our clinical practice, opening the door for a potential new era of personalized treatment for advanced cervical cancer. The interim results from the NCI-MATCH study reported an actionability rate of 28.4% for the cervical cancer cohort, suggesting a subset of patients may harbor mutations which that are targetable. This review sets out to summarize the key targeted agents currently under exploration either alone or in combination with existing treatments for cervical cancer.

A Comprehensive Understanding of the Anticancer Mechanisms of FDY2004 Against Cervical Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology

Herbal drugs are continuously being developed and used as effective therapeutics for various cancers, such as cervical cancer (CC); however, their mechanisms of action at a systemic level have not been explored fully. To study such mechanisms, we conducted a network pharmacological investigation of the anti-CC mechanisms of FDY2004, an herbal drug consisting of Moutan Radicis Cortex, Persicae Semen , and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. We found that FDY2004 inhibited the viability of human CC cells. By performing pharmacokinetic evaluation and network analysis of the phytochemical components of FDY2004, we identified 29 bioactive components and their 116 CC-associated pharmacological targets. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that the modulation of cellular functions, such as apoptosis, growth, proliferation, and survival, might be mediated through the FDY2004 targets. The therapeutic targets were also key components of CC-associated oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways, including PI3K-Akt, human papillomavirus infection, IL-17, MAPK, TNF, focal adhesion, and viral carcinogenesis pathways. In conclusion, our data present a comprehensive insight for the mechanisms of the anti-CC properties of FDY2004.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of therapeutic targets in cervical cancer

Cervical Cancer (CC) is a significantly prevalent disease in developing countries. Currently, targeted therapies are not a primary standard of care in CC. This information could be crucial for developing directed therapies and patient screening for biomarkers that would allow personalised treatment of CC. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of potential therapeutic targets such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MAPK pathways in patients with CC, identified through genomic and non-genomic testing. Studies were identified through an ad-hoc search strategy from the available on MEDLINE (Ovid), CENTRAL, LILACS, SCOPUS, through the Clinical Trial registry on Clinicaltrials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, RENIS (Argentine National Registry of Health Research) and grey literature sources. We included 74 studies which represented a total pool of 7,862 participants. Forty-five studies informed mutations of EGFR, with a combined positivity rate of 53% (95%CI: 45%-60%; I2 = 95%). Twenty studies informed the presence of mutations in PIK3CA with a combined positivity rate of 30% (95%CI: 21%-39%; I2 = 96%). Twenty-three studies reported a mutation in Ras, with a combined positivity rate of 14% (95%CI: 8%-21%; I2 = 95%). Raf mutations were informed in six studies. Six studies informed the presence of Akt mutations, two studies informed mTOR mutations and only one study reported mutations of MAPK. The most frequently described therapeutic targets were EGFR, and the PIK3CA and Ras pathways, though inconsistency in positivity rates was significant. Our study did not allow the identification of any specific clinical characteristics that might explain the observed heterogeneity. Despite the overall good quality of the included studies, the applicability of these results to patients' general population with CC is still unclear.

Novel Therapeutics for Recurrent Cervical Cancer: Moving Towards Personalized Therapy

While screening programs and HPV vaccination have decreased the incidence of cervical cancer, still over 13,000 cases occur in the USA annually. Early-stage cervical cancer has an excellent long-term prognosis, with 5-year survival for localized disease being > 90%. Survival decreases markedly for both locally advanced and metastatic disease, and both are associated with a higher risk of recurrence. Few effective treatment options exist for persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. In 2014, the anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab was approved in combination with chemotherapy based on the results of the Phase III GOG-240 study. As the majority of cervical cancers have a viral etiology, which impairs the immune system, immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors and other agents, appears to be a promising approach. In June 2018, the US FDA approved the anti-PD1 antibody pembrolizumab for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with PD-L1 expression that progressed after one or more lines of chemotherapy. Another anti-PD1 antibody, cemiplimab also shows potential in this setting, either as monotherapy or combined with radiotherapy, and it is currently being evaluated in a Phase III trial. Additional checkpoint inhibitors including nivolumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, and camrelizumab are in different stages of clinical development for the disease. Finally, an additional targeted approach being pursued involves PARP inhibitors (rucaparib and olaparib are both in Phase II) based on earlier study results.

Ataxin-1 is involved in tumorigenesis of cervical cancer cells via the EGFR-RAS-MAPK signaling pathway

Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) is a coregulator protein within which expansion of the polyglutamine tract causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. Previously, we reported that ATXN1 regulates the epithelial–mesenchymal transition of cervical cancer cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that ATXN1 is involved in cervical cancer tumorigenesis by promoting the proliferation of human cervical cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that ATXN1 bound to the promoter region within cyclin D1 and activated cyclin D1 transcription, resulting in cell proliferation. ATXN1 promoted cyclin D1 expression through the EGFR–RAS–MAPK signaling pathway. Mouse xenograft tumorigenicity assays showed that ATXN1 downregulation inhibited tumorigenesis in cervical cancer cell lines in nude mice. Human cervical cancer tissue microarrays and immunohistochemical techniques showed that ATXN1 was significantly upregulated in many such tissues. Our results suggest that ATXN1 plays an important role in cervical cancer tumorigenesis and is a prognostic marker for cervical cancer.

Glut-1 expression in small cervical biopsies is prognostic in cervical cancers treated with chemoradiation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Chemoradiation (CRT) is standard therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). However, there is a lack of biomarkers to identify patients at high relapse-risk. We examine metabolic (glucose transporter-1 [Glut-1]), hypoxic (hypoxia inducible factor [HIF-1α]; carbonic anhydrase [CA-9]) and proliferative (Ki-67) markers for prognostic utility in LACC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

60 LACC patients treated with CRT had pre-treatment biopsies. Immunohistochemistry was performed for Glut-1, HIF-1a and CA-9, to generate a histoscore from intensity and percentage staining; and Ki-67 scored by percentage of positive cells. For each biomarker, treatment response and survival was compared between low and high-staining groups by logrank testing and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

High Glut-1 expression was associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS), (hazard ratio [HR] 2.8, p = 0.049) and overall survival (OS), (HR 5.0, p = 0.011) on multifactor analysis adjusting for stage, node positivity, tumour volume and uterine corpus invasion. High Glut-1 correlated with increased risk of distant failure (HR 14.6, p = 0.001) but not local failure. Low Glut-1 was associated with higher complete metabolic response rate on post-therapy positron emission tomography scan (odds ratio 3.4, p = 0.048). Ki-67 was significantly associated with PFS only (HR 1.19 per 10 units increase, p = 0.033). Biomarkers for hypoxia were not associated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

High Glut-1 in LACC is associated with poor outcome post CRT. If prospectively validated, Glut-1 may help select patients for more intensive treatment regimens.

Prognostic Impact of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Overexpression in Patients with Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Clinical trials have provided conflicting results regarding whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression predicts poor survival in cervical cancer patients. In this study, we perform a meta-analysis of the association between EGFR expression and survival in cervical cancer patients. We searched clinical studies in the Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. A total of 22 studies with 2,505 patients were included, and pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each study. Heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins I² to select a Mantel-Haenszel fixed effects model (I² ≤50%) or a DerSimonian-Laird random effects model (I² ≥50%). High EGFR levels predicted poor overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10–1.78) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.51–2.24). Stratified analyses showed that EGFR overexpression was significantly related to poor DFS in patients treated with chemoradiation or surgery. Moreover, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) revealed associations between EGFR expression and clinicopathological features, such as lymph node metastasis (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.23–2.40) and tumor size ≥4 cm (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.20–2.23). This meta-analysis demonstrates that EGFR overexpression is closely associated with reduced survival in patients with cervical cancer. These results may facilitate the individualized management of clinical decisions for anti-EGFR therapies in cervical cancer patients.

Influential Factors and Synergies for Radiation-Gene Therapy on Cancer

Radiation-gene therapy, a dual anticancer strategy of radiation therapy and gene therapy through connecting radiation-inducible regulatory sequence to therapeutic gene, leading to the gene being induced to express by radiation while radiotherapy is performed and finally resulting in a double synergistic antitumor effect of radiation and gene, has become one of hotspots in the field of cancer treatment in recent years. But under routine dose of radiation, especially in the hypoxia environment of solid tumor, it is difficult for this therapy to achieve desired effect because of low activity of radiation-inducible regulatory elements, low level and transient expression of target gene induced by radiation, inferior target specificity and poor biosecurity, and so on. Based on the problems existing in radiation-gene therapy, many efforts have been devoted to the curative effect improvement of radiation-gene therapy by various means to increase radiation sensitivity or enhance target gene expression and the expression's controllability. Among these synergistic techniques, gene circuit, hypoxic sensitization, and optimization of radiation-induced sequence exhibit a good application potential. This review provides the main influential factors to radiation-gene therapy on cancer and the synergistic techniques to improve the anticancer effect of radiation-gene therapy.

Nuclear Y-box-binding protein-1 is a poor prognostic marker and related to epidermal growth factor receptor in uterine cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is a member of the cold shock protein family and functions in transcription and translation. Many studies indicate that YB-1 is strongly expressed in tumor cells and is considered a marker of tumor aggressiveness and clinical prognosis. Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been associated with poor outcomes in cervical cancer. Clinical trials of EGFR family-base therapy are currently being initiated in cervical cancer. Nuclear YB-1 expression correlates with EGFR expression in various types of cancer. However, the clinical significance of nuclear YB-1 expression in different settings, the correlation with EGFR, and the prognostic implications of YB-1 expression in cervical cancer remain elusive.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nuclear YB-1 expression was immunohistochemically analyzed in tissue specimens obtained from 204 patients with cervical cancer who underwent surgery. Associations of nuclear YB-1 expression with clinicopathological factors such as survival, EGFR expression, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression were investigated.

RESULTS

Nuclear YB-1 expression was found in 41 (20.2%) of 204 cases of cervical cancer and correlated with disease stage, tumor diameter, stromal invasion, and lymph-node metastasis. Nuclear YB-1 expression also correlated with EGFR expression (P=0.0114) as well as HER2 expression (P=0.0053). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that nuclear YB-1 expression was significantly associated with poor progression-free survival (P=0.0033) and overall survival (P=0.0003), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Nuclear YB-1 expression is a prognostic marker and correlates with EGFR expression in cervical cancer.

Gene amplification and immunohistochemical expression of ERBB2 and EGFR in cervical carcinogenesis. Correlation with cell-cycle markers and HPV presence

Although the members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family ERBB2 and EGFR are important therapeutic targets in the treatment of malignant neoplasias, little is known about their role in cervical carcinogenesis. Our objective was to evaluate the dysfunction of ERBB2 and EGFR at the gene copy number and protein expression level in neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix with the aim of obtaining information about its role in cervical carcinogenesis and their possible use as therapeutic targets in these diseases. We studied gene amplification and protein expression of ERBB2 and EGFR and their relationship with Ki67, p16 and p53 and HPV presence in 22 normal/benign (N/B) cervices, 20 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), 70 high-grade SILs (HSILs) and 32 invasive squamous cervical carcinomas (ISCCs). No cases showed selective amplification of ERBB2 or EGFR but corresponding chromosome-specific probes displayed chromosome 17 and 7 polyploidy associated with the grade of the lesion (p<0.0001 and p=0.004, respectively) and with the positive expression of Ki67 and p16 (p<0.01). Concurrent polyploidy for both chromosomes was statistically related (p<0.0001). ERBB2 immunohistochemical expression was not observed in any of the study cases except for one ISCC but EGFR was associated with higher-grade lesions (N/B plus LSIL 21.4% vs. HSIL plus ISCC 45.5%; p=0.007). No association was observed between EGFR expression and that of cell-cycle markers or HPV presence. Increased copy number of EGFR and ERBB2 is due to polyploidy of 7 and 17 chromosomes, this being a phenomenon associated with lesion severity and with an increase in the expression of cell-cycle markers. EGFR, but not ERBB2, is expressed in precursor lesions of squamous cervical neoplasia and is related to the neoplastic progression but not to proliferation marker expression and therefore ERBB2 and this calls into question the usefulness of ERBB2 as a therapeutic target.

Tissue biomarkers as prognostic variables of cervical cancer

The most important prognostic variables of cervical carcinoma are FIGO stage, lymph node status and clinical-pathological features of primary tumor. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the identification of biomarkers able to predict both response to treatment and survival. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate current published evidence on the ability of various tissue biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome of patients with cervical carcinoma. In particular, the paper takes into account DNA content, cell-cycle and apoptosis-regulatory proteins, epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], cyclooxygenase [COX]-2, signal transducer and activator of transcription [Stat]3, human papilloma virus [HPV] status, tumor hypoxia, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes [TIL], microarray technology and microRNA (miRNA). The presence of HPV-18 genotype and an elevated VEGF expression appear to be poor prognostic factors in women with early disease treated with primary surgery, whereas the expression of EGFR, VEGF, COX-2 and tumor hypoxia may have a major impact on the survival of patients treated with definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiation. The data supporting the reliability of ΔNp73 and TAp73α as novel biomarkers of response to radiotherapy are interesting but still limited. DNA microarray technology could offer new laboratory tools for a rationale planning of treatment strategy, and miRNAs might represent new candidate targets to be investigated for both prognostic and therapeutic purposes. Moreover, the assessment of different types of TIL and their ligands in tumor biopsies could enable the identification of a subset of high-risk patients, paving the way to novel immune therapies aimed at blocking T-reg cell activity.

Prognostic significance of clusterin expression in advanced-stage cervical cancer treated with curative intended radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

Overexpression of clusterin (CLU), an antiapoptotic molecule, has been reported to induce resistance to radiotherapy (RT) in a variety of cancer cell types. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of CLU expression to predict survival of patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer who received curative intended RT.

METHODS

Biopsy tissue specimens of advanced-stage cervical cancer before curative intended RT were obtained from 34 patients who were treated at Hokkaido University Hospital between 1998 and 2008 and whose complete medical records were available. The expression of CLU protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Findings were evaluated in relation to several clinicopathological factors. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Clusterin protein was mainly present in the cytoplasm of cervical cancer cells. The expression of CLU protein in cervical cancer tissues before curative intended RT was not significantly related to any clinicopathological factors analyzed, including age, clinical stage, histologic type, and response to RT. Univariate analysis on prognostic factors showed that histologic type (P = 0.001), and CLU expression (P = 0.02) were related to survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that both histologic type (P = 0.002), and CLU expression (P = 0.02) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that CLU could be a new molecular marker to predict overall survival of patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer treated with curative intended RT.

Membranous expression of ectodomain isoforms of the epidermal growth factor receptor predicts outcome after chemoradiotherapy of lymph node-negative cervical cancer

PURPOSE

We compared the prognostic significance of ectodomain isoforms of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which lack the tyrosine kinase (TK) domain, with that of the full-length receptor and its autophosphorylation status in cervical cancers treated with conventional chemoradiotherapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Expression of EGFR isoforms was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a prospectively collected cohort of 178 patients with squamous cell cervical carcinoma, and their detection was confirmed with Western blotting and reverse transcriptase PCR. A proximity ligation immunohistochemistry assay was used to assess EGFR-specific autophosphorylation. Pathways associated with the expression of ectodomain isoforms were studied by gene expression analysis with Illumina beadarrays in 110 patients and validated in an independent cohort of 41 patients.

RESULTS

Membranous expression of ectodomain isoforms alone, without the coexpression of the full-length receptor, showed correlations to poor clinical outcome that were highly significant for lymph node-negative patients (locoregional control, P = 0.0002; progression-free survival, P < 0.0001; disease-specific survival, P = 0.005 in the log-rank test) and independent of clinical variables. The ectodomain isoforms were primarily 60-kD products of alternative EGFR transcripts. Their membranous expression correlated with transcriptional regulation of oncogenic pathways including activation of MYC and MAX, which was significantly associated with poor outcome. This aggressive phenotype of ectodomain EGFR expressing tumors was confirmed in the independent cohort. Neither total nor full-length EGFR protein level, or autophosphorylation status, showed prognostic significance.

CONCLUSION

Membranous expression of ectodomain EGFR isoforms, and not TK activation, predicts poor outcome after chemoradiotherapy for patients with lymph node-negative cervical cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor as a biomarker for cervical cancer

This review focuses on the different modes of expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). All methods used to assess EGFR expression are critically analyzed and insights into the use of inhibitors of EGFR for treatment of cervical cancer are discussed. Currently, expression of EGFR as a biomarker for prognosis or for treatment of cervical cancer is not defined for clinical use.

Intra-tumour genetic heterogeneity and poor chemoradiotherapy response in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Intra-tumour genetic heterogeneity has been reported in both leukaemias and solid tumours and is implicated in the development of drug resistance in CML and AML. The role of genetic heterogeneity in drug response in solid tumours is unknown.

METHODS

To investigate intra-tumour genetic heterogeneity and chemoradiation response in advanced cervical cancer, we analysed 10 cases treated on the CTCR-CE01 clinical study. Core biopsies for molecular profiling were taken from four quadrants of the cervix pre-treatment, and weeks 2 and 5 of treatment. Biopsies were scored for cellularity and profiled using Agilent 180k human whole genome CGH arrays. We compared genomic profiles from 69 cores from 10 patients to test for genetic heterogeneity and treatment effects at weeks 0, 2 and 5 of treatment.

RESULTS

Three patients had two or more distinct genetic subpopulations pre-treatment. Subpopulations within each tumour showed differential responses to chemoradiotherapy. In two cases, there was selection for a single intrinsically resistant subpopulation that persisted at detectable levels after 5 weeks of chemoradiotherapy. Phylogenetic analysis reconstructed the order in which genomic rearrangements occurred in the carcinogenesis of these tumours and confirmed gain of 3q and loss of 11q as early events in cervical cancer progression.

CONCLUSION

Selection effects from chemoradiotherapy cause dynamic changes in genetic subpopulations in advanced cervical cancers, which may explain disease persistence and subsequent relapse. Significant genetic heterogeneity in advanced cervical cancers may therefore be predictive of poor outcome.

Phase II, Open-Label Study of Pazopanib or Lapatinib Monotherapy Compared With Pazopanib Plus Lapatinib Combination Therapy in Patients With Advanced and Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Purpose

Pazopanib and lapatinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-Kit or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu), respectively. In cervical cancer, EGFR and HER2/neu overexpression and high microvascular density correlate with survival.

Patients and Methods

Patients with measurable stage IVB persistent/recurrent cervical carcinoma not amenable to curative therapy and at least one prior regimen in the metastatic setting were randomly assigned in a ratio of 1:1:1 to pazopanib at 800 mg once daily, lapatinib at 1,500 mg once daily, or lapatinib plus pazopanib combination therapy (lapatinib at 1,000 mg plus pazopanib at 400 mg once daily or lapatinib at 1,500 mg plus pazopanib at 800 mg once daily). Therapy continued until progression or withdrawal because of adverse events (AEs). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary end points were overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), and safety. The futility boundary was crossed at the planned interim analysis for combination therapy compared with lapatinib therapy, and the combination was discontinued.

Results

Of 230 patients enrolled, 152 were randomly assigned to the monotherapy arms: pazopanib (n = 74) or lapatinib (n = 78). Most patients (62%) had recurrent cancer. Pazopanib improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 90% CI, 0.48 to 0.91; P = .013) and OS (HR, 0.67; 90% CI, 0.46 to 0.99; P = .045). Median OS was 50.7 weeks and 39.1 weeks and RRs were 9% and 5% for pazopanib and lapatinib, respectively. The only grade 3 AE > 10% was diarrhea (11% pazopanib and 13% lapatinib). Grade 4 AEs were 9% (lapatinib) and 12% (pazopanib).

Conclusion

This study confirms the activity of antiangiogenesis agents in advanced and recurrent cervical cancer and demonstrates the benefit of pazopanib based on the prolonged PFS and favorable toxicity profile.

Stromal issues in cervical cancer: a review of the role and function of basement membrane, stroma, immune response and angiogenesis in cervical cancer development

The carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma implies an intricate interplay of neoplastic, human papillomavirus infected epithelial cells and stromal tissue, in which different factors have distinct but interacting influence. Persistent infection with an oncogenic human papillomavirus type may lead to epithelial dysplasia with progressive severity. To access the adjacent stromal tissue, tumour cells have to breach the basement membrane. The stroma partly controls tumour growth, invasion and angiogenesis. Last but not least there is considerable influence of the immune response. In this review we describe the importance of various stromal factors in carcinogenesis of cervical cancer.