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 before radical surgery in stage IB2/IIA2 squamous cell cervical cancers

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients diagnosed with stage IB2/IIA2 cervical squamous cell carcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prior to radical hysterectomy compared to those who did not receive NACT before surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a multicenter study including data of 6 gynecological oncology departments. The study is approved from one of the institution's local ethics committee. Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on the receipt of NACT preceding their surgical intervention. Clinico-pathological factors and progression-free survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Totally 87 patients were included. Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) was observed as 40% in the group receiving NACT, while it was 66.1% in the group not receiving NACT (p = 0.036). Deep stromal invasion (> 50%) was 56% in the group receiving NACT and 84.8% in the group not receiving NACT (p = 0.001). In the univariate analysis, application of NACT is statistically significant among the factors that would be associated with disease-free survival. Consequently, a multivariate analysis was conducted for progression-free survival, incorporating factors such as the depth of stromal invasion, the presence of LVSI, and the administration of NACT. Of these, only the administration of NACT emerged as an independent predictor associated with decreased progression-free survival. (RR:5.88; 95% CI: 1.63-21.25; p = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

NACT shouldn't be used routinely in patients with stage IB2/IIA2 cervical cancer before radical surgery. Presented as oral presentation at National Congress of Gynaecological Oncology & National Congress of Cervical Pathologies and Colposcopy (2022/ TURKEY).

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with international federation of gynecology and obstetrics stages IB3 and IIA2 cervical cancer: a multicenter prospective trial

BACKGROUND

Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been widely used in developing countries for the treatment of patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages IB3 and IIA2 cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of NACT and treatment options for NACT-insensitive patients have been concerning. This study will assess prognostic differences between NACT and primary surgery treatment (PST), determine factors associated with prognosis, and explore better adjuvant treatment modalities for NACT-insensitive patients.

METHODS

This study analyzed clinical characteristics, pathological characteristics, treatment options, and follow-up information of 774 patients with FIGO stages IB3 and IIA2 cervical cancer from 28 centers from January 2016 to October 2019 who participated in a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial.

RESULTS

For patients undergoing NACT, the 5-year OS and PFS rate was 85.8 and 80.5% respectively. They were similar in the PST group. There was no significant difference in OS and PFS between clinical response (CR)/partial response (PR) groups and stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD) groups. Apart from deep cervical invasion (p = 0.046) affecting OS for patients undergoing NACT, no other clinical and pathological factors were associated with OS. 97.8% of NACT-insensitive patients opted for surgery. If these patients did not have intermediate- or high-risk factors, whether they had undergone postoperative adjuvant therapy was irrelevant to their prognosis, whereas for patients with intermediate- or high-risk factors, adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in better PFS (chemotherapy vs. no therapy, p < 0.001; chemotherapy vs. radiotherapy, p = 0.019) and OS (chemotherapy vs. no therapy, p < 0.001; chemotherapy vs. radiotherapy, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

NACT could be a choice for patients with FIGO stages IB3 and IIA2 cervical cancer. The main risk factor influencing prognosis in the NACT group is deep cervical invasion. After systematic treatment, insensitivity to NACT does not indicate a poorer prognosis. For NACT-insensitive patients, Chinese prefer surgery. Postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with no intermediate- or high-risk factors does not improve prognosis, and chemotherapy in patients with intermediate- and high-risk factors is more effective than radiation therapy and other treatments.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03308591); date of registration: 12/10/2017.

Cervical cancer heterogeneity: a constant battle against viruses and drugs

Cervical cancer is the first identified human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancer and the most promising malignancy to be eliminated. However, the ever-changing virus subtypes and acquired multiple drug resistance continue to induce failure of tumor prevention and treatment. The exploration of cervical cancer heterogeneity is the crucial way to achieve effective prevention and precise treatment. Tumor heterogeneity exists in various aspects including the immune clearance of viruses, tumorigenesis, neoplasm recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance. Tumor development and drug resistance are often driven by potential gene amplification and deletion, not only somatic genomic alterations, but also copy number amplifications, histone modification and DNA methylation. Genomic rearrangements may occur by selection effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy which exhibits genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity in advanced cervical cancers. The combined application of cervical cancer therapeutic vaccine and immune checkpoint inhibitors has become an effective strategy to address the heterogeneity of treatment. In this review, we will integrate classic and recently updated epidemiological data on vaccination rates, screening rates, incidence and mortality of cervical cancer patients worldwide aiming to understand the current situation of disease prevention and control and identify the direction of urgent efforts. Additionally, we will focus on the tumor environment to summarize the conditions of immune clearance and gene integration after different HPV infections and to explore the genomic factors of tumor heterogeneity. Finally, we will make a thorough inquiry into completed and ongoing phase III clinical trials in cervical cancer and summarize molecular mechanisms of drug resistance among chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery reduces radiation therapy in patients with stage IB2 to IIA2 cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether carboplatin-liposomal paclitaxel neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) benefits patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) through avoiding or delaying postoperative radiation.

METHODS

A total of 414 patients with cervical cancer of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2009) stages IB2-IIA2 were included in the retrospective cohort study, who had received carboplatin-liposomal paclitaxel chemotherapy followed by radical surgery (NACT group) or primary radical surgery (PRS group) between 2007 and 2017 at our hospital. The baseline clinicopathological characteristics at diagnosis, postoperative pathological risk factors, and oncological outcomes after surgery, including postoperative radiation (as adjuvant treatment or treatment of recurrent diseases), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), were compared between the groups. Before treatment, the patients in the NACT group had significantly more advanced tumor stages and larger tumor sizes than those in the PRS group.

RESULTS

The NACT reduced the tumor volumes remarkedly with a response rate of 62.4%, and the tumors in the NACT group were smaller than those in the PRS group when the patients were subjected to radical surgery. Furthermore, postoperative pathology examination revealed less frequent deep stromal invasion in the NACT group than in the PRS group. According to the presence of pathological risk factors for recurrence, 54.82% of women in the NACT group needed adjuvant radiotherapy, while 60.87% in the PRS group, and in fact, 33.00% of NACT patients and 40.09% of PRS patients received adjuvant radiation. In addition, 8.12% of NACT patients and 9.68% of PRS patients underwent radiotherapy after relapse. The cumulative postoperative radiation rate was significantly lower in the NACT group (P = 0.041), while the differences in 5-year OS and PFS were not statistically significant between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

NACT reduces the pathological risk factors and the use of radiation without compromising survival in patients with LACC, which may protect younger patients from radiation-related side effects and subsequently improve the quality of life.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN24104022.

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments Compared to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

Aim

This study aimed to identify the most effective treatment mode for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) by adopting a network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods

Randomized controlled trials about treatments were retrieved from PubMed, Medline and Embase. Odds ratios (OR) of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated by synthesizing direct and indirect evidence to rank the efficacy of nine treatments. Consistency was assessed by node-splitting method. Begg's test was performed to evaluate publication bias. The surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was also used in this NMA.

Results

A total of 24 eligible randomized controlled trials with 6,636 patients were included in our NMA. These trials compared a total of nine different regimens: radiotherapy (RT) alone, surgery, RT plus adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), neoadjuvant CT plus CCRT, CCRT plus adjuvant CT, neoadjuvant CT, RT, CCRT plus surgery. Among those therapeutic modalities, we found that the two interventions with the highest SUCRA for OS and PFS were CCRT and CCRT plus adjuvant CT, respectively. ORs and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the two best strategies were CCRT versus CCRT plus adjuvant CT (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.53-1.31) for OS, CCRT plus adjuvant CT versus CCRT (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38-0.96) for PFS.

Conclusions

This NMA supported that CCRT and CCRT plus adjuvant CT are likely to be the most optimal treatments in terms of both OS and PFS for LACC. Future studies should focus on comparing CCRT and CCRT plus adjuvant CT in the treatment of LACC.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, CRD42019147920.

Dose-Intense Cisplatin-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Increases Survival in Advanced Cervical Cancer: An Up-to-Date Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary

Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become standard care for many locally advanced cancer sites, the benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains unclear for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. With this meta-analysis, we set out to demonstrate the benefit of using dose-intense cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival. Dose-intense cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by local therapy was significantly associated with a survival benefit in the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Even though radiotherapy combined with weekly cisplatin-based chemotherapy remains standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer, our meta-analysis makes it possible to consider the use of dose-intense cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy when local treatment is suboptimal and opens perspectives for designing new clinical trials in this setting.

Abstract

Purpose: We set out to demonstrate the benefit of using dose-intense cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival. Methods: We searched through MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases up to May 2021 to identify randomized clinical trials comparing the benefit of using cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by local treatment with local treatment alone for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. The PRISMA statement was applied. Results: Twenty-two randomized clinical trials were retrieved between 1991 and 2019, corresponding to 3632 women with FIGO stages IB2-IVA cervical cancer. More than 50% of the randomized clinical trials were assessed as having a low risk of bias. There was no benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival, but there was significant heterogeneity across studies (I² = 45%, p = 0.01). In contrast, dose-intense cisplatin at over 72.5 mg/m²/3 weeks was significantly associated with increased overall survival (RR = 0.87, p < 0.05) with no heterogeneity across the pooled studies (I² = 36%, p = 0.11). The survival benefit was even greater when cisplatin was administered at a dose over 105 mg/m²/3 weeks (RR = 0.79, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Even though radiotherapy combined with weekly cisplatin-based chemotherapy remains standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer, our meta-analysis makes it possible to consider the use of dose-intense cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy when local treatment is suboptimal and opens perspectives for designing new clinical trials in this setting. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be proposed when surgery is local treatment instead of standard chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer.

Impact of Histopathological Risk Factors on the Treatment of Stage IB-IIB Uterine Cervical Cancer

In the past decade, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix gradually increased. Recent literature revealed that the molecular pathogenesis differs by histological subtype, and the histological subtype should be considered in deciding treatments for patients with uterine cervical cancer. However, no treatment based on histological type or genomic signature has been recommended in various treatment guidelines. The Japanese treatment guidelines recommend either radical hysterectomy or definitive radiotherapy as primary treatment for patients with stage IB-IIB squamous cell carcinoma and a radical hysterectomy-based approach for those with non-squamous cell carcinoma because of its lower radiosensitivity. The impact of histological type on survival outcome of uterine cervical cancer is controversial. Our retrospective studies suggested that the difference in survival outcome by histological subtype might be remarkable with disease progression. Recent literature suggested that usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma, which is the most common histological type of cervical adenocarcinoma, showed a similar survival outcome to squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, gastric-type mucinous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which has aggressive clinical behavior and is not associated with high-risk human papillomavirus infection, showed resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Importantly, gastric-type mucinous carcinoma is rather common in Japan, compared with Western countries. It is therefore conceivable that the survival outcome of non-squamous cell carcinoma may be affected by regional difference in the frequency of gastric-type mucinous carcinoma. A molecular target to refractory uterine cervical cancer, such as gastric-type mucinous carcinoma of uterine cervix, still remains to be identified.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced stage (IB2-IIA2-IIB) cervical carcinoma: Experience of a tertiary center and comprehensive review of the literature

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locally advanced stage cervical carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

Data of 43 patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma who had NACT were reviewed. NACT protocols implemented included cisplatin/5-fluorauracil, cisplatin/UFT, and carboplatin/paclitaxel. After NACT, the patients were re-examined, and patients who had a tumor size ≤40 mm underwent Piver-Rutledge type III radical hysterectomy, while other patients received radiotherapy. Following NACT, clinical responses were assessed according to the criteria of the World Health Organization.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 49.4 years, and the median follow-up duration was 48 (range, 5-228) months. The median tumor sizes were 50 and 30 mm before and after NACT, respectively. Complete clinical response was observed in 4 (9.3%) patients, partial clinical response in 8 (18.6%), and pathologic complete response in 3 (6.9%). Stable disease was noted in 30 (69.9%) patients and progression in 1 (2.3%) patient. After NACT, 31 patients have undergone radical surgical procedures. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 72%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 91%. Age, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2009 stage, histopathologic type, NACT protocol, rate of decrease in tumor size after NACT, clinical response, number of courses, tumor size before NACT, tumor size after NACT, and lymph node metastasis were not associated with disease-free survival.

Conclusion:

Following NACT, a significant reduction in tumor dimension was observed, and the probability of radical surgery is increased. However, clinical response was not predictive of survival.

The Outcome of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer in Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radical Hysterectomy and Primary Surgery

Background:

In recent years, before radical hysterectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been administered to patients with locally advanced cervical cancer to shrink large tumors. It has been reported that this treatment significantly reduces the need for radiotherapy after surgery. The current study aimed to assess the outcome (survival, recurrence, and the need for adjuvant radiotherapy) of locally advanced cervical cancer in patients treated with NACT followed by radical hysterectomy and primary surgery.

Methods:

In a retrospective cohort study, the records of 258 patients with cervical cancer (stage IB2, IIA, or IIB), who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from 2007 to 2017 were evaluated. The patients were assigned into two groups; group A (n=58) included patients, who underwent radical hysterectomy and group B (n=44) included those, who underwent a radical hysterectomy after NACT. The outcome measures were the recurrence rate, five-year survival rate, and the need for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Results:

The median for overall survival time in group A and B was 113.65 and 112.88 months, respectively (P=0.970). There was no recurrence among patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer in group B, while the recurrence rate in group A was 19.5% with a median recurrence time of 59.13 months. Lymph node involvement was the only factor that affected patients’ survival. The need for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in group B was lower than in group A (P=0.002).

Conclusion:

NACT before the hysterectomy was found to reduce the need for postoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer according to disease stages. As a direct result, adverse side effects and the recurrence rate were reduced, and the overall survival rate of patients with stage IIB cervical cancer was increased.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery Versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy Alone for Oncological Outcomes of Stage IB3 Cervical Cancer-A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with cervical cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NACT) with those who received abdominal radical hysterectomy alone (ARH).

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the oncological outcomes of 1410 patients with stage IB3 cervical cancer who received NACT (n=583) or ARH (n=827). The patients in the NACT group were divided into an NACT-sensitive group and an NACT-insensitive group according to their response to chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The 5-year oncological outcomes were significantly better in the NACT group than in the ARH group (OS: 96.2% vs. 91.2%, respectively, p=0.002; DFS: 92.2% vs. 87.5%, respectively, p=0.016). Cox multivariate analysis suggested that NACT was independently associated with a better 5-year OS (HR=0.496; 95% CI, 0.281-0.875; p=0.015), but it was not an independent factor for 5-year DFS (HR=0.760; 95% CI, 0.505-1.145; p=0.189). After matching, the 5-year oncological outcomes of the NACT group were better than those of the ARH group. Cox multivariate analysis suggested that NACT was still an independent protective factor for 5-year OS (HR=0.503; 95% CI, 0.275-0.918; p=0.025). The proportion of patients in the NACT group who received postoperative radiotherapy was significantly lower than that in the ARH group (p<0.001). Compared to the ARH group, the NACT-sensitive group had similar results as the NACT group. The NACT-insensitive group and the ARH group had similar 5-year oncological outcomes and proportions of patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with stage IB3 cervical cancer, NACT improved 5-year OS and was associated with a reduction in the proportion of patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy. These findings suggest that patients with stage IB3 cervical cancer, especially those who are sensitive to chemotherapy, might consider NACT followed by surgery.

Updates on systemic therapy for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world both in terms of incidence and mortality, more so important in low- and middle-income countries. Surgery and radiotherapy remain the backbone of treatment for non-metastatic cervical cancer, with significant improvement in survival provided by addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy. Survival as well as quality of life is improved by chemotherapy in metastatic disease. Platinum-based chemotherapy with/without bevacizumab is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic disease and has shown improvement in survival. The right combinations and sequence of treatment modalities and medicines are still evolving. Data regarding the molecular and genomic biology of cervical cancer have revealed multiple potential targets for treatment, and several new agents are presently under evaluation including targeted therapies, immunotherapies and vaccines. This review discusses briefly the current standards, newer updates as well as future prospective approaches in systemic therapies for cervical cancer.

Beyond Sedlis-A novel histology-specific nomogram for predicting cervical cancer recurrence risk: An NRG/GOG ancillary analysis

PURPOSE

The Sedlis criteria define risk factors for recurrence warranting post-hysterectomy radiation for early-stage cervical cancer; however, these factors were defined for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at an estimated recurrence risk of ≥30%. Our study evaluates and compares risk factors for recurrence for cervical SCC compared with adenocarcinoma (AC) and develops histology-specific nomograms to estimate risk of recurrence and guide adjuvant treatment.

METHODS

We performed an ancillary analysis of GOG 49, 92, and 141, and included stage I patients who were surgically managed and received no neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate independent risk factors for recurrence by histology and to generate prognostic histology-specific nomograms for 3-year recurrence risk.

RESULTS

We identified 715 patients with SCC and 105 with AC; 20% with SCC and 17% with AC recurred. For SCC, lymphvascular space invasion (LVSI: HR 1.58, CI 1.12-2.22), tumor size (TS ≥4 cm: HR 2.67, CI 1.67-4.29), and depth of invasion (DOI; middle 1/3, HR 4.31, CI 1.81-10.26; deep 1/3, HR 7.05, CI 2.99-16.64) were associated with recurrence. For AC, only TS ≥4 cm, was associated with recurrence (HR 4.69, CI 1.25-17.63). For both histologies, there was an interaction effect between TS and LVSI. For those with SCC, DOI was most associated with recurrence (16% risk); for AC, TS conferred a 15% risk with negative LVSI versus a 25% risk with positive LVSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Current treatment standards are based on the Sedlis criteria, specifically derived from data on SCC. However, risk factors for recurrence differ for squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Histology-specific nomograms accurately and linearly represent risk of recurrence for both SCC and AC tumors and may provide a more contemporary and tailored tool for clinicians to base adjuvant treatment recommendations to their patients with cervical cancer.

Fertility-sparing treatment in cervical cancer: Abdominal trachelectomy

In the last two decades, great strides have been made to treat cancer while sparing fertility for young women. This is at least partly in response to changing demographics, including delayed childbearing and fewer historically traditional couples. The trachelectomy has become emblematic in this endeavor. With comparable outcomes to hysterectomy and successful conceptions, trachelectomy utilization has increased over time. It is now a standard of care for many situations. While there are several approaches, (vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic), the abdominal trachelectomy allows surgeons to overcome several limitations, such as patient anatomy, surgical experience, and resources (i.e. no robot) to provide women everywhere this revolutionary operation. In this chapter, we outline surgical techniques, outcomes, and other aspects of the abdominal trachelectomy.

Paclitaxel Plus Platinum Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery Versus Primary Surgery in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer-A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Objective

To compare the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NACTS) and primary surgery (PS) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

Methods

LACC (stage IB2/IIA2, FIGO 2009) patients who accepted NACTS or PS in the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2007 to 2017 were enrolled, and a database was established. A 1:1 ratio propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for the NACTS group and PS group according to pretreatment characteristics. After PSM, the clinicopathological features and prognosis between the matched groups were compared.

Results

Of 802 cases in the database, 639 met the inclusion criteria, with 428 received paclitaxel plus platinum NACTS, and 211 received PS. After PSM, the two groups had comparable pretreatment characteristics, with 190 cases in each group. In the NACTS group, the operation parameters were similar to the PS group except for the longer operation time (median 255 min vs. 239 min, P = 0.007); pathological intermediate-risk factors including tumor diameter (P < 0.001) and LVSI(+) (P < 0.001) were significantly decreased; fewer patients were with ≥2 intermediate-risk factors (10.5 vs. 53.2%, P < 0.001) so that the rate of adjuvant radiotherapy was reduced (54.2 vs. 70.0%, P = 0.002). DFS and OS were similar between the NACTS group and PS group (P > 0.05). However, for patients with tumor diameter ≥5 cm or SCC ≥5 ng/ml, DFS of the NACTS group was significantly prolonged (P = 0.016, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Paclitaxel plus platinum neoadjuvant chemotherapy can reduce adjuvant radiotherapy by decreasing pathological risk factors. Patients with tumor diameter ≥5 cm or SCC ≥5 ng/ml may obtain survival benefits.

The Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Lymph Node Metastasis of FIGO Stage IB1-IIB Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in FIGO stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer patients and compare the LNM between NACT plus surgery and surgery only.

Methods

We identified 34 eligible studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE from inception to July 27, 2019. Data analyses were performed by Stata (version 13) and Revman (version 5.3).

Results

In these 34 included studies, the pooled incidence of LNM was estimated as 23% (95% CI, 0.20-0.26; I² = 79.6%, P<0.001). In the subgroup analysis, we identified five factors, including study type, year of publication, continents from which patients came, histological type and the FIGO stage. When taking FIGO stage into consideration, the LNM rate was 13% in stage IB (95% CI: 0.10-0.15; I² = 5.5%, P=0.385), 23% in stage IIA (95% CI: 0.18-0.28; I² = 0%, P=0.622), and 27% in stage IIB (95% CI: 0.20-0.33; I² = 0%, P=0.898), respectively. Through the comparison between NACT plus surgery and surgery only based on the six randomized controlled trials, the incidence of positive lymph nodes was lower in patients receiving NACT plus surgery than surgery only (RR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83; I² = 60.5%, P=0.027). The 5-year OS was higher in the NACT + surgery group than surgery-only group (RR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.23; I² = 0.0%, P=0.842).

Conclusions

Among cervical cancer in stage IB1-IIB, the preoperative NACT plus radical surgery resulted in a 23% probability of LNM, which was lower than those receiving radical surgery only. In stage IIA and IIB, the effect of NACT to reduce LNM was more obvious.

The Efficacy and Response Predictors of Platinum-Based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

Objective

To assess the efficacy of platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) and investigate the pretreatment predictors of the response.

Patients and Methods

A total of 219 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2009) stage IB2-IIA2 LACC who received platinum-based NACT from December 2007 to December 2017 were reviewed, and their clinical-pathological characteristics and follow-up data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The baseline characteristics of age, FIGO stage, histology, tumor differentiation, tumor size, and clinical outcomes, including post-operative pathological risk factors, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between the responders and non-responders.

Results

The overall response rate was 58.9% (129/219), and 19 (8.7%) patients achieved pathologically complete remission. NACT responders showed significantly better OS and PFS than non-responders (P_OS= 0.002, P_PFS= 0.002). The response to NACT was identified as an independent risk factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.453, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 1.125-5.348, P = 0.024) and PFS (HR = 2.196, 95% CI, 1.183-4.076, P = 0.013), and patients with IB2/IIA1 and a tumor size of <5 cm tended to receive better response than patients with IIA2 (P = 0.004) and a tumor size of ≥5 cm (P = 0.027).

Conclusion

The response rate of platinum-based NACT was approximately 60%. The response to NACT was an independent risk factor for prognosis, and patients with earlier stage and smaller tumor tended to respond better to NACT.

Comparison of the survival outcome of neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery with that of concomitant chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage IB2-IIIB cervical adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To compare the survival outcome of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) (chemotherapy or chemotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) followed by radical surgery and of concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced cervical adenocarcinoma and identify predictors of cervical adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our medical records of cervical adenocarcinoma patients treated with either NAT + surgery or CCRT in our institution from January 2013 to December 2017. The patients were treated with two-dimensional radiotherapy or three-dimensional-conformal or intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with intracavitary brachytherapy. The regimen of concomitant chemotherapy was weekly cisplatin. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) was paclitaxel plus cisplatin. The primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

We enrolled 121 patients. There were 42 (34.7%) patients in the NAT + surgery group and 79 (65.3%) in the CCRT group. After univariate multivariate analysis, NAT was an independent predictor of OS (p = 0.008) and PFS (p = 0.006). After propensity score matching, the 5-year OS rates in the NAT + surgery and CCRT groups were 25% and 4%, respectively (p = 0.00014), and the 5-year PFS rates were 25% and 4%, respectively (p = 0.00015). Subgroup analysis showed that the 5-year OS and PFS rates in the NACT + surgery and CCRT groups were both 20% and 8%, respectively (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Compared with CCRT, NAT followed by radical surgery had better OS and PFS in locally advanced cervical adenocarcinoma. In subgroup analysis, OS and PFS were longer for NACT + surgery than for CCRT.

Phase II study of a new multidisciplinary therapy using once every 3 week carboplatin plus dose-dense weekly paclitaxel before and after radical hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

We proposed a novel treatment strategy, consisting of triweekly cisplatin plus dose-dense weekly paclitaxel before and after radical hysterectomy without adjuvant radiation therapy to treat locally advanced cervical cancer. However, cisplatin-related severe non-hematologic toxicities were frequent during this strategy. This study aimed to assess the applicability of replacing cisplatin with carboplatin in our proposed strategy.

METHODS

Women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2008 stage IB2, IIA2, or IIB cervical cancer received three cycles of carboplatin (based on an area under the curve of six), each 21 days apart, starting on day 1, and 80 mg/m² of paclitaxel on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle before undergoing radical hysterectomy. Patients with one or more high-risk factors, including lymph vascular invasion, parametrial invasion, lymph-node metastasis, or positive margins, received three additional cycles of chemotherapy after hysterectomy. Concurrent chemoradiation therapy was only applied to those patients who failed to respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Between September 2014 and July 2016, 50 women (13 women with FIGO stage IB2, 5 with stage IIA2, and 32 with stage IIB) were enrolled in this study. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 92%, including 22% with pathological complete response. Forty-nine women (98%) completed the planned radical hysterectomy, and 11 (22%) women with one or more high-risk factors received three additional cycles of chemotherapy. Only four women (8%) received concurrent chemoradiation therapy after surgery. The 2- and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 88.0% and 83.8%, respectively, and the 2- and 3-year overall survival rates were 98.0% and 95.4%, respectively. Only two patients reported grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicities including grade 3 nausea in one patient and grade 3 liver dysfunction in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Replacement the platinum agent resulted in equivalent efficacy, with reduced toxicity, in women with locally advanced cervical cancer. This strategy could considerably diminish the application of radiation therapy without reduced survival. A study to identify those patients who will benefit from this new multidisciplinary strategy is warranted.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery for FIGO stage I-II cervical cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

In this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the oncological outcomes of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery compared with radical surgery alone for treatment of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I-II cervical cancer.

METHOD

We searched for studies comparing the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery versus surgery alone in treatment outcomes of locally advanced cervical cancer. Meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Sixteen studies were included in our analysis. Pooled analysis of overall survival rate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.83-1.43] and progression-free survival rate (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.77-1.57) showed that preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not have a benefit compared with surgery alone in terms of survival rates. The pooled results for postoperative parameters indicated that preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery was associated with a high rate of vascular space involvement (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.17-0.35) and parametrial infiltration (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.45-0.79).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis indicated that surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for FIGO stage I-II cervical cancer and surgery alone had similar oncological outcomes.

The Safety and Efficacy of Intra-Arterial versus Intravenous Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial versus intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the management of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, PMC, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify correlational studies published in English. Prospective controlled studies that evaluated the treatment effect of intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy or intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were pooled for a meta-analysis.

Results

A total of three eligible studies with 112 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were eventually included in this analysis. The baseline regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was platinum-based chemotherapy. The total clinical response rate was 71.4%, and the overall pathological complete response (CR) rate was 11.5%. The grade 3/4 toxicity rate was 27.2%. In the intra-arterial group, the response rate was 83.1% (CR, 22.0%; partial response (PR), 61.0%), which was significantly higher than 58.5% (CR, 11.3%; PR, 47.2%) in the intravenous group (P=0.01). The pathological CR rate was 15.5% in the intra-arterial group, which was higher than 6.5% in the intravenous group. The grade 3/4 toxicity rate was 17.2% in the intra-arterial group, which was higher than the rate of 13.8% in the intravenous group.

Conclusion

Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy was well tolerated in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and showed moderate response activity. Compared to intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy, intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy had an evident advantage in terms of the clinical response while maintaining a similar toxicity rate. The clinical efficacy of intra-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy deserves further evaluation.

Management of Stage IIB Cervical Cancer: an Overview of the Current Evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review and discuss the present evidence of surgery- and radiation-based treatment strategies for stage IIB cervical cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recently, two randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy (NACT + RH) with that of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for stage IB3-IIB cervical cancer. When these studies were combined (N = 1259), NACT + RH was associated with a shorter disease-free survival [hazard ratio (HR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.64], but with a similar overall survival (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.90-1.36) when compared with the findings for CCRT. Stage-specific analysis for stage IIB cervical cancer demonstrated that disease-free survival was significantly worse with NACT + RH than with CCRT (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.25-2.89); however, no significant difference was observed for stage IB3-IIA cervical cancer. Based on the results of recent level I evidence, the standard treatment for stage IIB cervical cancer remains CCRT.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not improve the prognosis and lymph node metastasis rate of locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study in China

Locally advanced cervical carcinoma has a poor prognosis. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can reduce tumor size and improve tumor resection rate, but its use in large locally advanced cervical carcinoma is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment and prognosis of NACT in patients with cervical carcinoma stage IB2 or IIA2.This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent type-C radical surgery and pelvic lymphadenectomy due to cervical carcinoma stage IB2/IIA2 between 2/2014 and 12/2016 at the Second Hospital of Jilin University. The patients were grouped according to whether they received NACT (paclitaxel and a platinum salt) or not. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between the 2 groups.Of the 144 patients, 60 (41.7%) received NACT. A total of 119 patients underwent postoperative radiation therapy, of which 97 received radiation therapy alone and 22 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The adverse reactions in the NACT group were mainly hematologic toxic reactions, but were tolerated. No grade ≥III adverse reactions were observed. NACT did not significantly affect the PFS (P = .453) and OS (P = .933) between the 2 groups. No factor was found to be independently associated with OS or PFS (all P > .05).Compared with patients who underwent surgery with/without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, NACT using paclitaxel and a platinum salt does not improve the prognosis and lymph node metastasis rate of locally advanced cervical carcinoma in Chinese patients.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radical surgery vs radical surgery alone for cervical cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim

This systematic review was designed to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radical surgery vs radical surgery alone for cervical cancer.

Methods

A computerized search was done for trials from PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The trials included neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery vs radical surgery alone. We measured overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), local and distant recurrence, lymph node metastasis, and parametrial infiltration per patient.

Results

In all, 13 studies involving 2,158 subjects were included. In regard to OS, DFS, PFS, local and distant recurrence, and parametrial infiltration, neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery was similar to radical surgery alone. Among them, subgroup analysis of eight studies involving 1,544 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stage IB2–IIB) showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) plus radical surgery significantly improved OS, and decreased local and distant recurrence rates, lymph node metastasis rate, and the level of parametrial infiltration compared to radical surgery alone.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that preoperative NACT is now an accepted effective procedure in selected patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stage IB2–IIB). However, the relationship between NACT and longer DFS and PFS cannot be demonstrated by this meta-analysis. Thus, the decision to use or not to use NACT before radical surgery depends on the surgeon’s experience and clinical judgment. Nevertheless, further research in this field is urgently needed to confirm it.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy with Taxane and Platinum Followed by Radical Hysterectomy for Stage IB2-IIB Cervical Cancer: Impact of Histology Type on Survival

The current study examined the histology-specific impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with a taxane/platinum regimen on survival in women with locally-advanced cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy. This nation-wide retrospective cohort study examined women with clinical stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer who received NACT prior to radical hysterectomy from 2004–2008 (n = 684). NACT type (taxane/platinum versus others) was correlated with survival based on histology: 511 squamous versus 173 non-squamous. Taxane/platinum chemotherapy use was more common in non-squamous compared to squamous tumors (53.8% versus 20.7%, P < 0.001). In both histology types, the taxane/platinum regimen was more frequently utilized over time (both, P < 0.01). Among squamous tumors, women who received taxane/platinum chemotherapy had survival comparable to those who received other regimens: 5-year rates for disease-free survival, 69.0% versus 70.1%, P = 0.98; and cause-specific survival, 80.0% versus 81.0%, P = 0.93. Similarly, in non-squamous tumors, disease-free survival (5-year rates: 60.4% versus 59.0%, P = 0.86) and cause-specific survival (74.7% versus 76.3%, P = 0.70) were similar. In conclusion, use of taxane/platinum regimens for NACT significantly increased during the study period. Irrespective of histology type, in women with clinical stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer who underwent NACT prior to radical hysterectomy, taxane/platinum regimens had a similar effect on survival compared to non-taxane/platinum regimens.

A clinical analysis of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gynecologic tract: report of 20 cases

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective observational study was to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gynecologic tract (SCNCGT).

METHODS

Twenty patients with SCNCGT were enrolled and their clinic-pathological features were analyzed. All patients were treated at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, China, and were followed up until December 31, 2017.

RESULTS

(1) Patient characteristics: The incidence of SCNCGT was 0.3% (20/6578) of gynecologic cancer in our hospital from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017. The average age of the patients was 42.0 ± 11.8 (23-63 years). Out of 20 patients enrolled, seven (35.0%) had lymph node metastasis. Out of 17 patients treated with complete surgery, 14 (82.4%) had lymph-vascular space invasion. (2) Treatment: Eleven out of the 14 patients with small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNCC) were treated with radical surgery; all the 11 patients received chemotherapy and radiotherapy postoperatively. The remaining three patients received comprehensive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy instead of radical surgery. The six patients who had one or the other type of SCNCGT (involving the ovary, endometrium, or vagina) were all treated with comprehensive surgery. (3) Prognosis: The follow-up time for the study ranged from 8 to 87 months. Three (15.0%) of the 20 patients were diagnosed with distant metastasis at the beginning of the study. Eight (40.0%) patients died as of December 31, 2017, while the other 12 patients were in follow-up. The average survival time was 43.6 months (16-77 months).

CONCLUSION

SCNCGT is a highly malignant tumor characterized by rare morbidity, a propensity for metastasis, and poor prognosis. Comprehensive treatment may be a good approach to prolong survival in some patients.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in woman with early or locally advanced cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a major global health problem for women. Despite the screening and vaccines available today, it continues to be the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide with 85% of cases occurring in developing countries. Standard treatments for early or locally advanced cervical cancer are surgery (S) or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CT-RT). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) prior to surgery or radiotherapy has been proposed and tested in clinical trials and has been included in clinical practice in some countries.In order to determine the true role of NACT either prior to S or RT in terms of achieving benefits in OS or DFS, randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses published from its beginnings to the present have been searched and analyzed in this study.The analysis of published clinical trials shows that NACT followed by S and NACT followed by RT have failed to demonstrate benefits in OS or DFS. Clinical trials comparing NACT followed by S versus exclusive RT have also been analyzed, where NACT followed by S could not show benefits for RT either.

CONCLUSION

Adding neoadjuvant chemotherapy to S or RT cannot be recommended outside the context of clinical trials.

Analysis of short-term efficacy as defined by RECIST and pathological response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprised paclitaxel and cisplatin followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: A prospective observational study

The purpose of this study is to investigate short-term efficacy as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and pathological response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) comprised of paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).This is a prospective study involving 61 women with histologically confirmed LACC referred for NACT following radical surgery at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between April 2013 and January 2015.The efficacy of NACT was evaluated by the RECIST. The total short-term efficacy of NACT was 91.8% (complete remission and partial remission). The cervical invasion ≤1/2 was 82.4% in the complete remission (CR) group, 46.2% in the partial remission (PR) group, and 20% in the stable disease (SD) group. The difference between groups was statistically significant (P = .012). The slides of all surgical specimens were reviewed and classified according to the Tumor Regression Grade (TRG). The good response was defined by good short-term efficacy (RECIST) and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P = .042). The route of administration of NACT is a factor predicting response to NACT. A significant higher response rate (P = .011) and lower chemotherapy-related adverse events (P < .05) were observed in the artery intervention (AI) group compared to those received NACT via intravenous (IV) route. All patients were followed-up to the last day of 2015 with the median follow-up time of 21.5 months for NACT. For the 61 patients referred for NACT in LACC, 2 patients had relapsed and 1 patient died from the disease.The study showed that the NACT comprised TP for LACC treatment had a significant local effect. It could reduce tumor myometrial invasion and regress tumor. The route of administrating NACT is a predicting factor to the NACT response; 2 cycles of NACT of AI treatment to LACC patients would obtain a desired response with low chemotherapy adverse events.

Comparison of the efficacy among multiple chemotherapeutic interventions combined with radiation therapy for patients with cervix cancer after surgery: A network meta-analysis

Background

Cervix cancer was the second most common cancer in female. However, there was no network meta-analysis (NMA) comparing the efficacy of the multiple chemotherapeutic interventions combined with radiation therapy in patients after operation.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), incidence of recurrence and distant metastasis were the main outcomes, particularly 5-year OS and PFS were considered as primary outcomes. Furthermore, the hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) and their 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were extracted. The surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was also used in this NMA.

Results

A total of 39 eligible trials with 8,952 patients were included and 22 common chemotherapies were evaluated in this meta-analysis. For OS, cisplatin+fluorouracil+hydroxyurea, fluorouracil+mitomycin C, cisplatin and cisplatin+fluorouracil were better than placebo. As for RFS, cisplatin+fluorouracil, fluorouracil+mitomycin C, and cisplatin alone had the significant superiority compared with placebo. In terms of incidence of recurrence, the optimal drug combination was cisplatin+ifosfamide (0.93) based on SUCRA. Moreover, epirubicin (OR = 0.28, 95% CrI: 0.08-0.91) was the only one had the distinguished potency in reducing the occurrence of distant metastasis with a SUCRA rank probability of 0.88.

Conclusion

We recommended cisplatin+fluorouracil+hydroxyurea and cisplatin+docetaxel for their good efficacy in long term survival. Meanwhile, the combination of multiple drugs with different mechanisms worked better.

Which Patients With Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Might Benefit From Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy?

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice. A 55-year-old postmenopausal woman, gravida 5 para 5, with past medical history significant for hypertension, presented to the emergency department with profuse vaginal bleeding and a hemoglobin level of 9 g/dL. The biopsy from an irregular 6-cm cervical mass was consistent with moderately differentiated cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The physical examination did not reveal vaginal or parametrial extension of the tumor. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging disclosed the known carcinoma, as well as a 9.2 × 7.7 × 6.7 cm anterior uterine fibroid (Fig 1). A staging positron emission tomography scan was negative for metastatic disease. After blood transfusion and vaginal packing, the patient was referred to discuss the immediate management of her newly diagnosed bleeding bulky cervical cancer. In the absence of parametrial or vaginal extension and in the absence of lymph node metastasis (both on clinical examination and imaging), she was classified as having International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2 disease.

MRTF-A can activate Nrf2 to increase the resistance to doxorubicin

Chemotherapeutic drugs resistance was considered to be the major obstacle for cancer therapy. MRTF-A, co-activators of serum response factor (SRF), promoted tumor cell invasion and metastasis in cancer. So far there has been no relevant reports about MRTF-A’ role in tumor chemotherapy. Here, we reported that MRTF-A overexpression conferred resistance to doxorubicin mediated apoptosis by significantly increasing the expression of Nrf2 which was an important molecule associated with the resistance of anticancer drugs. If MRTF-A was knocked down, could the corresponding results be obtained? Moreover, we showed that overexpression MRTF-A had no remarkable effect to doxorubicin mediated apoptosis in cancer cells when knocking down Nrf2. Further studies showed that MRTF-A regulated the transcriptional activity of Nrf2 by forming a complex with SRF binding to the CarG box which existed on Nrf2 promoter region. On the whole, our study revealed a novel possible resistant pathway to doxorubicin.

Expression of ERCC1 and TUBB3 in Locally Advanced Cervical Squamous Cell Cancer and its Correlation with Different Therapeutic Regimens

Background

Several studies in solid tumors have shown that expression of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) can predict response to chemoradiotherapy and might be prognostic factors. We assessed the role of ERCC1 and TUBB3 expressions as predictive and prognostic factors in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSCC) patients treated with different neoadjuvant regimens.

Methods

ERCC1 and TUBB3 were detected in 88 patients with LACSCC by immunohistochemical analysis. Sixty-two patients were included in 3 different prospective trials and grouped as follows: vinorelbine or docetaxel (group A, n = 44) and ifosfamide-vinorelbine-cisplatin (group B, n = 18). Both groups were compared with standard cisplatin chemoradiotherapy (group C, n = 26). Clinical data at baseline, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were also collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to analyze the risk factors.

Results

Thirty-five patients (39.8%) and 18 (20.5%) had high ERCC1 and TUBB3 expression, respectively. Both proteins were overexpressed in tumors with unfavorable characteristics. High ERCC1 was associated with advanced FIGO stage (p = 0.034) and progressive disease (49% vs. 28%). Poor DFS (p = 0.021) and OS (p = 0.005) were observed in group C patients with high ERCC1 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that ERCC1 expression, FIGO stage and pretreatment hemoglobin level were significant prognostic factors (p = 0.002, p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively).

Conclusions

ERCC1 expression could be a predictive and prognostic factor in LACSCC patients who receive cisplatin monotherapy. Conversely, TUBB3 had no impact on survival in patients treated with antimicrotubule agents.

Challenges to cervical cancer treatment in Bangladesh: The development of a women's cancer ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of female cancer mortality worldwide. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy represents the standard of care for patients with stages IB2 to IVa cervical cancer. Unfortunately radiation therapy capacity is severely limited to non-existent in many Low and Middle-Income Countries. One solution has been to use chemotherapy to reduce tumor size to allow for radical surgery or in the case of inoperable cancers, as a placeholder until radiation is available. In Bangladesh, there has been the progressive development of resources for the treatment of women with gynecologic cancers. However, radiation therapy resources are limited with a six-month waiting period to receive radiation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains the main primary treatment intervention for women with advanced cervical cancer in Bangladesh. This implementation study summarizes of the experience and challenges to caring for women in a new gynae-oncology ward at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, a 2600 bed government hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

•

The literature on cervical cancer treatment in Bangladesh is nonexistent.

•

The majority of women are diagnosed with stages III and IV cervical cancers.

•

Radiation therapy is an extremely limited resource in Bangladesh with only one machine per over 10 million people.

•

The strategy has been to treat woman with chemotherapy in the hopes of making their cancers surgically resectable.

•

Systematic reviews of neoadjuvant chemotherapy show pathologic responses but no improvement in long term survival.

Antiangiogenics and immunotherapies in cervical cancer: an update and future's view

Despite availability of primary and secondary prevention measures, cervical cancer (CC) persists as one of the most common cancers among women around the world, and more than 70% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of CC, around 15-61% of patients develop a recurrence in lymph nodes or distant sites within the first 2 years of completing treatment and the prognosis for these patients remains poor. During the last decades, in an attempt to improve the outcome in these patients, novel agents as combination therapy that target known dysfunctional molecular pathways have been developed with the most attention to the inhibitors of the angiogenesis process. One therapeutic target is the vascular endothelial growth factor, which has been shown to play a key role in tumor angiogenesis, not only for growth of new tissue but also in tumor proliferation. Bevacizumab is recognized as a potent antiangiogenic agent in ovarian cancer but has also demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity in recurrent CC. Moreover, other antiangiogenic agents were recently under study including: sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, cediranib and nintedanib with interesting preliminary results. Moreover, over the last few years there has been increasing interest in cellular immunotherapy as a strategy to harness the immune system to fight tumors. This article focuses on recent discoveries about antiangiogenic agents and immunotherapies in the treatment of CC highlighting on future's view.

Robotic Surgery in Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Survival Outcomes

AIM

To evaluate the survival outcomes of consecutive patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who underwent comprehensive robotic surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since 2009, patients with LACC (FIGO [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics] stages IB2-IIB) were submitted to robotic surgical staging after 3 cycles of NACT. Clinical objective tumor response was assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, whereas pathologic responses were defined according to the criteria of the European study SNAP01. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to assess potential clinicopathologic prognostic factors affecting progression-free survival and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

During the study period, 32 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were managed. The median (range) age and body mass index were 47.3 (8.6-75.5) years and 22.7 (17.5-37.1) kg/m(2), respectively. Overall, 28.0 (range, 12-58) lymph nodes were retrieved. According to the final pathologic examination, 6 (18.8%) women had positive pelvic lymph nodes, whereas 16 (50.0%) patients achieved an optimal pathological response. After a median follow-up of 36.3 (range, 5.2-71.1) months, 6 (18.8%) patients had a recurrence and subsequently died of disease.Positive nodal status was the only independent predictor of both progression-free survival (12.5 [2.3-69.1]; P < 0.0001) and OS (12.0 [2.0-60.4]; P < 0.0001) at multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Nodal status represents the strongest predictor of survival in women with LACC. Similarly, NACT including 3 agents (TIP [paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) + ifosfamide 5 g/m(2) + cisplatin 75 mg/m(2)] and TEP [paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) + epirubicin 80 mg/m(2) + cisplatin 75 mg/m(2)] regimens) warranted better OS than those achieved by other schedules.

A retrospective study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical hysterectomy versus radical hysterectomy alone in patients with stage II cervical squamous cell carcinoma presenting as a bulky mass

Objective

In order to evaluate the usefulness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for stage II cervical squamous cell carcinoma with a bulky mass, we retrospectively compared patients receiving NAC followed by radical hysterectomy (RH; NAC group) with patients who underwent RH without NAC (Ope group).

Patients and methods

The study period was from June 2002 to March 2014. The subjects were 28 patients with a stage II bulky mass in the NAC group and 17 such patients in the Ope group. The chi-square test was used to compare operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, use of blood transfusion, and time from surgery to discharge between the two groups. Moreover, the log-rank test using the Kaplan–Meier method was performed to compare disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the groups.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, or use of blood transfusion. However, the time from surgery to discharge was 18 days (14–25 days) in the NAC group and 25 days (21–34 days) in the Ope group; the patients in the NAC group were discharged earlier (P=0.032). The hazard ratio for DFS in the NAC group as compared with that in the Ope group was 0.36 (95% CI 0.08–0.91), and the 3-year DFS rates were 81.2% and 41.0%, respectively (P=0.028). Moreover, the hazard ratio for OS was 0.39 (95% CI 0.11–1.24), and the 3-year OS rates were 82.3% and 66.4%, respectively (P=0.101).

Conclusion

NAC with cisplatin and irinotecan was confirmed to prolong DFS as compared with RH alone. The results of this study suggest that NAC might be a useful adjunct to surgery in the treatment of stage II squamous cell carcinoma presenting as a bulky mass.

A Single-Institution Radical Surgery Results in Stage IB2/IIA2 (Bulky) Cervical Cancer

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of radical surgery in patients with stage IB2 to IIA2 cervical cancer who were operated on at our center between 2002 and 2015.

Materials and Methods

Forty-seven cases of patients with stage IB2/IIA2 cervical cancer who underwent primary radical surgery between 2002 and 2015 were enrolled in this study. Patients’ files and pathological reports were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical, pathological, and clinical variables were analyzed and their impact on survival period was researched. Disease-free survival and overall survival periods were determined using the Kaplan-Meier test. The P value was considered significant if less than 0.05.

Results

Type C2 radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy (5 pelvic, 42 pelvic and para-aortic) was performed for all of the 47 patients in accordance with the Querleu-Morrow classification. Thirty-three of the cases were stage Ib2 and 14 cases were IIa2. Five years of overall survival was 80%. Recurrence was noted in 10 (7 pelvic, 3 extrapelvic) patients. Adjuvant therapies were needed for 83% of the patients. A univariate analysis was made for all included variables in this research and, other than recurrence, none of them was found to be statistically significant on OS and DFS.

Conclusions

Although adjuvant therapies are often resorted to, primary radical surgery is also a reasonable treatment option for stage IB2/IIA2 cervical cancer, especially in young premenopausal patients when preserving ovarian functions is desired.

Outcome of Neoadjuvant Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy and Radical Hysterectomy for Treatment of Bulky Stage IB to Stage IIB Uterine Cervical Cancer: Can Postoperative Irradiation Be Avoided?

Objectives

We evaluated whether our neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy (NAIC) effectively precludes the need for postoperative radiation therapy in patients treated by radical hysterectomy for IB2 to IIB cervical cancer.

Materials and Methods

Study subjects were 52 patients with a bulky cervical tumor diagnosed and treated at Juntendo University Hospital or Juntendo Nerima Hospital. The NAIC combined cisplatin, epirubicin, mitomycin-C, and 5-fluorouracil; and radical hysterectomy was to be performed after 2 cycles. The main variables analyzed were clinical and histologic response to NAIC, NAIC-related adverse events, adjuvant chemotherapies, relapse-free and overall survival, recurrence, and prognostic factors.

Results

Patients were judged eligible for radical hysterectomy, and 51 underwent the surgery. The overall positive response (complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]) to NAIC was 88.5%. Median follow-up time was 84 months (5–136 months). Three-year relapse-free survival and overall survival were 80.5% and 77.8%, respectively. The recurrence rate was 19.2% (10/52 patients). Seven (13.5%) of the 52 patients died from the disease during follow-up. Lymph node status (positive vs negative) and the histologic effect of NAIC (grades 0–1 vs grades 2–3) were shown to be prognostic factors (P = 0.024 and P = 0.021, respectively).

Conclusions

Our NAIC strategy seems to be well tolerated and beneficial for patients with bulky IB2 to IIB cervical cancer. With this strategy, radiation therapy remains an option in cases of recurrence. For cases in which lymph node metastasis is found or the histologic effect of NAIC is low, our adjuvant chemotherapy regimen may need adjustment to improve prognosis.

Patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy + radical surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: long-term outcomes, survival and prognostic factors in a single-center 10-year follow-up

We report the long-term follow-up in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) + radical surgery (RS) + adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) analyzing prognostic factors which may more influence, in a long time, the survival outcome using univariate and multivariate analysis. In this study, we included all patients with diagnosis of locally advanced cervical cancer (IB2-IIB) treated with NACT + RS + ACT from June 2000 and February 2007 as previously described by Angioli et al. (Gynecol Oncol 127(2):290-6, 2012). The primary end-point of the study was overall survival (OS) in patients with node metastases and in those without positive lymph nodes at the end of 10-year follow-up in order to confirm the prognostic role of nodes involvement for a long period. Moreover, we analyzed the impact of other prognostic factors, such as histotype, tumor size, grading and parametrial invasion. Secondary end-point was evaluated in the subgroup of patients with positive nodes the following prognostic factors: number of positive lymph nodes and site of positive lymph nodes. In the subgroup of patients with positive nodes, the OS was 63 %, and in that with negative nodes, the OS was 75 %. On multivariate analysis, the number of nodal metastases, parametrial involvement, grading and the lesion diameter were noted to be significant factors in determining OS. Neither the histotype nor the lymph nodal site is related to survival. Results suggest that CT alone may be an alternative postoperative therapy for patients with cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer: what's new?

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in Brazil. Among women, it is the second most frequent, second only to breast cancer. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the country, with estimated 15,590 new cases (2014) and 5,430 deaths (2013). In order to update information to improve outcomes, reduce morbidity and optimize the treatment of this cancer, this article will address the advancement of knowledge on cervical cancer. The topics covered include the role of surgery in different stages, treatment of locally advanced carcinomas, fertility preservation, the role of the sentinel lymph node technique, indications and techniques of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and some special situations.

Prognostic risk model development and prospective validation among patients with cervical cancer stage IB2 to IIB submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

This study was designed to develop a risk model for disease recurrence among cervical cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery. Data for 853 patients were obtained from a retrospective study and used to train the model, and then data for 447 patients from a prospective cohort study were employed to validate the model. The Cox regression model was used for calculating the coefficients of the risk factors. According to risk scores, patients were classified into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups. There were 49 (49/144, 34%) recurrences observed in the high-risk group (with a risk score ≥ 2.65), compared with 3 (3/142, 2%) recurrences in the low-risk group (with a risk score < 0.90). Disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly different (log-rank p < 0.001) among the three risk groups; the risk model also revealed a significant increase in the accuracy of predicting 5-year DFS with the area under the ROC curve (AUC = 0.754 for risk model vs 0.679 for FIGO stage system); the risk model was also validated with data from the prospective study (log-rank p < 0.001, AUC = 0.766). Both high-risk and intermediate-risk patients can be more effectively identified by this risk model.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NCS) has not been fully evaluated clinically. Currently, the main regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) used in NCS includes cisplatin. The antitumor effects of NAC reduce lymph node metastasis and the tumor diameter in patients prior to surgery, and this can reduce the number of high risk patients who require postoperative radiation therapy. Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the long-term prognosis of NCS compared to primary surgery, but the utility of NCS remains uncertain. The advent of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has markedly improved the outcome of radiotherapy (RT), and CCRT is now used as a standard method in many cases of advanced bulky cervical cancer. NCS gives a better treatment outcome than radiation therapy alone, but it is important to verify that NCS gives a similar or better outcome compared to CCRT.

Robotic surgery for early stage cervical cancer: Evolution and current trends

The management of early stage cervical cancer often includes surgery in the form of radical hysterectomy, radical trachelectomy, or radical parametrectomy. Surgical techniques have evolved to include minimal invasive approaches, and more recently, to include robotic assisted techniques. This review highlights the evolution of surgical management of early cervical cancer and specifically explores robotic assisted radical hysterectomy, radical trachelectomy, radical parametrectomy, and the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Safety and Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radical Surgery Versus Radical Surgery Alone in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical surgery (RS) among patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

Methods

Eight hundred patients with LACC received either NACT followed by RS (NACT–RS) or RS alone. The primary outcome measures assessed the efficacy and adverse effects of NACT. Secondary outcome measures compared the preoperative clinical stage to the postoperative pathologic stage in NACT–RS and RS patients, assessed intraoperative and postoperative complications, including the adverse effects of postoperative radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy, and estimated the 5-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival.

Results

The clinical response to NACT was 89.54%. Patients in the NACT–RS group had lower preoperative hemoglobin levels (115.20 vs 122.04 g/L, P < 0.001), a longer operative time (mean, 233.66 vs 224.37 minutes, P = 0.008), more intraoperative bleeding (750.34 vs 684.41 mL, P = 0.011), a shorter duration of catheter use (mean, 29.84 vs 32.14 days, P = 0.036), and a lower incidence of postoperative complications (7.30% vs 13.62%, P = 0.002) and postoperative radiotherapeutic and radiochemotherapeutic adverse effects (3.16% vs 4.63%, P < 0.001) compared to patients in the RS group. The 5-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival were 80.30% and 81.10% in the NACT–RS group and 81.00% and 78.50% in the RS group (P > 0.05). Pathological poor differentiation, nonsquamous cell carcinoma, parametrial invasion, positive pelvic lymph node, and lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for recurrence.

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may reduce RS-associated complications and postoperative radiotherapeutic and radiochemotherapeutic adverse effects in Chinese patients with LACC.

Proteomic identification of predictive tissue biomarkers of sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in squamous cervical cancer

AIMS

The regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in squamous cervical cancer (SCC) frequently use cisplatin combined with paclitaxel. Unfortunately, some cervical cancers show resistance to the principal chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment, decreasing the effectiveness of this therapy. The objective of this study was to search for predictive markers of response to NAC in patients with SCC.

MAIN METHODS

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) accompanied by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to analyze and identify differentially expressed proteins in ten cases of advanced cervical cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based NAC. Each of these patients received more than two cycles of NAC. Cell proliferation rate in cisplatin resistant human cervical cancer cell Hela/DDP and its parent cell Hela after treatment with Hsp70 inhibitor and/or cisplatin were tested by MTT assay.

KEY FINDINGS

Twelve protein spots changed in abundance, quantitative comparison of spot volumes showed that seven protein spots were up-regulated and five spots were down-regulated in the NAC non-responders compared to the NAC responders. These proteins are involved in various cellular processes essential for cell metabolism, migration and apoptotic signal transduction. The high-fold changes proteins of stathmin1, Hsp70 and pyruvate kinase isoform M2 were validated by Western blot analysis. Over-expression of Hsp70 inhibits the efficacy of cisplatin. Hsp70 inhibitor enhanced the sensitivity to cisplatin in both Hela and Hela/DDP cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

The study found many candidate proteins involved in chemotherapy resistance/sensitivity, among them Hsp70 might be potential biomarkers to predict the efficacy of chemotherapy for SCC patients.