OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on the prognosis of patients with low-risk cervical cancer (without pelvic lymph node metastasis, parametrial involvement, positive surgical margin, primary tumor size > 4 cm, deep cervical stromal invasion, or lymph-vascular space invasion).

METHODSThe clinical data of 208 patients with low-risk cervical cancer were studied retrospectively to analyze the indications of adjuvant chemotherapy and its relationship with tumor recurrence and the patients' survival.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time of the cohort was 73 months. The overall tumor recurrence rate was 4.8% and the total 5-year survival rate of the patients was 96.0%. Sixty-nine of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (Taxol+Cisplatin) after the operation with a median of 2.5 (2-4) courses. Univariate analysis showed that the histological tumor grade was significantly associated with adjuvant chemotherapy (P<0.001). In the 114 grade III patients, 50 received adjuvant chemotherapy as compared with 19 in the 94 grade I-II patients. Among the grade III patients, no significant differences was found in the overall survival rate (97.0% vs 95.0%) or tumor recurrence rate (4.0% vs 4.7%) rate between the patients with adjuvant chemotherapy and those without. The tumor size (2 cm or less vs >2 cm) was significantly associated with tumor recurrence rate (1.1% vs 7.5%, P=0.034) and the overall 5-year survival rate (100.0% vs 93.0%, P=0.034) in the 208 patients. In the 139 patients receiving only surgical treatment, the tumor recurrence and 5-year survival rates were not significantly correlated with the histologic grade, age, FIGO staging, gross type, tumor size or histologic type.

CONCLUSIONB There has been no sufficient evidence to support the prescription of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for low-risk cervical cancer based on histological grading of the tumor, which may not help in reducing tumor recurrence or improving the long-term survival of the postoperative patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a neoadjuvant paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed locally advanced cervical carcinoma, aged > or =18 years, were treated with intravenous ifosfamide 5,000 mg/m2 and mesna 5,000 mg/m2, on day 1; intravenous paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2, on day 2; every 3 weeks for three cycles. Following chemotherapy, operable patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, and, if necessary, adjuvant radiotherapy. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two patients with median age 53 years (range, 24 to 79 years), FIGO stage IIB in 126 (89%), were treated with chemotherapy for median 3 cycles (range, 1 to 3). Treatment was delayed or withdrawn in 23 patients (15%). One hundred thirty-nine patients (91%) underwent surgery. Postchemotherapy pathological complete response rate was 18% (25 patients). Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in 100 patients (72%). The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.5 to 90.3) and 76.4% (95% CI, 73.5 to 79.5), respectively. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy was feasible and effective in the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma patients with older age and more advanced disease stage than reported in previous studies. Hematological and renal toxicity could be carefully prevented.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*drug therapy/mortality/pathology ; Cisplatin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Disease Progression ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Ifosfamide/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Paclitaxel/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/pathology ; Young Adult

Pulmonary toxicity is one of the most serious adverse effects associated with a quick course of vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC-VBP). The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary toxicity related to a quick course NAC-VBP. A total of consecutive 61 patients, who underwent at most 3 cycles of NAC-VBP every 10 days in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB-IIB cervical cancer from 1995 to 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 61 study subjects, 7 (11.5%) were identified to have pulmonary toxicity and 2 (3.3%) died of pulmonary fibrosis progression despite aggressive treatment and the use of a multidisciplinary approach. No factor predisposing pulmonary toxicity was identified. Initial symptoms were non-specific, but bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis were characteristic findings by high-resolution computed tomography of the chest. The benefit of steroid therapy was uncertain and was associated with steroid-induced diabetes mellitus requiring insulin therapy in two patients. Fatal pulmonary toxicity is a major concern of a quick course NAC-VBP. In conclusion, these patients require special monitoring for bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Bleomycin/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Cisplatin/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases/*chemically induced/pathology ; Middle Aged ; *Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced/mortality/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications/*drug therapy ; Vincristine/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use