title: Neoadjuvant therapy for cervical cancer.
abstract: The stage-by-stage prognosis for cervical cancer patients has not improved in the past decades. Our research work concerning adjuvant chemotherapy for the early stages induced a pilot study with untreated patients in advanced stages. Patients were treated with carboplatin 300 mg/m2 plus ifosfamide 5 g/m2 on day 1. In cases of remission or no change, the therapy was repeated after 4 weeks. A third course was given only after further remission. After chemotherapy, patients were treated with surgery or radiotherapy according to feasibility. A total of 34 patients were admitted to this study. Thirty-two patients with 88 chemotherapy courses were evaluable for response and toxicity. Nineteen patients achieved remission; three achieved complete remission. The most common toxic effects were myelosuppression with grade four leukopenia (28%) and thrombocytopenia (13%). Alopecia (60%) was the main nonhematologic toxicity. In conclusion, we suggest that this regimen is as effective as other platin-containing regimens for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri, but its hematologic toxicity precludes its recommendation in an adjuvant setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hannover University, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuehnle
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Meerpohl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eiermann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Achterrath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015080:Mesna / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D015080:Mesna; D007069:Ifosfamide