title: The outcome of advanced or recurrent non-squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix after platinum-based combination chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data about the outcome and prognostic factors in the group of patients with non-squamous cell advanced or recurrent carcinomas of the uterine cervix are limited. We compared the outcome of patients with non-squamous with that of squamous cell carcinomas after platinum-based combination chemotherapy as first line therapy for stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 patients with stage IV or recurrent carcinomas of the cervix received platinum-based combination chemotherapy and were included in our analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 58 patients with non-squamous and 142 patients with squamous cell carcinomas. Response to chemotherapy was 53.5% in non-squamous vs. 43.5% in squamous carcinomas. Histology was not an independent predictor of tumor response (P = 0.797). Response rates were lower in patients with relapse only in a previously irradiated area in both squamous (26.9% vs. 53.5%, P = 0.005) and non-squamous carcinomas (47.1% vs. 65%, P = 0.270). Weight loss was the only significant predictor of survival in non-squamous histology patients (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in median survival between squamous (11.57 months [95% CI 9.35-13.79]) and non-squamous carcinomas (19.05 months [95% CI 13.63-24.47]) (P = 0.064). After adjustment for independent prognostic factors (ECOG performance status and weight loss), differences in survival remained not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed a similar outcome for both squamous and non-squamous stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinomas treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, 31 Komninon Street, Haidari, 124 62 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bamias
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Efstathiou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gika
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zorzou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin