title: Preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced carcinoma of the vulva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A twice daily (BID) radiation treatment schedule (interval of 4-6 h) delivered concurrent with chemotherapy for advanced or critically located carcinoma of the vulva was modeled on the schema developed by the Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG). Inguinal nodes were included in the treatment fields even if clinically negative. This review analyzed the outcomes using this approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of the records of 18 patients with vulvar cancer. Patients were treated with a modified GOG schema using 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin with BID radiation treatments during the first and last weeks of treatment and seven daily radiation treatments in between. The regional nodes and primary tumor were prescribed 44.6 Gy. Resection of the primary tumor bed and inguinal dissection was planned at 4-6 weeks post-treatment. Clinical and pathological responses as well as locoregional control and toxicity were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients responded. There were 13/18 complete clinical responses (cCR), of whom 12 remained NED at 25 months. Of the five partial clinical response (cPR) patients, two have suffered local recurrences, despite surgical resection in one and electron boost in the other. All patients developed a desquamative perineal skin reaction necessitating a mean treatment break of 15 days. No severe hematological toxicity was encountered, and only one patient had grade 3 small bowel toxicity. One patient required surgical debridement for groin wound breakdown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of BID chemoradiation resulted in complete or partial responses in all cases. Post-treatment groin dissection can be performed without significant post-operative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavillon (POB II), 5150 Centre Avenue, 5th Floor, Room 544B, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. gersztenk@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerszten
authors.forename: Raj N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil