Treatment results of adjuvant chemotherapy after radical hysterectomy for intermediate- and high-risk stage IB-IIA cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy alone as postoperative adjuvant therapy for intermediate- and high-risk cervical cancer.


METHODS
The study group comprised of 65 consecutive patients with stage IB or IIA squamous cell or adenosquamous cervical cancer who were initially treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 1993 and 2002. Tumors were of intermediate-risk (stromal invasion > 50%, n = 30) or high-risk (positive surgical margin, parametrial invasion, and/or lymph node involvement, n = 35). In all cases, chemotherapy was administered adjuvantly: three courses of bleomycin, vincristine, mitomycin, and cisplatin for intermediate-risk cases and five courses for high-risk cases. Disease-free survival and complications of the combined therapy were investigated.


RESULTS
Estimated 5-year disease-free survival was 93.3% for the 30 patients with intermediate-risk tumors (100% for those with squamous cell carcinoma and 71.4% for those with adenosquamous carcinoma) and 85.7% for the 35 patients with high-risk tumors (89.3% for those with squamous cell carcinoma and 71.4% for those with adenosquamous carcinoma). The incidence of locoregional recurrence was 3.3% in the intermediate-risk group and 8.6% in the high-risk group. Side effects of chemotherapy and complications of the combined therapy were within acceptable limits. No patient had severe bleomycin-related pulmonary toxicity. Only 1.5% of patients developed small bowel obstruction, which was cured by conservative therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment results suggest the potential role of adjuvant chemotherapy alone for patients with cervical cancer.
Takeshima
Nobuhiro
N
Department of Gynecology, Cancer Institute Hospital, 3-10-6, Ariake, Tokyo, Japan. nobuhiro.takeshima@jfcr.or.jp
Umayahara
Kenji
K
Fujiwara
Kiyoshi
K
Hirai
Yasuo
Y
Takizawa
Ken
K
Hasumi
Katsuhiko
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D001761:Bleomycin; D016685:Mitomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D002945:Cisplatin