title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in bulky stage IB-IIA cervical cancer: results of a quick course with vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin.
abstract: We retrospectively analyzed 51 consecutive patients with bulky International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IIA cervical cancer who were treated with vincristine (1 mg/m), bleomycin (25 mg/m; days 1-3), and cisplatin (50 mg/m) every 10 days between 1995 and 2005 to assess the efficacy and the safety of a quick course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A clinical response occurred in 37 patients (72.5%), including 7 patients (13.7%) with a complete response and 30 patients (58.8%) with a partial response; 13 patients (25.5%) had a stable disease, and 1 patient (2.0%) had a progressive disease. Among the 50 patients who were surgically explored, 42 patients had a radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy; radical surgery was aborted in 8 patients because of paracervical and para-aortic lymph node involvement. Hematologic toxicity was the most common adverse event with anemia occurring most frequently, followed by leukopenia. Importantly, pulmonary toxicity occurred in 7 patients, 2 of whom died of complications from pulmonary fibrosis 1 and 3 months after radical surgery. With a median follow-up of 53 months (range, 2-129 months), the estimated 2- and 5-year survival rates were 74.9% and 61.3%, respectively. In conclusion, the survival benefit of a quick course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin may be uncertain despite the significant clinical response in bulky International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2-IIA cervical cancer. Special care is required to monitor bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Do
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.forename: Dong-Hwa
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seo-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Myong-Cheol
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seon-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D002945:Cisplatin