title: Carboplatin and paclitaxel in metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of carboplatin and paclitaxel combination in advanced or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one eligible patients with measurable advanced or recurrent cervical carcinoma were treated with carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) and paclitaxel 175 mg/m every 3 weeks for 6 to 9 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight complete (16%) and 19 partial responses (37%) occurred, for an overall response rate (RR) of 53% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39%-67%). The median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% CI, 5.4-6.5 months), and the median overall survival was 13 months (95% CI, 11.4-14.5 months). The RR was higher in patients with disease outside a previously irradiated site compared with those with disease in a previously irradiated field (68% vs 30%) (P = 0.011). Patients previously treated with chemoradiation had an RR of 28%, whereas in those previously treated with radiotherapy alone, the RR was 68% (P = 0.023). There was no statistically significant difference between histology and response to therapy. Patients with performance status of 0 or 1 had a higher RR than those with worse performance status. Toxicity was generally mild except for myelotoxicity. Neutropenia grade 3/4 was recorded in 44% of patients, and 6% experienced febrile neutropenia. Twenty-two percent of patients experienced anemia grade 3-4, whereas 14% had thrombocytopenia grade 3-4. Three patients (6%) developed grade 3 sensory neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel seems to have activity in advanced or recurrent cervical carcinoma with an acceptable toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Propaedeutic, Oncology Section, University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. pectasid@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaxoinis
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: Nicolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiros
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sykiotis
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koumarianou
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psyrri
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panayiotides
authors.forename: Theofanis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
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 / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel