title: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by radical hysterectomy in FIGO Stage IIIB cervical cancer: feasibility, complications, and clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of preoperative chemoradiation followed by radical surgery in a consecutive series of patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 1997 and July 2007, 39 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIB cervical cancer were consecutively staged and treated at the Catholic University of Rome and Campobasso and at the National Cancer Institute of Milan. Radical surgery was performed 5 to 6 weeks after the end of the cisplatinum-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical responses were observed in 35 patients (92.1%): 6 (15.8%) complete and 29 (76.3.8%) partial. Radical surgery was performed in 35 patients (89.7%). According to Chassagne classification, we observed 7 (20.0%) grade 3, 17 (48.6%) grade 2, and 28 (80%) grade 1 surgical complications. At pathological examination, 12 patients (34.3%) showed complete response, 7 patients (20.0%) had only a microscopic disease, 8 patients (22.8%) had a partial response, and the last 8 patients (22.8%) had no change in disease. We registered 11 (31.4%) operative and 4 (11.4%) early postoperative complications. Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 3-80 months). The percentages of 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 67.6% and 70.0%, respectively. Patients with complete response and microscopic disease showed better prognosis than patients with partial response and no change (3-year disease-free survival, 100% vs 31%; and 3-year overall survival, 100% vs 39%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemoradiation followed by radical hysterectomy could be administered in patients with stage IIIB cervical cancer with an acceptable rate of complications and with a survival outcome similar to that of chemoradiotherapy, allowing the assessment of pathological response with its implication on clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli 1, Rome, Italy. francesco.fanfani@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanfani
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagotti
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrandina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raspagliesi
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ditto
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cerrotta
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morganti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smaniotto
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*