title: Chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel in locally advanced cervical cancer: has this regimen still a role as neoadjuvant setting?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy represents a promising alternative to concomitant chemo-radiation therapy in locally advanced cervical cancer patients. The aim of this study was the evaluation of pathologic response rates, toxicity and predictors of response in locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant cisplatin and paclitaxel followed by radical surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with stage IB2 to IIB cervical cancer received three cycles of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 intravenously every three weeks followed by radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Toxicity, pathologic response and predictors of response were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chemotherapy related toxicities we-re as follows: alopecia 100%, asthenia 35.7%; nausea and vomiting 14.3%; paclitaxel hypersensitivity 7.1%, neutropenia 7.1%. Optimal, partial and no pathologic response was achieved in 21.4%, 64.3% and 14.2% of the patients, respectively. Based on lack of pathologic risk factors, 43% of the patients did not receive any adjuvant radiotherapy. Better response rates were obtained in patients with stage IIB, tumor diameter <5 cm, Hb >12 g/dL and SCC antigen <1.5 mg/dL. None of these variables reached statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel in locally advanced cervical cancer appeared to be well-tolerated. Even though the TIP regimen has been shown to be more effective than the TP regimen in randomized controlled prospective trial, the TP regimen remains a reasonable alternative in those patients in whom the TIP regimen is considered or shown to be too toxic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. melitamoioli@libero.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mammoliti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menoni
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Menada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D058994:Salpingectomy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin