title: First-line paclitaxel and carboplatin in persistent/recurrent or advanced cervical cancer: a retrospective analysis of patients treated at Brazilian National Cancer Institute.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical cancer represents the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth cause of cancer death in women worldwide. In the palliative scenario, the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin is widely used. Carboplatin is also an active agent in cervical cancer, and its association with paclitaxel could represent a well-tolerated, less toxic, and effective therapeutic option. The objective of this study was to evaluate response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and toxicity of carboplatin and paclitaxel in first palliative line for cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective search of database at Brazilian National Cancer Institute was performed, and all patients with persistent/recurrent and advanced cervical cancer treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin in first palliative line, between August 2008 and January 2010, were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 153 women were enrolled. Objective responses were documented in 34.6% (5.2% of complete responses and 29.4% of partial responses). With a median follow-up of 27.8 months, the median progression-free survival was 5.2 months, and the median overall survival was 10.63 months. The most common toxicity was myelosuppression: grades 3 and 4 anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia observed in 43.0%, 17.8%, and 9.2% of the cases, respectively. Neurotoxicity was presented by 30.7% of the patients. Renal toxicity was detected in 21.9% of the patients, but only 4.0% were grade 3, and none were grade 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective study has demonstrated that paclitaxel-carboplatin is an active and well-tolerated regimen for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Hospital do Câncer II-INCA, GTG-Grupo de Tumores Ginecológicos do INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. alvarohenriq@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Álvaro Henrique Ingles
authors.initials: ÁH
authors.lastname: Garces
authors.forename: Paulo Alexandre Ribeiro
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Flávia Vieira Guerra
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Claudio Calazan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grazziotin
authors.forename: Anna Cristina Ferrão Mangia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nogueira-Rodrigues
authors.forename: Andréia Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Melo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel