title: The efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in treatment of locally advanced carcinoma cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective cohort study in a teaching hospital to assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced carcinoma cervix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the form of cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) and paclitaxel 135 mg/m(2) on day 1 and repeated at 14 days' interval for up to a maximum of three courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer was effective in the downstaging of the disease. Downstaging was observed in 19.23 % of patients after two cycles and in 50 % of patients after three cycle of NACT. Operability increases to 33.3 and 38.4 % after two and three cycles of NACT, respectively. Complete pathological response was observed in 37.5 % of patients after NACT. No significant adverse effect in the feasibility of surgery was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy was an effective and well-tolerated mode of therapy with significantly less morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India.
authors.forename: Neetu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahirwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India ; Type IV/83, SGPGIMS, Raibareily Road, Lucknow, 226014 UP India.
authors.forename: Anju Kumari
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India.
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India.
authors.forename: Pushplata
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sankhwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, 226003 UP India.
authors.forename: Sabuhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qureshi
keywords: Cervical cancer; Downstaging; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy