Multimodal treatment with neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy and radical surgery in patients with stage IIIB‐IVA cervical cancer. A preliminary study

Abstract

Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy (NIC) in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Methods. From June 1989 to December 1993, 36 consecutive patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IIIB‐IVA cervical cancer were admitted to the study. Treatment consisted of a bilateral infusion in the internal iliac artery of bleomycin (2.5 mg), doxorubicin (10 mg), and cisplatin (20 mg) for five courses after a 4‐day rest period. Results. Twenty‐nine (80.5%) patients received 100% of the programmed chemotherapeutic dose. The major toxic effects, according to World Health Organization criteria, were hematologic (19.4%, Grade 3 or 4), renal (2.8%, Grade 2), and gastrointestinal (61.1%, Grade 1 or 2). Only four patients (11.1%) had scanty bleeding around the site of catheter insertion. Neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy induced responses in 33 of the 36 patients (5 complete, 28 partial; overall response rate, 91.7%), thus permitting radical surgery in all of these cases. Pretreatment characteristics were analyzed for response to NIC. None of the clinical parameters studied were related to chemoresponsiveness. A lower than expected incidence of lymph node metastases was detected (33.3%). Ten (30.3%) of the 33 patients who underwent surgery had disease recurrence. Lymph node status and pathologic parametrial involvement were significant prognostic factors for recurrence. The 5‐year estimated survival for patients with a complete response, partial response, and stable disease was 100%, 36.2%, and 0%, respectively (P < 0.001). Clinical stage (P = 0.003) and response to NIC (P < 0.001) were significant prognostic factors in the overall estimated survival. The 5‐year actuarial survival for patients with Stage IIIB and IVA disease was 66.7% and 0%, respectively. Conclusion. These results suggest that NIC should be considered as a means of achieving prompt local control before surgery and/or radiotherapy. Cancer 1995;76:1019–26. Copyright © 1995 American Cancer Society