Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, ifosfamide and paclitaxel for locally advanced squamous-cell cervical cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of bulky and locally-advanced cervical cancer. Cisplatin and ifosfamide are known to be effective in cervical cancer, while paclitaxel is one of the promising new drugs for the treatment of this neoplasm.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly being used for the treatment of bulky and locally-advanced cervical cancer. Cisplatin and ifosfamide are known to be effective in cervical cancer, while paclitaxel is one of the promising new drugs for the treatment of this neoplasm. Objective: To assess the toxic effects and antitumor activity of a multidrug neoadjuvant regimen consisting of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and paclitaxel in bulky and locally advanced cervical cancer. Patients and methods: Thirty-eight patients with pathology- confirmed squamous-cell cervical cancer (27 IB2-IIA, two IIB, eight IIIB, one IVA) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Their treatment consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 given over three hours on day 1, cisplatin 50 mg/m2 (75 mg/m2 in 10 patients), ifosfamide 5 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion and mesna 5 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion on day 2, and mesna 3 g/m2 in a 24-hour continuous infusion on day 3. The course was repeated every th...