Paclitaxel and Carboplatin for Recurrent or Persistent Cancer of the Cervix

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and degree of toxicity of paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) combination chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or persistent cervical carcinoma. Methods. Fifteen patients who received PC chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix at the Magee-Womens Hospital from 1994–1998 were studied retrospectively. Demographic data, pathology, radiation treatment response, site of recurrence, chemotherapy response, survival rates, and toxicities were reviewed. Months of survival were calculated by the method of Kaplan–Meier from the date after initiation of chemotherapy to death or the last date of follow-up. Results. Fifteen patients received PC for recurrence or persistence of disease with a median of six courses of PC (range, four to 26). Fourteen patients (93.3%) had received prior radiation, and one patient had received surgery as the primary therapy. Four (26.7%) of 15 patients had complete response and five (33.3%) had partial response for an overall clinical response rate of 60%. The median survival of all 15 patients treated with PC was 17 months (range, four to 39). Four patients demonstrated progression of disease while two patients had stable disease. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in four patients (26.7%) while one patient (6.7%) suffered from sepsis. Three patients (20%) suffered from Grade 2 anemia and four patients (26.7%) patients developed Grade 2 or Grade 3 neuropathy. There was no incidence of nephrotoxicity. Conclusions. Paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy appears to have promising activity in recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix with an acceptable toxicity profile. Due to patient convenience and tolerance, consideration should be given to carboplatin as an alternative regimen to cisplatin in combination with paclitaxel.