Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been used for treatment of advanced cervical cancer by some institutions for several years.
Purpose: We investigated the value of NAC for patients with IIb cervical cancer.
Materials and methods: Eight patients treated at the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical University of Gdansk between 1999 and 2000 for stage IIb cervical cancer were enrolled into the study. The drugs infused were: cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) and vincristine 1 mg/m(2) for 1 day and bleomycin 25 mg/m(2) for 3 days, for three cycles. NAC was followed by radical Wertheim-Meigs hysterectomy. All patients were evaluated for response and toxicity.
Results: In all eight patients partial responses were obtained. Despite previous data there was no severe toxicity in our study group. Hematological toxicity was mild and there was no need for modifying chemotherapy due to side effect of NAC.
Conclusion: NAC followed by radical Wertheim-Meigs hysterectomy is an effective approach to stage IIB cervical cancer. Further larger prospective study is necessary. Preoperative imaging studies (CT and/or MR) might be consider as selection criteria for future study.