From 1982 through 1985, 49 women with advanced cervical cancer were treated with concurrent radiation and cisplatin to assess tolerance to the combined modality regimen and its efficacy in comparison to historical controls at the same institution. Eligibility criteria included clinical stage IV disease; para-aortic lymph node metastases; and bilateral, unresectable, and/or multiple (greater than 3) pelvic node metastases. Nodal status was assessed by extraperitoneal surgical staging in the majority of patients with clinical stage I-IVA disease. There was no increase in acute or chronic toxicity compared to historical controls. No patient required reduction of the planned dose of radiation because of acute toxicity. Comparison with historical controls suggests a modest improvement in relapse-free survival in the cisplatin-treated group with positive para-aortic nodes (59% vs. 54% at 2 yr and 59% vs. 42% at 3 yr). We conclude that adjuvant cisplatin can be given simultaneously with radiation for advanced cervical cancer without excessive toxicity or compromise of the radiation regimen. However, confirmation of the modest improvement in relapse-free survival rates for patients with positive para-aortic nodes and identification of other subsets of patients who may benefit will require a prospective randomized trial.