Chemoradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced cervical adenocarcinoma

PurposeThe optimal treatment of women with advanced adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix is still undefined. We compared concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) and adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy with CCRT alone for advanced cervical adenocarcinoma in a randomized trial at the Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital in China.MethodsFrom 1998 to 2007, 880 patients with clinical FIGO stages IIB–IVA cervical adenocarcinoma were randomized to receive either CCRT or chemoradiation with one cycle of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with Paclitaxel (135 mg/m2) + Cisplatin (75 mg/m2) before receiving radiation and two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with the same drugs after radiotherapy in 3-week intervals. The disease control and survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsAll patients completed the treatment plan. 340 patients have relapsed, with a median follow-up duration of 60 months. Patients who received chemoradiation with adjuvant chemotherapy showed a significantly longer disease-free (P < .05), cumulative survival (P < .05) and long-term local tumor control (P < .05). Patients who received CCRT alone had significantly more distant metastasis and pelvic failure than those who received chemoradiation with adjuvant chemotherapy (P < .05).ConclusionIncorporating neo-adjuvant and consolidation chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Cisplatin into concomitant chemoradiation is highly effective, safe and may be a very promising treatment protocol for advanced cervical adenocarcinoma.

► 880 patients with advanced cervical adenocarcinoma entered into a randomized trial.
► Concurrent chemoradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy was tested in this trial.
► This treatment produced a promising result in local control and overall survival.
► The toxicities for the treatment were tolerated well by the patients.