Chemotherapy and targeted therapy in the management of cervical cancer

Management of cervical cancer has undergone refinement in the past two decades; concurrent chemo-radiation (CCRT) (with cisplatin alone or in combination) is currently the standard treatment approach for patients with locally advanced disease (FIGO stage IIB-IVA). About 30%-40% of such patients fail to achieve complete response; alternative approaches are needed to improve outcome for them. Treatment with bevacizumab (an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor) along with chemotherapy is associated with improved survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin for 4-6 weeks as dose dense chemotherapy prior to CCRT is currently under study in a phase III, multicentric trial. Role of adjuvant chemotherapy after CCRT in patients with positive lymph nodes, larger tumor volume and those with stage III-IVA disease needs further exploration. Novel agents targeting molecular pathways are currently being studied. Recent development of immune check point inhibitors is exciting, results of ongoing studies are awaited with interest.