PACLITAXEL PLUS CARBOPLATIN AS NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY PRIOR TO RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY AND PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR STAGE IB2-IIB CERVICAL CANCER: CLINICAL EFFICACY AND SAFETY

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of the paclitaxel and carboplatin combination as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer before radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Method: We selected patients with cervical cancer who having undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by radical hysterectomy (NACT group) or only underwent primary radical surgery (PRS group) in Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack. Data on toxicity, NACT response, surgical pathological factors, and survival were gathered and analysed. Result: The overall rate of participation (81/11) for the NACT group was 71.2%. 15.6% patients experienced total remission. The response to NACT was better in tumours that were well differentiated (P=0.010). The most frequent adverse event was myelosuppression (51.6%), although severe adverse effects were infrequent (3.3%). 40 months made up the average follow-up time (range, 5-74). When contrasted with non-NACT respondents and individuals in the PRS group, the NACT responders had considerably longer OS and PFS. Conclusions: Although LACC patients respond to the chemotherapeutic drugs, they may profit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.