Postoperative chemotherapy for node-positive cervical cancer: Results of a multicenter phase II trial (JGOG1067)

Objective This multicenter phase II Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study (JGOG1067) was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with node-positive cervical cancer. Methods Patients with stage IB–IIA squamous cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and were confirmed to have pelvic lymph node metastasis were eligible for this study. The patients postoperatively received irinotecan (CPT-11; 60mg/m 2 intravenously on days 1 and 8) and nedaplatin (NDP; 80mg/m 2 intravenously on day 1). Chemotherapy administration commenced within 6weeks after surgery and was repeated every 28days for up to 5cycles. The primary endpoint of this study was the 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate. The secondary endpoints were the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, 5-year RFS rate, and adverse events such as complications of chemotherapy and lower-limb edema. Results Sixty-two patients were analyzed according to our protocol, among whom 55 (88.7%) completed 5cycles of scheduled treatment. The median follow-up period was 66.1months (range, 16.8–96.6months). The 2-year and 5-year RFS rates were 87.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.9–99.3) and 77.2% (95% CI: 64.5–85.8), respectively. Fourteen patients (22.5%) experienced recurrence during the follow-up period, 8 of whom died of the disease. The 5-year OS rate in this study was 86.5% (95% CI: 74.8–93.0). Only 9.7% of the patients experienced lymphedema in their legs. Conclusion Postoperative chemotherapy without radiotherapy was found to be very effective in high-risk patients with node-positive cervical cancer.