A Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Extended Field Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Para-aortic Lymph Node Positive Cervical Cancer
We conducted a phase II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extended field concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer with para-aortic node metastasis. Thirty-seven women with stage IB1-IVA cervical cancer were enrolled. The median age was 52 years. Thirty-four patients other than 3 progressive disease, proceeded to extended field concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 70.1% and 48.5%, respectively. The 3-year overall survival according to stages was significantly worse in stage IIIB. Twelve of the 17 patients with stage IIIB died of the disease. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extended field concurrent chemoradiotherapy may improve the prognosis of patients with stages IB and II cervical cancer with positive para-aortic node. However, new strategies should be investigated to improve a poor prognosis in stage IIIB disease with positive para-aortic node.