Neoadjuvant docetaxel combined with cisplatin and followed by radical surgery for the treatment of locally advanced (stage IB2 - IIB) cervical cancer: preliminary results of a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of treating locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) with a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) regimen combining docetaxel and cisplatin followed by radical surgery.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients with stage IB2 - IIB (tumor diameter ≥ 4 cm) disease admitted between January 2007 and July 2009 who, before radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, received two to three courses of an NAC regimen comprising docetaxel (75 mg/m²) and cisplatin (70 - 75 mg/m²).

RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with LACC received 109 cycles of NAC. The objective response rate was 86.5% (26.9% CR and 17.3% pathological CR). Stage IB2 disease had a more favorable response to NAC (95.7%, p = 0.019). Deep stromal invasion and lymph-vascular space metastasis rates were significantly lower in NAC responders (p = 0.033) than in nonresponders (p = 0.012). Most side effects of NAC were mild or moderate. Log-rank test showed the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 100 and 90.3% for NAC responders, compared with only 57.1% (p = 0.000) and 68.6% for nonresponders (p = 0.012), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant docetaxel combined with cisplatin yielded a high response rate with well tolerable toxicity for LACC and could decrease pathological risk factors in NAC responders.