Concurrent Weekly Taxol Versus Weekly Cisplatin with Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

Objective: To compare compliance, toxicity, and outcome as regard overall survival and progression free survival of weekly taxol vs. weekly cisplatin administration concurrently with radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer. Material and Methods: This prospective study included 57 women FIGO stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer or with post-surgical pelvic recurrence. Patients randomized into two groups, group I (29 patients) received a weekly cisplatin 40mg/m2 and group II (28 patients) received weekly 50mg/m2 taxol concurrently with radiotherapy. The difference of compliance and toxicity profiles between the two arms were investigated, and the overall and progression free survival were analysed. Results: Patients and tumor characteristics were similar in both arms, except the median tumor size was larger in group II (5.5cm) but not significant (P= ). The mean number of chemotherapy cycles was comparable, with 88.4% and 84% of patients receiving 4 doses in group I and II, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of compliance between the two arms (p 0.05). Two years Progression free survival rate was 45% in arm I and 38% in arm II, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.8). The median overall survival in arm I was 27 months and, 26 months in arm II, with no statistically significant difference (p=0. 16). Conclusion: This small prospective study shows that weekly paclitaxel does not provide any clinical advantage over weekly cisplatin for concurrent chemoradiation for advanced carcinoma of the cervix.