Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin in the management of advanced uterine cervical cancer]

To improve the cure rate for locally advanced cervical cancer, intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin (I-A chemotherapy) was performed before starting radiation therapy. Twenty-five patients, having a large central tumor (over 5 cm in antero-posterior diameter by CT scan), were treated by I-A chemotherapy. The catheter was inserted selectively into the uterine artery. The dose of cisplatin was 120 mg/m2. After the chemotherapy, all the patients were treated by radiation therapy. Eighteen of 25 patients treated with I-A chemotherapy were evaluable. Seven patients (38.8%) experienced partial tumor regression (greater than 50% reduction in the measured diameter). The survival rate (Kaplan-Meier Method) for combined therapy with I-A chemotherapy and radiotherapy was significantly higher than that for 23 patients treated by conventional radiation therapy alone. The toxicity of I-A chemotherapy was similar to that of systemic administration. There were three catheter complications. Intra-arterial chemotherapy with cisplatin followed by radiation therapy is effective for advanced uterine cervical cancer.