Concurrent Radiotherapy and Weekly Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Squmous Cell Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix-Treated Patients at Rural Centre in India

This study was performed to analyze the efficacy and safety of con-current radiotherapy and weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of carcinoma of uterine cervix. Hundred patients with locally advanced (stages IIB to IVA according to FIGO classification) carcinoma of uterine cervix were enrolled, radiotherapy was conventionally administered: 50.4 Gy/28 fractions by external beam (whole pelvis) followed by HDR-Intracavitary brachytherapy, 4 fractions of 7 Gy each. Paclitaxel was administered on weekly basis at dose of 40 mg m2 during entire course of external beam radiotherapy. Treatment response was evaluated three months after the end of radiotherapy by means of clinical examination and ultrasonography. Complete Regression (CR) in 83 %, partial response (PR) 14 % and progressive disease 3 %. At 26 months of median follow up 73 patients alive, 58 patients are disease free. The results of this study suggest that concurrent chemo radiotherapy is feasible in treatment of carcinoma cervix with acceptable and manageable toxicity and paclitaxel act as radio sensitizer in locally advanced cervical cancer.