Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma in pregnancy : A report of two cases and review of issues specific to the management of cervical carcinoma in pregnancy including planned delay of therapy

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 82; no. 8; pp. 1529 - 1534
• Main Authors: TEWARI, K, CAPPUCCINI, F, GAMBINO, A, KOHLER, M. F, PECORELLI, S, DISAIA, P. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Wiley-Liss 15.04.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Lymph Node Excision; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - drug therapy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - pathology; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - surgery; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - drug therapy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - surgery; Vincristine - administration & dosage; Human; Antineoplastic agent; Carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Uterine cervix; Neoadjuvant treatment; Female genital diseases; Case study; Pregnancy; Chemotherapy; Adult; Advanced stage; Uterine cervix diseases
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19980415)82:8<1529::AID-CNCR15>3.0.CO;2-6

Women diagnosed with invasive cervical carcinoma during pregnancy are faced with difficult decisions regarding therapy and the fate of their unborn child. A modest treatment delay for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I cervical lesions is considered acceptable in patients who wish to continue their pregnancy. Two patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma diagnosed early in the second trimester strongly desired continuation of their pregnancies. They were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy until the third trimester, and then underwent delivery and definitive surgical treatment. The patients were evaluated during pregnancy for evidence of a clinical response to chemotherapy. Intraoperative findings and pathologic analysis of the surgical material provided further objective data regarding disease status. Both patients experienced a dramatic reduction in tumor volume, rendering radical hysterectomy feasible at the time of cesarean section. In addition, both patients tolerated chemotherapy well and there were no adverse fetal effects. Favorable neonatal outcomes were achieved. One patient experienced recurrence within 5 months of surgery, whereas the other patient remained without evidence of disease for 2 years. To the authors' knowledge, these reports constitute the first description of the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in pregnancy (MEDLINE 1966-1997). This therapeutic option should be considered in selected women with locally advanced cervical carcinoma who do not want termination of their pregnancy.