A. CONCURRENT CISPLATIN-BASED RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY FOR LOCALLY ADVANCED
CERVICAL CANCER
The Gynecologic Oncology Group instituted a trial randomizing patients to one of three chemotherapy regimens given concurrently with radiotherapy to evaluate the optimal chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced cervical cancer. The three study arms used where 1) weekly cisplatin, 2) cisplatin, hydroxyurea, and fluorouracil and 3) hydroxyurea. It was found out that Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is superior to hydroxyurea in the treatment of women with locally advanced cervical cancer. There was no difference in progression free survival or overall survival between cisplastin alone and the three-drug regimen, but the latter had a higher rate of toxicity, especially hematologic. From the said study, it was recommended that weekly cisplatin given concurrent with radiotherapy as the standard of treatment in women with locally advanced cervical cancer.
B. PELVIC RADIATION WITH CONCURRENT CHEMOTHERAPY COMPARED WITH PELVIC AND PARA-AORTIC
RADIATION FOR HIGH RISK CERVICAL CANCER
The study is distinctive in utilizing higher doses of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The provided evidence that when no disease is evident in the para-aortic lymph nodes radiotherapy limited to the pelvis combined with chemotherapy provided better disease control than pelvic and para-aorticradiotherapy.
C. COMPARISON OF LAPAROSCOPIC AND CONVENTIONAL SURGERY IN THE
TREATMENT OF EARLY CERVICAL CANCER
The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy, results, and complications of laparoscopic assisted radical hysterectomy (LARH) and pelvic lymphadenectomy with dominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) and pelvic lymphadenectomy in management of early stages on ivasive cervical carcinoma. Results of the study led to the conclusion that LARH with pelvic lymphadenectomy does not increase recurrence rates and morbidity when performed by experienced endoscopists and oncologists.
