Dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin in cervical cancer: Efficacy on pathological response

Background/Aim: The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is under investigation in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Patients and Methods: A total of 49 patients with FIGO stage IB1-IIB cervical cancer who underwent two different regimens of weekly dose-dense NACT were included. The objective was to evaluate clinical/pathological response and toxicity profile. Results: A clinical complete response and partial response were obtained in 43 patients with a clinical overall response rate of 88%. Among the 42 surgically treated patients, 7 (17%) and 35 (83%) achieved a pathological overall optimal response and a suboptimal pathological response, respectively. G3-G4 neutropenia occurred in 16% of patients, whereas no cases of G3 thrombocytopenia, G3 anemia and febrile neutropenia were observed. Conclusion: Dose-dense NACT is safe, has acceptable toxicity, and obtains good clinical response, but is less effective in terms of pathological overall optimal response rates compared to other regimens.