A preoperative single course of high-dose cisplatin and bleomycin with glutathione protection in bulky stage IB/II carcinoma of the cervix

One course of preoperative chemotherapy including high-dose cisplatin (40 mg/m² daily for 5 consecutive days) with glutathione protection and bleomycin (15 mg on days 2, 8 and 9) was administered to 27 patients with bulky operable cervical carcinoma (stage IB/II) in a pilot study. In all patients the tumor diameter was > 4 cm. Surgery (radical hysterectomy with pelvic- and para-aortic lymphadenectomy) was planned within one month of chemotherapy. In 27 evaluable patients, nausea/vomiting was the most pronounced side effect. Significant (but transient) increases in serum transaminases were detected in 19 patients. Electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia) was detected in 6 patients (one with hypocalcemia). These reversible effects were not associated with other signs of renal toxicity. Objective clinical responses were observed in 21 patients, 18 of them partial and 3 complete responders (pathologically confirmed in 2). Radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was performed with no particular complications. The shrinking of bulky tumor made the operation easier, especially in parametrial resections. High-dose cisplatin chemotherapy prior to surgery is feasible with acceptablc toxicity. The encouraging results of this study warrant further investigations to define the role of neoadjuvant therapy.