Combined chemoradiation of cisplatin versus carboplatin in cervical carcinoma for general condition patients: a single institution experience from Thailand

Aim/Background

To report the results of concurrent chemo-radiation with cisplatin versus carboplatin in locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

Methods

From 2009 to 2013, 255 patients with stage IIB-IVA cervical carcinoma, according to FIGO staging, were prospectively assigned to be treated with weekly cisplatin versus weekly carboplatin combined with radical radiotherapy. All patients were aged between 18-70 years at study entry, had a good performance status and normal laboratory functions. Treatment outcomes and toxicities were evaluated.

Results

Two-hundred and thirteen patients could be evaluated. At the median follow-up time of 43 months (Interquartile range; 23.5-57 months), the local control, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival and overall survival rates were 93%, 80.8%, 85.0% and 87.3%, respectively. No statistical difference in terms of local control, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival and overall survival rates between cisplatin and carboplatin treatments was observed in this study. Eighty six percents of the patients in the carboplatin group received more than 4 cycles, while there were only 72% in the cisplatin group who completed more than 4 cycles (p = 0.02). In terms of acute toxicity, cisplatin caused significantly more anemia (p = 0.026), neutropenia (p = 0.044) and nephrotoxicity (p = 0.031) than carboplatin. No difference in late toxicity was observed in this study.

Conclusions

Carboplatin yielded comparable results to cisplatin in concurrent chemo-radiation for locally advanced cervical cancer. In addition, carboplatin was associated with a higher compliance rate and had significantly lower incidence of anemia, neutropenia and nephrotoxicity.

Clinical trial identification

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.