Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Fourteen Years of Experience at a Single Institution Using a Combined-Modality Regimen of Involved-Field Irradiation and Platinum-Based Combination Chemotherapy

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of a combined-modality regimen of irradiation with platinum-based combination chemotherapy in small-cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCCC). Patients and Methods: Thirty-four patients with SCCC were seen and treated at the British Columbia Cancer Agency between May 1988 and November 2002. Two protocols were used, SMCC (May 1988 to December 1995) and SMCC2 (January 1996 to November 2002). Both protocols used cisplatin, etoposide, and involved-field irradiation (essentially pelvis plus or minus para-aortics) with concurrent chemotherapy. In addition, SMCC2 included carboplatin and paclitaxel, and the para-aortics were irradiated routinely. Results: Thirty-one patients received either SMCC (n = 17) or SMCC2 (n = 14), and three patients did not (disease too extensive, n = 1; patient refusal, n = 1; and alternative regimen, n = 1). For the 31 patients treated on one of the protocols, the 3-year overall and failure-free survival (FFS) rates were 60% and 57%, respectiv...