Tailoring the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery: results from a multicenter study

• Published in: International journal of gynecological cancer Vol. 22; no. 7; p. 1258
• Main Authors: Aragona, Alejandro M, Cuneo, Nicasio, Soderini, Alejandro H, Alcoba, Elsa, Greco, Adriana, Reyes, Carlos, Lekmann, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-09-2012
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Combined Modality Therapy; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lymph Node Excision; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Pelvic Exenteration; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Survival Rate; Vulvar Neoplasms - mortality; Vulvar Neoplasms - pathology; Vulvar Neoplasms - therapy
• ISSN: 1525-1438
• DOI: 10.1097/IGC.0b013e318263ef55

To determine the feasibility of performing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCH) followed by radical surgery in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
Prospective and multicenter trial. Thirty-five patients with a diagnosis of previously untreated locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were given 4 schemes of cisplatin-based NCH and 1 NCH regimen with single bleomycin. Then, they underwent radical surgery of the vulva if clinical response was 50% or more. Age, NCH schemes used, toxicity, response to treatment, type of radical surgery performed, and clinical outcome were evaluated.
Thirty-three patients completed the proposed schemes, and 30 were assessed for radical surgery. Finally, 27 patients underwent radical surgery (radical vulvectomy or radical local excision plus bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy). In 2 cases of persistent rectal involvement, posterior pelvic exenteration was performed. Moreover, 24 of 27 patients remain with no evidence of disease to date. Toxicity was acceptable. Median age was 62 years (range, 54-72 years). Median follow-up was 49 months (range, 4-155 months).
The use of NCH in selected groups may increase surgical feasibility in initially inoperable patients, thus favoring organ preservation and less extensive resections. Adverse reactions were acceptable, and vulvoperineal deleterious effects that may occur after radiotherapy were consequently avoided.