Combination chemotherapy prior to radical radiotherapy for stage III and IV carcinoma of the cervix.

Twenty-three patients with Stage III and seven patients with Stage IVa carcinoma of cervix were treated with two pulses of cisplatin, vincristine and bleomycin combination chemotherapy prior to radical radiotherapy. Seventeen of the 30 patients (57%) had a partial response to chemotherapy; 25 had a complete response following radiotherapy. Currently, 16 patients are tumour-free 6 to 31 months after treatment, eight are dead and six are alive, with tumour. The actuarial survival at 30 months is 66%. Acute and late effects of radiation upon normal tissue have not been increased. Pelvic tumour was eliminated in 21 of the 30 patients (70%). The high local control rate may be due to the initial tumour shrinkage after chemotherapy.