Clinical responses and platinum concentrations in tumors after intra-arterial and intravenous administration of cisplatin in the same patients with cervical cancer.

We evaluated 3 patients with advanced cervical cancer treated with cisplatin intra-arterially and intravenously. The dose of cisplatin was 50 mg/m2 in each infusion. Chemotherapy was repeated at 4-week intervals for three to four courses. The clinical response and the tumor concentration of platinum were evaluated in each course. All patients who received the intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin were judged to be responders, whereas none of them responded to the intravenous infusion. The platinum concentration in tumor tissue was significantly higher after intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin (1.97 +/- 0.04 vs. 2.86 +/- 0.10 microg/g). Although there were no apparent differences in side effects between intra-arterial and intravenous routes, 2 of 3 patients rejected an intra-arterial route. The present study suggests that intra-arterial administration of cisplatin may be useful in treating locally advanced cervical cancer.