Randomized comparison of intra-arterial chemotherapy versus intra-arterial chemotherapy and gelfoam embolization for treatment of advanced cervical carcinoma

Purpose: We evaluated the effects of intra-arterial infusion therapy by comparing the results obtained with a combination of intra-arterial anticancer drugs with and without transcatheter arterial ernbolization (TAE) in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: Between April 1999 and March 2003, intra-arterial therapy was administered to 45 patients (mean age 49 years) with cervical cancer. Of these, 18 had stage IIb, 4 had stage IIIa, 19 had stage IIIb, and 4 had stage IVb cancer; the histopathologic types were squamous cell carcinoma (n = 35), adenocarcinoma (n = 8), and adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 2). A total of 45 patients gave their informed consent and were randomized on a continuous basis into one of three groups according to the therapeutic protocols: group A consisted of 15 patients who received cisplatin, group B consisted of 17 patients who received cisplatin, mitomycin, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and 5-fluorouracil, and group C consisted of 13 patients who received cisplatin and TAE. Each protocol was administered twice with a 3 week interval between treatments. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated on the basis of the tumor reduction ratio (%) using MR imaging and the side effects were analyzed. Results: In groups A, B, and C, the tumor reduction ratio was 54%, 84%, and 86%, respectively; it was significantly greater in groups B and C than in group A (p < 0.01). The difference between groups B and C was not statistically significant. Although all group C patients developed severe pain after TAE, the pain was controlled with analgesics. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 6 of 17 (35%) group B patients. Conclusions: Group B and C patients had better tumor reduction than those in group A. Fewer hematologic complications occurred in group C patients compared with group B.