[Intraarterial chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for advanced cancer of the uterine cervix].

The results of intraarterial chemotherapy (IACT) combined with definitive radiation therapy for 23 advanced and bulky carcinomas of uterine cervix are reported. IA-CT with cisplatin 50 mg and doxorubicin 30 mg was administered by one shot method in bilateral internal iliac arteries. The protocol consisted of one to three treatment session every 3 weeks. Nine of eleven patients with clinical stage III achieved a complete local response (82%), and the 3- and 5-year survival in these cases were 72% and 72%, respectively. These results were superior to the response (58%), 3- and 5-year survivals (68%, 58%) obtained in 19 patients treated mainly with radiation therapy alone. The side effect of grade 2 and 3 for the intestine, such as ileus and hemorrhagic colitis, was noted in 3 patients (15%). In addition, 3 of 8 patients with radical surgery and postoperative radiation therapy after IA-CT developed insufficient fracture of pelvic bone. These complications accompanied by IA-CT combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery increased slightly, compared with that by the previous therapy without IA-CT, but were not critical. The results suggest that IA-CT following radiation therapy is effective to improve the prognosis of patients with Stage III cervical cancer.