Effects of chemotherapy on patients with recurrent cervical cancer previously treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective multicenter survey in Japan

Background: Predictive factors of the efficacy of chemotherapy for Japanese patients with recurrent cervical cancer who have been previously treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) are currently unknown, and hence we aimed to investigate this. Methods: We retrospectively studied the prognostic outcomes of patients with recurrent cervical cancer treated with CCRT between 2002 and 2010 at four medical facilities. Results: A total of 64 patients were included in this study. Forty-two patients received definitive CCRT and 22 patients received postoperative adjuvant CCRT, with 55 receiving platinum-based combination chemotherapy and nine receiving single-agent chemotherapy. The overall response rate (ORR) was 12.5 %, with one complete response. The median survival period was 12 months. The ORR and overall survival rate did not differ significantly according to recurrence site, post-CCRT interval, or chemotherapy regimen. Conclusion: None of the factors analyzed in this study were identified as positive predictive factors for the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after CCRT. Based on the results of previous studies, in order to improve long-term prognosis in recurrent cases, adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered as a potential treatment option for selected patients, especially as postoperative adjuvant therapy.