The CancerWeb Report, What's New In Cancer: February, 1997
Cervix Cancer

• Vinorelbine, an active chemotherapy drug for uterine cervical cancer - Although considered a curable tumor in its early stages, advanced cervix cancer is a difficult disease, not particularly responsive to treatment. A study from a cooperative oncology group in Argentina, published in the February, 1997 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, contributes to support for the use of vinorelbine in cervix cancer. This newer synthetic relative of Oncovin and Velban was used as neoadjuvant therapy, a course of treatment designed to shrink tumor size prior to surgery or radiation, rather than in serial fashion after these curative procedures have failed. There was a 45% response rate to the drug, and over 30% of these advanced inoperable cases were able to undergo surgery. This promising result with vinorelbine alone justifies exploring combinations with other drugs. (Lacava, J Clin Oncol 15:604, 1997)

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• Irinotecan, a study in uterine cervical cancer - Irinotecan, also known as CPT-11, is a derivative of camptothecin, a naturally-occurring compound that has been studied in some types of cancer. A report in the February, 1997 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, described an overall response rate of 21% in patients with advanced cervix cancer who had received radiation and were now resistant to other chemotherapy. The drug, like its parent is not innocuous, producing severe gastrointestinal upset that limited the dose that could be given, as well as anemia, lowered white blood cell counts, hair loss and skin rashes. However, advanced cervix cancer is a very difficult disease to manage, and any new possibility helps. (Verschraegen, J Clin Oncology 15:625, 1997)