Interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic Acid and Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Squamous Carcinoma of the uterine Cervix: Preliminary Study

Lee, Jung Pil; Park, Tchan Kyu; Kim, Soo Nyung

Abstract

Locally advanced cancer of the uterine cervix is a major cause of death worldwide. Standard treatment with rdiolherepy for locally advanced cancer of the uterine cnvix has a response rate of less than 50%. Resently concurrent chcmoradirothcrpay has been introduced but with some contvovesy. Interferon and retinoic acid are inducible proteins which posses many hiologic activities such as, antiproliferative, immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. Combination of interferon and retinoic acid has produced high response rates especially for patients with squamous cell carcinoma . And they may potentiate the radiation cytotoxicity as adiosensitizer. This study was underaken to assess the clinical efficacy of combination regimen with interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy from Dec. 1988 to Dex. 1994 at Severance hospital Yonsei uniersity. Twenty seven patients of locally advanced squamous cell carcionma of the uterine cervix enrolled in this study are evaluated for response and toxicity. The results were as follow: 1. Preliminary results of interferon-alpha2a 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy are 46.7% of response rate(33.3% complete response)and those of concurrent chemoradiotherapy are 41.7% of response rate(46.7% complete response). 2. Major toxicity of interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoic acid and radiotherapy is fever(60.0%), and only case of grade 2 anemia and one case of grade 1 AST/ALT elevation was noted. There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Systemic interferon-alpha2a, 13-cis-retinoc acid and radiotherapy is highly active, well tolerated therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.