Comparison of Response of Chemotherapy by Cisplatin and 5-Fu Versus 63 Cisplatin and Paclitaxel in Recurrent Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study was done from January, 2008 to December, 2008 at Onclogy Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Radiotherapy Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka and National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NIRCH), Dhaka. Total 60 patients were enrolled. Among them 30 patients received Cisplatin & 5-FU as group A and next 30 patients received Cisplatin & Paclitaxel as group B. The objective of the study was to compare the response of chemotherapy regiment of Cisplatin-5FU (group-A) with Cisplatin-Paclitaxel (group-B) in recurrent cervical cancer. After completion of the treatment, response was assessed in terms of toxicities, improvement of symptoms and clinical tumour regression. Tumour response in terms of symptoms improvement, P/V bleeding, P/V discharge, foul smelling discharge and complain of pain, was found to be high in Group B than Group A and was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at the end of 5th and 6th cycle chemotherapy. About chemotherapy toxicities, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting was high among the Group-B patients, than Group-A patients & the difference was statistically significant (p< 0.05). The proportion of diarrhea episodes was higher in Group-A patient than Group-B and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).Alopecia and fever was high among Group B patient than Group A patient and the difference was statistically very highly significant (p<0.001) Tumour response seen by P/V and P/S examinations, it was found that after 3rd follow-up, a statistical significant difference was found (p<0.05) between Group-A & Group-B with proportion of complete regression of tumour was found to be higher among the Group-B patients than Group-A. By Pap's test at 1st follow-up, complete regression of tumour was found higher in group B than group A patients and the mean difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In 2nd and 3rd follow-up, patients got complete response in Group B was higher than Group A and but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There is a significant success in terms of symptom improvement, tumour regression in palliative treatment for recurrent cervical cancer with Cisplatin-Paclitaxel (group-B) regiment over Cisplatin-5FU (group-A) regimen.

(Bang. Onc. J. 2009; 4 (2) : 63-71)