Background: Data about the outcome and prognostic factors in the group of patients with non-squamous cell advanced or recurrent carcinomas of the uterine cervix are limited. We compared the outcome of patients with non-squamous with that of squamous cell carcinomas after platinum-based combination chemotherapy as first line therapy for stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinoma.
Patients and methods: A total of 200 patients with stage IV or recurrent carcinomas of the cervix received platinum-based combination chemotherapy and were included in our analysis.
Results: There were 58 patients with non-squamous and 142 patients with squamous cell carcinomas. Response to chemotherapy was 53.5% in non-squamous vs. 43.5% in squamous carcinomas. Histology was not an independent predictor of tumor response (P = 0.797). Response rates were lower in patients with relapse only in a previously irradiated area in both squamous (26.9% vs. 53.5%, P = 0.005) and non-squamous carcinomas (47.1% vs. 65%, P = 0.270). Weight loss was the only significant predictor of survival in non-squamous histology patients (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in median survival between squamous (11.57 months [95% CI 9.35-13.79]) and non-squamous carcinomas (19.05 months [95% CI 13.63-24.47]) (P = 0.064). After adjustment for independent prognostic factors (ECOG performance status and weight loss), differences in survival remained not significant.
Conclusion: Our study showed a similar outcome for both squamous and non-squamous stage IV or recurrent cervical carcinomas treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy.