ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study was purposed to evaluate the effects (clinico-pathologic findings and treatment outcomes) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in management of cervical carcinoma stage IB2 (tumor diameter>4 cm) METHODS: 22 surgically treated patients due to cervical cancer IB2 between January 1993 and December 2001 were abstracted. They were divided into two groups; the one group (neoadjuvant chemotherapy group) was treated with preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy [taxol-cisplatin or bleomycin, vincristin, mitomycin and cisplatin (BOMP), 2-3 cycles] and the other group was treated by primary radical hysterectomy. Clinico-pathologic factors were reviewed and statistically analyzed and compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, tumor size, and histopathologic type between two groups (p>0.05). After surgery, lymph node, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), parametrial invasion, margin involvement, and recurrence rate had no significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). But in neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy was significantly less needed (p=0.0073). CONCLUSION: The needs of postoperative adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy or radiation therapy) in neoadjuvant chemotherapy group were less than in non-neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, even though there was no difference in clinico-pathologic factors and prognosis between two groups.