Study on Paclitaxel Plus Topotecan in Comparison With Topotecan Plus Cisplatin in Recurrent or Persistent Cervical Carcinoma

Current planning for studies involving patients with recurrent, persistent, or metastasized cervical cancer must take into consideration that up to 75% of all patients are assumed to have already been treated with cisplatin in conjunction with radiation therapy. It seems questionable to continue to treat patients with cisplatin when cancer has recurred. Thus, it is important to seek alternative active combinations. The studies GOG 169 and 179 demonstrated that a combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin was superior to a cisplatin monotherapy with respect to therapeutic response and progression-free survival, as was a combination of topotecan and cisplatin with respect to therapeutic response, progression-free survival, and total survival. To achieve further improvement in total survival and to answer questions regarding the value of using a platinum-free combination, we propose that a study should be conducted to compare the efficacy of a platinum-free combination of paclitaxel and topotecan to a combination of cisplatin and topotecan.