Pharmacotherapy of cervical cancer

Abstract

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Cervical cancer (CC) remains an important health problem. It is the second most frequent malignancy in women worldwide, with one-third of patients dying from pharmacoresistant disease. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: We reviewed pharmacotherapy approaches in the medical and multidisciplinary management of CC and conducted a systematic search of Pubmed for clinical trials, reviews and meta-analysis published in the last 20 years. Abstracts of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society of Gynecological Oncology and International Gynecologic Cancer Society were also searched, together with the US National Institutes of Health clinical trial database. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: The state-of-the art of cytotoxic and biologically targeted therapies in early, locally advanced and metastatic/recurrent CC is discussed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Until recently, the role of pharmacotherapy in CC was restricted to palliation of advanced/metastatic or recurrent disease. During the past two decades, this reluctant attitude towards chemotherapy has been modified after a series of randomized trials demonstrated its beneficial contribution as an adjunct to radiotherapy or surgery in early and locally advanced CC. Moreover, new combinations of cytotoxics, together with novel molecular target agents, open new perspectives in the treatment of primary and recurrent CC.