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Updates in Systemic Treatment for Metastatic Cervical Cancer

  • Gynecologic Cancers (RJ Morgan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Cervical cancer has been a leading cause of morbidity and gynecologic cancer deaths throughout the world in this generation despite the implementation of Pap smears. The American Joint Committee on Cancer classifies metastatic cervical cancer as any tumor (T) stage and M1 (distant metastasis of peritoneal spread and involvement of supraclavicular, mediastinal, or para-aortic lymph nodes; lung; liver; or bone) at primary presentation or persistent/recurrent disease outside the pelvis. Radiation with platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced and potentially curable disease at limited metastatic site(s). For patients with recurrent cervical cancer after definitive surgery who have not received prior radiotherapy, salvage chemoradiation is an option. Meanwhile, surgery may be offered to patients with resectable disease if they have received primary radiotherapy. Patients with distant relapse at sole/limited metastatic site(s) could undergo salvage treatment by chemoradiation, surgery plus radiotherapy/chemoradiation, or surgery alone to achieve prolonged survival; hence, they should not be treated with systemic therapy alone. For previously irradiated unresectable lesions or disseminated disease, no effective control of the disease is available; therefore, such patients are candidates for systemic treatment. The primary goal of chemotherapy for those who are not amenable to curative intent is to extend life while offering quality of life. Results of clinical trials using platinum/nonplatinum doublets, molecularly targeted therapies, and immunotherapy, including therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccines, are reviewed.

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Conflict of Interest

Angel Chao and Cheng-Tao Lin declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Chyong-Huey Lai has board membership with Asian GOG and Center of Drug Evaluation; is a consultant to Drug Advisory Committee, TFDA; AND received honoraria from Japanese GOG.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kueishan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan

    Angel Chao MD, PhD, Cheng-Tao Lin MD & Chyong-Huey Lai MD

  2. Gynecologic Cancer Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Angel Chao MD, PhD, Cheng-Tao Lin MD & Chyong-Huey Lai MD

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  1. Angel Chao MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Chyong-Huey Lai MD.

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Chao, A., Lin, CT. & Lai, CH. Updates in Systemic Treatment for Metastatic Cervical Cancer. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 15, 1–13 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-013-0273-1

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