Is there a role for non-platinum–based chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic cervix cancer?
Although platinum-based regimens remain the standard of care, the hope is that there may be a role for non-platinum based chemotherapy for recurrent disease. The platinum response rates in patients with recurrent disease who were previously treated with platinum therapy are relatively low. The largest trials looking at platinum-based therapy are the GOG series. In GOG 169 and 179, patients who had platinum during their primary treatment and then recurred had response rates as low as 5% with single agent cisplatin to as high as 37% with the platinum-based doublets with topotecan or paclitaxel. In patients who have been treated with platinum previously, non-platinum based chemotherapy might provide higher response rates.
