Activity of paclitaxel in advanced or recurrent squamous cell cancer of the cervix

Twenty-six patients with squamous cell cancer of the cervix were treated with i.v. paclitaxel, 250 mg/m² over 3 h every 21 days. They received steroid, H₁ and H₂ blocker premedications, and granulocyte-colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF) support (5 μg/kg/day). No prior chemotherapy, except as a radiation sensitizer, was allowed. The median age was 50 (range, 36-81) years, and performance status Zubrod was 1 (range, 0-2). Eight (33%) patients had prior surgery, and 22 (92%) had prior radiation therapy. Twenty- four patients were evaluable for response; 2 were later found to be ineligible. Five patients had partial responses (21%; 95% confidence interval, 6-40%), and 14 (58%; 95% confidence interval, 35-78%) had stable disease. The median duration of response was 10 (range, 3-27+) weeks. The responses were within the radiation port (four responses) and outside of it (one response). The median interval from the start of irradiation to the start of paclitaxel in responding patients was 94 weeks, whereas in patients with stable disease it was 68 weeks, and in patients whose disease progressed it was 46 weeks. Eighty-eight percent of the 105 cycles of paclitaxel were administered at a dose of 250 mg/m² or higher. Granulocytopenia was brief and noncumulative, with grades 3 and 4 experienced by 5 and 3 patients, respectively. G-CSF was used for a median of 7 (range, 2-14) days/cycle. Anemia was mild, with G₃ noted in 3 patients, and thrombocytopenia was not significant. Infections and musculoskeletal pain were mild and infrequent. Sensory (14 patients G₁ or G₂ and 2 patients G₃) and motor (4 patients G₁ or G₂ and 1 patient G₃) neurotoxicity was noted. There was no significant cardiovascular toxicity. Paclitaxel is active in patients with squamous cell cancer of the cervix and is well tolerated at this dose schedule with G-CSF support.