Phase II trial of high-dose cisplatin with sodium thiosulfate nephroprotection in patients with advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix previously untreated with chemotherapy

Cisplatin is one of the most active single agents in the treatment of advanced cancer of the cervix. The concurrent administration of the nephroprotective agent, sodium thiosulfate, has enabled exploitation of the therapeutic potential of cisplatin. To explore the role of cisplatin dose intensity in the treatment of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, patients with persistent/recurrent measurable disease were treated with cisplatin at 200 mg/m² as a 2-hr infusion with sodium thiosulfate given at 3.3 g/m² 1 hr prior to cisplatin and 6.6 g/m² during the cisplatin infusion. Treatment was repeated monthly. Due to the known cumulative toxcity of cisplatin, treatment beyond two cycles (400 mg/m²) was given only to those patients who had at least demonstrated a PR. Audiologic evaluation was done prior to each cycle of treatment. Eleven patients were entered with a median age of 43 years (range, 25-57), a median KPS of 80% (range, 60-90%), and nine epidermoid and two adenocarcinoma, and all patients had received previous pelvic irradiation. Twenty-eight cycles of treatment were given: 1, five cycles; 3, three cycles; 7, two cycles. No ≥ 3+ hematologic, neurologic, or renal toxicity was demonstrated. Ototoxicity was demonstrated in the mild to moderate hearing loss range (3000-8000 Hz). The greatest threshold shift occurred after the first course of cisplatin. There were three PRs with a maximum duration of 4 months. Due to the significant toxicities encountered, the low response rate, and the limited duration of responses, this trial was closed early to accrual.