We evaluated the activity and safety of the combination of topotecan, cisplatin and bevacizumab in patients with recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix.

Eligible patients had persistent or recurrent cervical cancer not amenable to curative intent treatment. No prior chemotherapy for recurrence was allowed. Treatment consisted of cisplatin 50mg/m² day 1, topotecan 0.75mg/m² days 1, 2 and 3 and bevacizumab 15mg/kgday 1 every 21days until disease progression or limiting toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression free survival at 6months. We explored PET/CT as a potential early indicator of response to therapy.

Twenty-seven eligible patients received a median of 3 treatment cycles (range, 1–19). Median follow-up was 10months (range, 1.7–33.4). The 6-month PFS was 59% (80% CI: 46–70%). In 26 evaluable patients, we observed 1 CR (4%; 80% CI: 0.4–14%) and 8 PR (31%; 80% CI: 19–45%) lasting a median of 4.4months. Ten patients had SD (39%; 80% CI: 25–53%) with median duration of 2.2months. Median PFS was 7.1months (80% CI: 4.7–10.1) and median OS was 13.2months (80% CI: 8.0–15.4). All patients were evaluated for toxicity. Grade 3–4 hematologic toxicity was common (thrombocytopenia 82% leukopenia 74%, anemia 63%, neutropenia 56%). Most patients (78%) required unanticipated hospital admissions for supportive care and/or management of toxicities.

The addition of bevacizumab to topotecan and cisplatin results in an active but highly toxic regimen. Future efforts should focus on identification of predictive biomarkers of prolonged response and regimen modifications to minimize toxicity.