Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel in pregnant women with advanced stage cervical cancer: Maternal and perinatal outcomes

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in Brazil. Although rare, its diagnosis during pregnancy represents a great challenge for the medical team and the patient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced stage cervical cancer. This was a descriptive, retrospective study that included pregnant women with advanced stage cervical cancer (IB3 a IIIC1) who were treated at our center over 12 years. These patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin plus paclitaxel during pregnancy to prevent disease progression. Tumor shrinkage of at least 50 % was observed in four patients, while the disease remained stable in three others. There was one case of fetal death without apparent cause at 29 weeks, but all other mothers were discharged from the hospital at the same time as their healthy newborns. Chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel administered to pregnant women with advanced stage cervical cancer (IB3 - IIIC1) may have prevented disease progression without worsening neonatal outcomes.