Concurrent weekly cisplatin versus triweekly cisplatin with radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer: a meta-analysis result.

AIMS To evaluate the adverse effect and survival outcome of weekly and triweekly cisplatin with radiotherapy in treatment of cervical cancer. METHODS After an extensive literature search between 1995-2011,we analyzed 7 studies to compare weekly cisplatin and triweekly cisplatin combined radiotherapy. RESULTS Our analysis established that weekly cisplatin has a lower risk of hematologic toxicity than triweekly cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer. However, there were no differences in progression free survival and overall survival between weekly cisplatin and triweekly cisplatin (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Weekly cisplatin combined with concurrent radiation has lower risk in hematologic toxicity than triweekly cisplatin, but does not improve survival. Triweekly cisplatin treatment has longer intervals and is therefore more convenient. Clinicians and patients can choose either weekly cisplatin or triweekly cisplatin combined radiotherapy for cervical cancer.