Randomized phase III trial of bleomycin, vindesine, mitomycin-C, and cisplatin (BEMP) versus cisplatin (P) in disseminated squamous-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: An EORTC Gynecological Cancer Cooperative Group study

Abstract

Combination chemotherapy with BEMP produces more toxicity and more responses compared with cisplatin alone in patients with disseminated SCCUC, but this does not translate into a better survival. Therefore, in the palliative setting single-agent cisplatin should remain the standard therapy for these patients.

Phase II study of bleomycin, vindesine, mitomycin C and cisplatin (BEMP) in recurrent or disseminated squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

“…The overall results of this phase II trial are in line with the results found in the phase III study comparing treatment with BEMP with P [7]. This is illustrated in Table 6.…”

“…In 2001, the EORTC-GCG published their results of the four-drug regimen bleomycin/vindesine (EldisineÒ) mitomycin C/cisplatinum (BEMP) versus singleagent cisplatin obtained in a multicenter randomized phase III trial. Results demonstrated that the BEMP regimen indeed produced more responses than cisplatin alone did, but at the cost of more experienced toxicity and without a significant impact on survival [7]. Here we present the results of the phase II trial preceding that trial and focus on the disease site in relation to response to BEMP.…”

“…Also many two-to four-drug combinations have been under investigation. These more aggressive combination chemotherapy regimens induce higher response rates than single agents do, but these still have to prove that they substantially prolong survival or improve quality of life [6,7]. Cisplatin is the most intensively studied drug and has proven to be the most effective cytotoxic agent in this disease, also for histological cell types other than squamous cell carcinoma.…”

Positron emission tomography/computerised tomography imaging in detecting and managing recurrent cervical cancer: systematic review of evidence, elicitation of subjective probabilities and economic modelling

“…This shows that combinations are mostly more effective than single-agent cisplatin, but there is not always consistency in effect direction between the three response rates. For several RCTs 65,66,80,82 the complete response rates were not statistically significant, whereas the response rates and/or partial response rates were significant.…”

“…There was no significant difference in survival between cisplatin and either of the combination regimens. In Vermorken et al 82 there was neither a significant difference in progression-free survival nor a significant difference in overall survival between BEMP and cisplatin although, according to the authors, for the former, a trend in favour of BEMP existed.…”