Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been offered to patients with locally advanced disease as a way to initiate treatment while maintaining the pregnancy.[1] Most chemotherapy agents can be given safely in the second trimester of pregnancy and beyond. Mild growth restriction of the fetus is the most common side effect. Restriction of fetal growth has been reported in a relatively small number of patients, and data are lacking on long-term outcomes for these women. As a result, this strategy should be considered with caution. Most of the patients in the reports underwent standard treatment (either surgery or radiation therapy) after completion of the pregnancy.