Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer

Purpose of review Studies on treatment options for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC) are scarce, and high-level evidence for a primary treatment choice is lacking. Furthermore, current treatment options are associated with extensive morbidity and high complication rates. More effective treatment options are urgently needed. This review describes current treatment possibilities, focusing on literature regarding neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery. Recent findings Although data are heterogeneous and limited, NACT followed by surgery might be an effective and well tolerated treatment alternative associated with lower morbidity compared with current treatment options, such as excenterative surgery or definitive chemoradiation. Up until now, several studies describe an overall response rate of 40-86%. Surgery turned out to be possible in 40-90% of the LAVC patients who received NACT. Prospective studies on the efficacy and safety of NACT followed by surgery with a homogeneous chemotherapy regimen are urgently awaited. NACT should, at this point, still be considered investigational.

Automated summary

Researches on treatment options for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer (LAVC) are rare, and there is a lack of high-level evidence for a primary treatment choice. Moreover, current treatment options are associated with considerable morbidity and complications. More effective treatment options are urgently needed. This review explores current treatment possibilities, focusing on literature regarding neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by surgery. Despite limited and heterogeneous data, NACT followed by surgery may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative with lower morbidity compared with current treatment options.