Case 1 – Long-term response to bevacizumab and paclitaxel as second-line therapy in metastatic vaginal carcinoma

Abstract

The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of vaginal carcinoma has not been well studied and is controversial. This case report describes a 59-year-old patient diagnosed with vaginal squamous cell carcinoma in May 2008. Initial surgery was performed with subsequent radiation therapy; 3 months later histologically-confirmed pulmonary metastases were detected. Chemotherapy with cisplatin and topotecan was administered and resulted in a mixed-disease response. Therefore, chemotherapy was switched to weekly paclitaxel and bevacizumab, which induced a complete response. After more than 70 months of follow-up there has been no sign of recurrence and the patient shows no evidence of disease. This patient had an exceptional response to the combination of bevacizumab and paclitaxel, and this combination warrants further investigation for its potential in vaginal carcinoma.