Inclusion Criteria:

• informed consent, histological diagnosis of persistent, recurrent or metastatic cervical carcinoma; measurable disease by physical examination, CT Scan, MRI or PET-CT. Biopsy is required for confirmation only if the lesion is unique, has less than 2cm in the longest diameter or has no clearly defined borders.
• Patients should have no previous systemic treatment (could have received chemotherapy as radiosensitization to the pelvis and or para-aortic field.
• Aged >18 years, performance status 0-2 according to ECOG classification, and adequate liver, hematological and renal function, as defined by: hemoglobin >10 g/L, leukocytes >4000/mm3, platelets >100 000mm3; normal creatinine value and creatinine clearance >60 mL/min; total bilirubin < 1.5 upper normal limit value.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of allergy to hydralazine or valproate; past or present condition of rheumatic disease, central nervous system disease, heart failure from aortic stenosis and postural hypotension as diagnosed by a physician; newly diagnosed hypertension patients with or without pharmacological treatment are allowed as long as their treatment do not include hydralazine.
• Previous use of the experimental drugs (hydralazine and magnesium valproate) as well as if patients were pregnant or breast-feeding. Other exclusion criteria are uncontrolled systemic disease or infection.