A groundbreaking development in the treatment of cervical cancer has emerged, with scientists hailing it as the most significant breakthrough in two decades. Their approach involves administering a course of affordable existing drugs before standard radiotherapy treatment.
During the ESMO medical conference, trial results were unveiled, indicating that this approach reduced the risk of women dying from cervical cancer or experiencing a cancer recurrence by 35%. Cancer Research UK, which financed the research, described the results as “remarkable” and anticipates that medical clinics will soon adopt this treatment protocol for patients.
Cervical cancer affects numerous women annually, particularly those in their early 30s, in the UK. Despite improvements in radiotherapy care, cancer returns in up to one-third of cases, underscoring the urgent need for new approaches.
Dr. Iain Foulkes, from Cancer Research UK, emphasized the significance of timing in cancer treatment and the growing body of evidence supporting additional rounds of chemotherapy before other treatments.
This approach not only reduces the risk of cancer recurrence but can also be swiftly implemented using readily available drugs worldwide. The potential improvements in cervical cancer treatment from this trial are highly anticipated, and short courses of induction chemotherapy are expected to be quickly integrated into clinical practice.
The study involved 250 women with cervical cancer who received the innovative treatment: an intensive six-week course of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, followed by the standard treatment of radiotherapy alongside weekly cisplatin and brachytherapy (chemoradiation). In contrast, another 250 women in the control group received only standard chemoradiation.
Five years later, the results were striking: 80% of those who received the new treatment were alive, and 73% had not experienced a cancer recurrence or spread. In the standard treatment group, 72% were alive, and 64% had not seen their cancer return or spread.
Dr. Mary McCormack, the lead investigator of the trial, referred to it as the most significant improvement in cervical cancer outcomes in over 20 years. She highlighted the crucial factor that if patients are alive and cancer-free at five years, they are highly likely to be cured, making this development exceptionally promising.
Since the two chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment are affordable, readily available, and already approved for patient use, experts believe they could swiftly become a new standard of care. However, they caution that the efficacy of the treatment may vary among women, particularly those with more advanced diseases. Additionally, the drugs can have side effects such as nausea, sickness, and hair loss.