New Cervical Cancer Treatment
A new treatment combining chemotherapy and chemoradiation has reduced death rates from cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women globally, by 40%. This cancer affects over 300,000 women each year, and this approach has been described as the most significant advancement in survival rates since chemoradiation became standard in 1999, according to Dr. Mary McCormack, the lead investigator from University College London.
The 10-year trial, known as the Interlace trial, recruited patients from Italy, Brazil, the U.S., India, and Mexico. It involved a brief course of traditional chemotherapy before the standard chemoradiation, which combines chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This adjustment has led to a 40% reduction in cervical cancer death rates and a 35% decrease in recurrence rates over five years. Funded by Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, the trial involved 500 women with advanced, localized cervical cancer that had not spread. Results showed that after five years, 80% of women receiving the new treatment were alive, with 72% not experiencing relapse or spread of the disease. Cervical cancer typically affects women in their 30s and has a high recurrence rate.
The new regimen uses inexpensive, widely approved drugs. Dr. Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, stated, “Adding induction chemotherapy to the start of chemoradiation treatment has delivered impressive results. Evidence suggests that additional chemotherapy before treatments like surgery and radiotherapy can improve patient outcomes by reducing the risk of recurrence and can be quickly administered using available drugs.”