A new treatment protocol for cervical cancer has shown promising results, significantly reducing the risk of death by 40%, according to a large-scale clinical trial conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL) and its associated hospital, University College London Hospital (UCLH). The findings were published in The Lancet and represent a major advancement in cervical cancer treatment, marking the most significant progress in over two decades.
The INTERLACE phase III trial, which took place over a decade, involved 500 women diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer that had not spread to other organs. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the standard treatment of chemoradiation or a new regimen that included a short course of chemotherapy prior to chemoradiation. The innovative approach resulted in an 80% survival rate after five years for those receiving the new treatment, compared to a lower survival rate for those undergoing standard treatment.
The trial’s results indicated not only a 40% reduction in mortality risk but also a 35% decrease in the likelihood of cancer recurrence within five years. The study included participants from various countries, including the UK, Mexico, India, Italy, and Brazil. The median age of patients was 46 years old. Following chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, patients received standard chemoradiation involving external radiation therapy combined with weekly cisplatin and brachytherapy.
Researchers are optimistic that these findings will lead to changes in clinical guidelines both nationally and internationally, making this effective treatment more accessible to patients worldwide.
Sources:
[1] https://news.sky.com/story/simple-tweak-to-cervical-cancer-treatment-cuts-risk-of-death-by-40-say-researchers-13233828
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/14/new-cervical-cancer-treatment-regime-cuts-risk-dying
[3] https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/oct/cervical-cancer-survival-increases-better-use-existing-drugs
[4] https://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials/disease/cervical-cancer/treatment
[5] https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/10/14/cervical-cancer-treatment-chemotherapy-cuts-risk-of-death-by-40-percent-interlace/
[6] https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/combination-treatment-slashes-cervical-cancer-deaths-by-40/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG2TKMD9SkU
[8] https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/10/14/cervical-cancer-treatment-chemotherapy-cut-deaths-by-40-interlace/