Commentary by Dr. Donald Greig

Continuing with my theme this month of women’s health, in a recent article published in The Times, it was reported that a new treatment regimen has significantly reduced cervical cancer deaths by 40%. This breakthrough is a monumental stride in the fight against a disease that has long affected women's health globally. The essence of this regimen and its effectiveness, are changes in the sequencing of chemo and radiotherapy to provide significantly improved outcomes.
The article highlights the innovative nature of the treatment, which combines advanced therapies and early detection methods. While this multifaceted approach targets the cancer more effectively, it only serves to emphasize the importance of regular screenings and vaccinations, particularly the HPV vaccine.
Moreover, the reduction in mortality rates underscores the critical need for continued investment in research and healthcare accessibility. While this development is promising, it also raises questions about disparities in treatment availability and the necessity for education around cervical health, especially in underserved communities.
Overall, the findings offer hope and a clear path forward in cervical cancer management, but they also remind us of the ongoing challenges in ensuring that all women benefit from these advancements.
Article by: Eleanor Hayward
Five women receiving the new treatment regimen in the trial have not seen their cervical cancer return for more than ten years Deaths from cervical cancer have been shown to fall by 40 per cent under a new treatment regime, in the biggest breakthrough against the disease for two decades. Research led by a team at University College London found that survival rates are transformed simply by changing the order in which women are given existing drugs. The study, published in The Lancet, looked at 500 patients over ten years from hospitals in the UK, Mexico, India, Italy and Brazil. Half were given standard treatment of a course of chemoradiation (CRT), in which chemotherapy and radiotherapy are delivered together, and the other half had a new treatment option, a short course of chemotherapy before CRT. The new approach led to a 40 per cent reduction in the risk of death and a 35 per cent reduction in the risk of cancer coming back within five years. The results have been hailed as the biggest improvement in cervical cancer treatment in more than 20 years, as the standard treatment of chemoradiation has not changed since 1999. Doctors said the new treatment can be quickly and cheaply implemented around the world, to save the lives of thousands of young women. Cervical cancer affects 3,200 women a year in the UK, mainly those aged in their thirties, killing 850 each year. Dr Mary McCormack, lead investigator of the trial from UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH, said: “This approach is a straightforward way to make a positive difference, using existing drugs that are cheap and already approved for use in patients.
![]() Cases of cervical cancer have fallen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, partly thanks to the smear test screening programme |
“It has already been adopted by some cancer centres and there’s no reason that this shouldn’t be offered to all patients undergoing chemoradiation for this cancer.” Patients in the Interlace trial, as it is known, were randomly allocated to receive either standard treatment or the new treatment combination. After five years, 80 per cent of those who received a short course of chemotherapy first were alive and 72 per cent had not seen their cancer return or spread. In the standard treatment group, 72 per cent were alive and 64 per cent had not seen their cancer return or spread. Researchers said that five patients involved in the trial have been disease-free for more than ten years. Professor Jonathan Ledermann, senior author of the study from UCL Cancer Institute, said: “The incremental cost for using the drugs in the Interlace trial is low, making this a new treatment that can be easily implemented in all health economies, to significantly improve overall survival.” Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “Timing is everything when you’re treating cancer. The simple act of adding induction chemotherapy to the start of chemoradiation treatment for cervical cancer has delivered remarkable results in the Interlace trial. “A growing body of evidence is showing that additional chemotherapy before other treatments, like surgery and radiotherapy, can improve the chances of successful treatment for patients. Not only can it reduce the chances of cancer coming back, it can also be delivered quickly, using drugs already available worldwide.” The findings are an important step forward in eradicating cervical cancer as a cause of death in young women. Cases of cervical cancer have fallen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, partly thanks to the smear test cervical screening programme. Health chiefs hope the disease can effectively be eliminated as a result of the HPV vaccination programme, which was started by the NHS in 2008 for girls aged 12 and 13, and which has now been extended to schoolboys. The HPV virus causes 99 per cent of cervical cancers as it leads to the development of abnormal cells in the cervix which, if untreated, can turn into cancer |
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