New cervical cancer treatment regime ‘cuts risk of dying from disease by 40%’

Remarkable New Treatment Regime for Cervical Cancer Reduces Risk of Death by 40%

Doctors are hailing a “remarkable” new treatment regime for cervical cancer that reduces the risk of dying by 40%, in the biggest advance against the disease in 25 years.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. Goal 5: Gender Equality

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with about 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization. In the UK, there are about 3,200 cases and 800 deaths each year.

Many of those affected are in their 30s, and despite improvements in care, the cancer returns in as many as 30% of cases.

Testing a New Treatment Plan

• Short course of chemotherapy before chemoradiation
• Tested in patients from the UK, Mexico, India, Italy, and Brazil

The new treatment plan was tested in patients recruited over 10 years from the UK, Mexico, India, Italy, and Brazil. It involves a short course of chemotherapy before patients undergo chemoradiation, the standard treatment for cervical cancer involving a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Positive Results from Clinical Trial

• 40% reduction in the risk of death
• 35% reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence within five years

In research led by University College London, it has been reported that the results of the phase-three clinical trial showed a 40% reduction in the risk of death from the disease and a 35% reduction in the risk of cancer coming back within at least five years. Their findings have been published in the Lancet.

Dr Mary McCormack, the lead investigator of the trial at UCL, told the Guardian the discovery was the most significant breakthrough in treating cervical cancer since the end of the last century. “This is the biggest gain in survival since the adoption of chemoradiation in 1999,” she said.

Improved Survival and Quality of Life

• Short treatment duration
• Well-tolerated by patients

“Every improvement in survival for a cancer patient is important, especially when the treatment is well-tolerated and given for a relatively short time, allowing women to get back to their normal lives relatively quickly,” said Dr Mary McCormack.

Long-Term Follow-Up and Trial Details

• Long-term follow-up of patients who received short course of chemotherapy before chemoradiation
• Interlace trial funded by Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre

Researchers at UCL and University College London hospital (UCLH) completed a long-term follow-up of patients who were given the short course of chemotherapy before chemoradiation. The Interlace trial, funded by Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, looked at whether a short course of induction chemotherapy prior to chemoradiation could cut relapses and deaths among patients with locally advanced cervical cancer that had not spread to other organs.

Positive Outcomes for Patients

• 80% of patients who received short course of chemotherapy were alive after five years
• 72% of patients who received short course of chemotherapy did not experience cancer recurrence or spread

In the study, one group received the new regime of six weeks of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. This was followed by standard radiotherapy plus weekly cisplatin and brachytherapy chemotherapy, known as chemoradiation. The control group received only the usual chemoradiation. After five years, 80% of those who received a short course of chemotherapy first were alive and for 72% their cancer had not returned nor spread. In the standard treatment group, 72% were alive and 64% had not had their cancer return or spread.

Call for Implementation of New Treatment Regime

• Regime should be implemented across the UK and internationally
• Use of existing drugs that are cheap and approved for use in patients

The results prompted calls for the regime to be implemented across the UK and internationally. McCormack said: “A short course of induction chemotherapy prior to standard chemoradiation treatment greatly boosts overall survival and reduces the risk of relapse in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. This approach is a straightforward way to make a positive difference, using existing drugs that are cheap and already approved for use in patients. It has already been adopted by some cancer centers and there’s no reason that this shouldn’t be offered to all patients undergoing chemoradiation for this cancer.”

Testimonial from a Patient

Abbie Halls, a client service manager from London who was diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was 27, is one of the women who received the new treatment regime. “I’ve been cancer-free for over nine years now and I’m not sure if I’d be here without the treatment that I received,” said the 37-year-old. “I’m happy that I could play a part in advancing the research, which I hope is going to save the lives of many more women in years to come.”

Potential Impact and Future Possibilities

• Reduction in the risk of death and cancer recurrence
• Additional chemotherapy before other treatments can improve chances of successful treatment
• Quick delivery using drugs already available worldwide

Dr Iain Foulkes, the executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “The simple act of adding induction chemotherapy to the start of chemoradiation treatment for cervical cancer has delivered remarkable results. 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.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
   • Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
   • Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.

Analysis

The article discusses a new treatment regime for cervical cancer that reduces the risk of dying by 40%. Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article addresses the issue of cervical cancer, which is a non-communicable disease. SDG 3 aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified is Target 3.4, which focuses on reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is Indicator 3.4.1, which measures the mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article mentions that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified is Target 5.6, which focuses on ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is Indicator 5.6.1, which measures the proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article mentions that the new treatment regime for cervical cancer is a significant breakthrough in treating the disease. SDG 9 aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified is Target 9.5, which focuses on enhancing scientific research and encouraging innovation. The indicator that can be used to measure progress towards this target is Indicator 9.5.1, which measures research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com