Treatment with existing drugs before standard treatment for cervical cancer may lead to a 35% reduction in the risk of death or the return of cancer, a study has suggested.
In the standard treatment group, 72% were alive and 64% had not seen their cancer return or spread. Dr Mary McCormack, lead investigator of the trial from UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH, said: “Our trial shows that this short course of additional chemotherapy delivered immediately before the standard CRT can reduce the risk of the cancer returning or death by 35%. This is the biggest improvement in outcome in this disease in over 20 years.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. According to Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is around 70%. Over 10 years, 500 patients took part in the Interlace trial at hospitals in the UK, Mexico, India, Italy and Brazil.
Professor Jonathan Ledermann, senior author of the results from UCL Cancer Institute, said the findings were “an important advance in treatment”. Dr Iain Foulkes said: "Timing is everything when you’re treating cancer.