A combination of radiotherapy and drug treatment can be substantially more effective in treating cervical cancer that radiotherapy alone, says an audit published by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).
The audit, appearing in the September 2010 edition of the RCR journal, Clinical Oncology, looked at over 1200 patients treated with radiotherapy in UK cancer centres in 2001 and 2002. Patients treated with radiotherapy, and those treated with chemoradiotherapy, were compared for survival, recurrence of their condition, and complications following treatment.
Statistical analysis of the study’s data showed that survival was significantly better for patients receiving chemoradiotherapy, with no increase in late complications over those patients treated using only radiotherapy.
Dr Paul Symonds of the Department of Cancer Studies & Molecular Medicine at the University of Leicester, who led the audit, said, “The addition of cisplatin to radiation literally has saved the lives of hundreds of women with locally advanced cancer in the UK.
This audit has shown that the addition of cisplatin improves survival, and that its use in routine UK practice reduces the odds of death by 23%. As this is curative treatment we can genuinely say that this is a reduction in the odds of death.
“This audit showed a marked improvement in 5-year survival of locally advanced cervix cancer compared to the last national audit of patients who were treated in 1993. Moreover the UK results, as derived from a total of 42 centres, show that the results in the UK are now compatible with the best international practice.”
Dr Jane Barrett, Dean of the RCR’s Faculty of Oncology, said, “This comprehensive study shows that chemotherapy and radiotherapy can both play a vital, complimentary role in the treatment of cervical cancer.
Although the incidence of cervical cancer in the UK has halved since the NHS Cervical Screening Programme was introduced in 1988, around 950 women still die from cervical cancer in the UK every year, and findings such as this, that clarify and confirm the best course of treatment, are to be welcomed”.
Source: Royal College of Radiologists (RCR)