Didactics-Key Questions in Cervical Cancer-CCRN

Video Transcription
Video Summary
In this video, the speaker discusses key questions and challenges in cervical cancer treatment. In early-stage disease, the questions revolve around determining which patients require radical surgery and the extent to which it is necessary. Fertility-sparing surgery options and the use of sentinel nodes versus full nodal staging are also addressed. For more advanced disease, the focus shifts to improving cure rates beyond what is achieved with current radiotherapy and brachytherapy. The potential roles of additional chemotherapy and immunotherapy are explored, along with determining the optimal duration and dosage of treatment. Identifying patients at high risk of relapse is another area of interest. Molecular pathology, biomarkers, and functional imaging are considered as potential tools for better patient selection. The speaker emphasizes the importance of conducting clinical trials to answer these questions and the need for diverse geographical and healthcare settings. Access to care and quality of care are identified as major challenges, impacting patient outcomes and survivorship. The Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) is described as a network aiming to promote high-quality clinical trials and improve outcomes for women with gynecological cancers. The Cervical Cancer Research Network (CCRN) was established to expand research and facilitate participation in clinical trials, especially in lower and middle-income countries. The speaker mentions ongoing clinical trials, including the SentiCOL3 trial for sentinel node procedure validation, the CONTESSA/NEOCONF study investigating fertility-sparing surgery, and the OUTBACK trial comparing additional chemotherapy with standard chemoradiation in locally advanced disease. The speaker also presents findings from a phase 2 study on a new neoadjuvant chemotherapy approach and the promising results of a retrospective study on neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extended field chemoradiation. The interlace trial, a phase 3 study on weekly induction chemotherapy followed by standard chemoradiation, is briefly discussed, and the importance of treatment adherence and quality assurance is highlighted. The speaker concludes by stating that ongoing and completed trials will continue to address these important questions and highlight the relevance of chemotherapy in the era of immunotherapy.
Asset Subtitle
Mary Mccormack
September 2021
Keywords
cervical cancer treatment
radical surgery
chemotherapy
immunotherapy
clinical trials
patient selection