Dr. Mahantshetty on Challenges With Concomitant Chemoradiation Trial in Cervical Cancer

Umesh Mahantshetty, MD, MBBS, radiation oncologist, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, discusses challenges with a trial conducted by Tata Memorial Hospital seeking to solidify the impact of concomitant chemoradiation with FIGO stage IIIb squamous cervical cancer (NCT00193791).

The study arm of chemoradiation has the potential to improve the survival by 10%. In the study arm, apart from the standard radiotherapy treatment, patients received weekly chemotherapy injections during external radiation therapy. The study arm is associated with additional 5% acute hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities, which are treatable with medications, blood transfusions, and modifications in the ongoing treatment.

Running this trial in developing countries was a challenge, says Mahantshetty, since this trial costs a lot in terms of infrastructure. Since some patients lived in far remote places, following these patients was a challenge, explains Mahantshetty. Compliance to receive concomitant chemotherapy was an additional challenge.

This trial has been implemented in routine care, says Mahantshetty, and the compliance to follow-up after receiving treatment has helped develop good outcome data.