ASCO23: simple hysterectomy favored approach for early-stage cervical cancer patients
An international Phase III clinical trial has highlighted that a simple hysterectomy is a safe and improved option for patients with Stage 1 cervical cancer who are eligible for surgery, compared to the traditional route of radical hysterectomies. The findings were recently presented at ASCO (2−6 June, IL, USA) and could be practice-changing.
In the trial, 700 individuals ages 24–80 with low-risk, early-stage disease were randomized to receive pelvic node dissection and simple hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy.
The trial demonstrated similar recurrence, overall survival and extrapelvic relapse-free survival rates between the two groups. Crucially though there the simple hysterectomy groups quality of life was less impacted. The simple hysteroctomy group experienced fewer intraoperative urological surgical complications and fewer immediate and long-term bladder problems, plus aspects such as body image, pain and more sexual activity, were more favorable in the simple hysteroctomy group.
“These results are important because it demonstrates, for the first time, that a simple hysterectomy is a safe option for women with carefully selected early-stage low-risk cervical cancer. This trial will likely be practice-changing, with the new standard-of-care treatment for patients with low-risk disease being a simple hysterectomy instead of radical hysterectomy,” commented Marie Plante (CHU de Quebec and Laval University in Quebec, both Canada).
Next steps for the study include further investigations into the quality of life and sexual health data. The team also will conduct a cost-effectiveness and cost utility analysis of simple vs radical hysterectomy and identify risk factors associated with recurrences.
