Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer Research Articles

Prevalence and Survival Rate of Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer Patients with Obstructive Uropathy in a Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: This study aims to determine the prevalence and survival rate of advanced cervical cancer patients with obstructive uropathy based on grade of hydronephrosis, type of hydronephrosis, deobstruction action, type of deobstruction, clinical stage, and cancer cell type.Method: This research is a descriptive analytical study with a cross-sectional retrospective approach. Samples were obtained from medical records of patients with stage IIIB, IVA and IVB cervical cancer who were treated at RSUD Dr. Saiful Anwar Malang in 2016–2023. Sampling was carried out using the total sampling method.Result: Of the 171 patients, the majority of patients had stage IIIB cervical cancer (71.9%), moderate (72.5%) and bilateral (90.1%) hydronephrosis were found in the majority of patients. SCC dominated the sample (82.5%) and was followed by ADC (14.6%). Most patients underwent deobstruction (64.3%) with DJ stent insertion being the most common type of deobstruction (84.5%). Patients with stage IVB have a lower survival rate than IIIB and IVA (p>0.05). Patients with SCC had lower survival (3%) than ADC (5%). The average survival rate for the three grades of hydronephrosis was not significantly different (p>0.05). Patients undergoing deobstruction showed a higher survival rate (5%) (p<0.05). DJ stent, PCN, and UCS insertion showed similar survival rates in patients (p>0.05).Conclusion: Stage IIIB cervical cancer, moderate hydronephrosis, bilateral hydronephrosis, and SCC dominated the patients in the study. Patients with stage IVB cervical cancer, SCC, unilateral or severe hydronephrosis have a worse prognosis. The presence of deobstruction indicates a better prognosis and can be performed with PCN, DJ stent insertion, or UCS.

Clinical Controversies and Research Progress in Lymph Node Dissection for Cervical Cancer

Regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the main metastatic route of cervical cancer, whose rate of LNM increases in the cancer progression. LNM of cervical cancer is closely related to the cervical cancer staging, treatment method and prognosis. Lymph node dissection (LND) is an important part of standard cervical cancer staging surgeries. In recent years, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) has been used in treatments of some tumors, being considered as an alternative to Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection (PLND) in early-stage cervical cancer. However, validation regarding the feasibility of using SLNB alone as an alternative to PLND is still needed. Some scholars support PLND for patients with suspicious lymph nodes detected preoperatively due to reasons such as lower diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of preoperative imaging and potentially better prognosis for surgical staging of advanced stage of cervical cancer. However, recent basic research suggests that lymph nodes are important organs for providing tumor-specific immunity, the preservation of which facilitates immunotherapy. In this way, controversies about whether to use PLND still exist. This paper presents a brief review of the relevant research progress and discusses the new clinical definition and value of lymph nodes in the era of immunotherapy, with a view to providing new directions and ideas for the rational application of LND.

Survival Status and Predictors Among Women with Advanced Stage of Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women, even though it is a preventable disease. Most deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to early detection and receipt of standard treatments, survivorship is an important component of high quality of care across the cancer continuum. To assess the survival status of advanced-stage cervical cancer patients after cancer treatment has started. A one-year prospective cohort study was employed to assess the survival status of women with advanced stages of cervical cancer. A total of 180 cervical cancer patients were recruited, and the study was conducted from January 10, 2022, to September 20, 2023. Data entry and analysis were done in the SPSS 29 version. Descriptive statistics were used to examine participant characteristics. The Kaplan-Meier procedure and log rank test were used to estimate the duration of survival. Bivariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were computed for predictor variables with survival status. Patients receiving cancer treatment at FIGO stages IVA and IVB had survived by 56% and 24%, respectively, whereas patients receiving treatment at stages IIB and IIIA had survived by 100%. The estimated mean survival time at one-year follow-up was 5.706 months (95% CI: 3.785-7.627) for patients with FIGO stage IVB, but 11.537 months (95% CI: 11.199-11.887) for those with stages II and III (P < 0.001). Women over 60 years old had a 1.5-fold higher risk of death than those under 60 (HR: 1.482, P = 0.040). The one-year cumulative survival rate among advanced-stage cervical cancer patients was 77%. Major factors associated with survival were age, cancer stage, the presence of anemia, and waiting time for treatment.

Pre- and Post-Treatment Quality of Life Among Patients with Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.

The development of health concepts beyond traditional markers of illness and death has made the evaluation of quality of life (QoL) crucial to patient care. Yet, there is little research evaluating the pre- and post-treatment QoL of cervical cancer survivors in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the pre- and post-treatment QoL of women diagnosed with advanced-stage cervical cancer. A cohort design was conducted at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Oncology Center. A total of 166 cervical cancer patients were recruited consecutively. Data was collected through interviews with standardized questionnaires before and after treatment. The Wilcoxon rank test was used to assess the significant differences in pre-treatment and post-treatment quality of life. Additionally, the Mann-Whitney U-test was also employed. Statistical significance was determined with p-values <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Women who were in stages IVA and IVB were 24.7% and 10.2%, respectively. Both the global health scale (66.67 [47.92-75] to 83.33 [66.67-83.33]) and the functional domain QoL (66.67 [40-80] to 70 [46.67-86.66]) showed statistically significant improvements from pre-treatment to post-treatment QoL. Women under the age of 45 were found to have higher global health QOL (P < 0.001) and functional domain QOL (P = 0.029). Women presented in stages II and III had comparatively higher global health QoL (P = 0.008) and functional domain QoL (P = 0.021). Global health QOL and the majority of functional quality of life significantly improved following six months of cancer treatment. But there was no discernible change in terms of sexual enjoyment, sexual function, or activity. Age, marital status, the duration since diagnosis, the stage of the cancer, and the presence of comorbidities were the factors that affected the improvement of post-treatment quality of life.

Predictive Factors of Successful Double J Stent Insertion Among Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients.

Cervical cancer remains the most lethal and prevalent cancer among women. Obstructive uropathy is a common complication of advanced cervical cancer, caused by the expanding tumor. One of the recommended treatments for this condition is the implantation of a double J (DJ) stent. However, this procedure is challenging due to the unique characteristics of the patient. The objective of this study was to identify the variables that influence the successful insertion of a DJ stent in women with advanced cervical cancer. This retrospective study included women who attempted to have a DJ stent implanted at the General Hospital of Adam Malik in Medan, Indonesia, between January 2020 and December 2022, and were diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. The inclusion criteria were limited to cervical cancer patients in stages III-IV, according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging standard, who underwent an attempt at DJ stent insertion. Patients who underwent a nephrostomy and received a DJ stent were excluded from the study. The participants were divided into two groups based on the success of the DJ stent implantation. The analysis was conducted using the logistic regression test and the Chi-square test. The study included 88 patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer, of whom 45 underwent nephrostomy and 43 received a DJ stent. The analysis revealed that lower levels of hydronephrosis (odds ratio (OR): 18.203, P = 0.001), urea (OR: 4.207, P = 0.037), and creatinine (OR: 6.923, P = 0.004), higher levels of urine output (OR: 8.26, P = 0.003), and lower cervical cancer stage (OR: 4.125, P = 0.022) were all predictors of successful DJ stent insertion. For women with advanced cervical cancer, lower degrees of hydronephrosis, urea, and creatinine levels, higher urine output, and lower cervical cancer stage were all predictive factors for successful DJ stent implantation.

The economic burden of cervical cancer on women in Uganda: Findings from a cross-sectional study conducted at two public cervical cancer clinics.

There is limited research on how a cervical cancer diagnosis financially impacts women and their families in Uganda. This analysis aimed to describe the economic impact of cervical cancer treatment, including how it differs by socio-economic status (SES) in Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional study from September 19, 2022 to January 17, 2023. Women were recruited from the Uganda Cancer Institute and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, and were eligible if they were ≥ of 18 years and being treated for cervical cancer. Participants completed a survey that included questions about their out-of-pocket costs, unpaid labor, and family's economic situation. A wealth index was constructed to determine their SES. Descriptive statistics were reported. Of the 338 participants, 183 were from the lower SES. Women from the lower SES were significantly more likely to be older, have ≤ primary school education, and have a more advanced stage of cervical cancer. Over 90% of participants in both groups reported paying out-of-pocket for cervical cancer. Only 15 participants stopped treatment because they could not afford it. Women of a lower SES were significantly more likely to report borrowing money (higher SES n = 47, 30.5%; lower SES n = 84, 46.4%; p-value = 0.004) and selling possessions (higher SES n = 47, 30.5%; lower SES n = 90, 49.7%; p-value = 0.006) to pay for care. Both SES groups reported a decrease in the amount of time that they spent caring for their children since their cervical cancer diagnosis (higher SES n = 34, 31.2%; lower SES n = 36, 29.8%). Regardless of their SES, women in Uganda incur out-of-pocket costs related to their cervical cancer treatment. However, there are inequities as women from the lower SES groups were more likely to borrow funds to afford treatment. Alternative payment models and further economic support could help alleviate the financial burden of cervical cancer care in Uganda.

Delays in Cervical Cancer Treatment Initiation for Patients Living With or Without HIV in Botswana: An Observational Cohort Analysis (2015-2019)

PURPOSEPresent delays in treatment initiation of chemoradiation or radiation alone for patients with advanced stage cervical cancer in Botswana. METHODSWomen with locally advanced cervical cancer (stages IB2-IVB) were prospectively enrolled in an observational cohort study in 2015-2019. We evaluated delays at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 or greater days between the date of diagnosis and treatment initiation. Factors associated with overall survival (OS) were modeled with multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression (aHR). Associations between delays in cervical cancer treatment initiation were evaluated via univariable logistic regression. RESULTSAmong the 556 patients included (median age = 47.9 years), 386 (69.4%) were women living with HIV with a median CD4 count of 448.0 cells/μL (IQR, 283.0-647.5 cells/μL) at diagnosis. Most patients had stages II (38.1%) and III (34.5%) cervical cancer. Early-stage patients experienced longer delays in treatment initiation compared to late-stage patients (p=0.033). Early-stage patients with delays ≥90 days and pathology diagnosis between 2016-2019 (aHR 0.34, p<0.001) versus <90 days decreased the risk of mortality, while those with delays ≥90 days and pathology diagnosis before 2016 (aHR 5.67, p=0.022) versus <90 days increased the risk the mortality. Late-stage patients with delays ≥120 days and pathology diagnosis between 2018-2019 (aHR 1.98, p=0.025) versus <120 days increased the risk the mortality. Early-stage patients with pathology diagnosis between 2016-2019 (OR 2.32, p=0.043) versus before 2016 were more likely to experience delays ≥90 days and late-stage patients who traveled >100 km to the treatment facility (OR 2.83, p<0.001) versus <100 km were more likely to experience delays ≥120 days. CONCLUSIONSDelays in care are common in Botswana, particularly for those living farther from the treatment clinic and at advanced stages. This paper is among the first to show an association between treatment delays and worsened OS at advanced stages of cervical cancer, highlighting the need for interventions to help patients receive timely care in global settings.

Expression of Inflammation Depending on the Stage of Cervical Cancer.

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major public health problem, ranking as the fourth most common cause of cancer incidence and mortality in women globally. The development of CC is believed to be closely related to chronic inflammation. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the expression of systemic inflammation in patients with CC and to determine the threshold prognostic value of the systemic inflammation markers for CC and its advanced stage. Materials and Methods: 182 participants were recruited: 94 histology-proven patient with CC and 88 healthy women with NILM confirmed by liquid-based cytology test. The pre-treatment serum concentrations of cytokines, including IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, LCN2, TREM-1, and TNF-α, were determined for all study patients. Results: The odds ratio (OR) of having IL-6 concentration >17.4 pg/mL in the CC group compared to control patients was 11.4 (95% CI: 4.897-26.684); that of having TREM-1 concentration >355.6 pg/mL was 5.9 (95% CI: 2.257-15.767); and that of having LCN2 concentration >23,721.5 pg/mL was 3.4 (95% CI: 1.455-8.166). The odds ratio (OR) of having IL-6 concentration >28.7 pg/mL in advanced-stage CC (III-IV stage) compared to early-stage CC (I-II stage) was 2.921 (95% CI: 1.06-8.045), and that of having LCN2 concentration >25,640.0 pg/mL was 4.815 (95% CI: 1.78-13.026). Conclusions: The pre-treatment serum inflammation markers IL-6, TREM-1, and LCN2 at specified levels could be used as predictors of cervical cancer, and IL-6 and LCN2 as predictors of an increased chance of advanced-stage (III-IV stages) cervical cancer. Patients with cervical cancer had expressed systemic inflammation, and expression of inflammation elevated the chance of having CC and advanced-stage disease.

Survival of Women with Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer: Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radiotherapy and Hyperthermia versus Chemoradiotherapy

Aim: To investigate and compare overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and toxicity of women who underwent either chemoradiotherapy with or without prior lymph node debulking or upfront chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and hyperthermia (triple therapy) for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) to identify a potential role for triple therapy. Methods: Women with histologically proven LACC and with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage IB2 and IIA2 to IVA were included. Cox regression analyses were used for calculating hazard ratios and to adjust for confounding variables. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of covariates on toxicity. Results: A total of 370 patients were included of whom 58% (n = 213) received chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 18% (n = 66) received node-debulking followed by chemoradiotherapy (LND-CRT) and 25% (n = 91) received triple therapy (TT). Five-year OS was comparable between the three treatment groups, with 53% (95% confidence interval 46–59%) in the CRT group, 45% (33–56%) in the LND-CRT group and 53% (40–64%) in the TT group (p = 0.472). In the adjusted analysis, 5-year OS and DFS were comparable between the three treatment groups. No chemotherapy-related differences in toxicity were observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that the toxicity and survival of TT is similar to CRT or LND-CRT.

Utility of expression of 4-hydroxynonenal tested by immunohistochemistry for cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of mortality in women around the world, with the highest incidence rate still being in developing countries. The most common aetiological factor is infection with high-risk human papilloma virus viral strains. Oxidative stress through generation of reactive oxygen species leads to lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Studies show that reactive lipid electrophiles such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) produced in the process play an important role in cancer signalling pathways and are a good biomarker for oxidative stress. We aim to investigate the prognostic role of 4-HNE as a biomarker for oxidative stress in patients in early and advanced stages of CC measured by immunohistochemistry. This is a retrospective study of 69 patients treated at our Department of Oncogynaecology. Paraffin embedded tumour tissues were immunohistochemically tested for the levels of expression of 4-HNE. The results for H-score, Allred score, and combined score were investigated for association with tumour size, lymph node status, andInternational Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stage. 4-hydroxynonenal showed higher expression in more advanced stages of CC and in cases with involved lymph nodes. Tumour size was not associated with the levels of 4-HNE. To best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of 4-HNE as a prognostic factor in CC. The 3 score systems showed similar results. The pattern of 4-HNE histological appearance is dependent on the histological origin of cancer and is not universal.

Survival Status and Predictors Among Women with Advanced Stage of Cervical Cancer [Letter

Survival Status and Predictors Among Women with Advanced Stage of Cervical Cancer [Letter

Dose and fractionation regimen for brachytherapy boost in cervical cancer in the US

PurposeCurative-intent radiotherapy for locally advanced and select early stage cervical cancer in the US includes external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with brachytherapy. Although there are guidelines for brachytherapy dose and fractionation regimens, there are limited data on practice patterns. This study aims to evaluate the contemporary utilization of cervical cancer brachytherapy in the US and its association with patient demographics and facility characteristics. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical covariates of cervical cancer patients diagnosed and treated in 2018–2020 with curative-intent radiotherapy from the 2020 National Cancer Database. Associations between patient and institutional factors with the number of brachytherapy fractions were identified with logistic regression. Factors with association (p < 0.10) were then included in a multivariable logistic regression model. All tests were two-sided with significance <0.05 unless specified otherwise. ResultsAmong the eligible 2517 patients, 97.3% received HDR or LDR and is further analyzed. More patients received HDR than LDR brachytherapy (98.9% vs 1.1%) and intracavitary than interstitial brachytherapy (86.4% vs 13.6%). The most common number of HDR fractions prescribed were 5 (51.0%), 4 (32.9%), and 3 (8.6%). After adjusting for the other variables in the model, ethnicity, private insurance status, overall insurance status, and facility type were the only factors that were significantly associated with the number of brachytherapy factions (p < 0.0001, p = 0.028, p = 0.001, and p < 0.0001, respectively, n = 2184). ConclusionsIn the US, various HDR brachytherapy regimens are utilized depending on patient and institutional factors. Future research may optimize cervical cancer brachytherapy by correlating specific dose and fractionation regimens with patient outcomes.

Development and validation of radiomic signature for predicting overall survival in advanced stage cervical cancer

BackgroundThe role of artificial intelligence and radiomics in prediction model development in cancer has been increasing every passing day. Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide contributing to 6.5% of all cancer types. The treatment outcome of cervical cancer patients varies and individualized prediction of disease outcome is of paramount importance.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and validate the digital signature for 5-year overall survival prediction in cervical cancer using robust CT radiomic and clinical features.Materials and MethodsPretreatment clinical features and CT radiomic features of 68 patients, who were treated with chemoradiation therapy in our hospital were used in this study. Radiomic features were extracted using an in-house developed python script and pyradiomic package. Clinical features were selected by the recursive feature elimination technique. Whereas radiomic feature selection was performed using a multi-step process i.e., step-1: only robust radiomic features were selected based on our previous study, step-2: a hierarchical clustering was performed to eliminate feature redundancy, and final step-3: recursive feature elimination was performed to select the best features for prediction model development. Four machine algorithms i.e., Logistic regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support vector classifier (SVC), and Gradient boosting classifier (GBC) were used to develop 24 models (six models using each algorithm) using clinical, radiomic and combined features. Models were compared based on the prediction score in the internal validation.ResultsThe average prediction accuracy was found to be 0.65 (95% CI: 0.60–0.70), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.81), and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.72–0.82) for clinical, radiomic, and combined models developed using four prediction algorithms respectively. The average prediction accuracy was found to be 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62–0.76), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72–0.86), 0.71 (95% CI: 0.62–0.80), and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66–0.78) for LR, RF, SVC and GBC models developed on three datasets respectively.ConclusionOur study shows the promising predictive performance of robust radiomic signature to predict 5-year overall survival in cervical cancer patients.

Tumor Organoid and Spheroid Models for Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in women worldwide. Despite the global introduction of a preventive vaccine against the leading cause of cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the incidence of this malignant disease is still very high, especially in economically challenged areas. New advances in cancer therapy, especially the rapid development and application of different immunotherapy strategies, have shown promising pre-clinical and clinical results. However, mortality from advanced stages of cervical cancer remains a significant concern. Precise and thorough evaluation of potential novel anti-cancer therapies in pre-clinical phases is indispensable for efficient development of new, more successful treatment options for cancer patients. Recently, 3D tumor models have become the gold standard in pre-clinical cancer research due to their capacity to better mimic the architecture and microenvironment of tumor tissue as compared to standard two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. This review will focus on the application of spheroids and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as tumor models to develop novel therapies against cervical cancer, with an emphasis on the immunotherapies that specifically target cancer cells and modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Molecular mechanisms augmenting resistance to current therapies in clinics among cervical cancer patients.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death (~ 324,000 deaths annually) among women internationally, with 85% of these deaths reported in developing regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the major driver of CC, and with the availability of the prophylactic vaccine, HPV-associated CC is expected to be eliminated soon. However, female patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer demonstrated a high recurrence rate (50-70%) within two years of completing radiochemotherapy. Currently, 90% of failures in chemotherapy are during the invasion and metastasis of cancers related to drug resistance. Although molecular target therapies have shown promising results in the lab, they have had little success in patients due to the tumor heterogeneity fueling resistance to these therapies and bypass the targeted signaling pathway. The last two decades have seen the emergence of immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, as an effective treatment against metastatic tumors. Unfortunately, only a small subgroup of patients (< 20%) have benefited from this approach, reflecting disease heterogeneity and manifestation with primary or acquired resistance over time. Thus, understanding the mechanisms driving drug resistance in CC could significantly improve the quality of medical care for cancer patients and steer them to accurate, individualized treatment. The rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning has also been a pivotal factor in cancer drug discovery. With the advancement in such technology, cervical cancer screening and diagnosis are expected to become easier. This review will systematically discuss the different tumor-intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms CC cells to adapt to resist current treatments and scheme novel strategies to overcome cancer drug resistance.

Mediation of Racial and Ethnic Inequities in the Diagnosis of Advanced-Stage Cervical Cancer by Insurance Status

Black and Hispanic or Latina women are more likely than White women to receive a diagnosis of and to die of cervical cancer. Health insurance coverage is associated with diagnosis at an earlier stage of cervical cancer. To evaluate the extent to which racial and ethnic differences in the diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer are mediated by insurance status. This retrospective, cross-sectional population-based study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program on an analytic cohort of 23 942 women aged 21 to 64 years who received a diagnosis of cervical cancer between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2016. Statistical analysis was performed from February 24, 2022, to January 18, 2023. Health inusurance status (private or Medicare insurance vs Medicaid or uninsured). The primary outcome was a diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer (regional or distant stage). Mediation analyses were performed to assess the proportion of observed racial and ethnic differences in the stage at diagnosis that were mediated by health insurance status. A total of 23 942 women (median age at diagnosis, 45 years [IQR, 37-54 years]; 12.9% were Black, 24.5% were Hispanic or Latina, and 52.9% were White) were included in the study. A total of 59.4% of the cohort had private or Medicare insurance. Compared with White women, patients of all other racial and ethnic groups had a lower proportion with a diagnosis of early-stage cervical cancer (localized) (American Indian or Alaska Native, 48.7%; Asian or Pacific Islander, 49.9%; Black, 41.7%; Hispanic or Latina, 51.6%; and White, 53.3%). A larger proportion of women with private or Medicare insurance compared with women with Medicaid or uninsured received a diagnosis of an early-stage cancer (57.8% [8082 of 13 964] vs 41.1% [3916 of 9528]). In models adjusting for age, year of diagnosis, histologic type, area-level socioeconomic status, and insurance status, Black women had higher odds of receiving a diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer compared with White women (odds ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.08-1.29]). Health insurance was associated with mediation of more than half (ranging from 51.3% [95% CI, 51.0%-51.6%] for Black women to 55.1% [95% CI, 53.9%-56.3%] for Hispanic or Latina women) the racial and ethnic inequities in the diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer across all racial and ethnic minority groups compared with White women. This cross-sectional study of SEER data suggests that insurance status was a substantial mediator of racial and ethnic inequities in advanced-stage cervical cancer diagnoses. Expanding access to care and improving the quality of services rendered for uninsured patients and those covered by Medicaid may mitigate the known inequities in cervical cancer diagnosis and related outcomes.

Post-chemotherapy response of paclitaxel and carboplatin regimens in advanced stage cervical cancer types of histopathology squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

Background: Cervical cancer incidence in South Borneo was placed 10th in Indonesia. South Borneo Department of Health revealed 1,930 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019. The main therapy for advanced cervical cancer was radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and combination. This study aims to demonstrate that paclitaxel plus carboplatin regimens have a better post-chemotherapy response in patients with advanced cervical cancer squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma. Methods: This study used an analytical observational method with a cross-sectional approach. The sample size was taken during the period during which this study was conducted from January 2015 to December 2020 and was taken by total sampling and divided into 2 groups consisting of patients with advanced cervical cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma histological types. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 for Windows. Results: A total of 202 individuals made up the study's sample, including 54 (26.8%) adenocarcinomas, 148 (73.2%) patients with advanced cervical cancer, and patients with various histological kinds of squamous cell carcinoma. About 107 (52.9%) patients provided complete responses, whereas up to 95 (47.1%) patients provided incomplete responses. Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma, the histological type of cervical cancer, responds to treatment better than adenocarcinoma.

Recent Advances in Cervical Cancer Management: A Review on Novel Prognostic Factors in Primary and Recurrent Tumors

Several pathological parameters, including tumor size, depth of stromal invasion, lympho-vascular space invasion and lymph node status, have been proposed as prognostic predictors in cervical cancer. However, given the high mortality and recurrence rate of cervical cancer, novel parameters that are able to provide additional prognostic information are needed in order to allow a better prognostic stratification of cervical cancer patients. A search was conducted on PubMed to identify relevant literature data regarding prognostic factors in cervical cancer. The key words "cervical cancer", "prognostic factors", "pathology", and "outcome" were used. The novel pathological grading system based on tumor budding and cell nest size appeared the most relevant prognostic factor in primary neoplasms. Moreover, other potentially useful prognostic factors were tumor size, depth of stromal invasion, lympho-vascular space invasion, perineural invasion, tumor-free distance and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Prognostic factors related to advanced-stage cervical cancer, including lymph-nodes status, endometrial and cervical involvement as well as distant metastases, were also taken into consideration. According to our findings, tumor budding and cell nest size grading system, depth of stromal invasion, lympho-vascular space invasion, perineural invasion, tumor-free distance and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes appeared the most relevant factors included in the pathology report.

A Pilot Study of Psychosexual Functioning and Communication in Women Treated for Advanced Stages of Cervical Cancer After the Diagnosis

IntroductionThe purpose of this pilot study was to examine relationships between body image, perceived stress, partner and patient-provider sexual communication, and sexual functioning in women with advanced stages of cervical cancer (CC) after the cancer diagnosis.MethodsIn this pilot study, cancer patients (n = 30) and healthy women (n = 30) were compared. A study was conducted from January to March 2022. Sexual functioning and its predictors were assessed using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Sexual Communication Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSES), the self-administered questionnaire contributing the patient-provider sexual communication, and the Body Esteem Scale (BES). The data was collected from January to June 2022.ResultsWomen with cervical cancer after the diagnosis reported impaired sexual functioning, which was associated with self-efficacy in sexual communication, feeling comfortable discussing sexual issues with a healthcare provider, perceived stress, and body image. Compared to the control group, CC patients had significantly lower sexual functioning (mean 8.83 vs 19.23; p < 0.001).ConclusionsSexual functioning in women with CC is significantly impaired even after the diagnosis and is associated with psychosocial variables. The expanded study will include other predictors of sexual functioning and quality of life in women with CC on the larger group of patients.Policy ImplicationsAs cancer becomes a more chronic disease that affects even younger individuals, social policy should promote the sexuality issues in cancer patients, as it is an integral part of every person’s life, regardless of health status or age.

Clinical outcomes of single application multi-fractionated CT-guided interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer: A multi-institution initial experience.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes of single application multi-fractionated computed tomography (CT)-guided interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy given in four fractions in locally advanced cervical cancer. Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer stage IIB-IVA treated definitively with external radiation ± weekly cisplatin, followed by single application multi-fractionated CT-guided interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy in four fractions were included. Dosimetry data, clinical response, and toxicity records were reviewed. Between January 2018 and December 2022, twenty-two patients were included. Clinical stage distribution was as follows: IIB - 13.6%, IIIB - 27.3%, IIIC - 22.7%, and IVA - 36.4%. Mean high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was 66.19 ±32.69 cm3, and HR-CTV D90 dose was 86.8 ±1.7 Gy. 2 cc doses to bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were 84.6 ±2.8 Gy, 71.5 ±2.4 Gy, and 65.6 ±4.0 Gy, respectively. Mean overall treatment time was 66 ±21 days. With a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 5-44 months), median survival and local control were not achieved. One-year local control rate, one-year progression-free survival, and one-year overall survival were 82%, 66%, and 78%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed overall treatment time to be the only variable associated with all oncologic outcomes. For acute toxicity, grade 3 toxicity in four patients and grade 4 toxicity of infection in one patient were observed. For late toxicity, grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity was noted in two patients. Initial results suggest that single application multi-fractionated CT-guided interstitial brachytherapy given in four fractions in locally advanced cervical cancer seems to be feasible and safe, but additional evidence is needed to generate more validated conclusions.