NEW research casts doubt on the widespread use of chemoradiotherapy in women with intermediate-risk cervical cancer. The cohort study, which analysed data from 1,116 patients across the U.S., found no significant difference in overall survival between those who received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and those who underwent radiotherapy alone following radical hysterectomy.
The 10-year study used propensity score matching to control for variables such as tumor size, histology, and surgical approach. After matching, survival outcomes remained nearly identical: 5-year overall survival was 87% in both treatment groups.
Despite this, nearly half of the women in the cohort received chemoradiotherapy—particularly those with nonsquamous histology or tumors larger than 4 cm—highlighting a disconnect between clinical practice and outcome evidence.
“Our findings suggest an opportunity to de-escalate treatment and reduce treatment-related morbidity,” the authors noted, emphasizing the need for more consistent and evidence-based approaches.
As chemoradiotherapy often carries a higher risk of adverse effects, these findings may prompt clinicians to rethink its routine use in this subgroup of patients, focusing instead on tailoring treatment to individual risk profiles.
