Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols

Cervical cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) representing a particularly complex subset due to its diverse definitions and varied treatment approaches. The absence of randomized controlled trials comparing the upfront radical surgery f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mustafa Zelal Muallem, Ahmad Sayasneh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1174
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850155723232641024
author Mustafa Zelal Muallem
Ahmad Sayasneh
author_facet Mustafa Zelal Muallem
Ahmad Sayasneh
author_sort Mustafa Zelal Muallem
collection DOAJ
description Cervical cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) representing a particularly complex subset due to its diverse definitions and varied treatment approaches. The absence of randomized controlled trials comparing the upfront radical surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or chemotherapy alone for clearly defined risk factors for LACC hinders the development of standardized treatment protocols, leading to disparities in patient outcomes across different healthcare settings. This paper seeks to underline the necessity of a consensus on the definition of LACC and aims to comprehensively and critically review the existing literature trying to harmonize treatment strategies and improve prognostic outcomes. Our analysis suggests a multimodal approach for treating FIGO IB3, IIA2, and selected IIB cases at facilities capable of delivering highly curative nerve-sparing surgical interventions, with the goal of bridging the gap in current treatment methodologies. Preliminary findings suggest that adopting a standardized definition could facilitate more consistent treatment outcomes and enhance comparative research.
format Article
id doaj-art-b3f4249024b64056ac3cc22ab969dcba
institution OA Journals
issn 2075-4418
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Diagnostics
spelling doaj-art-b3f4249024b64056ac3cc22ab969dcba2025-08-20T02:24:47ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-05-01159117410.3390/diagnostics15091174Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard ProtocolsMustafa Zelal Muallem0Ahmad Sayasneh1Department of Gynecology with Center for Oncological Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Virchow Campus Clinic, Charité Medical University, 13353 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Gynecological Oncology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UKCervical cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) representing a particularly complex subset due to its diverse definitions and varied treatment approaches. The absence of randomized controlled trials comparing the upfront radical surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or chemotherapy alone for clearly defined risk factors for LACC hinders the development of standardized treatment protocols, leading to disparities in patient outcomes across different healthcare settings. This paper seeks to underline the necessity of a consensus on the definition of LACC and aims to comprehensively and critically review the existing literature trying to harmonize treatment strategies and improve prognostic outcomes. Our analysis suggests a multimodal approach for treating FIGO IB3, IIA2, and selected IIB cases at facilities capable of delivering highly curative nerve-sparing surgical interventions, with the goal of bridging the gap in current treatment methodologies. Preliminary findings suggest that adopting a standardized definition could facilitate more consistent treatment outcomes and enhance comparative research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1174locally advanced cervical cancermultimodal therapychemoradiotherapyradical surgerypersonalized medicine
spellingShingle Mustafa Zelal Muallem
Ahmad Sayasneh
Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
Diagnostics
locally advanced cervical cancer
multimodal therapy
chemoradiotherapy
radical surgery
personalized medicine
title Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
title_full Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
title_fullStr Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
title_full_unstemmed Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
title_short Debunking Myths and Misinformation in Cervical Cancer: A Narrative Review on Navigating Complex Treatment Choices in Locally Advanced Cases and Exploring Beyond Standard Protocols
title_sort debunking myths and misinformation in cervical cancer a narrative review on navigating complex treatment choices in locally advanced cases and exploring beyond standard protocols
topic locally advanced cervical cancer
multimodal therapy
chemoradiotherapy
radical surgery
personalized medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1174
work_keys_str_mv AT mustafazelalmuallem debunkingmythsandmisinformationincervicalcanceranarrativereviewonnavigatingcomplextreatmentchoicesinlocallyadvancedcasesandexploringbeyondstandardprotocols
AT ahmadsayasneh debunkingmythsandmisinformationincervicalcanceranarrativereviewonnavigatingcomplextreatmentchoicesinlocallyadvancedcasesandexploringbeyondstandardprotocols