The University of Leipzig researchers reported that the technique called total mesometrial resection (TMMR) which is a modified version of traditional radical hysterectomy employs more accurate, anatomically based resection of the cancer to prevent damage to the pelvic autonomous nervous system and to minimize surgery-related trauma.
In their study, Dr. Michael Hockel and his colleagues assessed the effectiveness of TMMR without radiotherapy in 212 early-stage cervical cancer patients and found a recurrence-free survival rate of 94 percent and a five-year survival rate of 96 percent. The overall cancer recurrence rate was 5 percent, compared to the 28 percent rate seen in patients who undergo traditional radical hysterectomy.
The study, published online June 1 in The Lancet Oncology, also found that 63 percent of patients had no treatment-related complications, 35 percent had grade 1 complications, and 9 percent had grade 2 complications. There were no grade 3 or 4 complications reported.
The researchers wrote that TMMR without adjuvant radiation has the potential to improve survival by 15 to 20 percent, and called for further evaluation of TMMR in multi-center controlled trials.
