Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India
PURPOSEChemoradiation remains a challenge in women living with HIV (WLWH) and cervical cancer primarily because of concerns regarding immune status. With limited literature available to help guide the management of these patients, clinical practices among oncologists are variable across India. Hence...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society of Clinical Oncology
2021-12-01
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| Series: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00081 |
| _version_ | 1818356575168888832 |
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| author | Samarpita Mohanty Lavanya Gurram Supriya Chopra Umesh Mahantshetty Surbhi Grover |
| author_facet | Samarpita Mohanty Lavanya Gurram Supriya Chopra Umesh Mahantshetty Surbhi Grover |
| author_sort | Samarpita Mohanty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PURPOSEChemoradiation remains a challenge in women living with HIV (WLWH) and cervical cancer primarily because of concerns regarding immune status. With limited literature available to help guide the management of these patients, clinical practices among oncologists are variable across India. Hence, we conducted a survey among radiation oncologists in India to assess the patterns of current practices of treating cervical cancer with chemoradiation in WLWH.MATERIALS AND METHODSA questionnaire consisting of 12 questions related to the treatment of cervical cancer in WLWH was distributed to radiation oncologists at two national conferences in India.RESULTSThe questionnaire was distributed to 105 radiation oncologists, and 90 (85.7%) responses were received. 95.5% of respondents reported that patients with advanced cervical cancer constituted the majority of their practice. Chemoradiation was reported as the most common modality of planned treatment. Ninety-four percentage of respondents reported that they referred patients to an antiretroviral therapy clinic before starting definitive treatment. The majority of respondents (68%) do not plan for concurrent chemotherapy if CD4 counts were < 200 cells/mm3. As many as 50% of respondents reported that they would only start antiretroviral therapy when CD4 counts drop. Poor social support (37.6%), concurrent infections during treatment (28.2%), acute toxicities (21.2%), and poor nutrition (13%) were cited as the most common reasons for treatment interruption in cervical cancer patients with HIV.CONCLUSIONThis survey highlights the prevalent inconsistencies in treatment protocols employed by radiation oncologists in India for the management of locally advanced cervical cancer in WLWH. It also reflects the need for social and nutritional support to help improve compliance and thereby improve outcomes in these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:59:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-531fa46450fc4c83ba4afc383b33051d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2687-8941 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:59:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCO Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-531fa46450fc4c83ba4afc383b33051d2022-12-21T23:33:13ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJCO Global Oncology2687-89412021-12-01784384810.1200/GO.21.00081Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in IndiaSamarpita Mohanty0Lavanya Gurram1Supriya Chopra2Umesh Mahantshetty3Surbhi Grover4Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, IndiaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, IndiaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, IndiaHomi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, IndiaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PAPURPOSEChemoradiation remains a challenge in women living with HIV (WLWH) and cervical cancer primarily because of concerns regarding immune status. With limited literature available to help guide the management of these patients, clinical practices among oncologists are variable across India. Hence, we conducted a survey among radiation oncologists in India to assess the patterns of current practices of treating cervical cancer with chemoradiation in WLWH.MATERIALS AND METHODSA questionnaire consisting of 12 questions related to the treatment of cervical cancer in WLWH was distributed to radiation oncologists at two national conferences in India.RESULTSThe questionnaire was distributed to 105 radiation oncologists, and 90 (85.7%) responses were received. 95.5% of respondents reported that patients with advanced cervical cancer constituted the majority of their practice. Chemoradiation was reported as the most common modality of planned treatment. Ninety-four percentage of respondents reported that they referred patients to an antiretroviral therapy clinic before starting definitive treatment. The majority of respondents (68%) do not plan for concurrent chemotherapy if CD4 counts were < 200 cells/mm3. As many as 50% of respondents reported that they would only start antiretroviral therapy when CD4 counts drop. Poor social support (37.6%), concurrent infections during treatment (28.2%), acute toxicities (21.2%), and poor nutrition (13%) were cited as the most common reasons for treatment interruption in cervical cancer patients with HIV.CONCLUSIONThis survey highlights the prevalent inconsistencies in treatment protocols employed by radiation oncologists in India for the management of locally advanced cervical cancer in WLWH. It also reflects the need for social and nutritional support to help improve compliance and thereby improve outcomes in these patients.https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00081 |
| spellingShingle | Samarpita Mohanty Lavanya Gurram Supriya Chopra Umesh Mahantshetty Surbhi Grover Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India JCO Global Oncology |
| title | Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India |
| title_full | Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India |
| title_fullStr | Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India |
| title_short | Cervical Cancer Treatment in HIV-Positive Patients: A Survey of Treatment Practices in India |
| title_sort | cervical cancer treatment in hiv positive patients a survey of treatment practices in india |
| url | https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00081 |
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