Anti-estrogenic drugs can stabilise cervical cancer, shows research

Cervical cancer can be stabilised with anti-estrogenic drugs, says a research.

The study by a group of doctors from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) and Shodhaka Life Sciences Private Limited through lab tests proved that the cancerous cells in cervical cancer patients can be stabilised with anti-estrogenic drugs. This drug suppresses the cancerous cells in patients.

"Fulvestrant and aromatase inhibitors are two of the drugs that can stabilise the tumour. These tablets are cheap and the patient has to consume them daily," said Dr U D Bafna, professor and head of the Department of Gynecology Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology.

The doctor said the clinical trials are yet to be conducted while the pills should be able to work on patients with advanced stage (stage three and four) of cancers where no other treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) works for their survival. At least 35 in one lakh women in Karnataka suffer from cervical cancer annually.

Kidwai institute receives 1,500 women with cervical cancer, out of which 80% are affected by stage two and three, and 5% with stage four cancer.

"Sixty per cent of women affected with stage three and four cancer die as the cancer returns after the treatment. These patients' lives may prolong up to three or four more years," said Dr Bafna.

Dr Jayashree Rudrapatna Subramanyam, also the part of the research, said cancer usually affects women in their late teens or during their 30s and above the age of 30 and, most of the women are unaware of cancer until they go for a test.

"Cancer hardly has any symptoms and it is difficult to identify it in its early stages," she added.

"The drugs are already in use for breast cancer. Now, we know that it can work for cervical cancer also," she added.