In this rebroadcasted episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Kathleen Schmeler to discuss the ConCerv Trial. Dr. Schmeler is the lead author of “ConCerv: a prospective trial of conservative surgery for low-risk early-stage cervical cancer,” which was the Lead Article of IJGC’s October 2021 issue. Dr. Schmeler is a Professor in Gynecologic Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She provides care to women with gynecologic malignancies including surgery, chemotherapy and preventive services. Dr. Schmeler is also the Executive Director of Global Oncology for the MD Anderson Cancer Network. Her research interest is in cervical cancer prevention and treatment, particularly for resource-constrained countries and medically underserved communities in the US.

Original release date: October 4, 2021

Highlights:

- The ConCerv trial is the first prospective study of conservative surgery in women with low-risk cervical cancer. It included 14 sites in 9 countries.

- Findings from the ConCerv Trial offer prospective data supporting a more conservative approach to low-risk patients, sparing them the early and late morbidity associated with radical procedures.

- It will also allow for safer cervical cancer surgery in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of cervical cancer is highest.

- In our study, conservative surgery was associated with a 3.5% recurrence rate in women with low-risk cervical cancer. In addition, the rate of positive lymph nodes was 5%, with lymph node assessment recommended in this low-risk population.