Adjuvant Chemotherapy in cfHPV-DNA Plasma Positive Patients: A Biomarker In Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

Overview

This study hypothesizes that patients who persist with cell-free human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid (cfHPV-DNA) plasma expression at the end of standard treatment, can derive the benefit of using adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer (CC). After standard treatment based on concomitant chemoradiotherapy regime, a qualitative and quantitative research of cfHPV-DNA in plasma of patients will be conducted. Patients who have positive research for plasma cfHPV-DNA at the end of chemoradiotherapy treatment will be randomized to receive two additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy or observation. Patients will be followed with conduction of computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and magnetic resonance (MRI) of abdomen and pelvis and clinical and gynecological examination at every four months.

A prospective, randomized, multicenter, national, superiority, parallel, clinical trial, design to evaluate the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer selected by cfDNA-HPV biomarker. Patients will be randomized by stratified randomization process to belong to one of the groups: control (Group B) or intervention (Group C), emphasizing homogeneity of risk factors between them. A randomized list will be generated by using a suitable software, using variable size blocks (2 or 4), with stratification for site and staging. The confidentiality of the randomization list will be maintained through an automated, centralized, Internet-based randomization system, available 24 hours a day (RedCap). Selected patients must receive standard treatment based on concomitant chemoradiotherapy regime, with dose of radiation of 40-50 greys (Gy) (considering additional boost of 10-15 Gy in lymph nodes, radiologically or surgically, compromised) and brachytherapy of 30-40 Gy and cisplatin 40mg/m2 weekly. After four weeks of the end of treatment, a qualitative and quantitative research of cfHPV-DNA in plasma of patients will be conducted. Those with a negative qualitative research result will leave the study. Patients who have positive research for plasma 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, 82 cfHPV-DNA at the end of chemoradiotherapy treatment will be randomized to receive two additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy or observation. In those cases in which the duration of radiochemotherapy treatment exceeds 84 days, patients must undergo imaging examination (chest, abdomen and pelvis CT) in order to exclude pre-randomization metastatic disease. Patients will be followed with conduction of computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and magnetic resonance (MRI) of abdomen and pelvis and clinical and gynecological examination at every four months.