Making anal cancer treatment less of a pain in the arse
PLATO-ACT4 trial results
The PLATO-ACT4 clinical trial, funded by SU2C, has discovered a kinder and more personalised way of using radiotherapy to treat early-stage anal cancer.
Until now, doctors have followed a set treatment plan for anal cancers, always using the same dose of radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy, regardless of how advanced the cancer is.
But the side effects of radiotherapy around the anus can be a right pain in the arse. Sore skin, diarrhoea, incontinence, fatigue, vaginal irritation and loss of sexual function can make the treatment difficult to live with.
The PLATO-ACT4 trial tested a lower dose of radiation to treat early-stage anal cancers that hadn’t spread. And it’s good news for people with this type of cancer. The results showed that this less intense treatment was just as effective as the current treatment and caused fewer major side effects.
The results of this trial will change how we treat anal cancer around the world, transforming the lives of people affected by the disease.
Researcher:
Professor David Sebag-Montefiore
Location:
Leeds