Improving treatment outcomes for patients with cervical cancer

The BIO-INTERLACE study, with Dr Gemma Eminowicz, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at UCLH, is looking at ways to predict how well patients with advanced cervical cancer respond to treatment. In the earlier INTERLACE trial, researchers investigated outcomes from treating patients with chemotherapy, before their main treatment of chemoradiation (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). As part of this, researchers collected tissue samples from about 260 patients. By studying these samples, they hope to find biological markers—specific features in the cancer cells—that can show:

  • Who will respond well to treatment, and
  • Who might be at higher risk of the cancer coming back.

If successful, this research could help doctors personalise treatment by:

  • Identifying patients who would benefit more from initial chemotherapy 
  • Finding those who might need different treatments, like immunotherapy.

In the future, researchers also plan to use advanced genetic testing techniques to identify other potential indicators for how patients will respond to treatment. If you would like to support this research with a donation to the Cancer Fund, or for more information please get in touch.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month-2.png

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

​January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; Over 78,000 new cases of cervical cancer occur annually throughout the world, but with vaccination, screening and early treatment, they are preventable.

Cervical Screening is an examination offered to women and all people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64. It checks for human papillomavirus (HPV) which can lead to cervical cancer over time.

In London, only 58% of 25 to 49-year-olds attend cervical screening currently, with the attendance significantly higher for 50 to 64-year-olds at 70%. When you are invited for your cervical screening test, make sure you attend.

Find answers to all your questions about cervical screening at Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2025

For more information on cervical cancer screening and prevention, visit the NHS website.