44. Clinical Trial Research on Radiotherapy for Cervical Cancer in the Asian Regional Cooperation Project

Takashi Nakano,M.D., Hirohiko Tsujtr,M.D Shinroku Morita,M.0., Atsuko Abe M.0 Kunio SakashitaM.D. Hiroshi Sato Shinichiro Sato,Ph.D.,M.0 and Sakata suhou,M.0

Keywords: cervical cancer, radiation therapy, cooperative research

This research is a promotion of medical applications of radiation and radioisotopes supported by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Cervical cancer us targeted as it is one of the most frequent cancers observed in Asian countries. Treatment for patients is by radiotherapy, based on the unified-standardized treatment policy. The project aims at improving radiotherapy for cervical cancer throughout Asian countries through evaluating the treatment results in the international cooperative clinical trial. An international meeting was held at Suzuhou Medical College Affiliated Hospital, Suzuhou, China, in December 1999. The status of cervical cancer and the standard protocol pilot study were described at the meeting as follows:

1. 219 patients were registered as a pilot study which was tentatively analyzed. The 3-year sur vival rate of 60.3% and the local control rate of 83.7% were obtained.
2. Accelerated Ilyperfractionation Radiotherapy NIRS and other participating countries reported on preliminary treatment results of Accelerated Hyperfractionation Radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Practical and reasonable treatment methods was discussed and the final treatment protocol were prepared.
3. Making Standard Treatment Protocol of radiation therapy for cervical cancer in Asian countries The Standard Treatment Procedure for cervical cancer was discussed and results of the last 6 seminars from 1993 were put on record. It was decided to edit booklets on the protocol and treat ment results.
4. Education Lecture : Education lectures for medical students and related doctors were held for the first time. Three committees gave highly regarded lectures on brachytherapy, heavy particle radiotherapy, and the introduction to medical treatment at Saitama Cancer Center.

The following comments are made on the project.

1. The cooperative research has progressed successfully, and reached the stage to submit result to international journals. The accumulated knowledge should be spread into the participating countries and also in our own institute.
2. We adopted the start of another international research theme for regional cooperation, which is Accelerated Hyperfractionation Radiotherapy
3. We confirmed that it is meaningful to visit regional facilities where and when seminars are held in order to see the actual conditions and needs of the facilities in terms of practicing radiation ther apy in regional countries.
4. Our new type of technical cooperation, or technol ogy transfer by means of software, is attracting a great deal of attention for our project aims at producing results not only by a surveillance study but also by this type of collaboration.