Reverse pharmacology based clinical protocols for noninvasive integrative management of low grade cervical precancer lesions: Rationale and outcomes

Abstract

Prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective method to combat cervical cancer for which High Risk Human Papilloma Virus (HR-HPV) infection is identified as the major causative factor. HPV vaccination is for primary prevention whereas surgical ablation of precancer is for secondary prevention after HPV infection has occurred. Screening of women for early detection of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SILs) with Papanicolou smear (Pap smear) is a desirable pre-requisite. Surgical ablation which invites invasive procedures is not accessible nor affordable to the larger section of the population. We propose here a non-invasive integrative management approach for the early phase of cervical pre-cancer.

In tune with the reverse pharmacology approach, ‘experience-exploration- experimentation’, we have conducted five clinical studies related to Turmeric extracts for chemo-preventive activity and non-surgical feasibility. We were able to achieve arrest or regression in Low-grade SILs in all 41 women participating in these studies.

The unique features of this integrative management approach were i) Avoidance of surgery-associated trauma, cost and complications ii) Standard of care for associated genital infections iii) Feasibility when surgery was not accessible iv) Scope for repeating the noninvasive treatment.