Early stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium

Radioresistant Pulmonary Oligometastatic and Oligoprogressive Lesions From Nonlung Primaries: Impact of Histology and Dose-Fractionation on Local Control After Radiation Therapy

Purpose

We investigated whether pulmonary metastases from historically considered radioresistant primaries would have inferior local control after radiation therapy than those from nonradioresistant nonlung primaries, and whether higher biologically effective dose assuming alpha/beta=10 (BED10) would be associated with superior local control.

Methods and Materials

We identified patients treated with radiation therapy for oligometastatic or oligoprogressive pulmonary disease to 1 to 5 lung metastases from nonlung primaries in 2013 to 2020 at a single health care system. Radioresistant primary cancers included colorectal carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and sarcoma. Nonradioresistant primary cancers included breast, bladder, esophageal, pancreas, and head and neck carcinomas. The Kaplan-Meier estimator, log-rank test, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression were used to compare local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), new metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

Results

Among 114 patients, 73 had radioresistant primary cancers. The median total dose was 50 Gy (IQR, 50-54 Gy) and the median number of fractions was 5 (IQR, 3-5). Median follow-up time was 59.6 months. One of 41 (2.4%) patients with a nonradioresistant metastasis experienced local failure compared with 18 of 73 (24.7%) patients with radioresistant metastasis (log-rank P = .004). Among radioresistant metastases, 12 of 41 (29.2%) patients with colorectal carcinoma experienced local failure compared with 6 of 32 (18.8%) with other primaries (log-rank P = .018). BED10 ≥100 Gy was associated with decreased risk of local recurrence. On univariable analysis, BED10 ≥100 Gy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.263; 95% CI, 0.105-0.656; P = .004) was associated with higher LRFS, and colorectal primary (HR, 3.060; 95% CI, 1.204-7.777; P = .019) was associated with lower LRFS, though these were not statistically significant on multivariable analysis. Among colorectal primary patients, BED10 ≥100 Gy was associated with higher LRFS (HR, 0.266; 95% CI, 0.072-0.985; P = .047) on multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Local control after radiation therapy was encouraging for pulmonary metastases from most nonlung primaries, even for many of those classically considered to be radioresistant. Those from colorectal primaries may benefit from testing additional strategies, such as resection or systemic treatment concurrent with radiation.

Clinical Significance of Positive Pelvic Washings in Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma Confined to an Endometrial Polyp

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) represents 10% of endometrial carcinomas. Significant number of patients initially present with extrauterine disease. The role of adjuvant treatment in low stage, especially polyp-confined UPSC is controversial. This multi-institutional study evaluated the significance of positive pelvic washing (PW) and adjuvant treatment on disease recurrence in a setting of endometrial polyp-confined UPSC. Surgical pathology files from 3 institutions were searched for cases of endometrial polyp-confined UPSC. Following histologic review, cases were clinically staged as Stage I, without myoinvasion or lymphovascular invasion. Clinicopathologic characteristics, results of PW, and type of adjuvant therapy were recorded. Statistical analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method for survival and Fisher exact test were performed. Thirty-three patients were included in the study. All patients were diagnosed with polyp-confined UPSC. The size of the polyp ranged from 0.3 to 4.3 cm. PW was positive for tumor cells in 8/33 (24%) patients. Twenty-two patients (66.6%) received some type of adjuvant treatment. Six patients (18%) developed recurrent disease. There was no significant difference in disease-free survival in the patients receiving adjuvant treatment versus not (P=0.375). However, there was significant association (P=0.0013) between positive PW and disease recurrence. Data are conflicting whether positive PW affects prognosis in low-stage endometrial carcinomas. Our study showed that in UPSC, malignant cells can be present in PW without lymphovascular invasion or myoinvasion and may have negative prognostic implication. Our data also reflect the controversies in the role of adjuvant treatment in endometrium-confined UPSC.

BGCS uterine cancer guidelines: Recommendations for practice

The British Gynaecological Cancer Society has issued the first Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer guidelines as recommendation for practice for the UK.

The incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis in uterine papillary serous and clear cell carcinoma according to the SEER registry

Objective

In this study we utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) registry to identify risk factors for lymphatic spread and determine the incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC) who underwent complete surgical staging and lymph node dissection.

Methods

Nine hundred seventy-two eligible patients diagnosed between 1998 to 2009 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 1988 stage IA-IVA UPSC (n=685) or UCCC (n=287) were identified for analysis. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for lymph node metastasis, with the incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases reported for each FIGO primary tumor stage. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine factors associated with overall survival.

Results

FIGO primary tumor stage was the only independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). The incidence of pelvis-only and para-aortic lymph node involvement according to the FIGO primary tumor stage were as follows: IA (2.3%/3.8%), IB (7.5%/5.2%), IC (22.5%/16.9%), IIA (20.8%/13.2%), IIB (25.7%/14.9%), and III/IV (25.7%/24.3%). Prognostic factors for overall survival included lymph node involvement (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.85; p<0.01), patient age >60 years (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.41; p<0.01), and advanced FIGO primary tumor stage (p<0.01). Tumor grade, histologic subtype, and patient race did not predict for either lymph node metastasis or overall survival.

Conclusion

There is a high incidence of both pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases for FIGO stages IC and above uterine papillary serous and clear cell carcinomas, suggesting a potential role for lymph node-directed therapy for these patients.

Abdominal wall metastasis of uterine papillary serous carcinoma in a post-menopausal woman: a case report

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive form of endometrial cancer characterized by a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. We report a case of a 58-year-old post-menopausal woman with an abdominal wall metastasis in stage IA UPSC. After surgical staging, she did not receive additional adjuvant therapy. An egg sized palpable mass developed in the right lower abdomen after 8 months. Both Abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed a metastatic lesion in the abdominal wall. Hence, surgical excision was performed. The pathological findings showed metastatic UPSC with clear resection margin. After the diagnosis of UPSC metastasis in the abdominal wall, she received chemotherapy utilizing paclitaxel and carboplatin. After 3 years, no evidence of recurrence was found. Therefore, we suggest that even when UPSC is confined to the endometrium without lymph node metastasis and without lymphovascular invasion, chemotherapy should be considered as a postoperative adjuvant therapy.

Uterine papillary serous cancer: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) represents a distinct subtype of endometrial cancer. UPSC is less common than endometrioid carcinoma (ECC) but accounts for a disproportionate number of uterine cancer related deaths. This article critically reviews the literature pertinent to the pathology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and outcome of patients with UPSC.

METHODS

MEDLINE was searched for all research articles published in English between January 1, 1967-January 1, 2012 which reported on patients diagnosed with UPSC. Given the rarity of this tumor, studies were not limited by design or number of reported patients.

RESULTS

UPSC represents a histologically aggressive subtype of endometrial cancer. It commonly presents with extra uterine disease involvement which can be identified by comprehensive surgical staging. Optimal cytoreduction and systemic platinum/taxane-based adjuvant therapy appear to confer a survival advantage.

CONCLUSIONS

UPSC is a biologically distinct entity, different from ECC. Future studies should explore the role of targeted therapies in the management of UPSC.

Prognostic determinants in patients with stage I uterine papillary serous carcinoma: a 15-year multi-institutional review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective, multi-institutional study was to evaluate the importance of surgical staging for stage I uterine papillary serous carcinomas (UPSCs) to determine optimal management of this rare tumor.

METHODS

With institutional review board approval from both participating institutions, all patients with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I mixed serous and UPSC diagnosed between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2007, were identified at the 2 institutions. Clinical factors were correlated using Spearman correlation coefficients, Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Of the 204 UPSC patients treated during this period, 84 were classified as stage I, with substages as follows: stage IA, n = 71; stage IB, n = 13. Thirty-seven patients (44%) had a history of a second cancer (22 breast tumors, 9 synchronous müllerian cancers). Surgical staging with at least hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection was performed in 60 (71%) of 84 patients. The median survival for all patients was 10 years. Univariate analysis revealed surgical staging (P < 0.001), normal preoperative CA-125 (P < 0.001), and absence of additional cancers (P < 0.01) to be associated with improved survival. Age-adjusted multivariate analysis incorporating these factors revealed that advancing substage (hazard ratio, 4.59; P < 0.05), a second malignancy (hazard ratio, 2.75; P < 0.04), and surgical staging (hazard ratio, 0.18; P < 0.001) were independent factors associated with overall survival. In a subset analysis excluding patients with a second malignancy, substage (hazard ratio, 3.52; P < 0.05), and surgical staging (hazard ratio, 0.16; P < 0.001) were independent factors affecting overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation, stage of disease, comprehensive surgical staging, and the presence of a second malignancy were predictors of overall survival.

Clinical assessment of PTEN loss in endometrial carcinoma: immunohistochemistry outperforms gene sequencing

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is a tumor suppressor that negatively regulates the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma. Sanger sequencing has been considered to be the gold standard for detection of PTEN sequence abnormalities. However, this approach fails to address the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to functional PTEN loss. Using a study cohort of 154 endometrioid and non-endometrioid endometrial carcinomas, we performed full-length PTEN sequencing and PTEN immunohistochemistry on each tumor. PTEN sequence abnormalities were detected in a significantly lower proportion of cases (43%) than PTEN protein loss (64%, P=0.0004). Endometrioid tumors had a significantly higher proportion of PTEN sequence abnormalities and PTEN protein loss than non-endometrioid tumors. Within the latter group, PTEN sequence abnormalities and PTEN protein loss were most frequent in undifferentiated carcinomas, followed by mixed carcinomas; they were least frequent in carcinosarcomas. Overall, at least one PTEN sequence abnormality was detected in each exon, and the greatest number of sequence abnormalities was detected in exon 8. Pure-endometrioid tumors had a significantly higher frequency of sequence abnormalities in exon 7 than did the non-endometrioid tumors (P=0.0199). Importantly, no mutational hotspots were identified. While PTEN protein loss by immunohistochemistry was identified in 89% of cases with a PTEN sequence abnormality, PTEN protein loss was detected by immunohistochemistry in 44% of cases classified as PTEN wild type by sequencing. For the first time, we demonstrate that PTEN immunohistochemistry is able to identify the majority of cases with functional PTEN loss. However, PTEN immunohistochemistry also detects additional cases with PTEN protein loss that would otherwise be undetected by gene sequencing. Therefore, for clinical purposes, immunohistochemistry appears to be a preferable technique for identifying endometrial tumors with loss of PTEN function.

Evaluation of adjuvant therapy in women with uterine papillary serous cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Uterine papillary serous cancer (UPSC) represents only 10% of all uterine cancers and is associated with a significantly worse prognosis compared with other histological types of endometrial cancers. It closely resembles the behavior of ovarian carcinoma.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective study in a referral center covering period from February 1989 to January 2009.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighteen patients who underwent definitive surgery followed by adjuvant therapy-platinum-based chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both-were reviewed. Median age was 62 years (range, 52-76 years). All patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. Positive lymph nodes were found in 4 of 7 patients who underwent lymph node sampling/dissection. Seven patients had stage I/II disease, whereas 11 patients had stage III disease. Six patients received chemotherapy, 5 patients received radiation therapy, while 7 patients received both chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

RESULT

Median follow-up was 27 months. The median survival and relapse-free survival were 33 and 23 months, respectively. Eight patients were alive and free of disease, of whom 5 patients were stage I/II and 4 patients were stage III. Distant metastasis was the most common site of relapse. Early stage (I/II) was associated with significant improvement in relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (P=.004 and P=.05, respectively). The combined-modality treatment including chemotherapy-radiotherapy showed statistically significant improvement in RFS (P=.012), while the improvement in OS did not reach statistical significance (P=.12).

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that postoperative combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy plays a role in the management of UPSC by improving RFS. Distant metastasis remains the major site of relapse. Future studies using combined-modality therapy are needed to improve the outcome in patients with UPSC.

Management of women with surgically staged 1 uterine papillary serous cancer

Objective. To review the management and outcomes of women with surgically staged 1 UPSC. Methods. We report on a case series from 2008-2010 from Hamilton Canada. We summarize the data from a literature search on surgically staged 1 UPSC. Results. There is a group women with Stage 1A UPSC with no residual disease at time of surgery who do not require adjuvant therapy. Vault recurrences appear to be lower in women who received adjuvant vault radiation. Chemotherapy appears to confer longer survival for those women with Stage 1B or 1C disease compared of those observed or who had radiation alone. Conclusion. Adjuvant therapy appears to confer benefit in certain groups of women with stage 1 UPSC. A randomized controlled study would clarify the degree of benefit.

Minor serous and clear cell components adversely affect prognosis in ''mixed-type'' endometrial carcinomas: a clinicopathologic study of 36 stage-I cases

Most endometrial carcinomas contain only 1 Müllerian cell type although the presence of 2 or more cell types within 1 tumor, for example a predominantly low-grade endometrioid carcinoma with a minor component (arbitrarily defined as 30% or less) of high-grade serous and/or clear cell carcinoma, is not uncommon. The current study attempts to evaluate whether the presence of minor serous or clear cell components exerts an adverse effect on the prognosis in stage-I endometrial carcinomas of ''mixed-type.'' The study cases include 22 cases of stage-I endometrioid carcinoma with a minor component of serous carcinoma and 14 cases of endometrioid carcinoma with a minor component of clear cell carcinoma. Minor components were arbitrarily defined as representing anywhere between 5% and 30% of the total tumor. The study cases were compared with 56 cases of histologically pure age-matched and stage-matched endometrioid carcinomas, 6 pure serous carcinomas, and 13 pure clear cell carcinomas. All study and control cases were fully staged. Treatment history and outcome status were obtained and follow-up ranged from 56 to 140 months. Our study suggests that the presence of minor components of serous and clear cell carcinoma, defined as between 5% and 30%, within a mixed-type endometrial carcinoma appears to adversely influence the long-term survival of stage-I tumors, although a larger study is needed to corroborate our findings.

Adjuvant Whole Pelvic Radiotherapy in 43 Patients with Uterine Serous Cancer: Outcome and Patterns of Failure

Aims and background

Uterine serous cancer is associated with a poor outcome and poses a therapeutic challenge. We retrospectively evaluated the experience of the Radiotherapy Department of the University of Florence.

Methods

Forty-three patients with stage I-III uterine serous cancer underwent surgery with (18 patients, group 1) or without complete surgical staging (25 patients, group 2) followed by adjuvant whole pelvic radiotherapy alone or combined with vaginal brachytherapy (in 35 and 8 cases, respectively). The median dose delivered with whole pelvic radiotherapy was 50Gy (range, 45–56) and for brachytherapy was 20 Gy (range, 20–30).

Results

Actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival rates at 5 years were 62.5% and 61%, respectively. Local failure was observed in 17 patients (39.5%) and distant metastasis in 10 (23.2%). Nine patients had both local failure and distant metastasis, which had developed concurrently in 7 cases. Isolated abdominal failure occurred in 4 cases (9.3%). Local relapse was noted in 22.2% of patients in group 1 compared to 52% in group 2. A trend towards a better 5-year overall survival (67.2% vs 58%), disease-free survival (63% vs 59%) and local control (70% vs 59%) was observed in group 1 than group 2, although the difference between the two groups failed to reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Given the patterns of failure of patients with uterine serous cancer, adjuvant whole pelvic radiotherapy may be a reasonable approach, although novel integrated strategies are needed because the results achieved remain disappointing. Adjuvant whole pelvic radiotherapy might improve overall survival, disease-free survival and local control in complete surgically staged patients, but further investigations are required.

Is adjuvant therapy necessary for Stage IA and IB uterine papillary serous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma after surgical staging?

Adjuvant therapy of early-stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is controversial. We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate outcomes of patients with early-stage UPSC or CCC who were followed without adjuvant therapy after complete surgical staging. From 2000 to 2006, we evaluated all consecutive patients with stage IA/IB UPSC or CCC who had surgical staging by a gynecological oncologist at the London Health Sciences Centre, Canada. Follow-up consisted of history and physical examination every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for the next 3 years. Primary outcome measure was 2-year disease-free survival. There were 22 evaluable patients. Mean patient age was 63.4 years. Median number of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes resected was 15 (range 2-39) and 4 (range 0-12), respectively. Thirteen had UPSC, seven had CCC, and two had both UPSC and CCC. Nine had stage IA and 13 had stage IB disease. Median follow-up was 25 months (range 6-72). Only one patient has recurred (stage IB UPSC, isolated vault recurrence 10 months after surgery), but she is well 9 months after receiving pelvic radiotherapy and vault brachytherapy. Two-year disease-free survival was 95%. These results suggest that adjuvant therapy may not be necessary for stage IA and IB UPSC and CCC after surgical staging. Further prospective evaluation of different adjuvant therapy practices is required for early-stage UPSC and CCC, which may be useful in the design of future clinical trials.

Peritoneal disseminated recurrence and lung metastasis after surgery for stage IA uterine papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium: a case report

CASE REPORT

We describe a case of synchronous peritoneal dissemination and multiple lung metastases after surgery for stage IA primary uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) of the endometrium, revealed by an uncontrollable retention of ascites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

She was initially treated with a hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy after initial presentation. Tumor recurrence, diagnosed 12 months later, has been treated with six cycles of Paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) and Carboplatin [area under the curve 5 (Calvert Formula)] every 3 weeks and showed an advantage of this regimen. Early recurrences of the stage IA UPSC can occur and continued close surveillance is recommended. We report herein the case about this entity.

Clinicopathologic Analysis of 187 High-grade Endometrial Carcinomas of Different Histologic Subtypes: Similar Outcomes Belie Distinctive Biologic Differences

The clinical and histopathologic features of 187 high-grade endometrial cancers [FIGO grade 3 endometrioid (EC-3), serous (SC), and clear cell (CC)] were studied to determine whether clinicopathologic differences between these various histologic subtypes existed. The study group consisted of 89 EC-3s, 61 SCs, and 37 CCs. Treatment regimens were individualized. SCs and CCs were significantly more likely than EC-3s to occur in patients older than 65 years (P=0.03), and SCs tended to occur more frequently in patients of African descent than EC-3s and CCs (P=0.07), although this was not statistically significant. EC-3s had the highest rate of associated endometrial hyperplasia (P=0.05). SCs were most likely to have high-stage disease at presentation (>or=stage IIB; P=0.01), with peritoneal dissemination at diagnosis being much more common compared with EC-3s and CCs (P=0.004). Median follow-up was 39 months, and median overall survival was 47 months. Five-year survivals were 45% (EC-3), 36% (SC), and 50% (CC)-differences that were not statistically significant. In contrast, the impact of stage on survival was significant (P<0.001). Among all other factors evaluated, only age greater than 65 years was a negative predictor (risk ratio, 2.23; P<0.001), whereas a family history of cancer reduced the risk of death when controlling for stage (risk ratio, 0.54; P=0.005). When controlling for stage, race, reproductive history, personal history of cancer, histologic subtype, depth of myometrial invasion, lymphovascular invasion, presence of an endometrial polyp, presence of hyperplasia, or staging adequacy did not affect prognosis. High-grade endometrial cancers of different histologic subtypes treated in an individualized manner are associated with similar clinical outcomes, but differences in age at presentation, race distribution, association with hyperplasia, stage, and sites of tumor dissemination support the idea that these represent distinct disease entities as defined by traditional histopathologic classification of endometrial cancers.

The prognostic value of PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin in endometrial carcinoma: a prospective immunocytochemical study

Mutations of the PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin genes are the most frequent molecular defects in endometrial carcinomas. The aim of this study was to investigate their prognostic significance in this form of cancer. Imprint smears were obtained from 80 fresh endometrial tumor specimens and studied immunocytochemically for the expression of PTEN, p53, and beta-catenin proteins. The staining pattern was correlated with several well-established prognostic parameters, including 5-year survival. Positive staining of p53 was significantly correlated with increased stage (P < 0.0001), lymph node metastases (P = 0.001), and a nonendometrioid histology (P = 0.001). On the contrary, positive beta-catenin expression was significantly associated with decreased stage (P = 0.002), decreased grade (P = 0.007), and a negative lymph node status (P = 0.023). PTEN positivity was correlated with decreased stage (P = 0.002) and negative lymph nodes (P = 0.008). All the three markers affected survival significantly in univariate analysis but only beta-catenin had an independent prognostic impact. An independent prognostic significance was also shown for PTEN in the stage I subgroup of patients. The results of our study indicate that loss of beta-catenin expression is a strong and independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome in patients with endometrial carcinoma. Loss of PTEN may also be associated with a worse prognosis in patients with early-stage disease.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma: a review

The purpose of this article is to review the available literature for uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). A literature search was conducted to identify publications on UPSC. The literature on UPSC is composed mainly of retrospective, single-institution reports. Despite these limitations, several recommendations can be made. When UPSC is confirmed on preoperative biopsy, complete surgical staging should be performed. Although whole abdominal radiotherapy has a limited role in early-stage UPSC, there may be a role for postoperative chemotherapy in early-stage UPSC. In the setting of optimally debulked advanced-stage disease, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy may be indicated. In the setting of recurrent or suboptimally debulked advanced disease, a platinum-based regimen is recommended. Although comprising a minority of the women with endometrial cancer, women with UPSC do account for a disproportionate percentage of the recurrences. There is a need for clinical trials to determine the optimal therapy for this cohort of patients.

Adjuvant therapy for patients with stage I papillary serous endometrial cancer

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive variant of endometrial cancer characterized by a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Several studies have demonstrated that UPSC has a tendency to manifest with extra-uterine disease, even for tumors which appear to be limited to the endometrium. The data on adjuvant chemotherapy for stage I UPSC are limited, and the available studies are generally under-powered to assess if chemotherapy improves survival. However, we believe that, patients with UPSC should receive complete surgical staging, including omentectomy and peritoneal biopsies, and then until the results of larger series or randomized controlled trials will be available, we feel that combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy is justified for all stage I UPSC.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma: evaluation of multimodality treatment with abdominopelvic radiotherapy and chemotherapy

The aim of this study was to compare overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and relapse patterns between different modalities of treatment for uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). A retrospective review of 124 patients with pathologically confirmed UPSC was performed, of whom, 97 patients were eligible for study. Postoperative treatment groups included adjuvant radiotherapy consisting of whole abdomen and a pelvic boost (abdominopelvic radiotherapy [APRT]) (55 patients), paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy (CT) for six cycles followed by APRT (18 patients), CT only (5 patients), and 19 patients were observed without postoperative adjuvant therapy. Three-year OS was 81% and 63% for the CT followed by APRT and APRT alone, respectively (P= 0.11). After controlling for stage, the group treated with APRT alone had significantly decreased OS and PFS compared to the CT/APRT group (HR 3.6; 1.3-9.8; P= 0.01) and (HR 2.9; 95% CI 1.1-7.3; P= 0.03), respectively. Within the limitations of a retrospective study, the results of this study indicate that multimodality postoperative treatment with paclitaxel and a platinum-based CT followed by APRT may increase the survival of patients with UPSC. However, further prospective studies using these combined modalities are needed to confirm these findings.

Impact of adjuvant therapy on survival of patients with early-stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy of adjuvant therapy in patients with early-stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data were collected on all surgically staged Stage I-II uterine papillary serous carcinoma patients. Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression methods.

RESULTS

Of 68 patients, 50 had Stage I and 18 had Stage II disease; 35 underwent adjuvant treatment, including radiotherapy in 26, chemotherapy in 7, and combined RT and chemotherapy in 2. The remaining 33 were treated expectantly. The median follow-up was 56 months (range 1-173). The 5-year overall survival rate was 69%. Of 19 patients with disease limited to the endometrium, 10 received no additional therapy, 3 of whom developed recurrence. However, all 9 women who underwent adjuvant treatment remained free of disease. Patients receiving adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy had a prolonged 5-year overall and disease-free survival compared with those who were treated expectantly (85% vs. 54%, p = 0.002 for overall survival and 85% vs. 49%, p = 0.01 for disease-free survival). In multivariate analysis, adjuvant therapy (p = 0.035) and the absence of lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.001) remained as independent prognostic factors for improved survival.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy improves the survival of women with early-stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

The role of abdominal-pelvic radiotherapy in the management of uterine papillary serous carcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of abdominal-pelvic radiotherapy (APR) as adjuvant treatment for uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

METHODS AND MATERIAL

The medical records database at the Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre identified 121 patients with the diagnosis of UPSC between 1980 and 2001. Fifty-nine patients received APR as adjuvant treatment. A retrospective chart review was done to evaluate recurrence rates, sites of failure, and treatment toxicity.

RESULTS

Of 59 patients who received APR, 30 had advanced-stage disease (Stage III or IV). Eleven had complete surgical staging. Median follow-up was 71 months. Twenty-five of 59 (42%) recurred, with a median time to relapse of 50 months. Five-year disease-free survival was 43%, and 5-year overall survival was 45%. Of the 25 who recurred, only 3 experienced a sole failure outside the irradiated volume. Thirteen women had their treatment interrupted or discontinued because of toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

This single-institution study reveals that there is a high recurrence rate despite APR, especially among patients with advanced stage disease, and the majority of recurrences continue to be within the irradiated volume. The role of APR remains undefined in early disease but its effectiveness is questionable in advanced disease. Innovative strategies are needed to improve outcome in these patients.

Non-endometrioid carcinomas of the uterine corpus: a review of their pathology with emphasis on recent advances and problematic aspects

This review considers the clinical and pathologic features of the various histologic subtypes of endometrial carcinoma excluding those of pure endometrioid type, as the latter tumors were the subject of a previous contribution in the Journal (Vol. 9, No. 2). Non-endometrioid carcinomas, which account for about 10% of endometrial carcinomas, may pose a great array of problems in differential diagnosis, including their distinction not only from benign lesions but also endometrioid carcinoma and various tumors that may secondarily involve the uterine corpus. The most common subtypes are serous, mucinous, and undifferentiated. Rarer tumors are clear cell, squamous, transitional cell carcinomas, and a variety of poorly differentiated carcinomas with unusual forms of differentiation, such as hepatoid carcinoma, carcinomas with trophoblastic elements, and giant cell carcinoma. Mixed carcinomas, which are common, are also discussed, including those with a component of endometrioid carcinoma. The final section deals with endometrial involvement by metastatic tumors, lesions that, albeit rare, are sometimes neglected in the differential diagnosis of endometrial carcinomas. Important aspects emphasized are: (1) The potential for serous carcinoma to be mimicked by various forms of papillary endometrioid carcinoma. (2) The rarity of clear cell carcinoma and the greater frequency of clear cells in endometrioid carcinoma. (3) The frequency of mucinous epithelium in tumors of mixed cell type. (4) The frequency with which neoplastic mucinous epithelium originates from the endometrium. (5) The striking degree of differentiation of some squamous cell carcinomas. (6) The occasional predominance of non-endometrioid carcinomas (especially serous or undifferentiated carcinoma) within malignant mullerian mixed tumors. (7) The spectrum of reactive epithelial changes and other non-neoplastic abnormalities that may mimic serous or clear cell carcinoma.

Interpretation of p53 Immunoreactivity in Endometrial Carcinoma: Establishing a Clinically Relevant Cut-Off Level

There is accumulating evidence that immunohistochemical staining for p53 can identify patients with endometrial carcinoma who have an adverse outcome, but the interpretation of existing data is complicated by differences between studies in the way that p53 immunohistochemistry results have been assessed. In this study, we sought to determine the appropriate cut-off level for stratification of patients with endometrial carcinoma into high- and low-risk groups, based on p53 immunohistochemical staining. A total of 200 cases of endometrial carcinoma treated by hysterectomy were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital, from the period 1983 to 1998. Follow-up information was available for all cases. Slides were reviewed and the diagnosis confirmed, tumors graded according to FIGO grading system, and tumor cell type assessed. A tissue microarray consisting of duplicate 0.6-mm cores of tumor was constructed and immunostained for p53. Immunoreactivity for p53 was scored by counting the number of positively stained tumor cell nuclei and expressing this as a percentage of the total number of tumor cell nuclei counted (p53 index). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and compared by calculation of log-rank statistic, and multivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression modeling. The distribution of p53 index results was bimodal, with most cases having a very low or very high p53 index. The peaks of the bimodal distribution were clearly separated using a p53 index of > or =50%. Immunoreactivity was a significant adverse prognostic indicator of disease-specific survival (p<0.0001 by univariate analysis). Patients with strongly p53 immunoreactive tumors (p53 index >or =50%) had a significantly worse outcome than patients with weakly immunoreactive (p53 index > or =5% and <50%) or p53-negative (p53 index <5%) tumors (p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the outcomes for patients in the latter two groups. By multivariate analysis, p53 overexpression was a significant prognostic indicator independent of patient age and tumor stage (p = 0.008) but was not independent when the analysis was extended to include FIGO grade and tumor cell type. p53 immunostaining was of prognostic significance in the subset of patients with endometrioid carcinomas (p = 0.02), but not in patients with clear cell or papillary serous carcinomas. Using a p53 index of > or =50% as a cut-off between positive and negative p53 staining, immunohistochemical staining for p53 is a prognostic indicator in patients with endometrial carcinoma of endometrioid type. p53 immunostaining was not found to be of prognostic significance independent of tumor cell type and grade.

Outcome and pattern of failure in pathologic stage I–II papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium: Implications for adjuvant radiation therapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcome and patterns of failure in women with pathologic Stage I-II papillary serous carcinoma of the uterus and to discuss the implications for adjuvant radiation therapy (RT).

METHODS

Twenty-three pathologic Stage I-II uterine papillary serous carcinoma patients were treated at our institution between 1980 and 2001. All underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and assessment of peritoneal cytology. Pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling was performed in 12 and 8 patients, respectively. FIGO stages were as follows: IA = 3, IB = 8, IC = 6, IIA = 5, and IIB = 1. Adjuvant therapies included the following: 9 none, 10 RT (6 pelvic, 1 vaginal brachytherapy, 3 both), 4 chemotherapy, and 1 hormonal therapy. No patient received whole abdominal radiation therapy or para-aortic RT. Disease-free survival, pelvic recurrence-free survival, and cause-specific survival were estimated using the method of Kaplan-Meier, and prognostic factors were analyzed by the log-rank test. Median follow-up was 38.7 months (range: 3-109 months).

RESULTS

The 5-year actuarial disease-free survival and cause-specific survival for the entire group was 41% and 73.6%, respectively. Nine patients developed recurrent disease. Five failed in the pelvis, of which 4 relapsed in the vagina. No pelvic failures occurred in women treated with adjuvant RT. Patients treated with adjuvant RT had a better 5-year actuarial pelvic recurrence-free survival (100% vs. 57.5%, p = 0.06) than patients treated with surgery alone. Two patients failed in the abdomen. However, neither developed an isolated abdominal recurrence. Six patients failed in distant sites, primarily the lungs and bone.

CONCLUSION

Although patients with pathologic Stage I-II uterine papillary serous carcinomas have organ-confined disease, recurrence is common, particularly in the pelvis and distant sites. Our results suggest that adjuvant RT reduces the risk of pelvic failure. Contrary to traditional assumptions, however, abdominal recurrence was uncommon in our patients, despite the lack of whole abdominal radiation therapy. Our results support the use of pelvic RT in these patients. Future studies should investigate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Patterns of failure after the multimodality treatment of uterine papillary serous carcinoma

PURPOSE

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive variant of endometrial carcinoma. The majority of patients with clinical Stage I UPSC are found to have extrauterine disease at the time of surgery. Most authors report survival rates of 35-50% for Stage I-II and 0-15% for Stage III and IV UPSC. Surgical treatment as the sole therapy for patients with Stage I-IV UPSC is unacceptable because of high recurrence rates. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both have been added after surgery in an attempt to improve survival. However, the survival benefit to patients from such multimodality therapy remains uncertain. This study analyzes the patterns of failure in patients with FIGO Stages I-IV UPSC treated by multimodality therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Forty-two women with FIGO Stages I-IV UPSC who were treated by multimodality therapy were analyzed retrospectively between 1988 and 1998. Data were obtained from tumor registry, hospital, and radiotherapy chart reviews, operative notes, pathology, and chemotherapy flow sheets. All the patients underwent staging laparotomy, peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy and salpingo oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling, omentectomy, and cytoreductive surgery, when indicated followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Therapy consisted of external beam radiation therapy in 11 patients (26%), systemic chemotherapy in 20 (48%), and both radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 11 (26%). The treatments were not assigned in a randomized fashion. The dose of external beam radiation therapy ranged from 45-50.40 Gy (median 45). Of the 31 patients (74%) who received chemotherapy, 18 received single-agent (58%), whereas 13 received multiagent chemotherapy (42%).

RESULTS

Median follow-up for all patients was 19 months (range 4-72). Median follow-up for the surviving patients was 36 months (range 21-72). Their median age was 65 years. Six patients (14%) had Stage I, 8 patients (19%) had Stage II, 10 (24%) had Stage III, and 18 (43%) had Stage IV disease. Twenty-nine patients (69%) had suffered recurrence at the time of last follow-up. The actuarial failure rate at 2 and 5 years was 58% and 67%, respectively. The majority of the patients (19/29) recurred in the abdomen, vagina, or pelvis (66%). Metastases outside the abdomen were much less common as the first site of failure (17%). Twenty-five patients (60%) had died at the time of reporting; the observed survival rate at 2 years and 5 years was 52% and 43%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that, after multimodality therapy of FIGO Stage I-IV UPSC, most patients developed abdominopelvic (locoregional) failure, and the great majority of the failures occurred in the abdomen, vagina, and pelvis (66%). Abdominopelvic failure as a component of distant failure occurred in an additional 5 patients (17%). Distant failure alone occurred in 17% of the patients.We propose that future studies should combine whole abdominal radiotherapy (WART) with pelvic and vaginal boosts, in addition to chemotherapy for FIGO Stage I-IV UPSC, especially in patients with minimal residual disease, to attempt to improve the dismal prognosis of patients with UPSC.

Significance of comprehensive surgical staging in noninvasive papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the biological behavior of noninvasive papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium. METHODS; From 1990 to 2001, all women with noninvasive uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) at three Southern California hospitals were identified from tumor registry databases. Data for analysis were collected from hospital charts, office records, and tumor registry files.

RESULTS

Of the 100 patients diagnosed with UPSC, 16 had noninvasive lesions. Twelve underwent a comprehensive surgical staging procedure with omental resection. Six of these 12 women were found to have disease beyond the uterine corpus, including 4 with adnexal involvement, 3 with omental disease, 2 with cervical extension, 1 with pelvic lymph node involvement, and 3 with positive washings. Three women were found to have positive cytology and metastases in more than one location. Of the 12 patients, 1 of the 6 with stage IA disease had distant recurrence and 4 of the 6 with stage II-IV disease recurred. Of the remaining 4 patients who underwent a staging procedure without pathologic omental assessment, 1 was found to have cervical extension. In these 4 women, 1 with stage IA disease recurred.

CONCLUSION

The typical patterns of spread and prognostic factors for endometrioid carcinoma of the uterus do not apply to UPSC. In our series, omental assessment was necessary to detect the 25% of patients with stage IVB disease due to omental involvement. Thus, women with noninvasive UPSC should undergo a comprehensive staging procedure including omental sampling to determine the extent of disease.

Markers of proliferative activity are predictors of patient outcome for low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma but not papillary serous carcinoma of endometrium

On the basis of pathogenesis, two types of endometrial cancer can be recognized. Type 1 endometrial carcinomas are relatively indolent tumors that develop after prolonged estrogen stimulation, on a background of endometrial hyperplasia. Type 2 endometrial carcinomas are aggressive tumors that are not associated with hyperplasia or estrogen excess. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor proliferative activity in early-stage endometrial cancer by using mitotic index and immunostaining, comparing Type 1 (endometrioid) and Type 2 (papillary serous carcinoma) tumors. The mitotic index, MIB-1, and p53 immunostaining in 39 tumors from patients with low-grade Stage Ia or Ib endometrioid adenocarcinoma; as well as 23 tumors from patients with Stage I papillary serous carcinoma. In low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma, mitotic and MIB-1 indices were statistically significant independent prognostic indicators (P =.004 and P =.018, respectively), and both were strongly correlated with p53 expression (P =.01 and P =.006, respectively). The mean mitotic index was 5 mitoses/10 high-power fields, and mean MIB-1 index was 27.5%. There was no significant correlation between mitotic or MIB-1 indices and patient outcome or p53 expression in papillary serous carcinoma. The mean mitotic index was 31 mitoses/10 high-power fields, and mean MIB-1 index was 30.5% in these tumors. p53 expression and proliferative indices are strongly correlated in low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma. MIB-1 and mitotic indices are independent prognostic indicators in these tumors. Papillary serous carcinoma of endometrium is rapidly proliferative in tumors even at an early stage, and quantification of proliferative activity in these tumors does not allow prediction of patient outcome.