Impact of nodal status and treatment strategy on overall survival in advanced stage cervical cancer

Preoperative scoring system for the prediction of risk of lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer

The study aimed to develop and validate a preoperative scoring system to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in cervical cancer (CC). A total of 426 stage IB1-IIA1 CC patients were randomly divided into two sets. A logistic regression model was used to determine independent factors that contribute to LNM. A preoperative scoring system was developed based on beta (β) coefficients. An area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was used to test for model discrimination. Five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 91.7%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that FIGO stage, tumor size, depth of invasion on MRI, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels were independent risk factors in the development set (all P < 0.05). The AUCs of the scoring system for the development and validation sets were 0.833 (95% CI = 0.757-0.909) and 0.767 (95% CI = 0.634-0.891), respectively. Patients who scored 0-2, 3-5, and 6-8 were classified into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups. Predicted rates were in accord with observed rates in both sets. The 5-year OS rates of the new groups were also significantly different for the entire group, development set, and validation set (all P < 0.05). LNM affects the prognosis of CC patients. The scoring system can be used to assist in evaluating the risk of LNM in CC patients preoperatively. It is easy to obtain and can provide reference for clinical treatment decision-making.

Pelvic lymph node dissection for cervical or bladder cancer: embedding residual fat tissue offers no added value

Diagnosis of lymph node metastases in pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is important for staging and treatment. Standard practice is to submit visible or palpable lymph nodes for histology. We assessed the added value of embedding all residual fatty tissue.Patients (n = 85) who underwent PLND for cervical (n = 50) or bladder cancer (n = 35) between 2017 and 2019 were included. Study approval was obtained (MEC-2022-0156, 18.03.2022, retrospectively registered).The median lymph node yield with conventional pathological dissection was 21 nodes (Interquartile range (IQR) 18-28). This led to discovery of positive lymph nodes in 17 (20%) patients. Extended pathological assessment found 7 (IQR 3-12) additional nodes, but did not result in identification of more node metastases.Histopathological analysis of residual fatty tissue harvested at PLND resulted in an increased lymph node yield, but not in the detection of additional lymph node metastases.

Is there a benefit for adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy in early cervical cancer? Results from a population-based study

PURPOSE

Due to insufficient and conflicting prospective evidence, the recommendations on when to apply adjuvant radiochemotherapy in early-stage cervical cancer vary between international guidelines. In this population-based study, we evaluated the outcome of patients with early-stage cervical cancer based on risk factors and the adjuvant therapy they received.

METHODS

The effect of primary therapy (surgery and radiochemotherapy RCT, surgery and radiotherapy RT, and surgery alone) on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated in the complete cohort of 442 patients and in subgroups according to risk profile and nodal status.

RESULTS

In low-risk patients, there was no difference in OS (p = 0.276) depending on whether patients received adjuvant therapy or not. Concerning RFS, patients with RT (including one patient with RCT) exhibited a significantly worse outcome compared to the group with surgery alone (p = 0.015). In intermediate-risk patients, the administration of adjuvant RT significantly benefited RFS when compared to surgery only in multivariate analysis (p = 0.031). Concerning OS, no significant influence for adjuvant treatment could be seen (p = 0.354). Though trends towards better OS and RFS could be observed in patients of the high-risk group-both in RCT and RT groups compared to surgery alone-the effects did not prove to be significant.

CONCLUSION

Our study reaffirms the evidence against the use of adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy in low-risk early-stage cervical cancer. In intermediate-, and less pronounced in high-risk patients, however, it seems to be beneficial. The role of adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy in early cervical cancer should be further investigated in prospective randomized trials.

Minimal-invasive or open approach for surgery of early cervical cancer: the treatment center matters

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to compare recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with early stage cervical cancer in dependence of surgical approach and treatment center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A population-based cohort study including women with early stage IA1-IIB2 cervical cancer treated by radical hysterectomy between January 2010 and December 2015 was performed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 5.6 years. After exclusions, 413 patients were eligible for analysis: 111 (26.9%) underwent minimal-invasive surgery (MIS) and 302 (73.1%) open surgery. Both treatment groups were well balanced regarding the clinical and pathological characteristics. The mean age of the patients was 51.0 years. MIS was associated with improved RFS and OS compared with the open surgery. The 5-year RFS rates were 89.2% in the MIS group and 73.4% in the open surgery group (p = 0.004). The 5-year OS rates were 93.7% in the MIS group and 81.8% in the open surgery group (p = 0.016). After adjustment for other prognostic covariates, the MIS was further associated with improved RFS (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.24-0.86; p = 0.015) but not with OS. Nevertheless, after adjustment for treatment center, the surgical approach was not associated with significant difference in RFS (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.31-1.19; p = 0.143). Overall survival of patients treated in university cancer centers was significantly increased compared to patients treated in non-university cancer centers. The treatment center remains a strong prognostic factor regarding RFS (HR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.83; p = 0.009) and OS (HR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.94; p = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment center but not the surgical approach was associated with the survival of patients treated with radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer.

Wir brauchen strukturierte inhaltliche und formale Vorgehensweisen zur Nutzung versorgungsnaher Daten

Für die Nutzung vorhandener Versorgungsdaten gibt es immer mehr gute Gründe, wobei v. a. die Nutzung von Registerdaten im Fokus steht. Das zugehörige, klar strukturierte methodische Vorgehen ist bisher noch unzureichend zusammengeführt, aufbereitet und transparent dargestellt.

Tailored radical hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

The survival and prognostic factors for locally advanced cervical cancer treated with nerve-sparing Okabayashi-Kobayashi radical hysterectomy have not been elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the oncological outcomes of those patients after radical hysterectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2002 to December 2011. Treatment was conducted at a single tertiary center in northern Japan. We used the Okabayashi-Kobayashi radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy. We applied unilateral nerve preservation for stage IIA/IIB cancer if there was a one-sided extension of the disease outside the cervix. Indication for adjuvant therapy was based on Sedlis criteria. High-risk was defined as evidence of lymph node metastasis, pathological parametrial invasion, and a positive/close surgical margin. The choice of adjuvant therapy was chemotherapy which consisted of paclitaxel and cisplatin.

RESULTS

The study included 76 early-stage IB1 (≤4 cm) and IIA1 cervical cancer and 45 locally advanced stage IB2 (>4 cm), IIA2, and IIB disease treated consecutively. The median follow-up was 106 (range: 6-203) months. There were 18 (15%) patients with recurrence, with five of 76 in the early-stage (7%) and 13 of 45 in the locally advanced disease (29%) (P<0.001). For locally advanced cervical cancer, pT classification (P<0.001), lymph node metastasis (P=0.007), and histology (P=0.05) were associated with locoregional recurrence. The five-year locoregional recurrence rate in the locally advanced disease was 20% and 5% in the early-stage disease (P=0.01). The five-year disease-free survival in the locally advanced cervical cancer was 71% and 93% in the early-stage disease (P<0.001). The overall survival in locally advanced disease depended on the adeno-type histology and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The tailored use of nerve-sparing Okabayashi-Kobayashi radical hysterectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy based on tumor histology and lymph node metastasis may be a possible option as a treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer in selected patients.

Impact of margin status on survival after surgery for sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is the most common malignancy of the paranasal sinuses. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, yet positive surgical margins (PSM) are common and the prognostic impact on overall survival (OS) is mixed. Given the heterogeneity of impact of PSM on OS within the literature, we hypothesized that extent of tumor extirpation (microscopic PSM vs macroscopic PSM) may play a role in OS.

METHODS

Patients with SNSCC were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB, n = 7808). Of these, 4543 patients underwent surgery, 3265 patients underwent nonsurgical therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare OS between negative surgical margin (NSM), micro-PSM, and macro-PSM cohorts vs patients undergoing primary nonsurgical therapy in a propensity-score-matched analysis. Multivariable analysis of factors associated with macro-PSM was also performed.

RESULTS

One thousand thirty-three (22.0%) of the surgery patients had PSM, and approximately half (n = 521, 50.6%) of these had macro-PSM. When compared with nonsurgical treatment, propensity-score-matched results demonstrated improved OS in patients with NSM and micro-PSM (p < 0.001), but macro-PSM patients did not demonstrate improvement (p = 0.20). Tumor within the paranasal sinuses and advanced nodal classification (N2/N3) (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; p = 0.02; and OR, 15.09; p = 005, respectively) was associated with increased odds of macro-PSM on multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that the degree of tumor extirpation correlates with OS. Macro-PSM did not confer a benefit to OS when compared with nonsurgical therapy, and factors including tumor location and advanced nodal status affect whether surgery will result in macro-PSM. Given these findings, informed, shared decisionmaking between patient and surgeon regarding nonsurgical alternatives should occur before electing to proceed with surgery in SNSCC.