Effect of age and comorbidity on the treatment and survival of older patients with vulvar cancer

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in women 80 years and older: Treatment, survival and impact of comorbidities

BACKGROUND

Despite being a disease of mainly older women, little is known about the clinical management of older women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). We evaluated their daily clinical management compared with younger women, and established the prevalence of comorbidities and its impact on overall survival (OS).

METHODS

All Dutch women diagnosed with VSCC from 2015 to 2020 (n = 2249) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Women aged ≥80 years (n = 632, 28%) were defined as "older" patients, women <80 years were considered as "younger". Chi-square tests were performed to evaluate differences in treatment by age group and comorbidities. Differences in OS were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier Curves and log-rank test.

RESULTS

The vast majority of both older (91%) and younger (99%) patients with FIGO IA VSCC received surgical treatment of the vulva. Older FIGO IB-IV VSCC patients were less likely to undergo groin surgery than younger patients (50% vs. 84%, p < 0.01). Performance of surgical treatment of the vulva and groin(s) was not associated with the number of comorbidities in older patients (p = 0.67 and p = 0.69). Older patients with ≥2 comorbidities did have poorer OS compared to women with one or no comorbidities (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of older patients underwent vulvar/local surgery. Older patients less often received groin surgery compared to younger patients. The majority of older patients had at least one comorbidity, but this did not impact treatment choice. The poorer survival in older VSCC patients may therefore be due to death of competing risks instead of VSCC itself.

Comparison of cisplatin and mitomycin C/5-FU as radiosensitisers in the treatment of locally advanced vulvar cancer: results of a retrospective, observational, single-institutional cohort study

PURPOSE

We retrospectively investigated the widely used radiosensitisers cisplatin and mitomycin C/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer for outcome and toxicity.

METHODS

We screened the archive for patients treated with chemoradiation for vulvar cancer diagnosed between 01/2010 and 08/2021 at our institution. The impact of both radiosensitisers on prognosis was compared using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox-regression analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-three patients with vulvar cancer were screened. Twenty-nine patients received chemoradiation (mitomycin C/5-FU n = 14; cisplatin n = 12; others n = 3) as a primary, neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. Median follow-up was 15.5 months. Patients in the cisplatin group were older (mean age 54.4 vs. 70.7; p = 0.004). However, the mitomycin C/5-FU group had more advanced tumour stages. The 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was comparable (44.5% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.932). The 2-year overall survival (OS) showed a numerical but not statistically significant difference in favour of the mitomycin C/5-FU group (59.7% vs. 31.7%; p = 0.37). 64.3% (9 out of 14) patients, who received mitomycin C/5-FU achieved clinical complete response (cCR) compared to 41.7% (5 out of 12) who received cisplatin (p = 0.505). Radiodermatitis was the most common adverse event in both groups (81%) and more severe in the mitomycin C/5-FU cohort. Myelotoxicity was frequently observed in both groups. Eighteen patients received an additional radiation boost with 10.0 (9-16) Gy and showed a significantly prolonged RFS (p = 0.027) and OS (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Mitomycin C/5-FU may be considered in the treatment of young and healthy patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer.

Frailty and treatment decisions in older patients with vulvar cancer: A single-center cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Vulvar cancer is a disease that mainly affects older women. Frailty is an important predictor of outcomes and geriatric assessment can help tailor treatment decisions and improve outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of frailty in older women with vulvar cancer, and how it relates to integrated geriatric care and treatment according to the oncological guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center cohort study was performed, among patients 70 years and older, who were diagnosed with vulvar cancer at Leiden University Medical Center, between January 2012 and May 2020. Data on geriatric assessment, treatment decision-making and treatment-related outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

Our study included 114 patients. Mean age was 79.7 years, and 52 patients (45.6%) were frail. Of the frail patients, 42.0% were referred to a geriatrician. In eight of these cases, the geriatrician was actively involved in weighing the benefit and harm of standard oncological treatment versus de-escalated treatment. Frailty, higher age, impairment in the somatic domain, cognitive impairment, and functional dependency were associated with referral to a geriatrician and with active involvement of a geriatrician in decision making. In 26 of frail patients (50.0%) oncological treatment was de-escalated. Frailty, higher age, impairment in the somatic domain, cognitive impairment, and functional dependency were associated with de-escalation of treatment. De-escalated treatment did not compromise survival.

DISCUSSION

Frailty is prevalent among older women with vulvar cancer and is associated with referral to a geriatrician and de-escalation of oncological treatment. While this reflects that it is deemed important to tailor treatment decision for frail patients, most frail patients are not routinely evaluated by a geriatrician. Further multidisciplinary collaboration and research is necessary to optimize tailored treatment decisions for this patient group.

Positive surgical margin is an independent predictor of overall survival of patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

AIM

It is uncertain whether curative surgical treatment or a less radical surgery with adjuvant treatment should be provided to preserve function in patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that is adjacent to the urethra, anus, and vagina. The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical margin in patients with vulvar SCC with regard to local recurrence and overall survival.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients were identified as having a diagnosis of vulvar SCC without distant metastasis. They had been treated surgically with curative intent at the Cancer Institute Hospital. Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Rates of 5-year local recurrence-free survival among patients with positive, <3-mm, <5-mm, <8-mm, and ≥8-mm surgical margins were 32%, 30.3%, 42.5%, 55.5%, and 73%, respectively. Rates of 5-year overall survival of patients with positive, <3-mm, <5-mm, <8-mm, and ≥8-mm surgical margins were 15.5%, 53.8%, 58.8%, 67.6%, and 83.3%, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, a tumor size of more than 2-cm (hazard ratio [HR] = 17.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39-226) and a positive surgical margin (HR = 0.0092, 95% CI = 0.011-0.53) were risk factors for local recurrence, and a lymph node involvement (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.31-6.43) and a positive surgical margin (HR = 0.0046, 95% CI = 0.011-0.53) were significant risk factors for overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

To improve the prognosis, thorough resection with an adequate surgical margin is needed. But narrow surgical margin may be acceptable, particularly to preserve the function of adjacent organs.

The role of brachytherapy (interventional radiotherapy) for primary and/or recurrent vulvar cancer: a Gemelli Vul.Can multidisciplinary team systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our systematic review was to assess the role of interventional radiotherapy (IRT, brachytherapy) in the management of primary and/or recurrent vulvar carcinoma.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic research using PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library was performed. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for ongoing or recently completed trials, and PROSPERO was searched for ongoing or recently completed systematic reviews. Only full-text English-language articles related to IRT for treatment of primary or recurrent VC were identified and reviewed. Conference paper, survey, letter, editorial, book chapter and review were excluded. Time restriction (1990-2018) as concerns the years of the publication was considered.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Primary disease: the median 5-year LC was 43.5% (range 19-68%); the median 5-year DFS was 44.5% (range 44-81%); the median 5-year OS was 50.5% (range 27-85%). Recurrent disease: the median 5-year DFS was 64% (range 56-72%) and the median 5-year OS was 45% (range 33%-57%). Acute ≥ grade 2 toxicity was reported in three patients (1.6%). The severe late toxicity rates (grade 3-4) ranged from 0% to 14.3% (median 7.7%).

CONCLUSION

IRT as part of primary treatment for primary and/or recurrent vulvar cancer is associated with promising clinical outcomes.

Comparison of two types of the triple incision technique in the treatment of patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer

Objective: In 2012, we proposed and described a modified triple incision technique (MTIT) for vulvar cancer patients with locally advanced disease. The MTIT has undergone a series of modifications, and a modified MTIT (M-MTIT) has been developed. The purpose of this study was to introduce the M-MTIT and compare it with the MTIT. Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Fifty-seven vulvar cancer patients with clinical stage T2 (≥ 4 cm) or T3 disease were included. Of these patients, 28 underwent the MTIT and 29 underwent the M-MTIT. Data on surgery-related complications and survival outcomes were compared. Results: Patients who were treated with the M-MTIT developed significantly less surgery-related morbidities than patients treated with the MTIT (24.1% vs. 60.7%, P = 0.005). Wound breakdown was the most common complication in our cohort, which occurred less frequently in the M-MTIT group than in the MTIT group (10.3% vs. 35.7%, P = 0.022). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the M-MTIT as an independent predictor of a reduced risk of wound breakdown. The incidence of other complications, including lymphedema, wound infection and cellulitis, was lower in the M-MTIT group than in the MTIT group; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance. The median follow-up time of this study was 33 months. Kaplan-Meier survival graphs did not show significant differences in recurrence-free survival or overall survival between the two groups. Conclusions: The M-MTIT correlates with lower morbidity rates than the MTIT and does not compromise oncological safety. The M-MTIT can be considered a safe and feasible option for vulvar cancer patients with locally advanced disease.

The age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index as a predictor of survival in surgically treated vulvar cancer patients

Objective

To evaluate the impact of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) in predicting disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) among surgically treated patients with vulvar carcinoma. The secondary aim is to evaluate its impact as a predictor of the pattern of recurrence.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data of patients that underwent surgical treatment for vulvar cancer from 1998 to 2016. ACCI at the time of primary surgery was evaluated and patients were classified as low (ACCI 0–1), intermediate (ACCI 2–3), and high risk (>3). DFS, OS and CSS were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meir and the Cox proportional hazard models. Logistic regression model was used to assess predictors of distant and local recurrence.

Results

Seventy-eight patients were included in the study. Twelve were classified as low, 36 as intermediate, and 30 as high risk according to their ACCI. Using multivariate analysis, ACCI class was an independent predictor of worse DFS (hazard ratio [HR]=3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.54–5.99; p<0.001), OS (HR=5.25; 95% CI=1.63–16.89; p=0.005) and CSS (HR=3.79; 95% CI=1.13–12.78; p=0.03). Positive nodal status (odds ratio=8.46; 95% CI=2.13–33.58; p=0.002) was the only parameter correlated with distant recurrence at logistic regression.

Conclusion

ACCI could be a useful tool in predicting prognosis in surgically treated vulvar cancer patients. Prospective multicenter trials assessing the role of ACCI in vulvar cancer patients are warranted.

Feasibility of radiotherapy in nonagenarian patients: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

Specific information about radiation therapy in nonagenarians is limited. In order to shed more light on the feasibility of radiotherapy in this challenging subgroup, a retrospective study was performed.

METHODS

The data of 93 consecutive patients receiving irradiation treatment at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Ordensklinikum Linz Barmherzige Schwestern between June 2005 and December 2016 were analyzed. Patient- and treatment-related factors were extracted from the patient records. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from irradiation to death or last follow-up. The survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

The study population of 93 patients was between 90 and 99 years old (median 91 years). It included 59 women (63%) and 34 men (37%). Of these, 38 (41%) received definitive radiotherapy, 14 (15%) received neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy, whereas a palliative regimen was prescribed in 44% of the cases (n = 41). In all, 79 patients (85%) were able to complete their prescribed course of radiotherapy. While 16 (17%) patients reported grade 2 toxicities or higher, 4 had ≥grade 3 side effects (4%). The median survival was significantly higher in patients treated with adjuvant, neoadjuvant or definitive radiotherapy (13.8 months) compared to patients treated with palliative radiotherapy (3.6 months; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Even in patients managed without preradiotherapy comprehensive geriatric assessment, carefully planned fractionated radiotherapy was feasible and resulted in acceptable rates of acute toxicities.

Comorbidity and cervical cancer survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women: A semi-national registry-based cohort study (2003-2012)

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the impact of comorbidity on cervical cancer survival in Australian women, including whether Indigenous women's higher prevalence of comorbidity contributes to their lower survival compared to non-Indigenous women.

METHODS

Data for cervical cancers diagnosed in 2003-2012 were extracted from six Australian state-based cancer registries and linked to hospital inpatient records to identify comorbidity diagnoses. Five-year cause-specific and all-cause survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Flexible parametric models were used to estimate excess cause-specific mortality by Charlson comorbidity index score (0,1,2+), for Indigenous women compared to non-Indigenous women.

RESULTS

Of 4,467 women, Indigenous women (4.4%) compared to non-Indigenous women had more comorbidity at diagnosis (score ≥1: 24.2% vs. 10.0%) and lower five-year cause-specific survival (60.2% vs. 76.6%). Comorbidity was associated with increased cervical cancer mortality for non-Indigenous women, but there was no evidence of such a relationship for Indigenous women. There was an 18% reduction in the Indigenous: non-Indigenous hazard ratio (excess mortality) when comorbidity was included in the model, yet this reduction was not statistically significant. The excess mortality for Indigenous women was only evident among those without comorbidity (Indigenous: non-Indigenous HR 2.5, 95%CI 1.9-3.4), indicating that factors other than those measured in this study are contributing to the differential. In a subgroup of New South Wales women, comorbidity was associated with advanced-stage cancer, which in turn was associated with elevated cervical cancer mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival was lowest for women with comorbidity. However, there wasn't a clear comorbidity-survival gradient for Indigenous women. Further investigation of potential drivers of the cervical cancer survival differentials is warranted.

IMPACT

The results highlight the need for cancer care guidelines and multidisciplinary care that can meet the needs of complex patients. Also, primary and acute care services may need to pay more attention to Indigenous Australian women who may not obviously need it (i.e. those without comorbidity).

Brachytherapy as part of the conservative treatment for primary and recurrent vulvar carcinoma

PURPOSE

There are only scarce data on the place of brachytherapy (BT) for treatment of vulvar carcinoma. Our institutional experience of interstitial BT for vulvar carcinoma patients is reported.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Clinical records of patients receiving low-dose-rate or pulsed-dose-rate BT as part of the primary treatment for primary/recurrent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma or as part of postoperative treatment between 2000 and 2015 were included. Patients, tumors, and treatment characteristics as well as clinical outcome were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients treated with BT were identified. BT was delivered as part of primary intent treatment for locally advanced/recurrent cancer in 11 patients and as part of postoperative treatment in 15 patients. Median age at time of BT was 63 years (range, 41-88 years). Pulsed-dose-rate and low-dose-rate were used in 15 patients and 11 patients, respectively. BT was performed as a boost to the tumor bed following external beam radiotherapy (n = 13) or as the sole irradiation modality (n = 13). Total median dose at the level of primary tumor was 60 GyEQD2 (range, 55-60 GyEQD2). With mean followup of 41 months (range, 5 months-11.3 years), 11 patients experienced tumor relapse, and in two of them, site of relapse was only local. Three-year estimated disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 57% (95% confidence interval: 45-69%) and 81% (95% confidence interval: 72-90%), respectively. All toxicities were Grade 2 or less.

CONCLUSIONS

Interstitial BT used as part of the primary or postoperative treatment of vulvar carcinoma is feasible with a satisfactory toxicity profile. Prognosis remains, however, dismal, with a high frequency of failures in patients with locally advanced tumors.

Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy in locally advanced and recurrent vulvar cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to report our experience with high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-ISBT) in locally advanced and recurrent vulvar cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 2004 and 2014, fourteen women with locally advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer were treated using HDR-ISBT in our Centre. High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy was performed as a separate treatment or in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (given prior to brachytherapy).

RESULTS

Patients were divided into: group I (n = 6) with locally advanced tumors, stages III-IVA after an incisional biopsy only, and group II (n = 8) with recurrent vulvar cancer after previous radical surgery. In group I, median follow up was 12 months (range 7-18 months); 1-year overall survival (OS) was 83%. Transient arrest of cancer growth or tumor regression was noticed in all patients but 4/6 developed relapse. Median time to failure was 6.3 months (range 3-11 months). The 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 33%. In group II, median follow up was 28 months (range 13-90 months). The 1-year and 3-year OS was 100% and 80%, respectively. The arrest of cancer growth or tumor regression was achieved in all patients. In 4/8 patients neither clinical nor histological symptoms of relapse were observed but 4/8 women experienced relapse. Median time to failure was 31 months (range 13-76 months). The 1-year and 3-year PFS was 100% and 62.5%, respectively. Two patients (14.3%) in group II had severe late toxicity (G3).

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy is a well-tolerated treatment option in selected patients with advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer. It is a safe and effective treatment modality for advanced and recurrent vulvar cancer, yielding good local control with acceptable late treatment related side effects. In our study, patients with recurrent vulvar cancer had better results in HDR-ISBT treatment, probably because of the smaller tumor volume. This hypothesis should be verified in a larger group of patients.

Relevance of computerized tomography in the preoperative evaluation of patients with vulvar cancer: a prospective study

Background

The purpose of the study was to determine whether inclusion of computerized tomography (CT) in the prospective evaluation of vulvar cancer changed the surgical treatment strategy in terms of detection of lymph node metastases, tumor spread and comorbidity, and additionally to examine the logistical influence of adding further examinations prior to treating out-hospital patients referred from geographically distant areas.

Methods

During an 8 month period we conducted a prospective study of patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent vulvar cancer consecutively referred to Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. The patients underwent a gynecological examination, chest x-ray and a preoperative CT scanning of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. It was registered whether the radiological findings regarding the extent of the tumor, lymph node involvement, incidental findings and comorbidity changed the surgical treatment plan. Further, the logistical influence of the long referral distances was registered.

Results

Thirty patients with a median age of 69 years (range 44–93 years) were included in the study. CT did not significantly change the initial surgical treatment plan for the patients. CT did not reveal lymph node enlargement outside the inguinofemoral area and was inaccurate compared to the sentinal node examination of the local lymph nodes. CT diagnosed no cases with distant metastases from the primary malignancy, but two cases with a secondary malignant disease were found.

Conclusions

CT scanning has no clinical impact as a routine screening examination prior to surgery. It may delay treatment, but can add important information when clinically indicated.

Insurance status is associated with treatment allocation and outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a particularly devastating type of stroke which is responsible for one third of all stroke-related years of potential life lost before age 65. Surgical treatment has been shown to decrease both morbidity and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We hypothesized that payer status other than private insurance is associated with lower allocation to surgical treatment for patients with SAH and worse outcomes.

DESIGN

We examined the association between insurance type and surgical treatment allocation and outcomes for patients with SAH while adjusting for a wide range of patient and hospital factors. We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample hospital discharge database using survey procedures to produce weighted estimates representative of the United States population.

PATIENTS

We studied 21047 discharges, representing a weighted estimate of 102595 patients age 18 and above with a discharge diagnosis of SAH between 2003 and 2008.

MEASUREMENTS

Multivariable logistic and generalized linear regression analyses were used to assess for any associations between insurance status and surgery allocation and outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

Despite the benefits of surgery 66% of SAH patients did not undergo surgical treatment to prevent rebleeding. Mortality was more than twice as likely for patients with no surgical treatment compared to those who received surgery. Medicare patients were significantly less likely to receive surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly two thirds of patients with SAH don't receive operative care, and Medicare patients were significantly less likely to receive surgical treatment than other patients. Bias against the elderly and those with chronic illness and disability may play a part in these findings. A system of regionalized care for patients presenting with SAH may reduce disparities and improve appropriate allocation to surgical care and deserves prospective study.

The role of regional anaesthesia in the surgical management of vulval malignancy

Abstract Surgical excision is the management of choice in vulval cancer however, the patient population are typically elderly and comorbid, for whom general anaesthesia (GA) carries considerable risk. The outcome of 107 procedures were reviewed in order investigate the postoperative complication rates associated with general and regional anaesthesia for the surgical management of vulval cancer. GA was used in 78 (72.9%) cases; 27 (22.9%) had a regional anaesthetic (spinal/epidural/ileoinguinal) and two women had a GA following a failed spinal anaesthetic. Women having a regional anaesthetic were significantly older (p = 0.0198), had a higher ACE (p = 0.0001) and ASA score (p < 0.0001) than those having a GA. There was an association between GA and grade II+ complications, compared with regional techniques (odds ratio, OR 2.72) but this was not significant due to the small number of events. Regional anaesthetic techniques are safe, well-tolerated alternatives to GA for the surgical management of vulval cancer, especially in an elderly and comorbid population.

Risk factors to predict the incidence of surgical adverse events following open or laparoscopic surgery for apparent early stage endometrial cancer: results from a randomised controlled trial

AIMS

To identify risk factors for major adverse events (AEs) and to develop a nomogram to predict the probability of such AEs in patients who have surgery for apparent early stage endometrial cancer.

METHODS

We used data from 753 patients who were randomised to either total laparoscopic hysterectomy or total abdominal hysterectomy in the LACE trial. Serious adverse events that prolonged hospital stay or postoperative adverse events (using common terminology criteria 3+, CTCAE V3) were considered major AEs. We analysed pre-surgical characteristics that were associated with the risk of developing major AEs by multivariate logistic regression. We identified a parsimonious model by backward stepwise logistic regression. The six most significant or clinically important variables were included in the nomogram to predict the risk of major AEs within 6weeks of surgery and the nomogram was internally validated.

RESULTS

Overall, 132 (17.5%) patients had at least one major AE. An open surgical approach (laparotomy), higher Charlson's medical co-morbidities score, moderately differentiated tumours on curettings, higher baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, higher body mass index and low haemoglobin levels were associated with AE and were used in the nomogram. The bootstrap corrected concordance index of the nomogram was 0.63 and it showed good calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

Six pre-surgical factors independently predicted the risk of major AEs. This research might form the basis to develop risk reduction strategies to minimise the risk of AEs among patients undergoing surgery for apparent early stage endometrial cancer.

Role of comorbidities in locally advanced cervical cancer patients administered preoperative chemoradiation: impact on outcome and treatment-related complications

AIMS

The study aimed at describing the prevalence, and pattern of comorbidities, as well as their clinical role in a large series of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients triaged to preoperative chemoradiation.

METHODS

The Charlson index (CCI), and the ACE27 index were used to retrospectively evaluate comorbidities in 258 LACC patients: life tables were computed by the Kaplan-Meier method; multivariate analysis was performed by Cox's regression model.

RESULTS

A CCI score = 0 was documented in 225 patients (87.2%), while 24 patients (9.3%) had a CCI score = 1, and only 9 patients (3.5%) had a CCI score ≥ 2. An ACE27 score = 0 was documented in 170 patients (65.9%), and was 1 in 59 patients (22.8%), 2 in 24 patients (9.3%) and 3 in 5 patients (2%). There was no association between the presence of comorbidities and clinico-pathological variables with the exception of a direct association with older age. There was no difference in the distribution of comorbid cases according to the extent of hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. DFS or OS curves did not differ in patients with or without comorbidities according to both indexes. No difference in the distribution of patients with comorbidities according to presence of complications was documented.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of comorbidities in the decision-making process relative to the enrollment of LACC patients into this trimodal therapeutic strategy needs to be established in specifically designed prospective trials.