Factors influencing survival in endometrial cancer relapsing patients: a Cooperation Task Force (CTF) study

Pharmacological Treatment of Advanced, Persistent or Metastatic Endometrial Cancer: State of the Art and Perspectives of Clinical Research for the Special Issue "Diagnosis and Management of Endometrial Cancer"

Patients with metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) not suitable for surgery and/or radiotherapy are candidates for pharmacological treatment frequently with unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. The purpose of this paper was to review the results obtained with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in this clinical setting. The combination of carboplatin (CBDCA) + paclitaxel (PTX) is the standard first-line chemotherapy capable of achieving objective response rates (ORRs) of 43-62%, a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 5.3-15 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 13.2-37.0 months, respectively, whereas hormonal therapy is sometimes used in selected patients with slow-growing steroid receptor-positive EC. The combination of endocrine therapy with m-TOR inhibitors or cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors is currently under evaluation. Disappointing ORRs have been associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, HER-2 inhibitors and multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors used as single agents, and clinical trials evaluating the addition of bevacizumab to CBDCA + PTX have reported conflicting results. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, and especially pembrolizumab and dostarlimab, have achieved an objective response in 27-47% of highly pretreated patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient (-d) EC. In a recent study, the combination of lenvatinib + pembrolizumab produced a 24-week response rate of 38% in patients with highly pretreated EC, ranging from 64% in patients with MSI-H/MMR-d to 36% in those with microsatellite stable/MMR-proficient tumors. Four trials are currently investigating the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to PTX + CBDCA in primary advanced or recurrent EC, and two trials are comparing pembrolizumab + lenvatinib versus either CBDCA + PTX as a first-line treatment of advanced or recurrent EC or versus single-agent chemotherapy in advanced, recurrent or metastatic EC after one prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Efficacy of Endometrial Cancer Follow-up Protocols: Time to Change?

OBJECTIVE

 The aim of the present study was to analyze relapse rates and patterns in patients with endometrial cancer with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of current follow-up procedures in terms of patient survival, as well as the convenience of modifying the surveillance strategy.

METHODS

 Retrospective descriptive study including all patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer relapse at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Complejo Hospitalario Insular-Materno Infantil de Canarias, between 2005 and 2014.

RESULTS

 Recurrence was observed in 81 patients (10.04% of the sample); 66.7% of them suffered relapse within 2 years and 80.2% within 3 years after the termination of the primary treatment; 41.9% showed distant metastases while the rest corresponded to local-regional (40.7%) or ganglionar (17.4%) relapse; 42% of these were symptomatic; 14 patients showed more than 1 site of relapse. Relapse was detected mainly through symptoms and physical examination findings (54.3%), followed by elevated serum marker levels (29.6%), computed tomography (CT) images (9.9%) and abnormal vaginal cytology findings (6.2%). No differences in global survival were found between patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic relapse.

CONCLUSION

 Taking into account that the recurrence rate of endometrial cancer is low, that relapse occurs mainly within the first 3 years post-treatment and that symptom evaluation and physical examination are the most effective follow-up methods, we postulate that a modification of the current model of hospital follow-up should be considered.

Endometrial Cancer: When Upfront Surgery Is Not an Option

Background and Summary: The management of endometrial cancer, in an ever-older population with considerable comorbidity, remains a challenge for gynecological and radiation oncologists. Key Message: The present paper reviews literature data on treatment options for endometrial cancer patients unfit for surgery.

Impact of Adjuvant Modalities on Survival in Patients with Advanced Stage Endometrial Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Medical Center

Adjuvant treatment in advanced-stage (stages III /IV) endometrial carcinomas in terms of tumor grades has not yet been explored. We retrospectively analyzed 194 patients with advanced-stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma who received surgery, followed by adjuvant therapy, at National Taiwan University Hospital between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2017. Adjuvant therapies included radiation (RT), chemotherapy alone (CT), and combined modality treatment (CMT: radiation and chemotherapy). The prognostic factors were determined from multivariate survival analyses using Cox regression models. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method. The median follow-up was 45.5 months (range: 6.2–207.9). In grade 1/2 endometrioid carcinoma, neither adjuvant CT nor CMT could prolong PFS significantly compared to RT (CT: HR 1.59, 95% CI 0.64–3.97; CMT: HR 2.03, 95% CI 0.72–5.74). Notably, maximal cytoreduction independently improved PFS (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.90). No particular adjuvant treatment provided an OS advantage over the others for grade 1/2 endometrioid carcinomas. However, for grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma, CMT showed OS benefits (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03–0.89) compared to RT and CT. In conclusion, maximal cytoreduction should be the goal in patients with grade 1/2 advanced-stage endometrioid carcinomas. Based on our results, patients with grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas might benefit from adjuvant CMT.

Patterns of Failures and Clinical Outcome of Patients with Early-Stage, High-Risk, Node-Negative Endometrial Cancer Treated with Surgery Followed by Adjuvant Platinum-Based Chemotherapy and Vaginal Brachytherapy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical outcome of patients with high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer and negative pelvic nodes who received adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy plus vaginal brachytherapy (VBT).

METHODS

This investigation assessed 80 patients who underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage Ib-II, grade 2-3 endometrioid (n = 43) or stage Ia-II nonendometrioid (n = 37) endometrial cancer.

RESULTS

Five-year local control rate, 5-year disease-free survival, and 5-year overall survival were 97, 87, and 97%, respectively, for endometrioid carcinoma, and 66, 50, and 72%, respectively, for nonendometrioid carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study appears to show that adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy plus VBT achieve very good results in endometrioid carcinoma. This combined treatment seems to be less effective in nonendometrioid carcinoma.

GOG 8020/210: Risk stratification of lymph node metastasis, disease progression and survival using single nucleotide polymorphisms in endometrial cancer: An NRG oncology/gynecologic oncology group study

OBJECTIVES

The ability to stratify a patient's risk of metastasis and survival permits more refined care. A proof of principle study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in literature based candidate cancer genes and the risk of nodal metastasis and clinical outcome in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) patients.

METHODS

Surgically-staged EEC patients from the Gynecologic Oncology Group or Washington University School of Medicine with germline DNA available were eligible. Fifty-four genes represented by 384 SNPs, were evaluated by Illumina Custom GoldenGate array. Association with lymph node metastases was the primary outcome. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was also evaluated.

RESULTS

361 SNPs with high quality genotype data were evaluated in 337 patients with outcome data. Five SNPs in CXCR2 had an odds ratio (OR) between 0.68 and 0.70 (p-value ≤ 0.025). The A allele rs946486 in ABL had an OR of 1.5 (p-value = 0.01) for metastasis. The G allele in rs7795743 in EGFR had an OR for metastasis of 0.68 (p-value = 0.02) and hazard ratio (HR) for progression of 0.66 (p-value = 0.004). Importantly, no SNP met genome wide significance after adjusting for multiple test correcting and clinical covariates. The A allele in rs2159359 SNP in NME1 and the G allele in rs13222385 in EGFR were associated with worse OS. Both exhibited genome wide significance; rs13222385 remained significant after adjusting for prognostic clinical variables.

CONCLUSION

SNPs in cancer genes including rs2159359 SNP in NME1 and rs13222385 in EGFR may stratify risk in EEC and are prioritized for further investigation.

The Clinical Features of Recurrent Endometrial Cancer in Japan: Chemotherapy Instead of Radiotherapy as Postoperative Adjuvant Treatment

Objective

Chemotherapy is a standard adjuvant treatment after primary surgery for endometrial cancer in Japan. We aimed to characterize the clinical features of recurrent endometrial cancer (REC) patients in Japan.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 112 REC patients who were primarily treated at 1 of 3 university hospitals in Japan from 2005 to 2012. We analyzed overall survival since the first recurrence (R-OS) in accordance with several factors.

Results

Median patient age was 64 years. The median follow-up period was 48 months. The distributions of cancer stage and histological subtype lacked distinctive features, and most patients had a high risk for recurrence at the time of the primary surgery. Although approximately 78% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, 85/112 patients (76%) experienced recurrence within 2 years after the initial treatment ended. For patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, regional lymph node (LN) and distant-site recurrence were more frequent (>40%) than vaginal or intra-abdominal recurrence. Median survival and 5-year R-OS were 27 months and 26.1%, respectively. The R-OS was significantly better for patients aged 65 years or older, those with negative peritoneal cytology at the time of primary surgery, those with recurrence within regional LN (eg, pelvic LN or para-aortic LN under the renal vein) and/or vagina, and those who underwent surgery and/or radiotherapy after recurrence. A multivariate analysis indicated that positive peritoneal cytology, a disease-free interval of less than 12 months, recurrent lesions in 2 or 3 areas, and treatment excluding surgery or radiotherapy were independent predictors of poor prognosis after recurrence.

Conclusions

Adjuvant chemotherapy was insufficient to reduce the incidence of distant recurrence. The prognosis of patients recurred within regional LN and/or vagina was significantly better than that of patients with recurrence in other lesions because of treatment with surgery and/or radiotherapy. The disease-free interval was a significant prognostic factor for REC patients.

A Proposal for a Classification for Recurrent Endometrial Cancer: Analysis of a French Multicenter Database From the FRANCOGYN Study Group

OBJECTIVE

Endometrial cancer (EC) recurrences are relatively common with no standardized way of describing them. We propose a new classification for them called locoregional, nodal, metastasis, carcinomatosis recurrences (rLMNC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The data of 1230 women with EC who were initially treated by primary surgery were included in this French multicenter retrospective study. Recurrences were classified based on dissemination pathways: (1) locoregional recurrence (rL); (2) nodal recurrence (rN) for lymphatic pathway; (3) distant organ recurrence (rM) for hematogenous pathway; and (4) carcinomatosis recurrence (rC) for peritoneal pathway. These pathways were further divided into subgroups. We compared recurrence free survival and overall survival (OS) between the 4 groups (rL/rN/rM/rC).

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 35.6 months (range, 1.70-167.60). One hundred ninety-eight women (18.2%) experienced a recurrence: 150 (75.8%) experienced a single-pathway recurrence and 48 (24.2%) a multiple-pathway recurrence. The 5-year OS was 34.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.02%-43.1%), and the median time to first recurrence was 18.9 months (range, 0-152 months). The median survival after recurrence was 14.8 months (95% CI, 11.7-18.8). Among women with single pathway of recurrence, a difference in 5-year OS (P < 0.001) and survival after recurrence (P < 0.01) was found between the 4 rLNMC groups. The carcinomatosis group had the worst prognosis compared with other single recurrence pathways. Women with multiple recurrences had poorer 5-year OS (P < 0.001) and survival after recurrence (P < 0.01) than those with single metastasis recurrence, other than women with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This easy-to-use and intuitive classification may be helpful to define EC recurrence risk groups and develop guidelines for the management of recurrence. Its prognosis value could also be a tool to select homogenous populations for further trials.

Prognostic value of local relapse for patients with endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

The objective of our study was to determine survival and prognostic factors associated with isolated local recurrence of endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Data of 1229 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between 2000 and 2012 were extracted from maintained databases of nine French University Hospitals as well as from the Senti-Endo trial. Patients with isolated central pelvic and vaginal recurrence were selected for further analysis.

RESULTS

Two hundreds and twenty five patients recurred during the inclusion period, 20 with isolated central pelvic recurrence and 23 with vaginal recurrence. Patients without recurrence had initially significantly less lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.01), less advanced diseases (>stage II) (p < 0.001) and more often low or intermediate risk tumours than patients with local recurrence. Local recurrence was statistically associated with better overall survival than non-local recurrence (p = 0.028) but dramatically decreased overall survival when compared to patients without any recurrence (p < 0.001). The site of recurrence, i.e. vaginal or central pelvic, was significantly associated with overall survival (p = 0.015). Patients without brachytherapy at initial management were more likely to have local recurrence of their disease when compared to those without recurrence (p = 0.03). None of the prognostics factors for survival in patients with local recurrence was statistically significant in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Local recurrence is a key event in endometrial cancer evolution severely impacting overall survival. Better understanding of the factors associated with prolonged survival is mandatory to improve our management of these patients.

Stratification of risk groups according to survival after recurrence in endometrial cancer patients

To identify prognostic factors for overall survival after recurrence (OSr) in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC) patients and categorize patient subgroups that predict outcomes using these variables.Consecutive patients with recurrent endometrioid EC seen in our institution from 1989 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Cox regression models were used to identify the clinicopathological factors associated with OSr. By summing scores proportionate to the hazard ratio (HR) for each significant variable, we stratified patients into 3 risk groups.Enrolled patients (n = 108) had a median time to recurrence of 15 (range, 3-163) months after initial treatment and a median OSr of 22 (range, 1-207) months. Twenty patients (18.5%) had locoregional recurrence, and 88 (81.5%) distant. One hundred three patients underwent salvage therapy; 51 (47.2%) received chemotherapy only, 22 (20.3%) received radiotherapy either alone or combined with chemotherapy, and 29 (26.9%) underwent salvage cytoreductive surgery. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that time to relapse after initial treatment, cancer antigen-125 level at recurrence, and the number of recurrent lesions were independent predictors of OSr. Incorporating these factors, we stratified patients into low-risk (n = 19), intermediate-risk (n = 43), and high-risk (n = 46) groups. The likelihood of cancer-specific death was higher in both the high-risk (HR = 8.948, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.498-22.893, P < .001) and the intermediate-risk (HR = 2.619, 95% CI = 1.002-6.850, P = .05) groups compared with the low-risk group.Incorporating 3 variables, recurrent endometrioid EC patients with a broad spectrum of outcome could be stratified according to OSr. This model may help predict outcomes in recurrent EC patients.

Detecting Asymptomatic Recurrence in Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: The Value of Vaginal Cytology, Imaging Studies, and CA-125

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of vaginal cytology, imaging modalities, and serum CA-125 in detecting asymptomatic recurrence during posttreatment surveillance for early-stage endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with stage I to II endometrial cancer who received primary surgical treatment at Seoul National University Hospital between 2000 and 2011. Clinicopathologic characteristics and surveillance test data were obtained from medical records. The total numbers of vaginal cytologies, imaging studies, and serum CA-125 levels performed during surveillance or until recurrence were evaluated, and the number of tests needed to detect each asymptomatic recurrence was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 389 patients were identified, together with a total of 3323 vaginal cytologies, 1025 chest x-rays, 1177 abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, 98 magnetic resonance imaging scans, 163 positron emission tomography/CT scans, 298 ultrasonographies, and 3335 serum CA-125 results obtained during the surveillance period. Recurrence was detected in 14 patients (3.6%). Ten of these cases were asymptomatic, of which six were identified through CT scans and four were identified through elevated serum CA-125 levels. Most of the patients (7/10) with asymptomatic recurrences had localized recurrence patterns, five of whom underwent curative-intent resection and survived. The number of CA-125 tests needed to identify 1 asymptomatic recurrence was 839, whereas the number of CT scans needed to achieve the same result was 196. Other imaging modalities and vaginal cytology did not detect asymptomatic recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

For posttreatment surveillance in early-stage endometrial cancer, vaginal cytology and imaging modalities such as chest x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/CT, and ultrasonography have low utility. Routine CT scans and serum CA-125 testing may be useful for detecting asymptomatic recurrence.

Predictors of Survival After Recurrence in Women With Early-Stage Endometrial Carcinoma

Objective

Factors predictive of survival after recurrent early-stage endometrial carcinoma have not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that impact disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) after recurrence in women with early-stage endometrial carcinoma.

Materials and Methods

After institutional review board approval, we identified 104 women with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I to II uterine endometrioid carcinoma who developed disease recurrence between January 1990 and December 2014. The Kaplan-Meier approach and Cox regression analysis were used to assess DSS and OS after recurrence and to determine factors influencing these survival end points.

Results

Median age of the study cohort was 65 years with a median follow-up time of 42.8 months after hysterectomy. Median time to recurrence was 15.8 months. Recurrences were diagnosed in 60 patients (57.7%) who were originally managed with observation after hysterectomy and in 44 patients (42.3%) who were initially managed with adjuvant radiation treatment. Fifty-six patients (54%) had pelvic recurrence (vaginal and/or pelvic), whereas 48 (46%) had extrapelvic recurrence. Five-year DSS and OS for the entire study population was 44% and 37%, respectively. Five-year DSS and OS were longer for patients with pelvic recurrence compared with patients with extrapelvic recurrence (66% vs 18% and 55% vs 17%, P < 0.0001). Five-year DSS was also longer for radiation-naive patients than for radiation-treated patients (51% vs 34%, P = 0.023). On multivariate analysis of DSS and OS, pelvic recurrence (P < 0.001) was the only significant predictor of longer DSS and OS.

Conclusions

In women with recurrent early-stage endometrioid carcinoma, our study suggests that site of recurrence (pelvic vs extra pelvic) is the only predictor of survival. In addition, we found that radiation naivete and pelvic recurrence correlated with longer DSS and OS.

Liver recurrence in endometrial cancer: a multi-institutional analysis of factors predictive of postrecurrence survival

Predictive factors for survival following liver metastasis in endometrial cancer (EC) have not been studied to date. It is expected that patients who initially presented with liver metastasis or developed liver metastasis as the subsequent metastatic site of progressive disease are likely to have poor outcomes. However, patients developing liver metastasis as the first site of recurrence may have a chance of benefiting from the salvage therapies. Therefore, we aimed to determine factors influencing postrecurrence survival in EC patients who developed liver metastasis as the first site of recurrence. Patients with EC who underwent primary surgery at three centers between 1993 and 2013 were reviewed. Liver recurrence was defined as documentation of parenchymal liver metastasis either by radiologically or biopsy, after a disease-free interval of ≥3 months. Patients with liver metastasis at presentation, or liver metastasis as the subsequent metastatic site of progressive disease were excluded. Forty-six patients were identified. Median time to liver recurrence was 12 months, with 91.3 % of recurrences detected within 3 years. Most patients (73.9 %) had liver recurrence concomitant with extra-hepatic disease. Median survival after the diagnosis of liver recurrence was 9 months. While in univariate analysis, time to liver recurrence (p < 0.001) and presence of concomitant extra-hepatic metastasis (p = 0.048) were potential predictors of survival, multivariate analysis revealed that time to liver recurrence (p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor. This criterion may be used as a marker for stratifying patients into different prognostic risk groups and for selection of patients for salvage therapies.

Pelvic recurrence of stage 1a well-differentiated endometrial carcinoma after 13 years: A case report

A great majority of endometrial carcinoma recurrences are observed in high-risk patients and within the first 3 years of treatment. The relapse of endometrial carcinoma occurring more than 10 years after initial treatment has rarely been described. Initially diagnosed and treated for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage 1a, grade 1 adenocarcinoma, our patient presented 13 years later with an isolated pelvic recurrence, demonstrating, to our knowledge, the longest disease-free interval with recurrence in the pelvis reported in literature. After surgical resection, the patient is being considered for enrollment in a clinical trial. Despite favorable prognostic features, it is possible to observe the recurrence of endometrial carcinoma even 5 years after surveillance and remission. Successful salvage therapies are available but may depend upon early diagnosis.

Follow-up in Gynecological Malignancies: A State of Art

Objective

The main purpose of this article is to explore the current practice for follow-up of gynecological cancer, pointing out the different procedures, to determine the most clinically and cost-effective surveillance strategies after the primary treatment.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed the follow up strategies for ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer. All of the topics discussed below arose from the “ESGO State of Art Conference—Follow-up in gynaecological malignancies” in Turin, (September 11–13, 2014;http://torino2014.esgo.org/).

Results

Physical but these practices should be integrated with biomarkers or imaging strategies. Currently, most recommendations about follow-up are based on retrospective studies and expert opinion, and there is some disagreement on surveillance strategies due to lack of evidence-based knowledge.

Conclusions

All surveillance procedures should be evidence-based with a clearly defined purpose: there is a need for prospective studies to compare the effectiveness of different follow-up regimens measuring overall survival, detection of recurrence, quality of life (QoL), and costs as outcomes.

Survival Outcomes Improved in Contemporary Cohort of Patients With Pelvic or Abdominal Recurrence After Treatment for Stage I/II Endometrial Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Pelvic and abdominal recurrences in stage I/II endometrial carcinoma are associated with poor outcomes, yet prognostic factors for survival after recurrence are not well described. Herein, we identify patients with pelvic or abdominal recurrence after surgery for stage I/II endometrial carcinoma and describe symptoms at presentation, prognostic factors, and salvage treatment toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort of 20 consecutively treated patients with recurrence after treatment for stage I/II endometrial carcinoma followed by our Institution's Radiation Oncology Department from 1998 to 2015.

RESULTS

The median time to pelvic or abdominal recurrence was 18.1 months (range, 4.2 to 59.6 mo), with 50% of recurrences at extranodal locations. Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 44% and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 82%. Salvage treatments varied widely, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) (7), surgery and RT (3), and surgery, chemotherapy, and RT (3). On univariate analysis of PFS, symptoms at recurrence (P=0.04) and extranodal recurrences (P<0.01) were found to be statistically significant negative prognosticators for PFS. On univariate analysis of OS, increasing age at recurrence and presence of symptoms were found to have a trend toward statistically significant association with negative OS outcomes (P=0.08 and P=0.10, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that long-term survival for pelvic or abdominal recurrences is possible with curative salvage therapy. The presence of symptoms is a negative prognostic factor in treatment outcome, and imaging may be effective for diagnosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Larger studies need to be performed to confirm these findings.

Clinical outcomes of women with recurrent or persistent uterine leiomyosarcoma

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify prognostic factors influencing the outcome of recurrent or persistent uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS).

METHODS

All patients with recurrent or persistent ULMS who underwent treatment at the participating institutions between January 2000 and December 2010 were identified from the tumor registry. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate overall survival data. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

One hundred fifteen (68.8%) patients who had recurrent/persistent disease were identified, 40 (34.8%) had persistent disease, and 75 (65.2%) had a recurrence. Median follow-up time was 24.9 months. The 5-year postrelapse survival rate was 15% and was not significantly different between women with recurrent or persistent disease (16% vs 13%; P = 0.1). Variables identified affecting the 5-year postrelapse survival rate included low number of mitosis at the time of diagnosis (<25, 25% vs 5%; P = 0.002), time to relapse from original diagnosis (≤6 vs >6 months, 8% vs 22%; P = 0.003)), and surgical treatment (17% vs 12%; P = 0.01). Age, stage, chemotherapy at time of original diagnosis or at the time of relapse, site of recurrence, and single versus multiple sites of recurrence were not associated with survival. In a multivariate Cox regression model, only low number of mitosis (hazard ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.8, P = 0.02) was identified as a predictor of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of patients with recurrent/persistent ULMS is, in general, poor. Women who have low number of mitosis at the time of diagnosis seemed to have better postrelapse survival.

Treatment failure in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to investigate the outcomes and prognostic factors after treatment failure of endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A total of 923 endometrial cancer patients were treated between 2000 and 2010, of which 109 experienced treatment failure. Treatment failure was defined as relapse after complete removal of all cancerous lesions or persistent/progressive disease despite treatment. Variables including clinicopathological features at initial treatment, type of primary treatment, failure pattern, salvage treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared with log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Eighteen cases with persistent/progressive disease died shortly from primary diagnosis (1-23 months). The remaining 91 patients had recurrences in vagina only (8.8%), pelvis (3.3%), distant (63.7%), and combined pelvic-distant sites (24.2%). Median time to recurrence was 13.3 months (3.2-97.2 months). The median follow-up after recurrence of survivors was 60.5 months (10.6-121.7 months). The median survival after recurrence (SAR) was 20.3 months (1.9-121.7 months) with 5-year SAR rate of 32.4%. By multivariate analysis, initial stage II to IV (hazards ratio [HR], 3.41; 1.53-7.60; P = 0.003), type II histology (HR, 2.50; 1.28-4.90; P = 0.008), positive peritoneal cytology (HR, 2.23; 1.07-4.68; P = 0.033), and recurrence at multiple sites (HR, 2.51; 1.30-4.84; P = 0.006) were significantly associated with poor SAR. The 5-year SAR rates in patients with solitary vaginal, nodal/liver, or pulmonary/bony recurrence were 83.3%, 50.5%, and 24.2%, respectively. Ten cases with resectable or irradiatable recurrence at multiple sites or multiple relapses attained SAR greater than 5 years after multimodality salvage therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial stage II to IV, type 2 histology, positive cytology, and recurrence at multiple sites were significant poor prognostic factors. Curative intent salvage therapy remains a viable option for cases with resectable or irradiatable multiple recurrences and solitary distant metastasis.

Feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal docetaxel administration as salvage chemotherapy for malignant gynaecological ascites

Ovarian and endometrial cancers diagnosed at advanced stages are often associated with malignant ascites. This study aimed to determine the safety, feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal (IP) docetaxel (TXT) for the treatment of ascites. A phase I study, including nine patients, was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerable dose. Efficacy was retrospectively assessed in 18 patients treated with 40-70 mg/m(2) IP TXT between 2005 and 2012. In a phase I study, the dose was safely escalated to a maximum of 70 mg/m(2), at which level no patients had grade -3 haematological adverse events. In a retrospective study of 18 patients, seven had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 3; 16 had prior paclitaxel administration and two, with doses of 40 and 70 mg/m(2), experienced a serological response and a decrease in paracentesis. Thus, palliative treatment of recurrent OC should be further studied with 40 mg/m(2) among more patients, and 70 mg/m(2) could be evaluated for first-line IP chemotherapy.

Adjuvant therapy for endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic malignancy typically diagnosed at early stage and cured with surgery alone. Adjuvant therapy is tailored according to the risk of recurrence, estimated based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and other histological factors. The objective of this manuscript is to review the evidence guiding adjuvant therapy for early stage and locally advanced uterine cancer. For patients with early stage disease, minimizing toxicity, while preserving outstanding cure rates remains the major goal. For patients with locally advanced endometrial cancer optimal combined regimens are being defined. Risk stratification based on molecular traits is under development and may aid refine the current risk prediction model and permit personalized approaches for women with endometrial cancer.

Prognostic significance of the treatment-free interval in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To identify prognostic factors of recurrent endometrial cancer, and clarify whether the treatment-free interval (TFI) predicts outcome in a wide spectrum of patients.

STUDY DESIGN

The clinical data of 60 patients treated for recurrent stage I-IV endometrial cancer between 1997 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to estimate overall survival (OS) following recurrence and determine the factors influencing outcomes.

RESULTS

The median age at initial treatment was 59 (range 38-80) years and the median post-recurrence overall survival time was 40.0 (range 1.8-156.7) months. Multivariate analysis showed lymph node metastasis (hazard ratio (HR) 2.80; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.29-6.09; p=0.009), TFI (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.15-0.76; p=0.008), and symptomatic recurrence (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.11-4.83, p=0.0025) were independent prognostic factors. Patients whose tumors recurred after a TFI≥12 months had better response rates than did those with a TFI<12 months (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

TFI is a significant prognostic factor in recurrent endometrial cancer. Furthermore, the effect of chemotherapy on recurrent endometrial cancer is probably influenced by the duration of TFI.

Location of disease in patients who die from endometrial cancer: a study of 414 patients from a single institution

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe the location of disease at the time of death of patients with endometrial cancer who died of their disease.

METHODS

All patients with a diagnosis of endometrial cancer from January 1993 through December 2010 were included. Histologic classification was either endometrioid or high-risk (HR) endometrial cancer. Patients who died were divided into 3 groups: dead of disease (DOD), dead of other causes (DOO), and dead lost to follow-up. Patterns of disease spread at death were documented from the most recent examination and imaging studies.

RESULTS

We identified 2513 patients. The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. Histologic findings were endometrioid endometrial cancer, 1949 patients (78%); and HR endometrial cancer, 54 patients (22%). The 1988 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages were: stage I, 1763 patients (70%); stage II, 145 patients (6%); stage III, 416 patients (17%); and stage IV, 189 patients (8%). At the time of this study, 1867 patients (74%) had no evidence of disease, 232 patients (9%) were alive with disease, and 414 patients (16%) were dead. Of the 16% of patients who were dead, 224 (9%) of the 2513 patients were DOD, 84 (3%) of the 2513 patients were dead of other disease, and 106 (4%) of the 2513 patients were dead lost to follow-up. Of the 224 patients who were DOD, the locations of the disease at the time of death were pelvic, 23 patients (10%); abdominal, 83 patients (37%); and distant, 118 patients (53%). There was no significant difference in the pattern of location of disease between the endometrioid and HR histologies (P = 0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that death from endometrial cancer is largely due to abdominal (liver) and distant (lung) metastases, and this pattern of disease seems similar in the endometrioid and HR histologies. Most of the patients who died of their disease had metastases beyond the pelvis at the time of death.

Multivariate survival analysis of the patients with recurrent endometrial cancer

Objective

Few studies on the prognosticators of the patients with recurrent endometrial cancer after relapse have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the prognosticators after relapse in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer who underwent primary complete cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Thirty-five patients with recurrent endometrial cancer were included in this retrospective analysis. The prognostic significance of several clinicopathological factors including histologic type, risk for recurrence, time to relapse after primary surgery, number of relapse sites, site of relapse, treatment modality, and complete resection of recurrent tumors were evaluated. Survival analyses were performed by Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results

Among the clinicopathological factors analyzed, histologic type (p=0.04), time to relapse after primary surgery (p=0.03), and the number of relapse sites (p=0.03) were significantly related to survival after relapse. Multivariate analysis revealed that time to relapse after primary surgery (hazard ratio, 6.8; p=0.004) and the number of relapse sites (hazard ratio, 11.1; p=0.002) were independent prognostic factors for survival after relapse. Survival after relapse could be stratified into three groups by the combination of two independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

We conclude that time to relapse after primary surgery, and the number of relapse sites were independent prognostic factors for survival after relapse in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer.

Posttreatment surveillance and diagnosis of recurrence in women with gynecologic malignancies: Society of Gynecologic Oncologists recommendations

Although gynecologic cancers account for only 10% of all new cancer cases in women, these cancers account for 20% of all female cancer survivors. Improvements in cancer care have resulted in almost 10 million cancer survivors, and this number is expected to grow. Therefore, determining the most cost-effective clinical surveillance for detection of recurrence is critical. Unfortunately, there has been a paucity of research in what are the most cost-effective strategies for surveillance once patients have achieved a complete response. Currently, most recommendations are based on retrospective studies and expert opinion. Taking a thorough history, performing a thorough examination, and educating cancer survivors about concerning symptoms is the most effective method for the detection of most gynecologic cancer recurrences. There is very little evidence that routine cytologic procedures or imaging improves the ability to detect gynecologic cancer recurrence at a stage that will impact cure or response rates to salvage therapy. This article will review the most recent data on surveillance for gynecologic cancer recurrence in women who have had a complete response to primary cancer therapy.

Vaginal recurrence more than 17 years after hysterectomy and adjuvant treatment for uterine carcinoma with successful salvage brachytherapy: a case report

PURPOSE

Although the majority of recurrences occur within the first 3 years of hysterectomy for endometrioid carcinoma, we report herein a successful salvage vaginal brachytherapy in a patient with endometrioid uterine carcinoma which recurred more than 17 years after initial treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 61-year-old female was diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus and treated with TAH-BSO, followed by adjuvant external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to the whole pelvis. After remaining free of any recurrent or metastatic disease for more than 17 years, she was diagnosed with isolated vaginal cuff recurrence and successfully treated with a salvage high-dose-rate intracavitary vaginal brachytherapy.

RESULTS

The patient remained disease free until her death from unrelated causes 7 years later.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the longest time to recurrence of endometrial cancer in someone who had been treated with TAH-BSO and adjuvant pelvic EBRT. This case highlights that even with adjuvant therapy, late recurrences may occur, and successful salvage brachytherapy is very effective.

Long-term survival of endometrioid endometrial cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

To establish risk factors for onset and progression of endometrioid endometrial cancer still remains the aim of scientists. The aim of the study was to determine disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in women with endometrioid endometrial cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective review of 142 patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer after surgery treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the Regional Cancer Centre in Lodz between 2002 and 2004 was performed. Clinical and pathological data were correlated with clinical outcome and survival.

RESULTS

In 3 patients (2.1%) clinical progression was diagnosed during the treatment. In 23 patients (16.7%) after primary remission, relapse was diagnosed 2-56 months after treatment. DFS and OS were 81.7% and 83.1% respectively. Better DFS significantly correlated with larger number of pregnancies (> 1), stage I of the disease and optimal surgery. Lower stage of disease, pelvic lymph node dissection, optimal surgery and depth of myometrial infiltration ≤ 50% were independent prognostic factors for better OS.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study provided significant evidence that early detection of endometrioid endometrial cancer enables optimal surgery. It reduces the indications for adjuvant therapy in stage I of the disease, and makes the prognosis significantly better. Other clinical and pathological factors such as numerous pregnancies, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and depth of myometrial infiltration, although important, are of less significance. Further prospective, randomized studies are necessary to prove the role of these factors.

Surveillance procedures for patients treated for endometrial cancer: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this review was to analyze the role of follow-up in patients treated for endometrial cancer and to provide some compelling issues that may contribute to improve daily practice while waiting for evidence-based guidelines.

METHODS/MATERIALS

A literature search has been conducted in MEDLINE database using key words "endometrial neoplasms" and "follow up".

RESULTS

Endometrial cancer represents the most common gynecologic malignancy after breast cancer. The overall recurrence rate is 13% and correlates with prognostic factors of the primary tumor. The anatomic sites of endometrial cancer relapse are mostly equivalently distributed between local (pelvic) and distant (abdominal and chest). Most endometrial cancer recurrences are symptomatic, even if vaginal vault relapses represent a particular setting of a more frequently asymptomatic disease. Most of endometrial cancer recurrences occur within 3 years since diagnosis of primary tumor. Long-term surveillance programs are mainly addressed to the early detection of recurrence, the rationale of follow-up being that an earlier diagnosis of relapse correlates with lower morbidity and mortality rates. Adjunctive objectives of routine follow-up are identification of treatment complications and detection of possible second tumors associated with endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

No rationale (examination sensitivity/sensibility, cost-effectiveness, or patient's survival benefit) is available today for any particular follow-up protocol; follow-up procedures should probably be tailored according to different prognostic factors; only physical examination, including pelvic-rectal examination, showed some utility in detecting recurrence. In this uncertain setting, follow-up interval should be defined with the consideration of the patient's will.

A vascular graft for endometrial cancer groin recurrence

BACKGROUND

Recurrent groin metastases from endometrial cancer that invades the femoral vasculature is debilitating and provides a management dilemma.

CASE

We present the first case of endometrial cancer with metastatic disease to the groin vasculature palliated with percutaneous endovascular embolization and stent grafting.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular surgery provides an alternative option in those with metastatic endometrial cancer of the groin to improve the patient's quality of life by avoiding a major surgery with difficult postoperative recovery and prolonging the timecourse until the next major bleed.

Efficacy and prognostic implications of administering adjuvant chemotherapy to patients with endometrial cancer that is confined to the uterus

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of prognostic factors and to assess the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer confined to the uterus.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients surgically stage IB, IC and II endometrial cancer according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics were enrolled in this study. Stage IIIA tumors with positive peritoneal cytology, in the absence of other evidence of extra uterine disease, were also included.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-seven patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria and 58 patients (34.7%) underwent combination chemotherapy. Disease recurrence occurred in 10 patients within a median time of 17 months. Histologic grade 3 was an independent prognostic factor for both disease-free and overall survival rates. Fourteen of 23 patients with histologic grade 3 tumors received adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide (or etoposide), epirubicin and cisplatin (in 1989-1999) or paclitaxel, pirarubicin and carboplatin (in 2000-2002). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates for these individuals was 92.3%, a value significantly higher than those in patients who had not undergone chemotherapy (50.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic grade of 3 is an independent prognostic marker in patients with endometrial cancer confined to the uterus and adjuvant chemotherapy might improve the survival rates in these patients.

The effect of age on clinical/pathologic features, surgical morbidity, and outcome in patients with endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of age on clinical/pathologic features, surgical morbidity, and outcome in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

All women with surgically treated endometrial cancer at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington between January 1990 and January 2000 were eligible; 396 patients underwent retrospective chart review. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS. Median follow-up time was 33 months (range, 1 to 120 months).

RESULTS

Age was < 45 years in 15% of patients, between 46 and 64 years in 47% of patients, and > 65 years in 38% of patients. Younger patients were statistically more obese than older patients (Body Mass Index of 40.3 kg/m2 vs. 35.3 kg/m2 vs. 31.0 kg/m2, P < 0.001). Intraoperatively, there were no differences between the three groups in the percentage of patients with lymph node sampling, operative time, blood loss, or complications. Postoperatively, older patients had more wound infections (P = 0.002), more cardiac events (P = 0.001), and more episodes of ileus (P = 0.025). Evaluation of pathology revealed that patients < 45 years old were statistically more likely to have endometrioid histology, grade I tumors, and stage IA disease. Women over age 65 were significantly more likely to have papillary serous histology, grade 3 tumors, and stage IC as compared to the younger patients. A subset analysis of patients > 75 years of age showed an increase in the percentage of patients with papillary serous histology (22% vs. 3%, P = 0.055), grade 3 disease (42% vs. 16%, P < 0.001), and stage IC disease (21% vs. 3%, P = 0.001) when compared to patients < 45 years old. Evaluation of endometrioid tumors only revealed a similar pattern of deeper myometrial invasion and higher tumor grade as age increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger patients with endometrial cancer are generally more obese, with lower grade, lower stage disease, and with more favorable histologic cell types. Despite this, approximately a quarter have stage II-IV disease and 9% have positive lymph nodes. The older patients represent a dramatically different subset of patients. They are more likely to have aggressive papillary serous histology, higher grade tumors, and advanced stage disease. Age should be a consideration in appropriate referrals to gynecologic oncologists.

Definitive radiotherapy in the management of isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to assess prognostic factors and overall survival after salvage radiotherapy for patients who had endometrial carcinoma and who experienced an isolated vaginal recurrence.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We reviewed the records of 50 patients treated at our institution between 1967 and 2003 for an isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma. Initial treatment for endometrial carcinoma was definitive surgery in 49 patients and definitive radiotherapy in 1 patient. The median time from initial diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma to recurrence was 25 months (range, 4-179 months). Three patients (6%) received external-beam radiotherapy alone, 8 patients (16%) received brachytherapy only, and 39 patients (78%) received combined external-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Median dose of radiation to the recurrence was 60 Gy (range, 16-85 Gy). Overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Endpoints were measured from the date of diagnosis of the vaginal recurrence. Median follow-up of survivors after recurrence was 53 months (range, 8-159 months).

RESULTS

The 5-year and 10-year disease-free and overall survivals were 68% and 55%, and 53% and 40%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.0242), Grade 1 or 2 vs. Grade 3 tumor (p = 0.002), and size of recurrence (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of overall survival. All patients who had Grade 3 disease were dead by 3.6 years from the time of recurrence. Five patients experienced a Grade 3 or 4 complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with radiotherapy for an isolated vaginal recurrence can be cured in over 50% the cases. Radiotherapy is well tolerated, with a low risk of complications. Factors predictive of overall survival include tumor grade, patient age at recurrence, and tumor size.

Lymphvascular space involvement: an independent prognostic factor in endometrial cancer

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

To evaluate whether lymphvascular space involvement (LVSI) is a risk factor for relapse of disease and lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer.

METHODS

From 1978 till 2003, 609 patients with epithelial endometrial cancer were treated at the Groningen University Medical Center. The association of LVSI and relapse of disease was evaluated in the total group of 609 patients and in a 'low' and 'high' risk stage I endometrial cancer group. In 239 surgically staged patients, the relation of LVSI and lymph node metastasis was investigated.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 63 years (range 27-92 years) with a median follow-up of 58 months (range 0-236 months). More than half of the patients (56%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. LVSI was present in 123 patients (25,6%), and a prognostic factor for relapse of disease (multivariate analysis, P < 0.0001). In the 'low' and 'high' risk stage I endometrial cancer patients an increase of 2.6 times in relapse of disease was observed in the presence of LVSI. LVSI positive tumors were more likely to have metastasized to the pelvic lymph nodes (multivariate analysis, P = 0.001). In patients with proven negative nodes, LVSI was a prognostic factor for relapse of disease (univariate analysis, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

LVSI is a predictor of nodal disease and an independent prognostic factor for relapse of disease in all stages of endometrial cancer. Patients with stage I endometrial cancer with positive LVSI are at risk for relapse of disease and might therefore benefit from adjuvant therapy.

CONTENT

The presence of lymphvascular space involvement (LVSI) in endometrial cancer is significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of pelvic lymph node metastases and/or relapse of disease.