Management of lymph nodes in endometrioid uterine cancer

Preoperatively predicting the lymph node metastasis and prognosis for gastric cancer patients

The preoperative distinguishment of lymph nodes (LN) with metastasis plays a pivotal role in guiding the surgical extension for gastric cancer (GC). We aim to identify the preparative risk factors for LN metastasis in GC patients. We retrospectively reviewed 424 patients who underwent radical GC resection in our medical center between Jan 2011 and Dec 2018. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify risk factors for LN metastasis, while multivariate COX regression was utilized to evaluate prognostic factors. The median overall survival of patients with or without LN metastases was 31 and 58 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, lower albumin (OR = 0.512; P = 0.004) and prealbumin (OR = 0.367, P = 0.001) and higher CEA (OR = 3.178, P < 0.001), CA199 (OR = 2.278, P = 0.002) and platelets (OR = 1.697, P = 0.017) were found to be significantly associated with LN metastasis. In survival analysis, older age (HR = 1.712), larger tumors (HR = 1.082), higher D-dimer (HR = 1.561) and CA199 (HR = 1.553), advanced staging (stage II, HR = 3.446; stage III-IV, HR = 11.089), lower prealbumin levels (lower level for reference, HR = 0.63), and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 0.396) was discovered to be associated with poorer overall survival (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that preoperative prealbumin-bound tumor markers can effectively predict LN metastasis. Additionally, prealbumin was found to possess prognostic value as well.

Hematologic parameters as a predictor of myometrial and cervical invasion in endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite significant improvements in molecular biology for uterine cancer, we did not have specific peripheral blood biomarkers for clinical usage such as prognostic or predictive outcomes of disease in the last decade.

METHODS

A retrospective endometrial cancer database was collected from a tertiary gynecologic cancer center. The cohort included only endometrioid type uterine cancer. Subsequently, we investigated the relationship between preoperative hematologic parameters and pathologic findings.

RESULTS

In this study, 191 non-metastatic endometrial cancer (median age was 61 years, ranging from 41 to 86 years) were analyzed. Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was significantly different between the FIGO stage I and II (4.48 vs. 3.88, P=0.004). Platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) was significantly higher in FIGO stage III than stage I, and LMR was significantly decreased by each FIGO stage. LMR values significantly decreased with a depth of myometrial invasion. PLR and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) values were significantly higher in patients with cervical invasion compared to those without invasion, 287 vs. 144, P=0.005, 10.3 vs. 6, P=0.022, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that low-LMR levels and high-PLR with ELR levels correlated with myometrial and cervical invasion, respectively. These findings can explain why hematologic parameters have an impact on oncologic outcomes.

Sentinel node biopsy for diagnosis of lymph node involvement in endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Pelvic lymphadenectomy provides prognostic information for those diagnosed with endometrial (womb) cancer and provides information that may influence decisions regarding adjuvant treatment. However, studies have not shown a therapeutic benefit, and lymphadenectomy causes significant morbidity. The technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), allows the first draining node from a cancer to be identified and examined histologically for involvement with cancer cells. SLNB is commonly used in other cancers, including breast and vulval cancer. Different tracers, including colloid labelled with radioactive technetium-99, blue dyes, e.g. patent or methylene blue, and near infra-red fluorescent dyes, e.g. indocyanine green (ICG), have been used singly or in combination for detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the identification of pelvic lymph node involvement in women with endometrial cancer, presumed to be at an early stage prior to surgery, including consideration of the detection rate.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (1946 to July 2019), Embase (1974 to July 2019) and the relevant Cochrane trial registers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of tracers for SLN assessment (involving the identification of a SLN plus histological examination) against a reference standard of histological examination of removed pelvic +/- para-aortic lymph nodes following systematic pelvic +/- para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PLND/PPALND) in women with endometrial cancer, where there were sufficient data for the construction of two-by-two tables.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors (a combination of HN, JM, NW, RG, and WH) independently screened titles and abstracts for relevance, classified studies for inclusion/exclusion and extracted data. We assessed the methodological quality of studies using the QUADAS-2 tool. We calculated the detection rate as the arithmetic mean of the total number of SLNs detected out of the total number of women included in the included studies with the woman as the unit of analysis, used univariate meta-analytical methods to estimate pooled sensitivity estimates, and summarised the results using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

The search revealed 6259 unique records after removal of duplicates. After screening 232 studies in full text, we found 73 potentially includable records (for 52 studies), although we were only able to extract 2x2 table data for 33 studies, including 2237 women (46 records) for inclusion in the review, despite writing to trial authors for additional information. We found 11 studies that analysed results for blue dye alone, four studies for technetium-99m alone, 12 studies that used a combination of blue dye and technetium-99m, nine studies that used indocyanine green (ICG) and near infra-red immunofluorescence, and one study that used a combination of ICG and technetium-99m. Overall, the methodological reporting in most of the studies was poor, which resulted in a very large proportion of 'unclear risk of bias' ratings. Overall, the mean SLN detection rate was 86.9% (95% CI 82.9% to 90.8%; 2237 women; 33 studies; moderate-certainty evidence). In studies that reported bilateral detection the mean rate was 65.4% (95% CI 57.8% to 73.0%) . When considered according to which tracer was used, the SLN detection rate ranged from 77.8% (95% CI 70.0% to 85.6%) for blue dye alone (559 women; 11 studies; low-certainty evidence) to 100% for ICG and technetium-99m (32 women; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). The rates of positive lymph nodes ranged from 5.2% to 34.4% with a mean of 20.1% (95% CI 17.7% to 22.3%). The pooled sensitivity of SLNB was 91.8% (95% CI 86.5% to 95.1%; total 2237 women, of whom 409 had SLN involvement; moderate-certainty evidence). The sensitivity for of SLNB for the different tracers were: blue dye alone 95.2% (95% CI 77.2% to 99.2%; 559 women; 11 studies; low-certainty evidence); Technetium-99m alone 90.5% (95% CI 67.7% to 97.7%; 257 women; 4 studies; low-certainty evidence); technetium-99m and blue dye 91.9% (95% CI 74.4% to 97.8%; 548 women; 12 studies; low-certainty evidence); ICG alone 92.5% (95% CI 81.8% to 97.1%; 953 women; 9 studies; moderate-certainty evidence); ICG and blue dye 90.5% (95% CI 63.2.6% to 98.1%; 215 women; 2 studies; low-certainty evidence); and ICG and technetium-99m 100% (95% CI 63% to 100%; 32 women; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). Meta-regression analyses found that the sensitivities did not differ between the different tracers used, between studies with a majority of women with FIGO stage 1A versus 1B or above; between studies assessing the pelvic lymph node basin alone versus the pelvic and para-aortic lymph node basin; or between studies that used subserosal alone versus subserosal and cervical injection. It should be noted that a false-positive result cannot occur, as the histological examination of the SLN is unchanged by the results from any additional nodes removed at systematic lymphadenectomy.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic test accuracy for SLNB using either ICG alone or a combination of a dye (blue or ICG) and technetium-99m is probably good, with high sensitivity, where a SLN could be detected. Detection rates with ICG or a combination of dye (ICG or blue) and technetium-99m may be higher. The value of a SLNB approach in a treatment pathway, over adjuvant treatment decisions based on uterine factors and molecular profiling, requires examination in a high-quality intervention study.

Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Was a Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVE

The pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to be useful as markers for prognostic factors and metastasis in several cancers. The aim of this study was to identify the predictor of lymph node (LN) metastasis by pretreatment NLR and PLR in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Medical charts of the patients with endometrial cancers that received primary surgery at our hospital between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The cutoff value was calculated from the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Clinicopathological parameters including inflammatory markers were evaluated for LN metastasis using multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 197 patients enrolled in the study, LN metastasis was observed in 25 patients (13%). ROC curves demonstrated that the best cutoff value of NLR for predicting LN metastasis was 2.18 and that of PLR was 206. In univariate analysis, several pathological factors, NLR, and PLR were identified as predictors of LN metastasis. In multiple logistic regression analysis, lymphovascular invasion and NLR were found to be significantly correlated with LN metastasis (p = 0.002, 0.039).

CONCLUSION

A higher pretreatment NLR was identified as a predictor of LN metastasis in endometrial cancers. Although further study is needed to confirm the results, NLR could be a candidate clinical marker for detection of LN metastasis.

Use of SPECT/CT for improved sentinel lymph node localization in endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the usefulness of adding SPECT/CT to planar images for pre-surgical sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in endometrial cancer (EC), a technique that could have an important clinical impact on the staging, treatment, and prognosis of EC patients.

METHODS

We compared the planar and SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphic images of 44 patients with high-risk EC who underwent sentinel lymph node procedure (SLN) using an injection technique recently developed at our center known as TUMIR (Transvaginal Ultrasound Myometrial Injection of Radiotracer). 148 MBq (4 mCi) of 99mTc-nanocolloid were injected, guided by transvaginal ultrasound imaging. Planar and SPECT/CT images were performed in all 44 patients.

RESULTS

SLNs were seen on planar images in 32 cases (73%) and in 34 cases (77%) using SPECT/CT. A total of 88 SLNs were depicted by planar lymphoscintigraphy while SPECT/CT visualized a total of 110 SLNs. SPECT/CT changed the assessment of the SLNs visualized in planar lymphoscintigraphy in 26 cases, either by modifying the number and/or the location of the SLNs detected. External iliac chain was the most frequent location of SLN detection (71%) in the 34 cases. Fifteen of these patients (44%) showed para-aortic SLNs. One case had exclusive para-aortic drainage (3%) that was only visualized by SPECT/CT. In another case, SPECT/CT was able to localize the only pelvic metastatic lymph node not visualized by planar images.

CONCLUSIONS

SPECT/CT combined with planar imaging improves preoperative SLN detection and provides valuable anatomic information that enhances the presurgical stage of the SLN technique in endometrial cancer.

Province wide clinical governance network for clinical audit for quality improvement in endometrial cancer management

BACKGROUND

According to the hub-and-spoke model introduced in the Provincial Healthcare System of Reggio Emilia, early endometrial cancer is treated in peripheral low-volume hospitals (spokes) by general gynecologist, whereas more complex cancers are treated by gynecological oncologists at the main hospital (hub).

OBJECTIVE

To guarantee a uniformly high standard of care to all patients with endometrial cancer treated in hub and spoke hospitals of Reggio Emilia Province.

METHODS

The specialists of the 5 hospitals of Reggio Emilia Province instituted an inter hospital and multidisciplinary oncology group to write common and shared guidelines based on evidence-based medicine through the use of clinical audit. They valued the process indicators before and after guidelines introduction identifying the site of improvement and verifying the standard achievement.

RESULTS

Diagnostic hysteroscopy use increased significantly from preguideline period, 53%, to postguideline period, 74%. Magnetic resonance use and accuracy increased significantly from preguideline to postguideline periods: 8.1% to 35.3% and 37.3% to 74.7%, respectively. Laparoscopy use increased from 1.6% (preguideline) to 18.6 (postguideline). Early surgical complications decreased from 16% (preguideline) to 9% (postguideline). Radiotherapy use increased from 14.% (preguideline) to 32.3% (postguideline).

CONCLUSION

It is possible for a provincial oncology group to build an oncology network providing an improvement in the assistance of patients with endometrial cancer through the use of clinical audit. Clinical audit made it possible to obtain the full attendance of specialists of various disciplines involved in the treatment of endometrial cancer to optimize response time schematizing process.

Pre-operative systemic inflammatory response markers in predicting lymph node metastasis in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the correlation of pre-operative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) markers with lymph node (LN) metastasis compared with serum CA-125 in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of 319 patients who were pathologically proven to have endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma after staging operations. Serum CA-125 and pre-operative SIR markers [neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, platelets and fibrinogen] were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for each SIR marker and serum CA-125.

RESULTS

NLR, PLR and serum CA-125 were higher in the LN-positive group compared with the LN-negative group (p=0.003, 0.012 and 0.025, respectively). Serum albumin was significantly lower in the LN-positive group compared with the LN-negative group (p<0.001). ROC curves demonstrated the best cut-off values for NLR (≥1.97), PLR (≥9.14), albumin (≤4.15 g/dl) and serum CA-125 (≥32.50 U/ml) for pre-operative diagnosis of LN metastasis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of serum CA-125 were 63.3%, 87.6%, 37.3%, 95.4% and 85.1%, respectively. No pre-operative SIR markers were superior to serum CA-125 in terms of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV or accuracy, with the exception of the slightly higher sensitivity of PLR (64.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative SIR markers do not appear to be more effective in predicting LN metastasis than serum CA-125 in endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma.

High-risk endometrial carcinoma profiling identifies TGF-β1 as a key factor in the initiation of tumor invasion

Endometrial cancer is among the three most common cancers in females in industrialized countries. In the majority of cases, the tumor is confined to the uterus at the time of diagnosis and presents a good prognosis. However, after primary surgery, 15% to 20% of these tumors recur and have limited response to systemic therapy. We carried out gene expression profiling of high-risk recurrence endometrial cancers to identify new therapeutic approaches targeting the molecular pathways involved in the acquisition of an aggressive tumor phenotype. A microarray gene-expression analysis on a total of 51 human endometrial carcinomas revealed 77 genes specifically altered in high-risk recurrence tumors (P < 0.001). The bioinformatics analysis of gene-gene interactions and molecular relationships among these genes pointed to a prominent role for TGF-β1 signaling in the acquisition of an aggressive phenotype. We further showed that TGF-β1 has a principal role at the initiation of endometrial carcinoma invasion through the promotion of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition that leads to the acquisition of an invasive phenotype in HEC-1A and RL95-2 cells. Impairment of this initial step with SB-431542, a specific TGF-β1 inhibitor, precluded further persistent endometrial carcinoma invasion. In conclusion, we showed that the characterization of the molecular changes associated with the acquisition of an aggressive phenotype represents a realistic strategy for the rational identification and characterization of new potential therapeutic targets in an effort to improve the clinical management and the outcome of high-risk endometrial cancer patients.