Uterine Cancer
In the United States, cancer of the uterus is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. It accounts for six percent of all cancers in women in this country.
When uterine cancer spreads (metastasizes) outside the uterus, cancer cells are often found in nearby lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels. If the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, cancer cells may have spread to other lymph nodes and other organs, such as the lungs, liver, and bones.
The most common type of cancer of the uterus begins in the lining (endometrium). It is called endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, or cancer of the uterus.
Uterine Cancer Treatment Summaries
Uterine Cancer Treatment Summaries
In endometrial carcinoma, the outcome of women with high-risk disease is poor with surgery alone. Comprehensive surgical staging, including lymphadenectomy, is associated with improved survival of all women with Stage I grade 3 and higher endometrial carcinoma. Histological grade is an important prognostic indicator, with five-year overall survival of Stage I, grade 3 equaling 75% similar to Stage III, grade I survival of 70%. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to benefit all substages and histologic subtypes of Stage III endometrial cancer with a 5-year disease-free survival advantage of 29%. (HR=.71 p=.007) and a 5-year overall survival advantage of 32% (HR=.68 p=.004). Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel has demonstrated 4-year DFS and OS benefits and concurrent therapy – stage III and to date no recurrences of high-risk IC, IIA and IIB patients. Physicians must access patients with stage IG3 and stage II risk of relapse based upon adequacy of surgical staging, histologic grade, LVI and overall performance status.
References
- Karnic-Lee, N et al. The impact of lymphadenectomy in women with endometrial uterine carcinoma: A study of 39,396 women. PASCO (2006) 24:A.5000.
- Randall, Marcus E et al. Randomized Phase III Trial of Whole Abdominal Irradiation Versus Doxorubicin and Cisplatin Chemotherapy in Advanced Endometrail Carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. JCO (2006) 24:36-44.
- Greven, K et al. Final analysis of RTOG 9708: Adjuvant post-operative irradiation combined with Cisplatin/paclitaxed chemotherapy following surgery for patients with high risk endometrial concer. Gynecol Onc (2006) in press.
