[Radiotherapy in the treatment of uterine sarcomas].
OBJECTIVE
To study radiotherapy in the treatment of uterine sarcomas and response to radiation in primary or recurrent uterine sarcomas.


METHODS
A total of 102 uterine sarcomas treated in the Cancer Hospital from May 1960 to June 1999. A retrospective review of 45 patients receiving surgery alone, 29 patients for postoperative radiotherapy, 4 radiotherapy alone, 24 recurrent sarcomas receiving radiotherapy.


RESULTS
The 5-year overall survival for 45 patients treated with surgery alone and 29 patients managed by postoperative radiotherapy were 56.7% and 58.6% respectively (P > 0.05). The addition of radiotherapy significantly reduced the local recurrence rate from 42.2% to 20.7% (P < 0.05). The tumor was disappeared completely by treatment of radiotherapy alone in 3 patients of primary uterine cervix sarcomas. 1 patient was free of disease at 36 months. Other 2 patients died 9 and 11 months later because of distant metastases. The complete and partial response rate of radiotherapy was 50.0% for recurrent tumors. The radiotherapeutic sensibility of endometrial stromal sarcomas, mixed mesodermal sarcomas and leiomyosarcomas was downward tendency in turn.


CONCLUSIONS
The postoperation adjuvant radiotherapy reduced the pelvic recurrent significantly. Radiotherapy should be used in the treatment of uterine sarcomas as an important part of combination therapy.
Bai
P
P
Department of Gynecological Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Sun
J
J
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*