Definitive radiotherapy for patients with isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma after hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome of patients after radical radiotherapy (RT) for isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma and to determine the clinical and pathologic predictors of outcome.


METHODS
We reviewed the records of 91 patients treated at our institution between 1960 and 1997 with radical RT for vaginal recurrence after definitive surgery for endometrial carcinoma. Thirty-one percent of the patients received external beam RT (EBRT) alone, 12% received brachytherapy alone, and 57% received a combination. The median dose of radiation was 75 Gy (range 34-122). All end points were measured from the time of the first recurrence. The median duration of follow-up after recurrence was 58 months (range 1-289).


RESULTS
The 2- and 5-year local control (LC) rate and overall survival rate was 82% and 75% and 69% and 43%, respectively. The median time from initial diagnosis of endometrial cancer to death from disease was 38 months. On univariate analysis, a dose to the relapse site of > or =80 Gy and EBRT plus brachytherapy vs. single-modality therapy were significant predictors of improved LC. On multivariate analysis, only the type of treatment correlated significantly with LC (p = 0.03). On univariate analysis, Grade 1 or 2 vs. Grade 3 tumor and EBRT plus brachytherapy vs. single-modality therapy were significant predictors of improved overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
RT provides excellent LC of isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma, particularly when high doses are given using a combination of EBRT and brachytherapy. However, distant metastases frequently develop despite local disease control, contributing to a 5-year overall survival rate of <50%. For patients who have an isolated vaginal recurrence, the time from initial diagnosis of endometrial cancer to death from disease is usually >3 years. For this reason, in studies of adjuvant RT, long-term follow-up is required to permit evaluation of the impact of treatment on survival.
Jhingran
Anuja
A
Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ajhingran@mdanderson.org
Burke
Thomas W
TW
Eifel
Patricia J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*