Combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in high-risk FIGO stage III-IV endometrial cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
We reviewed our series of very advanced FIGO stage III-IV endometrial cancer patients to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a platinum- and doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy followed by conventional radiotherapy.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with advanced FIGO stage III and IV endometrial cancer have been treated, after surgery, with four courses of chemotherapy containing cisplatin 50 mg/m(2), epidoxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and cytoxan 600 mg/m(2) (day 1 every 21 days) in association with conventional external pelvic radiotherapy (50 Gy, with a 2 Gy daily dose administered with "box technique").


RESULTS
Chemotherapy was well tolerated: WHO grade 4 neutropenia, without fever or other symptoms, has been recorded in six patients (8.8%) at nadir, but no patient required hospitalization or colony-stimulating factors support during chemotherapy. Radiotherapy timing was not delayed by systemic treatment. Toxicities observed during radiation treatment are superimposable to those referred for not pretreated patients. At a median follow-up time of 63 months (range 4-112), 18 patients progressed and 16 patients have died: actuarial 9 years progression-free survival and survival are 30% and 53%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy seems to be an effective and safe way to treat this subset of endometrial cancer patients.
Bruzzone
M
M
Medical Oncology Unit C, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy. milena.bruzzone@istge.it
Miglietta
L
L
Franzone
P
P
Gadducci
A
A
Boccardo
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin