Resection of lymph node metastases influences survival in stage IIIC endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Surgical staging of endometrial cancer identifies those patients with microscopic metastatic disease most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy and may also confer therapeutic benefit. Our objective was to compare survival of patients who underwent resection of grossly positive lymph nodes (LN) to those with microscopically positive LN.


METHODS
Patients had stage IIIC endometrial cancer with pelvic and/or aortic LN metastases and underwent surgery between 1973 and 2002. Exclusion criteria included pre-surgical radiation and second primary cancer. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
Mean age of 96 patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer was 64. There were 45 cases with microscopic LN involvement and 51 with grossly enlarged LN. Overall, 41% had disease in aortic LN, which in 18% represented isolated aortic LN metastasis. Adjuvant therapies were given to 92% of patients (85% radiotherapy, 10% chemotherapy, 10% progestins). Among those with grossly involved LN, 86% were completely resected. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 63% in 45 patients with microscopic metastatic disease compared to 50% in 44 patients with grossly positive LN completely resected and 43% in 7 with residual macroscopic disease. In multivariable analyses, gross nodal disease not debulked (HR=6.85, P=0.009), serosal/adnexal involvement (HR=2.24, P=0.036), diagnosis prior to 1989 (HR=4.33, P<0.001), older age (HR=1.09, P<0.001), and >2 positive lymph nodes (HR=3.12, P=0.007) were associated with lower DSS.


CONCLUSIONS
Grossly involved LN can often be completely resected in patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer. These retrospective data provide evidence suggestive of a therapeutic benefit for lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer.
Havrilesky
Laura J
LJ
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3079, Durham, NC 27710, USA. havri001@mc.duke.edu
Cragun
Janiel M
JM
Calingaert
Brian
B
Synan
Ingrid
I
Secord
Angeles Alvarez
AA
Soper
John T
JT
Clarke-Pearson
Daniel L
DL
Berchuck
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome