Progestin intrauterine device and GnRH analogue for uterus-sparing treatment of endometrial precancers and well-differentiated early endometrial carcinoma in young women.
BACKGROUND
To test the efficacy of levonorgestrel-release intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) plus gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for treating women aged <40 years with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) or presumed International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA limited to the endometrium, well differentiated (G1), endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC), who wish to preserve their fertility.


METHODS
A prospective observational study was conducted. Treatment consisted on the insertion of an LNG-IUD for 1 year plus GnRH analogue for 6 months.


RESULTS
From January 1996 to June 2009, 20 and 14 patients with AEH and EC, respectively, were studied. Complete response rate was 95% in patients with AEH and 57.1% in women with EC-G1. A progression of the disease was observed in one (5%) and in four patients (28%) with AEH and EC, respectively. Four of 20 patients with AEH and 2 of 14 with EC-G1 experienced recurrences. The average relapse time was 36 months (range: 16-62 months). All of them were alive without evidence of disease at the last follow-up, mean: 29 months (range: 4-102 months). Nine women achieved 11 spontaneous pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined treatment showed effectiveness in a substantial proportion of patients with AEH and EC. Close follow-up during and after treatment is crucial.
Minig
L
L
Gynecology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; Hospital Universitario Madrid Norte Sanchinarro, Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: lucasminig@yahoo.com.
Franchi
D
D
Preventive Gynecology Unit.
Boveri
S
S
Preventive Gynecology Unit.
Casadio
C
C
Pathologic Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
Bocciolone
L
L
Gynecology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
Sideri
M
M
Preventive Gynecology Unit.
D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000517:prevention & control; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016912:Levonorgestrel