Analysis of failures in patients with FIGO stage IIIc1-IIIc2 endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the pattern of failures in patients with FIGO stage IIIc(1)-IIIc(2) endometrial cancer.


METHODS
Data were retrospectively analyzed for 34 patients with this malignancy who underwent extra-fascial total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic/para-aortic node dissection. Postoperative treatment consisted of radiotherapy in 5 patients, 6 cycles of chemotherapy in 9, and 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in 20. The median follow-up of survivors was 33 months (range, 6 to 133 months).


RESULTS
Tumour relapsed in 14 out of 34 patients (41.2%). Median time to recurrence was 17 months (range, 9.5-42 months). Vaginal recurrence developed in 2 patients (5.9%), distant recurrence in 5 (14.7%), pelvic node recurrence in 3 (8.8%) and para-aortic recurrence in 7 (20.6%). Two patients had multiple sites of recurrence. Distant failure occurred in 11.1% of the patients who received 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus 20.0% of those who had 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. Five-year overall survival was 60.5%, and, in particular, it was 62.5% for stage IIIc(1) and 57.0% for stage IIIc(2).


CONCLUSIONS
FIGO stage IIIc(1)-IIIc(2) endometrial cancer relapses in approximately 40% of cases, and distant sites and para-aortic nodes represent the most common sites of failure.
Department of Procreative Medicine, Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Pisa, Via Roma 56, Pisa, 56127, Italy. a.gadducci@obgyn.med.unipi.it
Angiolo
A
Gadducci
Stefania
S
Cosio
Maria Grazia
MG
Fabrini
Maria Elena
ME
Guerrieri
Carlo
C
Greco
Andrea Riccardo
AR
Genazzani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure