title: Therapeutic role of systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic role of systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2003 to December 2008, 349 eligible patients who underwent surgical staging procedures at primary treatment were retrospectively analyzed: systematic lymphadenectomy group (n = 246) and no-lymphadenectomy group (n = 103). Survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, patients who underwent lymphadenectomy improved 5-year disease-free survival (89.0% versus 80.7%, P = 0.019) and overall survival (92.8% versus 81.5%, P = 0.001) compared to those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy. Overall survival was not related to lymphadenectomy in 212 low-risk patients (93.1% versus 84.6%, P = 0.176). However, this association was found in 137 patients with intermediate and high-risk (86.2% versus 73.3%, P = 0.021). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that FIGO stage (P = 0.037) and lymphadenectomy (P = 0.023) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy has a potentially therapeutic role on survival in surgically staged patients with endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107, Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan 250012, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Youzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xingsheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Beihua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002681:China; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult