title: Fertility preservation via photodynamic therapy in young patients with early-stage uterine endometrial cancer: a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a conservative fertility-sparing treatment in young women with early-stage endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of patients with endometrial cancer who had been treated with PDT. Of the patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, we included those younger than 35 years and in whom the lesion was confined to the endometrium. Surface photoillumination with red laser light at a wavelength of 630 nm was applied to the uterine endometrial cavity and endocervical canal of patients 48 hours after an intravenous injection of 2 mg/kg of photosensitizer. Complete response was pathologically defined as the complete disappearance of adenocarcinoma or hyperplastic tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 30.7 years, and the mean body mass index was 24.6 kg/m(2). The mean follow-up period was 78 months. Photodynamic therapy was used in 11 patients as primary treatment and in 5 patients as secondary treatment for recurrence after primary hormonal therapy. Complete remission was observed in 12 (75%) of the 16 patients. Of these 12 patients, 4 experienced recurrence (33%). Two of the 4 patients who experienced recurrence showed complete remission after the next course of PDT, and 1 of the 4 nonresponders also showed complete remission after the second course of PDT. The final response rate was therefore 68%. Of the 7 women who attempted to get pregnant, 4 had 7 successful pregnancies (57%, 4/7), resulting in 6 live births. No tumor-related deaths or PDT-related severe adverse effects were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photodynamic therapy can be an effective conservative treatment method for fertility sparing in young patients with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Gynecologic Cancer Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yun Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Jo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult