Examestane in advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma: a prospective phase II study by the Nordic Society of Gynecologic Oncology (NSGO).
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the aromatase inhibitor exemestane in patients with advanced, persistent or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
We performed an open-label one-arm, two-stage, phase II study of 25 mg of oral exemestane in 51 patients with advanced (FIGO stage III-IV) or relapsed endometrioid endometrial cancer. Patients were stratified into subsets of estrogen receptor (ER) positive and ER negative patients.


RESULTS
Recruitment to the ER negative group was stopped prematurely after 12 patients due to slow accrual. In the ER positive patients, we observed an overall response rate of 10%, and a lack of progression after 6 months in 35% of the patients. No responses were registered in the ER negative patients, and all had progressive disease within 6 months. For the total group of patients, the median progression free survival (PFS) was 3.1 months (95% CI: 2.0-4.1). In the ER positive patients the median PFS was 3.8 months (95% CI: 0.7-6.9) and in the ER negative patients it was 2.6 months (95% CI: 2.1-3-1). In the ER positive patients the median overall survival (OS) time was 13.3 months (95% CI: 7.7-18.9), in the ER negative patients the corresponding numbers were 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.1-8.2). Treatment with exemestane was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of estrogen positive advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer with exemestane, an aromatase inhibitor, resulted in a response rate of 10% and lack of progression after 6 months in 35% of the patients.


BACKGROUND
Trial identification number (Clinical Trials.gov): NCT01965080.Nordic Society of Gynecological Oncology: NSGO-EC-0302.EudraCT number: 2004-001103-35.
Kristina
K
Lindemann
Susanne
S
Malander
Rene D
RD
Christensen
Mansoor R
MR
Mirza
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen 0424, PB 4953, Oslo, Norway. gunnar.b.kristensen@gmail.com.
Gunnar B
GB
Kristensen
Elisabeth
E
Aavall-Lundqvist
Ignace
I
Vergote
Per
P
Rosenberg
Karin
K
Boman
Britta
B
Nordstrøm
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D000730:Androstadienes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C056516:exemestane