title: Sequential versus "sandwich" sequencing of adjuvant chemoradiation for the treatment of stage III uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and tolerance of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy delivered in sequential (chemotherapy followed by radiation) versus "sandwich" fashion (chemotherapy, interval radiation, and remaining chemotherapy) after surgery in patients with FIGO stage III uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004 to 2011, we identified 51 patients treated at our institution fitting the above criteria. All patients received surgical staging followed by adjuvant chemoradiation (external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without high-dose rate (HDR) vaginal brachytherapy (VB)). Of these, 73% and 27% of patients received their adjuvant therapy in sequential and sandwich fashion, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in clinical or pathologic factors between patients treated with either regimen. Thirty-nine (76%) patients had stage IIIC disease. The majority of patients received 6 cycles of paclitaxel with carboplatin or cisplatin. Median EBRT dose was 45 Gy and 54% of patients received HDR VB boost (median dose 21 Gy). There were no significant differences in the estimated 5-year overall survival, local progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival between the sequential and sandwich groups: 87% vs. 77% (p=0.37), 89% vs. 100% (p=0.21), and 78% vs. 85% (p=0.79), respectively. No grade 3-4 genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicities were reported in either group. There was a trend towards higher incidence of grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity in the sandwich group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjuvant chemoradiation for FIGO stage III endometrioid uterine cancer given in either sequential or sandwich fashion appears to offer equally excellent early clinical outcomes and acceptably low toxicity.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: sharon.m.lu@gmail.com.
authors: Sharon M
authors: SM
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Chang-Halpenny
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Hwang-Graziano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin
keywords: Adjuvant therapy; Chemoradiation; Chemotherapy; Endometrial cancer; Radiation