SENTICOL III: an international validation study of sentinel node biopsy in early cervical cancer. A GINECO, ENGOT, GCIG and multicenter study

Background: Radical hysterectomy and complete pelvic lymphadenectomies are the most commonly performed procedures for women with early-stage cervical cancer. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping could be an alternative to routine pelvic lymphadenectomy, aiming to diagnose accurately nodal extension and decrease lymphatic morbidity.

Primary objective: To compare 3-year disease-free survival and health-related quality of life after SLN biopsy or SLN biopsy + pelvic lymphadenectomy in early cervical cancer.

Study hypothesis: We hypothesize that disease-free survival is non-inferior and health-related quality of life superior after SLN biopsy compared with SLN biopsy + pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Trial design: International, randomized, multicenter, single-blind trial. The study will be run by teams trained to carry out SLN biopsy, belonging to clinical research cooperative groups or recognized as experts in this field. Patients with an optimal mapping (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [MSKCC] criteria) and a negative frozen section will be randomized 1:1 to SLN biopsy only or SLN biopsy + pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Inclusion, exclusion criteria: Patients with early stages (Ia1 with lymphovascular invasion to IIa1) of disease. Histological types are limited to squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous carcinoma.

Primary endpoint: Main endpoint will be co-primary endpoint, associating 3-year disease-free survival and quality of life (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CX24).

Sample size: 950 patients need to be randomized.Estimated dates for completing accrual and presenting results: study started on Q2 2018, last accrual is scheduled for Q2 2021, and last follow-up in Q2 2026.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03386734.