Impact of adjuvant therapy on oncologic outcomes in uterine-confined clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium

Gynecol Oncol. 2024 Nov:190:236-242. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.08.019. Epub 2024 Sep 7.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the impact of adjuvant therapy on oncologic outcomes in patients with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA, IB, or II endometrial clear cell carcinoma (ECCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at 4 international institutions. Patients with newly diagnosed clinical stage I or II disease of either clear cell or mixed histology with a clear cell component treated between 01/01/2000-12/31/2015 were included. Oncologic outcomes were assessed for patients based on adjuvant treatment received, including chemotherapy, radiation, or chemotherapy with radiation.

Results: Of 125 patients identified and analyzed, 77 (61.6%) had clear cell histology and 118 (94.4%) had stage I disease. Median age at diagnosis was 65 years (range, 33-91). All patients underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymph node assessment. Twenty-five patients (20.0%) underwent surgical management alone and 100 (80.0%) received adjuvant therapy: 20 (16.0%) received postoperative chemotherapy, 47 (37.6%) received postoperative radiation, and 33 (26.4%) received postoperative chemotherapy with radiation. Median follow-up was 88.4 months (range, <1-234). Progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) did not significantly differ between surgery alone and type of adjuvant therapy (P = 0.18 and P = 0.56, respectively). Patients with mixed ECCC did not have a survival advantage over those with pure ECCC (5-year PFS rate, 85.0% vs 82.7%, P = 0.77; 5-year OS rate, 88.3% vs 91.2%, P = 0.94).

Conclusions: Receipt of adjuvant therapy in surgically staged I/II ECCC did not appear to offer a survival advantage over observation alone. Adjuvant therapy in early-stage ECCC with consideration of molecular classification should be evaluated.

Keywords: Adjuvant therapy; Early stage; Endometrial cancer; Endometrial clear cell.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell* / therapy
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salpingo-oophorectomy