Postoperative external beam radiation therapy and concurrent cisplatin followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel for stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The optimal adjuvant therapy in advanced endometrial cancer is controversial. One regimen is concurrent external beam pelvic irradiation (RT) and cisplatin, then carboplatin/paclitaxel. This study reports an institutional experience using this approach in stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Patients with stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at a single institution from 01/2004 to 12/2009 were identified retrospectively. Those treated with adjuvant RT/cisplatin, followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel comprised the study population.

RESULTS

Of the 40 eligible patients, 7 (18%) were stage IIIA and 33 (82%) IIIC. Nineteen patients (48%) were ≥ 60 years of age. Twenty-three (58%) had ≥ 50% myometrial invasion, 30 (75%) lymphovascular invasion, 11 (28%) cervical stromal invasion, and 5 (12%) positive peritoneal cytology. Histology was endometrioid in 32 (80%), serous in 6 (15%), and clear cell in 2 (5%). At a median follow-up of 49 months, the 5-year freedom from relapse was 79% and overall survival 85%. The 5-year rate of vaginal recurrence was 3%, non-vaginal pelvic recurrence 3%, para-aortic recurrence 11%, peritoneal recurrence 5%, and other distant recurrence 11%. Thirty-one patients (78%) were able to complete the planned RT/cisplatin and 4 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel. Acute grade 3 toxicity occurred in 10 patients (4 neutropenia, 2 anemia, 1 fatigue, 2 diarrhea). No late toxicity was grade ≥ 3.

CONCLUSIONS

These favorable outcomes corroborate those of RTOG 9708. Until prospective data that compare adjuvant therapy regimens mature, concurrent chemoradiation should be strongly considered in stage III endometrial cancer.