Adjuvant chemotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for high-risk cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy

Nomogram Predicting Grade ≥2 Acute Radiation Enteritis in Patients With Cervical Cancer Receiving Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the risk factors for grade ≥2 ARE in patients with cervical cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 273 patients with cervical cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy at our hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into training and validation groups. Clinical parameters were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram model was established based on the independent risk factors selected using multivariate logistic regression. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the nomogram. The patients were divided into low-score and high-score groups based on the scores calculated using the nomogram model and compared.

RESULTS

Malnutrition, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio ≥0.82 after radiotherapy, platelet-lymphocyte ratio <307.50 after radiotherapy, and bowelbag volume receiving at least 5 and 40 Gy were independent risk factors for grade ≥2 ARE and were incorporated into the nomogram ( P <0.05). The ROC curve, calibration curve, and DCA suggested that the nomogram had good discrimination, concordance, and net benefit in the clinical. A medium nomogram score of 146.50 points was used as the cutoff point, and the incidence of grade ≥2 ARE in the high-score group was higher than that in the low-score group ( P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

The nomogram model for grade ≥2 ARE has good predictive ability and clinical utility, and is convenient for clinicians to identify high-risk groups and develop early prevention and treatment strategies.

Predicting the recurrence of usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma using a nomogram based on clinical and pathological factors: a retrospective observational study

Background

Usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type of adenocarcinoma, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Tumor recurrence is the leading cause of mortality; therefore, recognizing the risk factors for cervical cancer recurrence and providing effective therapy for recurrent cervical cancer are critical steps in increasing patient survival rates. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological data of patients with usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma by combining the diagnosis and treatment records after the initial treatment and recurrence.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between June 2013 and June 2022. We constructed a nomogram-based postoperative recurrence prediction model, internally evaluated its efficacy, and performed internal validation.

Results

This study included 395 participants, including 87 individuals with recurrence. At a 7:3 ratio, the 395 patients were divided into two groups: a training set (n = 276) and a validation set (n = 119). The training set was subjected to univariate analysis, and the risk variables for recurrence included smoking, ovarian metastasis, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, lymphovascular space invasion, perineural invasion, depth of muscular invasion, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and postoperative HPV infection months. The aforementioned components were analyzed using logistic regression analysis, and the results showed that the postoperative HPV infection month, tumor size, perineural invasion, and FIGO stage were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence (p<0.05). The aforementioned model was represented as a nomogram. The training and validation set consistency indices, calculated using the bootstrap method of internal validation, were 0.88 and 0.86, respectively. The model constructed in this study predicted the postoperative recurrence of usual-type cervical cancer, as indicated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The model demonstrated good performance, as evidenced by the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity values of 0.90, 0.859, and 0.844, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the FIGO staging, peripheral nerve invasion, tumor size, and months of postoperative HPV infection, the predictive model and nomogram for postoperative recurrence of usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma are precise and effective. More extensive stratified evaluations of the risk of cervical adenocarcinoma recurrence are still required, as is a thorough assessment of postoperative recurrence in the future.

A Scoring System to Select the Candidates for Adjuvant Chemotherapy Alone in High-Risk Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Patients With Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases After Surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim was to build a risk scoring system to guide the adjuvant treatment for early-stage cervical cancer patients with pelvic lymph node (LN) metastases after surgery.

METHODS

A cohort of 1213 early-stage cervical cancer patients with pelvic LN metastases (T1-2aN1M0) were selected from the NCI SEER database, of which 1040 patients received adjuvant external beam radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy (EBRT+Chemo) and 173 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy alone. The Cox regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors associated with worse survival. The exp (β) of each independent risk factors from multivariate analysis was assigned to develop the risk scoring system. The total cohort was divided into different risk subgroups accordingly and the efficacy of different adjuvant modalities in each risk subgroups was compared.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into 3 risk subgroups (Low-risk: total score <7.20, Middle-risk:7.20≤ total score≤ 8.40, High-risk: total score<8.40) based on the scoring system incorporating 5 independent risk factors. The survival analysis suggested that low-risk (hazard ratio [HR]=1.046, 95% CI: 0.586-1.867; P= 0.879) and middle-risk patients (HR=0.709, 95% CI: 0.459-1.096; P =0.122) could not benefit more from EBRT+Chemo than Chemo alone. However, EBRT+Chemo remained the superiority to Chemo alone in the high-risk subgroup (HR=0.482, 95% CI: 0.294-0.791; P =0.003).

CONCLUSION

A risk scoring system has been built to direct the adjuvant treatment for early-stage cervical cancer patients with pelvic LN metastases after surgery, where Chemo alone was totally enough for low-risk and middle-risk patients stratified by the model while EBRT+Chemo was still recommended for patients in the high-risk subgroup.

Debulking hysterectomy followed by chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy for FIGO stage (2019) IB3/II cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

With an estimated 570,000 new cases reported globally in 2018, and increasing numbers of new cases in countries without established human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. The majority of global disease burden (around 85%) is in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), with estimates of cervical cancer being the second most common cancer in women in such regions. As it commonly affects younger women, cervical cancer has the greatest impact on years of life lost (YLL) and adverse socioeconomic outcomes compared to all other cancers in women. Management of cervical cancer depends on tumour stage. Radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy is the standard primary treatment modality for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (2019) 1B1 to 1B3 disease. However, for larger primary tumours, radical hysterectomy is less commonly recommended. This is mainly due to a high incidence of unfavourable histopathological parameters, which require adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) (chemotherapy given with radiotherapy treatment). CCRT is the standard of care and is widely used as first-line treatment for cervical cancer considered to be not curable with surgery alone (i.e.those with locally advanced disease). However, a sizable cohort of women managed with primary CCRT will have residual disease within the cervix following treatment. Debulking' hysterectomy to remove (debulk) the primary tumour in locally advanced disease, prior to CCRT, may be an alternative management strategy, avoiding the potential need for surgery for residual cervical disease following CCRT, which may be more extensive, or have increased morbidity due to CCRT. However, this strategy may subject more women to unnecessary surgery and its inherent risks.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and harms of debulking hysterectomy (simple or radical) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus CCRT alone for FIGO (2019) stage IB3/II cervical cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

We systematically searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2021, Issue 4), MEDLINE via Ovid (1946 to 12 April 2021) and Embase via Ovid (1980 to 12 April 2021). We also searched other registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings and reference lists up to 12 April 2021.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs or non-randomised studies (NRSs) comparing debulking hysterectomy followed by CCRT versus CCRT alone for locally advanced FIGO (2019) stage IB3/II cervical malignancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We applied Cochrane methodology, with two review authors independently assessing whether potentially relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. We planned to apply standard Cochrane methodological procedures to analyse data and risk of bias.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not find any evidence for or against debulking hysterectomy followed by CCRT versus CCRT alone for FIGO (2019) stage IB3/II cervical cancer. We did not identify any studies assessing the validity of debulking hysterectomy for these women.  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence for or against debulking hysterectomy followed by CCRT versus CCRT alone for FIGO (2019) stage IB3/II cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Recurrence and Patient Survival After Radical Hysterectomy Followed by Either Adjuvant Chemotherapy or Adjuvant Radiotherapy With Optional Concurrent Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To compare cervical cancer recurrence and patient survival after radical hysterectomy followed by either adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) or adjuvant radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy (AR/CCRT).

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov to identify studies reporting recurrence or survival of cervical cancer patients who received AC or AR/CCRT after radical hysterectomy. Data were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² test. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

The meta-analysis included 14 non-randomized studies and two randomized controlled trials, altogether involving 5,052 cervical cancer patients. AC and AR/CCRT groups did not differ significantly in rates of total or local recurrence or mortality. Nevertheless, AC was associated with significantly lower risk of distant recurrence [odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.81] and higher rates of overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.69, 95%CI 0.54-0.85] and disease-free survival rate (HR 0.77, 95%CI 0.62-0.92).

Conclusions

AC may be an effective alternative to AR/CCRT for cervical cancer patients after radical hysterectomy, especially younger women who wish to preserve their ovaries and protect them from radiation damage.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier PROSPERO (CRD42021252518).

18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging of uterine cervical cancer recurrence in women with and without HIV infection

BACKGROUND

To compare the rate, time and, pattern of recurrence of cervical cancer between patients with and without HIV infection and to determine factors predicting cervical cancer recurrence in patients evaluated by ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT.

METHODS

We reviewed the ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT images of patients with histologically proven cervical carcinoma who were presenting with suspected recurrence. We extracted epidemiologic data, previous treatment, histologic subtype, HIV status, viral load and CD4 counts from the electronic laboratory database and the referral form for the ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT study.

RESULTS

We studied 303 women including 112 HIV-infected patients. FIGO stage III disease was present in 131 patients. Of 198 patients with recurrence, 74 were HIV-infected while 124 were not (P=0.849). HIV infected patients were younger (41.99±9.30 years) compared to HIV-uninfected (50.19±11.09), P<0.001. Local recurrence was present in 125 patients while 100 patients had a distant recurrence. Recurrence occurred at a single site in 88 patients and two or more sites in 110 patients. No significant difference in the recurrent patterns between HIV-infected and uninfected patients. Median time to recurrence was 10.50 months (range: 6.00-156.00) among HIV-infected versus 12.00 months (IQR:7.00-312.00) among the uninfected, P=0.065. FIGO stage III (P=0.042) and the presence of histological sub-types other than SCC (P=0.005) were significant predictors of recurrence. HIV infection by itself was not significant in predicting recurrence (P=0.843).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV infection has no significant impact on the rate, time or pattern of recurrence in women with suspected cervical carcinoma recurrence. Advanced disease and histological variant other than SCC are predictive of recurrence.

Treatment Strategies and Prognostic Factors of 2018 FIGO Stage IIIC Cervical Cancer: A Review

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor globally in terms of morbidity and mortality. The presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in cervical cancer patients. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system was revised in 2018. An important revision designates patients with regional LNM as stage IIIC, pelvic LNM only as stage IIIC1, and para-aortic LNM as stage IIIC2. However, the current staging system is only based on the anatomical location of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs). It does not consider other LN status parameters, which may limit its prognostic significance to a certain extent and needs further exploration and confirmation in the future. The purpose of this review is to summarize the choice of treatment for stage IIIC cervical cancer and the effect of different LN status parameters on prognosis.

Comparison of Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for FIGO2018 Stage IIIC1 Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: In October 2018, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised its classification of advanced stages of cervical cancer. The main points of the classification are as follows: stage IIIC is newly established; pelvic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC1; and para-aortic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC2. Currently, in Japan, radical hysterectomy is performed in advanced stages IA2 to IIB of FIGO2014, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended for patients with positive lymph nodes. However, the efficacy of CCRT is not always satisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and postoperative CCRT in stage IIIC1 patients. Materials and Methods: Of the 40 patients who had undergone a radical hysterectomy at Iwate Medical University between January 2011 and December 2016 and were pathologically diagnosed as having positive pelvic lymph nodes, 21 patients in the adjuvant CT group and 19 patients in the postoperative CCRT group were compared. Results: The 5 year survival rates were 77.9% in the CT group and 74.7% in the CCRT group, with no significant difference. There was no significant difference in overall survival or progression-free survival between the two groups. There was no significant difference between CT and CCRT in postoperative adjuvant therapy in the new classification IIIC1 stage. Conclusions: The results of the prospective Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) 1082 study are pending, but the present results suggest that CT may be a treatment option in rural areas where radiotherapy facilities are limited.

Utilization and outcomes of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone in high risk, early stage cervical cancer in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends and outcomes related to adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone for high risk, early stage cervical cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program from 2000 to 2016. Surgically treated women with American Joint Commission on Cancer stages T1-2 cervical cancer who had high risk factors (nodal metastasis and/or parametrial invasion) and received additional therapy were examined. Propensity score inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to assess the survival estimates for systemic chemotherapy versus external beam radiotherapy with chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Among 2462 patients with high risk factors, 185 (7.5%) received systemic chemotherapy without external beam radiotherapy, of which the utilization significantly increased over time in multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio per 1 year increment 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 1.09). In weighted models, adjuvant chemotherapy and combination therapy (external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy) had comparable overall survival among patients aged <40 years (hazard ratio (HR) 0.73, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.33), in adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous histologies (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.32), and in those with nodal metastasis alone without parametrial tumor invasion (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.62). In contrast, systemic chemotherapy alone was associated with increased all cause mortality compared with combination therapy in patients aged ≥40 years (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.06), with squamous histology (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.22), and with parametrial invasion alone (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.20) or parametrial invasion with nodal metastasis (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.52).

CONCLUSION

Utilization of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone for high risk, early stage cervical cancer is increasing in the United States in the recent years. Our study suggests that survival effects of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy may vary based on patient and tumor factors. External beam radiotherapy with chemotherapy remains the standard for high risk, early stage cervical cancer, and use of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy without external beam radiotherapy should be considered with caution.

Morphological Characteristics and Clinical Significance of Different Types of Tumor Vessels in Patients with Stages I-IIA of Squamous Cervical Cancer

The determination of factors associated with progression of cervical cancer is important, both for a recurrence risk assessment and for determining optimal treatment tactics. Previously, we showed the prognostic value of different types of tumor microvessels (MVs) in gastric and breast cancer. The object of this research was to study the morphology and clinical significance of different tumor microvessels in early cervical cancer. A total of 65 archived paraffin blocks of patients with I-IIA stages of squamous cervical cancer were investigated. Samples were stained with Mayer hematoxylin and immunohistochemically using antibodies to CD34, podoplanin, HIF-1a, and Snail. The eight types of tumor MVs differed in morphology were identified. It was established that only the dilated capillaries (DСs) with weak expression of CD34, the contact type DCs, the capillaries in tumor solid component, and the lymphatic vessels in the lymphoid and polymorphic cell infiltrates of tumor stroma are associated with clinical and pathological characteristics of early cervical cancer. Preliminary results also suggest that a combination of fragmentation in tumor solid component and the contact type DCs may predict a recurrence of early cervical cancer. Given the small number of cervical cancer recurrences, the predictive significance of the described markers requires a more thorough examination.

UGT1A1 polymorphism has a prognostic effect in patients with stage IB or II uterine cervical cancer and one or no metastatic pelvic nodes receiving irinotecan chemotherapy: a retrospective study

Background

Uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1 family polypeptide A1 (UGT1A1) is a predictive biomarker for the side-effects of irinotecan chemotherapy, which reduces the volume of tumors harboring UGT1A1 polymorphisms. We aimed to determine whether UGT1A1 polymorphisms can predict progression-free survival in patients with local cervical cancer treated with irinotecan chemotherapy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 51 patients with cervical cancer treated at a single institution between 2010 and 2015. All patients were diagnosed with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1, IB2, IIA, or IIB squamous cell carcinoma, underwent radical hysterectomy, and received irinotecan chemotherapy as neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatment. All patients were examined for irinotecan side effects using UGT1A1 tests. Conditional inference tree and survival analyses were performed considering the FIGO stage, age, the UGT1A1 status, and the number of metastatic lymph nodes to determine primary factors associated with progression-free survival.

Results

The tree-structured survival model determined high recurrence-risk factors related to progression-free survival. The most relevant factor was ≥2 metastatic lymph nodes (p = 0.004). The second most relevant factor was UGT1A1 genotype (p = 0.024). Among patients with ≤1 metastatic lymph node, those with UGT1A1 polymorphisms benefited from irinotecan chemotherapy and demonstrated significantly longer progression-free survival (p = 0.020) than those with wild-type UGT1A1.

Conclusions

Irinotecan chemotherapy might be beneficial in patients with cervical cancer, UGT1A1 polymorphisms, and ≤ 1 metastatic lymph nodes.

Comparison of adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma prognoses in Chinese patients with FIGO stage IB-IIA cervical cancer following radical surgery

BACKGROUND

To compare adenocarcinoma (AC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) prognoses in patients with FIGO stage IB-IIA cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 240 patients with AC and 130 patients with ASC. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression models, and log-rank tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Patients with ASC had higher frequencies of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) > 5 ng/ml (p = 0.049 and p = 0.013, respectively); moreover, they were much older (P = 0.029) than patients with AC. There were no clinically significant differences in overall survival (OS) between the groups. When stratified into three risk groups based on clinicopathological features, survival outcomes did not differ between patients with AC and those with ASC in any risk group. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (LNM) was an independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and OS in patients with AC and in patients with ASC. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) > 5 ng/ml and SCC-Ag > 5 ng/ml were independent predictors of RFS and OS in patients with AC. In addition, among those stratified as intermediate-risk, patients with ASC who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) had significantly better RFS and OS (P = 0.036 and P = 0.047, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find evidence to suggest that AC and ASC subtypes of cervical cancer were associated with different survival outcomes. CCRT is beneficial for survival in intermediate-risk patients with ASC, but not in those with AC. Serum tumour markers can assist in evaluating prognosis and in providing additional information for patient-tailored therapy for cervical AC.

Should the Number of Metastatic Pelvic Lymph Nodes be Integrated into the 2018 Figo Staging Classification of Early Stage Cervical Cancer?

Introduction: Lymph node status has become part of the new staging system for cervical cancer (CC). It has been shown that patients staged as IIIC1 had heterogeneous prognoses and, in some cases, experienced better outcomes than patients with lower stages. We evaluated the impact of the number of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes (MPLNs) among patients with stage IIIC1 cervical cancer. Methods: Survival analyses were conducted in order to identify the best cut-off prognostic value relative to the number of MPLNs. Disease free survival (DFS) was considered the main outcome. Results: 541 patients were included in the study. Eighty-nine patients were of stage IIIC1. The best prognostic cut-off value of the number of MPLNs was 2. Patients with >2 MPLNs (n > 2 group) had worse DFS compared with those having <2 (N1-2 group) (5 yr DFS: 54.7% vs. 78.1%, p value = 0.006). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the extent of MPLNs had little impact on DFS and that replacement of IIIC1 staging with N1-2 and n > 2 grouping provided a better, statistically significant model (p value = 0.006). Discussion: Using a cut-off value of 2, the number of MPLNs could better predict prognostic outcomes within stage IIIC1 cervical cancer and have potential implications for therapeutic decision-making in the treatment of patients with stage IIIC1 CC.

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy combined with intracavitary brachytherapy achieved the equivalent survival compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk

OBJECTIVES

The current study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) combined with intracavitary brachytherapy (ICRT) in cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk.

METHODS

We analyzed the medical records of 558 patients who were submitted to radical surgery for Stage IB-IIA cervical cancer. A total of 172 of those 558 patients were considered intermediate-risk according to the GOG criteria. Among those 172 patients, 102 were subjected to CT combined with ICRT (CT+ICRT) and the remaining 70 patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT). The 3-year disease free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and complications of each group were evaluated and analyzed.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in 3-year DFS or OS of the patients submitted to CT+ICRT and CCRT. Importantly, the frequencies of grade III to IV acute complications were significantly higher in patients submitted to CCRT than in those treated with CT+ICRT (Hematologic, P = 0.016; Gastrointestinal, P = 0.041; Genitourinary, P = 0.019). Moreover, the frequencies of grade III-IV late complications in patients treated with CCRT were significantly higher compared with CT+ICRT-treated patients (Gastrointestinal, P = 0.026; Genitourinary, P = 0.026; Lower extremity edema, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative adjuvant CT+ICRT treatment achieved equivalent 3-year DFS and OS but low complication rate compared to CCRT treatment in early stage cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk.

What Is the Role of Imaging at Primary Diagnostic Work-Up in Uterine Cervical Cancer?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

For uterine cervical cancer, the recently revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system (2018) incorporates imaging and pathology assessments in its staging. In this review we summarize the reported staging performances of conventional and novel imaging methods and provide an overview of promising novel imaging methods relevant for cervical cancer patient care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Diagnostic imaging during the primary diagnostic work-up is recommended to better assess tumor extent and metastatic disease and is now reflected in the 2018 FIGO stages 3C1 and 3C2 (positive pelvic and/or paraaortic lymph nodes). For pretreatment local staging, imaging by transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound (TVS, TRS) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is instrumental to define pelvic tumor extent, including a more accurate assessment of tumor size, stromal invasion depth, and parametrial invasion. In locally advanced cervical cancer, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) or computed tomography (CT) is recommended, since the identification of metastatic lymph nodes and distant metastases has therapeutic consequences. Furthermore, novel imaging techniques offer visualization of microstructural and functional tumor characteristics, reportedly linked to clinical phenotype, thus with a potential for further improving risk stratification and individualization of treatment. Diagnostic imaging by MRI/TVS/TRS and PET-CT/CT is instrumental for pretreatment staging in uterine cervical cancer and guides optimal treatment strategy. Novel imaging techniques may also provide functional biomarkers with potential relevance for developing more targeted treatment strategies in cervical cancer.

Short-term recurrence and distant metastasis following robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and chemoradiotherapy for a stage IB1 cervical adenocarcinoma: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is considered the standard treatment for patients with early stage cervical cancer with positive pelvic nodes, yet many patients with high-risk factors treated with CCRT still suffered from distant metastasis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 48-year-old woman presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding for 5 months. Thin prep liquid-based cytology test revealed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and the human papillomavirus test (type 58) was positive. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass measuring 17 × 15 mm, located predominantly in the posterior lip of uterine cervix. Colposcopy biopsy reported adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

DIAGNOSIS

Cervical adenocarcinoma stage IB1.

INTERVENTIONS

A robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed followed by postoperative CCRT.

OUTCOMES

Distant metastasis was occurred shortly after postoperative CCRT and the patient died 9 months from initial diagnosis.

LESSONS

In cases of new nodule in bones, lower abdominal distension and bloating occurring shortly after CCRT in early stage cervical adenocarcinoma, clinicians should bear in mind that recurrence should be considered. Development of more effective treatment to improve the survival outcomes of patients with postoperative metastasis is needed.

A multi-institutional observational study on the effects of three-dimensional radiotherapy and weekly 40-mg/m2 cisplatin on postoperative uterine cervical cancer patients with high-risk prognostic factors

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with both three-dimensional radiotherapy (3DRT) and weekly 40-mg/m² cisplatin on postoperative uterine cervical cancer patients with high-risk prognostic factors.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multi-institutional chart review of postoperative uterine cervical cancer patients with high-risk prognostic factors who had been treated with both 3DRT and weekly 40-mg/m² cisplatin from 2007 to 2012. Each participating hospital provided detailed information regarding patient characteristics, treatment outcomes, and treatment complications.

Results

The eligible 96 patients were analyzed. The median follow-up period was 61 months. The 3-year relapse-free survival, overall survival (OS), and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS) rates were 76%, 90%, and 88%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the histological finding of either adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma was a significant risk factor for both OS and LRFS. The percentage of patients with grade ≥ 3 acute hematologic toxicity, acute lower gastrointestinal toxicity (GIT), and late lower GIT were 45%, 19%, and 17%, respectively.

Conclusions

The outcomes of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using weekly 40-mg/m² cisplatin are similar to those in the previous studies that used several chemotherapy regimens. However, postoperative CCRT using 3DRT had a high level of late GIT.

Comparison between adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy after radical surgery in patients with cervical cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on the prognosis in cervical cancer patients with intermediate- or high-risk factors after radical hysterectomy (RH) compared to that for adjuvant radiotherapy (AR).

METHODS

The Embase and MEDLINE databases and the Cochrane Library were searched for published studies comparing cervical cancer patients who received AC with those who received AR after RH. The endpoints were patient oncologic outcome. Random-effects meta-analytical models were used to calculate the pooled estimates of the effect of AC on mortality/recurrence.

RESULTS

Two randomized trials and eleven observational studies (AC, 942 patients; AR, 1,721 patients) met our search criteria. There were no significant differences in mortality and any recurrence between two groups. The results for distant recurrence favored the AC group (pooled odds ratio: 0.69; 95% confidence interval: 0.54-0.88; p=0.03). In subgroup analyses (for study design, histology, indication for adjuvant treatment, AR type, AC type, and lymph node metastasis), there was no significant increase in mortality and recurrence for AC compared with that for AR.

CONCLUSION

Compared to AR, AC showed similar survival outcomes in cervical cancer patients undergoing RH and also appeared to reduce the risk of distant recurrence.

Phase II study of adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and nedaplatin for uterine cervical cancer with lymph node metastasis

The purpose of this phase II trial was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel and nedaplatin (TN) as the initial postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for uterine cervical cancer with lymph node metastases (LNM). Patients with FIGO stage IB1-IIA2 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were enrolled. Histological confirmation of LNM was mandatory. Intravenous paclitaxel at 175 mg/m² and nedaplatin at 80 mg/m² were administered every 28-day cycle, of which there were 5 cycles after radical hysterectomy. Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study from November 2011 to July 2015. Their median age was 48.5 years (range 28-64). The median tumor diameter was 37 mm (5-64). Overall, 30 patients (48.4%) had 1 metastatic lymph node, 11 (17.7%) had 2, 3 (4.8%) had 3, 5 (8.1%) had 4, and 13 (21.0%) had 5 or more. With a median follow-up of 45.7 months (range 23.4-69.5), the 2-year relapse-free survival and 2-year overall survival rates were 79.0% (90% CI, 69.0%-86.2%) and 93.5% (95% CI, 83.7%-97.5%), respectively. Almost all adverse events were relatively mild. Grade 3-4 adverse events (NCI-CTC ver. 4.0) that occurred in 5% or more of patients were neutropenia (60.7%) and infection (6.6%). The proportion of patients who completed 5 cycles of treatment was 90.3%. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with TN for cervical cancer with LNM was demonstrated to be an effective and feasible treatment. A phase III trial is warranted to compare this with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Systemic therapy for cervical carcinoma - current status

Two major treatment modalities in cervical cancer are radiation therapy (RT) and surgery. Chemotherapy continues to be the main form of systemic therapy adjunctive to definitive local therapies, and is used for palliation. Platinum-based regimens, administered concurrently with both definitive and postoperative RT, were demonstrated to provide significant survival benefits, whereas the beneficial effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in later-stage disease was smaller. The role of chemotherapy in addition to RT in IB1/IIA1 cervical cancer patients not undergoing surgery remains undefined. Likewise, the role of chemotherapy in combination with postoperative RT for patients with intermediate-risk factors for recurrence has not yet been verified. The recent standard for chemoradiotherapy is cisplatin alone administered weekly. Other cisplatin-based or non-cisplatin-based regimens have not been subjected to large clinical studies. The benefits of consolidation chemotherapy after chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer are still undetermined. Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by surgery has shown survival benefits, however its role in the era of chemoradiotherapy remains unclear. The combination of cisplatin and paclitaxel is considered a standard regimen in the palliative setting. There is no standard of care for second-line systemic therapy in advanced cervical cancer. Bevacizumab combined with palliative chemotherapy (cisplatin/paclitaxel or topotecan/paclitaxel) in the first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer significantly improves overall survival when compared to chemotherapy alone. The role of immunotherapy in cervical cancer remains to be established. The optimal combined modality treatment including systemic therapy for cervical tumors of non-squamous histology remains a matter of debate. Ongoing accumulation of data on genomic and proteomic characteristics provides insight into the molecular heterogeneity of cervical cancer and paves the way for developing molecularly targeted therapies.

Risk factors and a prediction model for lower limb lymphedema following lymphadenectomy in gynecologic cancer: a hospital-based retrospective cohort study

Background

Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is a chronic and incapacitating condition afflicting patients who undergo lymphadenectomy for gynecologic cancer. This study aimed to identify risk factors for LLL and to develop a prediction model for its occurrence.

Methods

Pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA) with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PALA) was performed on 366 patients with gynecologic malignancies at Yaizu City Hospital between April 2002 and July 2014; we retrospectively analyzed 264 eligible patients. The intervals between surgery and diagnosis of LLL were calculated; the prevalence and risk factors were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods. We developed a prediction model with which patients were scored and classified as low-risk or high-risk.

Results

The cumulative incidence of LLL was 23.1% at 1 year, 32.8% at 3 years, and 47.7% at 10 years post-surgery. LLL developed after a median 13.5 months. Using regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m² (hazard ratio [HR], 1.616; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.030–2.535), PLA + PALA (HR, 2.323; 95% CI, 1.126–4.794), postoperative radiation therapy (HR, 2.469; 95% CI, 1.148–5.310), and lymphocyst formation (HR, 1.718; 95% CI, 1.120–2.635) were found to be independently associated with LLL; age, type of cancer, number of lymph nodes, retroperitoneal suture, chemotherapy, lymph node metastasis, herbal medicine, self-management education, or infection were not associated with LLL. The predictive score was based on the 4 associated variables; patients were classified as high-risk (scores 3–6) and low-risk (scores 0–2). LLL incidence was significantly greater in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (HR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.440–3.324). The cumulative incidence at 5 years was 52.1% [95% CI, 42.9–62.1%] for the high-risk group and 28.9% [95% CI, 21.1–38.7%] for the low-risk group. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve for the prediction model was 0.631 at 1 year, 0.632 at 3 years, 0.640 at 5 years, and 0.637 at 10 years.

Conclusion

BMI ≥25 kg/m², PLA + PALA, lymphocyst formation, and postoperative radiation therapy are significant predictive factors for LLL. Our prediction model may be useful for identifying patients at risk of LLL following lymphadenectomy. Providing an intensive therapeutic strategy for high-risk patients may help reduce the incidence of LLL and conserve the quality of life.

The issues regarding postoperative adjuvant therapy and prognostic risk factors for patients with stage I-II cervical cancer: A review

The treatment for most patients with early-stage cervical cancer involves radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, and indications for postoperative adjuvant therapy have been determined by evaluating the prognostic risk factors for recurrence in each case. The aim of this review is to raise and discuss the various issues that have not yet been resolved regarding the prognostic risk factors and postoperative adjuvant therapy. Several clinicopathological factors, such as tumor size, lymphovascular space involvement, deep stromal invasion, parametrial involvement and lymph node metastasis, have been identified to have prognostic significance in early-stage cervical cancer. However, this remains controversial because there is suggested to be substantial heterogeneity among patients after radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy and it would be difficult to define the risk groups clearly. This indicates the need to develop more convenient and accurate criteria to define risk groups. According to the currently available evidence, patients in the high-risk group should receive adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin (CDDP) and fluolouracil. However, CCRT with CDDP administered weekly (CCRT-P) has instead been applied in a clinical context worldwide. Whether CCRT-P has a survival benefit compared with radiotherapy (RT) alone is unknown because no randomized phase III trials have been performed for patients in the high-risk group after radical surgery. Patients with high-risk factors have a high incidence of distant metastasis, for whom systemic chemotherapy might be a key to improving overall survival. The pivotal study that investigated the role of RT alone for patients with intermediate-risk factors after hysterectomy is the GOG092 trial. This trial showed a 47% reduction in the risk of recurrence after RT compared with no further treatment (NFT). However, the improvement in overall survival with RT did not reach statistical significance, while patients allocated to the RT group did experience an increase in severe toxicities compared with the NFT group. This could be why many physicians are reluctant to treat patients with this approach, although guidelines recommend RT for patients with intermediate-risk factors. With regard to toxicities, postoperative RT would be problematic because the organs in the pelvis targeted by RT have already been damaged by radical surgery. To reduce the toxicities, intensity-modulated radiotherapy would best be used worldwide. Further improvement in adjuvant therapy will come from enhanced definition of prognostic risk factors, better patient selection, and refinements in both local and systematic therapies.

Prognostic evaluation of postoperative adjuvant therapy for operable cervical cancer: 10 years' experience of National Cancer Center in China

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors and to evaluate the impact of adjuvant therapy on clinical outcome for early-stage cervical cancer.

Methods

The clinical-pathological data of all 1,335 patients with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Ib-IIa cervical cancer treated with primary radical surgery at the Chinese National Cancer Center between May 2007 and Dec 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up was 70 months.

Results

Of all the patients, 61.6% of the cases received adjuvant therapy, with 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 92.1% and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 95.0%. In multivariate analysis, differentiation of G3 (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (LNM, P<0.05) and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI, P<0.05) were independent predictors for OS, while LNM (P<0.05), deep stroma invasion (DSI, P<0.05) and LVSI (P<0.05) were independent factors for DFS. The samples were stratified by histologic type, and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was found to share the same independent factors except for differentiation of OS. As to patients with cervical adenocarcinoma/adenosquamous carcinoma (AC/ASC), differentiation was the independent predictor of OS (P<0.05); and LVSI of DFS (P<0.05). Of 236 patients with high-risk factors, there was no significant difference in survival between concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT, n=195), radiotherapy (RT, n=24), and chemotherapy (CT, n=17). Among the 190 patients with LNM who underwent CCRT, 124 cases showed improved DFS after sequential CT (P=0.118), with a recurrence rate decrease of 14%, though the difference was not statistically significant. Patients with single intermediate-risk factors like DSI or LVSI were found to partially benefit from adjuvant therapy, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

LNM, LVSI, DSI and differentiation were found to be independent prognostic factors for operable cervical cancer. Aggressive postoperative adjuvant therapy based on single risk factors in Chinese National Cancer Center could benefit survival. CCRT+CT outperformed CCRT in high-risk patients. For patients with single non-high-risk factor, the role of adjuvant therapy needs to be further discussed.