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Fumagalli D, De Vitis LA, Caruso G, Occhiali T, Palmieri E, Guillot BE, Pappalettera G, Langstraat CL, Glaser GE, Reynolds EA, Fruscio R, Landoni F, Mariani A, Grassi T. Low-Volume Metastases in Apparent Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Prevalence, Clinical Significance, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1338. [PMID: 38611016 PMCID: PMC11011093 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most diagnosed gynecologic malignancy, and its incidence and mortality are increasing. The prognosis is highly dependent on the disease spread. Surgical staging includes retroperitoneal evaluation to detect potential lymph node metastases. In recent years, systematic lymphadenectomy has been replaced by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and ultrastaging, allowing for the detection of macrometastases, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells (ITCs). Micrometastases and ITCs have been grouped as low-volume metastases (LVM). The reported prevalence of LVM in studies enrolling more than one thousand patients with apparent early-stage EC ranges from 1.9% to 10.2%. Different rates of LVM are observed when patients are stratified according to disease characteristics and their risk of recurrence. Patients with EC at low risk for recurrence have low rates of LVM, while intermediate- and high-risk patients have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with nodal metastases, including LVM. Macro- and micrometastases increase the risk of recurrence and cause upstaging, while the clinical significance of ITCs is still uncertain. A recent meta-analysis found that patients with LVM have a higher relative risk of recurrence [1.34 (95% CI: 1.07-1.67)], regardless of adjuvant treatment. In a retrospective study on patients with low-risk EC and no adjuvant treatment, those with ITCs had worse recurrence-free survival compared to node-negative patients (85.1%; CI 95% 73.8-98.2 versus 90.2%; CI 95% 84.9-95.8). However, a difference was no longer observed after the exclusion of cases with lymphovascular space invasion. There is no consensus on adjuvant treatment in ITC patients at otherwise low risk, and their recurrence rate is low. Multi-institutional, prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical significance of ITCs in low-risk patients. Further stratification of patients, considering histopathological and molecular features of the disease, may clarify the role of LVM and especially ITCs in specific contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Fumagalli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (F.L.)
| | - Luigi A. De Vitis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Department of Gynecology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Department of Gynecology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Occhiali
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Emilia Palmieri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, , Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Roma, Italy
| | - Benedetto E. Guillot
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Department of Gynecology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Pappalettera
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
- Department of Gynecology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Carrie L. Langstraat
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Gretchen E. Glaser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Evelyn A. Reynolds
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Robert Fruscio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (F.L.)
- Division of Gynecologic Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Fabio Landoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (F.L.)
- Division of Gynecologic Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Mariani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (D.F.); (L.A.D.V.); (G.C.); (T.O.); (E.P.); (B.E.G.); (G.P.); (C.L.L.); (G.E.G.); (E.A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Tommaso Grassi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (F.L.)
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Tubridy EA, Taunk NK, Ko EM. Treatment of node-positive endometrial cancer: chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2024; 25:330-345. [PMID: 38270800 PMCID: PMC10894756 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-023-01169-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT The standard of treatment for node-positive endometrial cancer (FIGO Stage IIIC) in North America has been systemic therapy with or without additional external beam radiation therapy (RT) given as pelvic or extended field RT. However, this treatment paradigm is rapidly evolving with improvements in systemic chemotherapy, the emergence of targeted therapies, and improved molecular characterization of these tumors. The biggest question facing providers regarding management of stage IIIC endometrial cancer at this time is: what is the best management strategy to use with regard to combinations of cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, other targeted therapeutics, and radiation that will maximize clinical benefit and minimize toxicities for the best patient outcomes? While clinicians await the results of ongoing clinical trials regarding combined immunotherapy/RT as well as management based on molecular classification, we must make decisions regarding the best treatment combinations for our patients. Based on the available literature, we are offering stage IIIC patients without measurable disease postoperatively both adjuvant chemotherapy and IMRT with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and with or without pembrolizumab/dostarlimab as primary adjuvant therapy. Patients with measurable disease post operatively, high risk histologies, or stage IV disease receive chemoimmunotherapy, and vaginal brachytherapy is added for those with uterine risk factors for vaginal recurrence. In the setting of endometrioid EC recurrence more than 6 months after treatment, patients with pelvic nodal and vaginal recurrence are offered IMRT and brachytherapy without chemotherapy. For measurable recurrence not suitable for pelvic radiation alone, chemoimmunotherapy is preferred as standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Tubridy
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Neil K Taunk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Emily M Ko
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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