Optimal management for surgically Stage 1 serous cancer of the uterus

To describe the outcomes of patients who have undergone well-conducted surgery and found to have Stage 1 serous uterine cancer.

This retrospective cohort study includes women who have been treated for Stage 1 serous cancer of the uterus from 1985 to 2001. Cases were included from the regional cancer centers in Hamilton, London, Sunnybrook Toronto and Cancer Care Manitoba.

Forty-three women met the inclusion criteria: Complete surgical staging (n = 27), surgery followed by pelvic radiation therapy (n = 4), surgery followed by whole abdominal radiation therapy (n = 6), surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 6). Patient age or depth of invasion did not influence survival. Progression free interval was 22 months (SD = 14.29). Recurrence rate was highest for adjuvant chemotherapy (66%). Survival was assessed by treatment modality and a statistically significant poorer survival was seen in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (OR 17.5; 95% CI 1.3-227.6). No comment can be made on a superior treatment regimen given the small numbers in each treatment strata.

This study supports the findings of others in the literature. In a group of patients where surgical staging shows limited disease (i.e., surgically Stage 1 disease), then surgery alone appears to be adequate treatment.