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High-dose rate brachytherapy for Stage I/II papillary serous or clear cell endometrial cancer
Brent DuBeshter1, Kim Estler, Kim Altobelli
1Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 125 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620, USA. Brent_DuBeshter@urmc.rochester.edu
Objective:
To determine the efficacy of high-dose rate brachytherapy as adjuvant treatment for Stage I/II papillary serous or clear cell endometrial cancer.
Methods:
A retrospective study of all patients with Stage I/II papillary serous or clear cell endometrial cancer treated with high-dose rate brachytherapy between 1995 and 2001 was performed. Following surgical staging, which included hysterectomy with pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy, all patients without extrauterine disease were treated with high-dose rate brachytherapy and followed for recurrence. The locations of recurrences were noted and were classified as local or distant.
Results:
Three (13%) recurrences occurred among 24 patients with Stage I/II papillary serous or clear cell carcinoma. The risk of recurrence was similar for papillary serous and clear cell cancer (12% vs. 12%). Local control was achieved in 96%. The risk of recurrence for those with no myometrial invasion, less than 1/2, or more than 1/2 myometrial invasion was 0%, 10%, and 50%, respectively (P < 0.04). Two of the three recurrences were distant and all patients with recurrence died despite additional treatment.
Conclusions:
High-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) as the sole adjuvant treatment of Stage I/II papillary serous or clear cell carcinoma is associated with a 13% risk of recurrence. Although local control with HDR is excellent, the risk of distant recurrence is increased with deep myometrial invasion. High-dose rate brachytherapy is adequate for Stage IA cases, but more aggressive treatment combining chemotherapy with HDR should be evaluated for more advanced Stage I/II cases.
