A comparison of endometrial cancer outcomes in Ontario

To compare endometrial cancer treatment strategies and outcomes across the province of Ontario, Canada.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 195 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer in Ontario between 1996 and 1998, as a sample of the population. The women's charts were randomly selected by the medical records departments at 5 tertiary care centres in Ontario. The outcomes measured included 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), use of adjuvant radiotherapy, treatment complications, and prognostic factors for survival.

The 2 main treatment strategies were (1) total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH BSO) and (2) surgical staging (defined as TAH BSO and pelvic lymph node dissection with or without cytology, peritoneal biopsies, and omentectomy). Surgical staging rates across the province ranged from 0% to 88%. Stratified survival analysis revealed a significant difference in OS among centres (log rank P =.039). Crude survival analysis revealed no difference in 5-year OS or DFS between the 2 treatment strategies. The Cox proportional hazards model identified advanced stage of tumour as being the most predictive factor of DFS, and the woman's age at diagnosis and tumour grade as predictive of OS.

There was a significant difference in 5-year OS among the 5 tertiary care centres. There was no significant difference between surgical staging and TAH BSO with respect to 5-year DFS or OS.

As there were significant differences in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma and OS across the province, a population-based study of endometrial cancer treatment strategies and outcomes is required.