Adenocarcinoma corpus uteri stage I-II: results of a treatment programme based upon cytometry

The results of a treatment method on adenocarcinoma corpus uteri stage I-II based upon cytometrically measured DNA ploidy are presented. All patients had a simple hysterectomy. Adjuvant treatment (postoperative vaginal brachytherapy) were given only to those patients with non-diploid tumours regardless of stage and grade. A total of 1,634 women with endometroid adenocarcinoma corpus uteri stage I-II were included where 1,396 patients were followed-up for at least 5 years or until death and the remaining 238 patients were followed-up 3.5-5 years or until death. By using cytometry only, we identified a low-risk group comprising 83% of the patients (with 5.2% dead from their disease) and a high-risk group of 17% (with 15.7% dead from their disease). By using grade only (well- and moderately differentiated vs poorly differentiated), the low-risk group comprised 87% of the patients (with 4.6% dead from their disease) and the high-risk group 13% (with 13% dead from their disease). By using stage only (stage Ia and Ib vs stage Ic and II), the low-risk group comprised 78% of the patients (with 3.6% dead from their disease) and the high risk group 22% (with 14.5% dead from their disease). By combining these prognostic parameters, we were able to identify small subgroups with increased mortality rates in need of adjuvant therapy. As ploidy still had a strong prognostic strength regardless of given adjuvant radiotherapy, we do not believe that this treatment was effective. We therefore recommend future research to be directed toward cytostatics as an alternative adjuvant treatment.