Patterns of recurrence in 1988 FIGO stage IC endometrioid endometrial cancer

To evaluate patterns of recurrence in 1988 FIGO stage IC endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma.

A prospectively maintained endometrial cancer database was utilized to identify all patients with stage IC endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma treated between 2/93 and 6/09. Patterns of recurrence and risk factors were analyzed.

One hundred thirty-four patients with stage IC endometrial cancer were identified. Median age was 66 years (range, 31-91 years). All patients were initially treated surgically, and 79% underwent comprehensive surgical staging with lymphadenectomy. Median number of lymph nodes removed was 18 (range, 1-45). Fifty-one patients (38%) had FIGO grade 1 tumors, 55 (41%) had grade 2 tumors, and 28 (21%) had grade 3 tumors. The majority of patients (91%) received adjuvant radiation therapy. With a median follow-up of 36 months (range, 0.6-141.4 months), 10 patients recurred. Of these, 2 (20%) were grade 1, 2 (20%) were grade 2, and 6 (60%) were grade 3. Nine (90%) of these recurrences had a distant component and 7 (70%) were fatal. Overall, the 3 year cumulative incidence failure rate for grade 1/2 tumors was 5.4%; for grade 3 tumors it was 28.9% (P<0.001). Age, BMI, and lymphovascular invasion were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence.

Patients with stage IC, grade 3 endometrial cancer had a significantly increased risk of recurrence (28.9%). All of these recurrences had a distant component and the majority were fatal. Further investigation into the addition of adjuvant systemic therapy in these high-risk patients is warranted.