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Establishment of a Primary Culture of Patient-derived Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Published on: April 11, 2018
Uterine carcinosarcomas: From pathology to practice
Michael D Toboni1, Erin K Crane2, Jubilee Brown2
1Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Objective:
Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a rare but aggressive cancer. In early-stage disease data guiding treatment is sparse. The purpose of this review is to summarize the findings from the 2019 NRG oncology group summer symposium meeting as well as a review of the current literature, with a particular focus on molecular targets, ongoing clinical trials, and treatment of early and advanced/recurrent disease.
Methods:
A combination of expert presentations and an extensive literature search was undertaken to summarize the literature in this review. MEDLINE was queried for peer-reviewed publications on UCS. This search was not limited by year or study design, but was limited to English language publications. ClinicalTrials.gov was queried for ongoing trials in UCS.
Results:
UCS is a rare cancer that is biphasic, with the carcinomatous component driving its aggressive nature. Level 3 evidence regarding early stage disease is lacking, but retrospective data suggests adjuvant therapy is warranted. The recent results of GOG 261 have contributed valuable information towards treatment strategy, including use of paclitaxel and carboplatin for UCS. Clinical trials are ongoing to investigate new targeted agents in UCS.
Conclusion:
Ongoing endometrial cancer clinical trials now include UCS patients. In combination with advances in molecular profiling, this will provide patients with UCS improved therapeutic options. Until that time, surgical resection and traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy remains standard of care.
Insights
Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a rare, aggressive cancer. Current reviews focus on molecular targets and treatments for early and advanced UCS, with ongoing trials offering future therapeutic options.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Medical Oncology
Background:
- Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a rare and aggressive malignancy.
- Limited data exists for early-stage UCS treatment strategies.
- UCS is characterized by a biphasic tumor composition, contributing to its aggressive behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature and findings from the 2019 NRG Oncology Group Summer Symposium.
- To focus on molecular targets, ongoing clinical trials, and treatment paradigms for early and advanced/recurrent UCS.
- To provide an overview of the evolving treatment landscape for uterine carcinosarcoma.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE for peer-reviewed publications on UCS.
- Inclusion of English language publications regardless of year or study design.
- Query of ClinicalTrials.gov for active clinical trials investigating UCS.
Main Results:
- Retrospective data suggests adjuvant therapy is beneficial for early-stage UCS.
- The GOG 261 trial provides valuable insights into paclitaxel and carboplatin regimens for UCS.
- New targeted agents are under investigation in ongoing clinical trials for UCS.
Conclusions:
- Uterine carcinosarcoma patients are increasingly included in endometrial cancer clinical trials.
- Advances in molecular profiling are expected to enhance therapeutic options for UCS.
- Surgical resection and conventional chemotherapy remain the current standard of care for UCS.
