Prognostic value of lymph node features in patients diagnosed with stage IIIC endometrial adenocancer

Our study investigated the lymph node (LN) features most affecting survival in endometrial adenocancer (EAC) patients with LN involvement.

This retrospective study was based on a review of the records of patients diagnosed with EAC, who underwent hysterectomy and systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy at the gynecologic oncology clinics of three centers between January 2009 and January 2019.

A total of 120 stage IIIC endometrioid-type EAC patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into small (<10 mm) and large (≥10 mm) groups according to the size of the largest metastatic LN. Patients were divided into single and multiple metastasis groups according to the number of metastatic LNs. The patients were divided into pelvic and paraaortic groups according to the location of the metastatic LNs. The effects of prognostic factors on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by Cox regression analysis. Large-sized metastatic LNs were an independent prognostic factor for DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.-26.2; P = 0.035) and OS (HR = 9.0, 95% CI: 1.1-68.0; P = 0.033). The number (P = 0.093 for DFS, P = 0.911 for OS) and location (P = 0.217 for DFS, P = 0.124 for OS) of metastatic LNs were not independent prognostic factors for DFS or OS.

Large-sized metastatic LNs were an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with stage IIIC EAC. Larger prospective studies including similar patient populations are required to verify these findings.