Postoperative external beam radiation therapy and concurrent cisplatin followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel for stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal adjuvant therapy in advanced endometrial cancer is controversial. One regimen is concurrent external beam pelvic irradiation (RT) and cisplatin, then carboplatin/paclitaxel. This study reports an institutional experience using this approach in stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer.
METHODS: Patients with stage III (FIGO 2009) endometrial cancer who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at a single institution from 01/2004 to 12/2009 were identified retrospectively. Those treated with adjuvant RT/cisplatin, followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel comprised the study population.
RESULTS: Of the 40 eligible patients, 7 (18%) were stage IIIA and 33 (82%) IIIC. Nineteen patients (48%) were ≥ 60 years of age. Twenty-three (58%) had ≥ 50% myometrial invasion, 30 (75%) lymphovascular invasion, 11 (28%) cervical stromal invasion, and 5 (12%) positive peritoneal cytology. Histology was endometrioid in 32 (80%), serous in 6 (15%), and clear cell in 2 (5%). At a median follow-up of 49 months, the 5-year freedom from relapse was 79% and overall survival 85%. The 5-year rate of vaginal recurrence was 3%, non-vaginal pelvic recurrence 3%, para-aortic recurrence 11%, peritoneal recurrence 5%, and other distant recurrence 11%. Thirty-one patients (78%) were able to complete the planned RT/cisplatin and 4 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel. Acute grade 3 toxicity occurred in 10 patients (4 neutropenia, 2 anemia, 1 fatigue, 2 diarrhea). No late toxicity was grade ≥ 3.
CONCLUSION: These favorable outcomes corroborate those of RTOG 9708. Until prospective data that compare adjuvant therapy regimens mature, concurrent chemoradiation should be strongly considered in stage III endometrial cancer.