The importance of chemotherapy and radiation in uterine papillary serous carcinoma

Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Dec;123(3):542-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.09.005. Epub 2011 Oct 2.

Abstract

Purpose: To identify prognostic and predictive factors of overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and toxicity for patients with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

Materials and methods: Patient, tumor, treatment and relapse characteristics of 135 women with Stages I-IVA UPSC treated between 1980 and 2006 at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) were analyzed using Cox regression models to determine prognostic and predictive factors for OS, RFS and toxicity.

Results: Mean follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 0.01-25.2). Median 5-year OS was 52%, and RFS was 42% for all patients. On Cox regression analysis, increasing age, stage, and myometrial invasion were prognostic factors associated with shorter OS and RFS. A paclitaxel-platinum chemotherapy regimen was significantly associated with longer OS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-0.74, p=0.007) and RFS (HR=0.45, 95% CI 0.22-0.92, p=0.03). RFS was improved for patients treated with RT (HR=0.44, 95% CI 0.25-0.77, p=0.004). The 5-year grade 3+ toxicity rate was 3.5% for those who received RT and was 2.9% for those who did not (p=NS).

Conclusion: Uterine papillary serous cancer can be an aggressive tumor type with a poor prognosis. RFS was improved by radiation and chemotherapy with few grade 3 or higher complications. Using radiation and paclitaxel-platinum chemotherapy should be attempted whenever feasible for patients with UPSC who do not have distant metastases at diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Carboplatin / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / radiotherapy*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / drug therapy*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / radiotherapy*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / radiotherapy*

Substances

  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel