TURKISH JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
2017 , Vol 32 , Num 3
Role and Timing of Radiotherapy in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Selçuk University, Konya-Turkey
DOI :
10.5505/tjo.2017.1643
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological tumor in developed countries, and its incidence
is increasing because of an increased prevalence of obesity and an aging population. Although most
patients present with early-stage low-risk disease, a rise in the incidence is attributed to an increasing
number of high-risk cases at the time of diagnosis. Despite optimal surgical treatment, the prognosis of
high-risk endometrial cancer (HREC) is poor because of increased risk of local and distant recurrences
and therefore, adjuvant treatment should be considered. Although the definition of high-risk patients
varies between cooperative groups, the recent endometrial consensus conference defined high-risk patients
as follows: (1) stage I endometrioid, grade 3, ?50% myometrial invasion; (2) stage II disease; (3)
stage III endometrioid, no residual disease; and (4) non-endometrioid histology. The optimal adjuvant
treatment is controversial; however, multimodality treatment is recommended. External radiotherapy
seems to be reasonable in HREC and is indicated to improve pelvic relapses. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy
is also reasonable for preventing or delaying distant metastases. There is limited evidence
for the benefit of vaginal cuff brachytherapy after external radiotherapy. Optimal sequence of radiation
and chemotherapy is not well defined; however, concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy,
"sandwich" approach, and providing radiotherapy after the completion of chemotherapy may
be reasonable. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy with systemic therapy for treating HREC remains an
area of active investigation. Adjuvant treatment of HREC is evolving, and patients should be individually
treated with respect to the stage, histology, and prognostic factors.
Keywords :
Chemotherapy; endometrial cancer; high risk; radiotherapy