Tumoral programmed cell death 1 (PD1) expression in endometrial carcinoma is a prognostic marker for patient outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently demonstrated benefit in patients with advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinoma. This retrospective study investigated immune checkpoint molecules in endometrial carcinoma as they pertain to the molecular subtypes, clinical outcomes, and predictive value. METHODS: Tumoral RNA expression of genes controlling the immune checkpoint, programmed cell death 1 (PD1, encoded by PDCD1), its ligand (PDL1, encoded by CD274), and interferon gamma (IFNG) was determined in 239 endometrial carcinoma tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and compared with endometrial tissue from 25 controls. A total of 81 endometrial carcinoma tissues were analyzed using the ProMiSe molecular classification, and patient trajectories were analyzed for the entire cohort. Findings were validated in an independent cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n=548). RESULTS: PD1, PDL1, and IFNG expression was significantly higher in endometrial carcinoma when compared with non-malignant control tissue with a mean expression of 0.12, 0.05, and 0.05 in control tissue and 0.44, 0.31, and 0.35 in endometrial carcinoma, respectively. POLE-mutated and mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd) (immunologically hot) tumors showed the highest expression of PD1 and IFNG. Increased expression of PD1, PDL1, and IFNG was associated with improved recurrence-free (HR 0.32, p<0.001; HR 0.30, p<0.001; HR 0.47, p=0.012, respectively), disease-specific (HR 0.38, p<0.001; HR 0.29, p<0.001; HR 0.45, p=0.017, respectively), and overall survival (HR 0.56, p=0.003; HR 0.38, p<0.001; HR 0.58, p=0.006, respectively). Cox regression confirmed the prognostic significance of PD1 for recurrence-free survival (HR 0.39, p=0.009) and PDL1 for overall survival (HR 0.55, p=0.037). The prognostic value of tumoral PD1 on recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival was confirmed in the TCGA cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Tumoral gene expression controlling the PD1 immune checkpoint, particularly expressed in "hot tumors", predicted recurrence-free, disease-specific, and overall survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma in two independent cohorts. Evaluation of these genes could be used to stratify patients who qualify for immune checkpoint inhibitors, which warrants prospective clinical trials.

Oncological outcomes after laparotomic, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted laparoscopic staging for early high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To compare oncological outcomes in patients with early-stage high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer undergoing surgical staging by laparotomy, conventional laparoscopy, or robot-assisted laparoscopy. METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 with stage I-II (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009), high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer who underwent staging surgery, were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Five-year disease-free survival and overall survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between groups were evaluated using log-rank testing. Additionally, survival analyses were stratified by histological subtype. The effect of surgical modality on risk of recurrence and all-cause death was assessed by performing Cox regression analysis with inverse probability treatment weighting. RESULTS: In total 941 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 399 (42.4%) underwent staging surgery by laparotomy, 273 (29.0%) by laparoscopy, and 269 (28.6%) by robot-assisted laparoscopy. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the three groups. No difference in disease-free survival (75.0% vs 71.2% vs 79.0% p=0.35) or overall survival (72.7% vs 72.3% vs 71.2% p=0.98) was observed between patients after laparotomy, laparoscopy, or robot-assisted laparoscopy, respectively. Subanalyses based on histological subtype showed comparable disease-free survival and overall survival between surgical approaches. After correcting for possible confounders by means of inverse probability treatment weighting, there was no significantly increased risk of recurrence or risk of all-cause death after laparoscopy or robot-assisted laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic staging surgery in women with early-stage high-intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer are safe alternatives to laparotomic staging surgery.

Best original research presented at the 25th European Congress on Gynaecological Oncology: best of ESGO 2024.

The 'Best of ESGO 2024' article includes a selection of the most highly rated original research presented during the 25th Annual Congress of the European Society of Gynaecologic Oncology (ESGO), held in Barcelona, Spain, March 7-10, 2024. Of 1218 asbtracts submitted, 35 studies presented during the best oral sessions, mini oral sessions, best three minute presentations session, and young investigator session were selected by the ESGO abstract committee and the authors of the European Network of Young Gynae Oncologists (ENYGO). There was a strong focus on the surgical treatment of early stage cervical cancer and the management of advanced or recurrent gynecological cancers using induction therapy, immunotherapy, and maintenance therapy. With this work, ENYGO and ESGO aim to focus the attention of clinicians, scientists, patients, and all stakeholders interested in gynecologic oncology on research advances in the field.

Identification of novel biomarkers and potential molecular targets for uterine cancer using network-based approach.

A better understanding of incidences at the cellular level in uterine cancer is necessary for its effective treatment and favourable prognosis. Till date, it lacks appropriate molecular target-based treatment because of unknown molecular mechanisms that proceed to cancer and no drug has shown the required results of treatment with less severe side effects. Uterine Cancer is one of the top five cancer diagnoses and among the ten most common death-causing cancer in the United States of America. There is no FDA-approved drug for it yet. Therefore, it became necessary to identify the molecular targets for molecular targeted therapy of this widely prevalent cancer type. For this study, we used a network-based approach to the list of the deregulated (both up and down-regulated) genes taking adjacent p-Value ≤ 0.05 as significance cut off for the mRNA data of uterine cancer. We constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and analyzed the degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality-like topological properties of the PPI network. Then we traced the top 30 genes listed from each topological property to find the key regulators involved in the endometrial cancer (ECa) network. We then detected the communities and sub-communities from the PPI network using the Cytoscape network analyzer and Louvain modularity optimization method. A set of 26 (TOP2A, CENPE, RAD51, BUB1, BUB1B, KIF2C, KIF23, KIF11, KIF20A, ASPM, AURKA, AURKB, PLK1, CDC20, CDKN2A, EZH2, CCNA2, CCNB1, CDK1, FGF2, PRKCA, PGR, CAMK2A, HPGDS, and CDCA8) genes were found to be key genes of ECa regulatory network altered in disease state and might be playing the regulatory role in complex ECa network. Our study suggests that among these genes, KIF11 and H PGDS appeared to be novel key genes identified in our research. We also identified these key genes interactions with miRNAs.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (VNOTES) retroperitoneal sentinel lymph node BIOPSY compared with conventional laparoscopy in patients with endometrial cancer.

INTRODUCTION: To explore the possibility of treatment with VNOTES sentinel lymph node dissection concept in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent VNOTES sentinel lymph node biopsy with the Comba modification were compared to patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy performed by the same surgical team. A total of 38 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy + total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) were compared with 19 patients who underwent VNOTES retroperitoneal sentinel lymph node biopsy + hysterectomy and BSO. Surgical steps were described. RESULTS: The average operation time, perioperative blood loss, the number of sentinel lymph nodes, presence of complications, and preoperative-postoperative hemoglobin-hematocrit differences, tumor stages, grades, largest tumor diameter, depths of invasion, and histological subtypes were similar in both the VNOTES and conventional laparoscopy groups. The postoperative pain scores were lower and the hospital stay was shorter in the VNOTES group than in the conventional laparoscopy group. No disease recurrence had been detected in either group at the time of writing. CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional laparoscopy, sentinel lymph node biopsy with the VNOTES technique provides similar surgical results and is more advantageous in terms of postoperative pain and hospital length of stay.

Real-world use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe real-world use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. METHODS: Adult women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer who received at least one line of systemic treatment between January 1, 2014 and November 1, 2020, then followed to May 31, 2021 in a nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database. Chi-Squared test or Welch's 2-sample t-tests were used to compare patient and clinical factors associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Time to next treatment analyses were performed based on the treatment line of the immune checkpoint inhibitor. Sankey plots depicted patient-level temporal systemic treatment. RESULTS: During our study period, 326 women received their first immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, increasing from 12 patients in 2016 to 148 in 2020. Factors associated with ever receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors included disease stage (p=0.002), mismatch repair (MMR)/microsatellite instability (MSI) status (p<0.001), performance status (p=0.001), and prior radiation receipt (p<0.001) and modality (p=0.003). The most common immune checkpoint inhibitor regimen was pembrolizumab (47.9%) followed by pembrolizumab and lenvatinib (34.7%). Immune checkpoint inhibitors were given as first, second, and third or greater lines of therapy in 24.5%, 41.7%, and 46.1% of evaluable patients. The median time to next treatment was significantly longer if given as an earlier line of treatment (p=0.008). There were significant differences in treatment line of immune checkpoint inhibitor by region (p=0.004), stage (p<0.001), and prior radiation receipt (p=0.014) and modality (p=0.009). Among 326 patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors, 114 (34.9%) received subsequent treatment including chemotherapy (43.9%), additional immune checkpoint inhibitors (29.8%), and other (26.3%) with no differences in demographic or clinical characteristics based on the type of post-immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION: In an observational retrospective real-world database study, immune checkpoint inhibitors were used in 14.7% of patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer across multiple lines of treatment, including after initial immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

Uterine Cancer Incidence Trends and Five-Year Relative Survival by Race/Ethnicity and Histology Among Women Under 50 Years.

BACKGROUND: Uterine cancers diagnosed before age 50 years are increasing in the U.S., but changes in clinical characteristics and survival over time across racial/ethnic groups have not been previously described. OBJECTIVES: To investigate age-adjusted, hysterectomy corrected incidence rates and trends, and five-year relative survival rates of uterine cancer in women aged <50 years, overall and stratified by race/ethnicity and histology. STUDY DESIGN: We included microscopically confirmed uterine cancer cases (diagnosed 2000-2019) in women aged 20-49 years from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER 22). Age-adjusted incidence and 5-year relative survival rates, and 95% confidence intervals were computed using SEER*Stat and compared across time periods (2000-2009 and 2010-2019). Incidence rates were adjusted for hysterectomy prevalence using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, and trends were computed using the Joinpoint regression program. RESULTS: We included 57,128 uterine cancer cases. The incidence of uterine cancer increased from 10.1 per 100,000 in 2000-2009 to 12.0 per 100,000 in 2010-2019, increasing at an annual rate of 1.7%/year for the entire period. Rising trends were more pronounced among women <40 years (3.0%/year and 3.3%/year in 20-29 and 30-39 years, respectively) than in those 40-49 years (1.3%/year), and among underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic 2.8%/year, Non-Hispanic, [NH]-Black 2.7%, NH-Asian/Pacific Islander [PI] 2.1%) than in NH-White (0.9%/ year). Recent (2010-2019) incidence rates were highest for endometrioid (9.6 per 100,000), followed by sarcomas (1.2), and non-endometrioid subtypes (0.9). Rates increased significantly for endometrioid subtypes at 1.9%/year from 2000-2019. Recent endometrioid and non-endometrioid rates were highest in NH-Native American/Alaska Native [NA/AN] (15.2 and 1.4 per 100,000), followed by Hispanic (10.9 and 1.0), NH-Asian/PI (10.2 and 0.9), NH-White (9.4 and 0.8), and lowest in NH-Black women (6.4 and 0.8). Sarcoma rates were highest in NH-Black women (1.8 per 100,000). The five-year relative survival remained unchanged over time for women with endometrioid (from 93.4% in 2000-2009 to 93.9% in 2010-2019, p≥0.05) and non-endometrioid subtypes (from 73.2% to 73.2%, p≥0.05) but decreased for women with sarcoma from 69.8% (2000-2009) to 66.4% (2010-2019, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine cancer incidence rates in women <50 years have increased from 2000 to 2019 while survival has remained relatively unchanged. Incidence trends can be primarily attributed to increasing rates of cancers with endometrioid histology, with the greatest increases observed among NH-Black, Hispanic, and NH-Asian/PI. Sarcomas, while much rarer, were the second most common type of uterine cancer among women <50 years and have poor prognosis and apparent decreasing survival over time. Rising rates of uterine cancer and the distinct epidemiologic patterns among women <50 years highlight the need for effective prevention and early detection strategies for uterine cancer in this age group.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations for patients with advanced endometrial cancer: a network meta-analysis and cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations show significant survival advantages compared with chemotherapy for patients with advanced endometrial cancer. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of different immunotherapy combinations for clinician and patient decision-making. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science Databases were reviewed from January 1, 2010 to October 30, 2023, for phase III randomized controlled trials of first-line immunotherapy combinations in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) of overall survival and progression-free survival, relative risks (RRs) of adverse events, and corresponding p value. The lifetime Markov model of cost-effectiveness analysis was developed to summarize the cost, life-years, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios at the US$150 000/QALY of willingness-to-pay of six first-line treatment strategies. RESULTS: Four trials were identified, involving 2577 patients. Dostarlimab plus chemotherapy or durvalumab plus chemotherapy with olaparib was associated with more survival benefits than other immunotherapy regimens and chemotherapy in the mismatch repair-deficient microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) and mismatch repair-proficient microsatellite-stable (pMMR/MSS) population, respectively. Further, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy increased efficacy (cost) by 3.76 QALYs and US$540 817, which yielded incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of US$143 894/QALY in the dMMR/MSI-H population. CONCLUSION: First-line durvalumab plus chemotherapy with olaparib, and dostarlimab plus chemotherapy, were more beneficial for survival in the pMMR/MSS and dMMR/MSI-H populations, respectively. Only pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy was cost-effective for patients with dMMR/MSI-H endometrial cancer in the USA.

Bone Marrow Sparing by Intensity Modulated Proton Beam Therapy in Postoperative Irradiation of Gynecologic Malignancies.

Purpose: The aim of this matched-pair cohort study was to evaluate the potential of intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for sparring of the pelvic bone marrow and thus reduction of hematotoxicity compared to intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT) in the setting of postoperative irradiation of gynaecological malignancies. Secondary endpoint was the assessment of predictive parameters for the occurrence of sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF) when applying IMPT. Materials and Methods: Two cohorts were analyzed consisting of 25 patients each. Patients were treated with IMPT compared with IMRT and had uterine cervical (n = 8) or endometrial cancer (n = 17). Dose prescription, patient age, and diagnosis were matched. Dosimetric parameters delivered to the whole pelvic skeleton and subsites (ilium, lumbosacral, sacral, and lower pelvis) and hematological toxicity were evaluated. MRI follow-up for evaluation of SIF was only available for the IMPT group. Results: In the IMPT group, integral dose to the pelvic skeleton was significantly lower (23.4GyRBE vs 34.3Gy; p < 0.001), the average V5Gy, V10Gy, and V20Gy were reduced by 40%, 41%, and 28%, respectively, compared to the IMRT group (p < 0.001). In particular, for subsites ilium and lower pelvis, the low dose volume was significantly lower. Hematotoxicity was significantly more common in the IMRT group (80% vs 32%; p = 0009), especially hematotoxicity ≥ CTCAE II (36% vs 8%; p = 0.037). No patient in the IMPT group experienced hematotoxicity > CTCAE II. In the IMPT cohort, 32% of patients experienced SIF. Overall SIF occurred more frequently with a total dose of 50.4 GyRBE (37.5%) compared to 45 GyRBE (22%). No significant predictive dose parameters regarding SIF could be detected aside from a trend regarding V50Gy to the lumbosacral subsite. Conclusion: Low-dose exposure to the pelvic skeleton and thus hematotoxicity can be significantly reduced by using IMPT compared to a matched photon cohort. Sacral insufficiency fracture rates appear similar to reported rates for IMRT in the literature.

Management of endometrial cancer in Latin America: raising the standard of care and optimizing outcomes.

Molecular characterization of endometrial cancer is allowing for increased understanding of the natural history of tumors and paving a more solid pathway for novel therapies. It is becoming increasingly apparent that molecular classification is superior to histological classification in terms of reproducibility and prognostic discrimination. In particular, the Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer allows classification of endometrial cancer into groups very close to those determined by the Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network-that is, DNA polymerase epsilon-mutated, mismatch repair-deficient, p53 abnormal, and non-specific molecular profile tumors. The transition from the chemotherapy era to the age of targeted agents and immunotherapy, which started later in endometrial cancer than in many other tumor types, requires widespread availability of specialized pathology and access to novel agents. Likewise, surgical expertise and state-of-the-art radiotherapy modalities are required to ensure adequate care. Nevertheless, Latin American countries still face considerable barriers to implementation of international guidelines. As we witness the dawn of precision medicine as applied to endometrial cancer, we must make continued efforts towards improving the quality of care in this region. The current article discusses some of these challenges and possible solutions.

Peritumoral stroma and systemic inflammatory response in cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare cervical stroma in advanced cervical cancer with the control group; to compare, in the pre-treatment period, hemogram parameters in patients with advanced cervical cancer with the same parameters as the control group; and to verify if there is an association of stromal markers with prognostic factors in cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 16 patients diagnosed with advanced invasive cervical cancer. A control group of 22 patients was used (uterine leiomyoma). Immunohistochemistry was performed to verify the stromal immunostaining of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP). Immunostainings and hemogram parameters were compared using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney Test, respectively. RESULTS: Strong FAP immunostaining was more frequent in patients with cervical cancer when compared with patients with leiomyoma (P = 0.0002). Regarding SMA, strong immunostaining was also found more in the group of cancer patients compared to the control group (P < 0.00001). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were higher in the cancer patient group compared to the control group (P = 0.0019). There was no association of the parameters studied with prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Strong FAP and SMA immunostaining was found more in patients with cervical cancer when compared to the control group. NLR values were also higher in cervical cancer.

Current Treatment Options: Uterine Sarcoma.

OPINION STATEMENT: The cornerstone of treatment for uterine sarcoma, regardless of histologic type, remains en bloc surgical resection with total hysterectomy. In the case of incidental diagnosis during another procedure, such as myomectomy, where a hysterectomy was not performed initially, completion hysterectomy or cervical remnant removal is recommended. The completion of additional surgical procedures, including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymphadenectomy, remains nuanced. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy remains controversial in the setting of most subtypes of uterine sarcoma, except in the case of hormone-receptor positivity, such as in low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, where it is indicated as part of definitive surgical treatment. In the absence of apparent nodal involvement, we do not recommend performing universal lymphadenectomy for patients with sarcoma. We recommend systemic therapy for patients with extra-uterine or advanced stage disease, high-grade histology, and recurrence. The most active chemotherapy regimens for advanced, high-grade disease remain doxorubicin or gemcitabine and docetaxol combination therapy. A notable exception is low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, where we recommend anti-hormonal therapy in the front-line setting. Radiation therapy is reserved for selected cases where it can aid in palliating symptoms.

Trends in uterine cancer incidence in the United States: The contribution of age, period and cohort effects.

OBJECTIVE: In the U.S., uterine cancer incidence is rising, with racial and ethnic minorities experiencing the largest increases. We performed age-period-cohort analyses using novel methods to examine the contribution of age at diagnosis (age), year of diagnosis (period), and birth cohort (cohort), to trends in uterine cancer incidence. METHODS: We used uterine cancer incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) 12 database (1992-2019), and performed hysterectomy-correction. We generated hexamaps to visualize age, period, and cohort effects, and used mutual information to estimate the percent contribution of age, period, and cohort effects, individually and combined, on uterine cancer incidence, overall and by race and ethnicity and histology. RESULTS: Hexamaps showed an increase in uterine cancer in later time periods, and a cohort effect around 1933 showing a lower incidence compared with earlier and later cohorts. Age, period, and cohort effects combined contributed 86.6% (95% CI: 86.4%, 86.9%) to the incidence. Age effects had the greatest contribution (65.1%, 95% CI: 64.3%, 65.9), followed by cohort (20.7%, 95% CI: 20.1%, 21.3%) and period (14.2%, 95% CI: 13.7%, 14.8%) effects. Hexamaps showed higher incidence in recent years for non-Hispanic Blacks and non-endometrioid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Age effects had the largest contribution to uterine cancer incidence, followed by cohort and period effects overall and across racial and ethnic groups and histologies. IMPACT: These findings can inform uterine cancer modeling studies on the effects of interventions that target risk factors which may vary across age, period, or cohort.

Changing trends in the disease burden of uterine cancer globally from 1990 to 2019 and its predicted level in 25 years.

Background: We aim to evaluate the global, regional, and national burden of Uterine Cancer (UC) from 1990 to 2019. Methods: We gathered UC data across 204 countries and regions for the period 1990-2019, utilizing the Global Burden of Disease Database (GBD) 2019 public dataset. Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to pinpoint the year of the most significant changes in global trends. To project the UC trajectory from 2020 to 2044, we applied the Nordpred analysis, extrapolating based on the average trend observed in the data. Furthermore, the Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) model with integrated nested Laplace approximations was implemented to confirm the stability of the Nordpred analysis predictions. Results: Globally, the age-standardized rate (ASR) of incidence for UC has increased from 1990 to 2019 with an Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) of 0.50%. The ASR for death has declined within the same period (AAPC: -0.8%). An increase in the ASR of incidence was observed across all Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, particularly in High SDI regions (AAPC: 1.12%), while the ASR for death decreased in all but the Low SDI regions. Over the past 30 years, the highest incidence rate was observed in individuals aged 55-59 (AAPC: 0.76%). Among 204 countries and regions, there was an increase in the ASR of incidence in 165 countries and an increase in the ASR of deaths in 77 countries. Our projections suggest that both the incidence and death rates for UC are likely to continue their decline from 2020 to 2044. Conclusions: UC has significantly impacted global health negatively, with its influence stemming from a range of factors including geographical location, age-related and racial disparities, and SDI.

Integrated histological parameters define prognostically relevant groups in atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of endometrial carcinoma following a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia by endometrial biopsy, stratified based on integrated histological parameters. METHODS: All women with atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia undergoing hysterectomy within 1 year of diagnosis without progestin treatment were included. Patients were subdivided into three study groups, based on two criteria: (a) grade of nuclear atypia and (b) foci (<2 mm) of confluent glands with no intervening stroma: low-grade, high-grade, and confluent glands. The rate of endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy was assessed in each study group, and differences between study groups were assessed using Fisher's exact test, with a significant p value <0.05. Reproducibility was assessed by using Cohen's κ. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included. Overall, 36 of 96 patients (37.5%) had endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy. The number of endometrial carcinomas was 4 of 42 (9.5%) in the low-grade group, 14 of 28 (50.0%) in the high-grade group, and 18 of 26 (69.2%) in the confluent glands group. The rate of endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher in the high-grade group than in the low-grade group (p<0.001), whereas it did not significantly differ between the high-grade group and the confluent glands group (p=0.176). The reproducibility among pathologists was moderate for low-grade versus high-grade (κ=0.58) and substantial for confluent glands versus low-grade (κ=0.63) and high-grade (κ=0.63). CONCLUSION: Atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia can be stratified into prognostically relevant groups based on integrated histological parameters, with a possible major impact on patient management.

Range of Resection in Endometrial Cancer-Clinical Issues of Made-to-Measure Surgery.

Endometrial cancer (EC) poses a significant health issue among women, and its incidence has been rising for a couple of decades. Surgery remains its principal treatment method and may have a curative, staging, or palliative aim. The type and extent of surgery depends on many factors, and the risks and benefits should be carefully weighed. While simple hysterectomy might be sufficient in early stage EC, modified-radical hysterectomy is sometimes indicated. In advanced disease, the evidence suggests that, similarly to ovarian cancer, optimal cytoreduction improves survival rate. The role of lymphadenectomy in EC patients has long been a controversial issue. The rationale for systematic lymphadenectomy and the procedure of the sentinel lymph node biopsy are thoroughly discussed. Finally, the impact of the molecular classification and new International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system on EC treatment is outlined. Due to the increasing knowledge on the pathology and molecular features of EC, as well as the new advances in the adjuvant therapies, the surgical management of EC has become more complex. In the modern approach, it is essential to adjust the extent of the surgery to a specific patient, ensuring an optimal, made-to-measure personalized surgery. This narrative review focuses on the intricacies of surgical management of EC and aims at summarizing the available literature on the subject, providing an up-to-date clinical guide.

Tailoring postoperative management through sentinel lymph node biopsy in low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer - the SENTRY clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: While total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymph node staging are standard for low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer, certain histopathologic factors revealed after surgery can necessitate additional interventions. Our study assessed the influence of sentinel lymph node biopsy on postoperative decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the SENTRY trial (July 2021 - February 2023), we enrolled patients with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA-IB low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer. Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping using indocyanine green was performed alongside total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Subsequent management changes based on sentinel lymph node biopsy results were evaluated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04972682). RESULTS: Of the 100 enrolled participants, a bilateral detection rate of 91% was observed with a median detection time of 10 min (interquartile range 8-13 min). Sentinel lymph node metastases were found in 8% (N = 8) of participants. Postoperative FIGO staging increased in 15% (N = 15) and decreased in 5% (N = 5) of patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy results altered the adjuvant treatment plan for 20% (N = 20): external beam radiotherapy was omitted in 12% (N = 12) while 6% (N = 6) had external beam radiotherapy +/- systemic chemotherapy added due to sentinel lymph node metastases. In 2% (N = 2), the external beam radiotherapy field was expanded with the paraaortic region. No intraoperative complications were reported and no 30-day major morbidity and mortality occurred. Throughout a median follow-up of 14 (95% CI 12-15 months, neither patient-reported lymphedema nor pelvic recurrence surfaced in the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy using indocyanine green is a safe procedure and allows tailoring adjuvant therapy in presumed low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer. It assists in avoiding external beam radiotherapy overtreatment and introducing additional modalities when necessary.

Predictive value of SUVmax from initial 18F-FDG PET/CT scans for treatment outcomes in endometrial cancer patients undergoing fertility sparing management.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) from initial 18F-FDG PET/CT (fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography) scans could be a predictor of complete response and recurrence in patients with endometrial cancer who are undergoing fertility sparing management. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer through biopsy and chose to undergo fertility sparing management using progestin at the Asan Medical Center, from January 2011 to December 2020. Of these, 113 patients who had an 18-FDG-PET/CT scan before starting treatment were included in our study. We measured SUVmax and examined its correlation with complete response and time to progression after achieving complete response to progestin therapy. RESULTS: Of 113 patients, 73 (64.6%) achieved a complete response through fertility sparing management. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value of SUVmax for predicting complete response was 6.2 (sensitivity 79.5%, specificity 57.5%, p=0.006). After analyzing recurrence in the 73 patients who achieved complete response, we found that patients with an SUVmax value >6.2 had a significantly shorter time to progression compared with those with a value <6.2. (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: SUVmax values of PET-CT, along with other clinicopathological parameters, could be used to predict treatment response and recurrence risk in patients with stage I endometrial cancer undergoing fertility sparing management.

Assessment of secular trends of three major gynecologic cancers burden and attributable risk factors from 1990 to 2019: an age period cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the long-term trends in the burden of three major gynecologic cancers(GCs) stratified by social-demographic status across the world from 1990 to 2019. To assess the trends of risk factor attributed mortality, and to examine the specific effects of age, period, cohort behind them in different regions. METHODS: We extracted data on the mortality, disability-adjusted life years(DALYs), and age-standardized rates(ASRs) of cervical cancer(CC), uterine cancer(UC), and ovarian cancer(OC) related to risks from 1990 to 2019, as GCs burden measures. Age-period-cohort analysis was used to analyze trends in attributable mortality rates. RESULTS: The number of deaths and DALYs for CC, UC and OC increased since 1990 worldwide, while the ASDRs decreased. Regionally, the ASDR of CC was the highest in low SDI region at 15.05(11.92, 18.46) per 100,000 in 2019, while the ASDRs of UC and OC were highest in high SDI region at 2.52(2.32,2.64), and 5.67(5.16,6.09). The risk of CC death caused by unsafe sex increased with age and then gradually stabilized, with regional differences. The period effect of CC death attributed to smoking showed a downward trend. The cohort effect of UC death attributed to high BMI decreased in each region, especially in the early period in middle, low-middle and low SDI areas. CONCLUSIONS: Global secular trends of attributed mortality for the three GCs and their age, period, and cohort effects may reflect the diagnosis and treatment progress, rapid socioeconomic transitions, concomitant changes in lifestyle and behavioral patterns in different developing regions. Prevention and controllable measures should be carried out according to the epidemic status in different countries, raising awareness of risk factors to reduce future burden.