Completion of radical hysterectomy does not improve survival of patients with cervical cancer and intraoperatively detected lymph node involvement: ABRAX international retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The management of cervical cancer patients with intraoperative detection of lymph node involvement remains controversial. Since all these patients are referred for (chemo)radiation after the surgery, the key decision is whether radical hysterectomy should be completed as originally planned, taking into account an additional morbidity associated with extensive surgical dissection prior to adjuvant treatment. The ABRAX study investigated whether completing a radical uterine procedure is associated with an improved oncological outcome of such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed retrospective analyses of 515 cervical cancer patients (51 institutions, 19 countries) who were referred for primary curative surgery between 2005 and 2015 (stage IA-IIB, common tumour types) in whom lymph node involvement was detected intraoperatively. Patients were stratified according to whether the planned uterine surgery was completed (COMPL group, N = 361) or abandoned (ABAND group, N = 154) to compare progression-free survival. Definitive chemoradiation was given to 92.9% patients in the ABAND group and adjuvant (chemo)radiation or chemotherapy to 91.4% of patients in the COMPL group. RESULTS: The risks of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.154, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.799-1.666, P = 0.45), pelvic recurrence (HR 0.836, 95% CI 0.458-1.523, P = 0.56), or death (HR 1.064, 95% CI 0.690-1.641, P = 0.78) were not significantly different between the two groups. No subgroup showed a survival benefit from completing radical hysterectomy. Disease-free survival reached 74% (381/515), with a median follow-up of 58 months. Prognostic factors were balanced between the two groups. FIGO stage and number of pelvic lymph nodes involved were significant prognostic factors in the whole study cohort. CONCLUSION: We showed that the completion of radical hysterectomy does not improve survival in patients with intraoperatively detected lymph node involvement, regardless of tumour size or histological type. If lymph node involvement is confirmed intraoperatively, abandoning uterine radical procedure should be considered, and the patient should be referred for definitive chemoradiation. CLINICAL TRIALS IDENTIFIER: NCT04037124.

Deterioration of nutritional status of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer during treatment with concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, 80% women with cervical cancer are diagnosed at locally advanced stages and are treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The treatment modality and catabolic state confer a nutritional risk. The present study aimed to thoroughly evaluate the nutritional status and change in body composition of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients throughout treatment. METHODS: An observational prospective study, carried out at the Mexican National Cancer Institute, included 55 LACC patients. Nutritional status was evaluated before, during and after treatment, using anthropometric, dietary and biochemical measurements. Body composition was analysed using computed tomography images obtained at the time of diagnosis and approximately 4 months after treatment completion. Clinical outcomes were associated with changes in body composition. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, no patients were clinically malnourished, although 33.3% presented sarcopenia and most were overweight; by the end of treatment, 69% became clinically malnourished and 58% were sarcopenic. Average weight loss was 7.4 kg (P = 0.001). Adequacy of energy intake was reduced to 54%, obtained predominantly from carbohydrates. By the week 9, 62.8% patients became anemic and 34.5% had low albumin levels. Body composition analysis revealed that patients lost both, muscle and adipose tissues, although 27% patients were muscle depleted by the end of treatment. Patients who lost ≥10% skeletal muscle presented a higher tumour recurrence (hazard ratio = 2.957, P = 0.006) and a tendency towards diminished overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.572, not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional status of cervical cancer patients deteriorates during treatment with concomitant chemoradiotherapy and, most importantly, muscle loss impacts the clinical outcome of patients.

Reconstrucción vulvoperineal en cáncer vulvar / Vulvoperineal reconstruction in vulvar cancer

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Los estadios clínicos avanzados del cáncer vulvar representan un reto quirúrgico y un abordaje que requiere ser multidisciplinario, con cirugía plástica que provea márgenes quirúrgicos adecuados, con menor tasa de complicaciones, cierre primario de la herida e inicio temprano de la terapia oncológica coadyuvante. OBJETIVOS: Describir y exponer las alternativas de reconstrucción vulvoperineal para pacientes con cáncer vulvar, atendidas en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de México. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Análisis descriptivo y retrospectivo de casos de pacientes a quienes se hizo reconstrucción vulvoperineal en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, entre enero y diciembre de 2015, por el mismo cirujano plástico. Se muestra el algoritmo basado en su experiencia. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 11 casos de pacientes operadas con diferentes técnicas de reconstrucción vulvoperineal, por defectos quirúrgicos del cáncer vulvar y se expuso el algoritmo utilizado y la experiencia del cirujano. CONCLUSIONES: Se revisaron las diferentes alternativas de reconstrucción para subsanar defectos quirúrgicos en pacientes con cáncer vulvar. Los algoritmos de tratamiento quirúrgico previamente publicados son confusos y complejos, quizá por la baja incidencia del cáncer vulvar y las diversas opciones de procedimientos de reconstrucción.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Vulvar cancer is a relatively infrequent disease, that constitutes 1-5% of all gynecological cancers. Surgery is the mainstay treatment is adequate resection, and lymph node evaluation, often have a high risk of relapse that may reach 65%. ADVANCED: Stages are a surgical challenge and multidisciplinary ap proach with plastic surgery will provide adequate surgical margins, less complications, adequate wound closure, and early adjuvant treat ment starting; as well as excellent cosmetic results, with functional, psychological and sexual morbidity decreased. OBJECTIVES: To describe and present the alternatives of vulvoperineal reconstruction in vulvar cancer at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive analysis of eleven cases of vulvoperineal reconstruction in vulvar cancer was performed from January 2015 to December 2015, at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico; for one plastic surgeon; and demonstrated the algorithm base don their experience. RESULTS: We performed 11 patients of vulvar reconstruction with different reconstructive techniques, such as gracilis flapping, pudend, with a high success rate. as well as, to propose an algorithm based in our experience with vulvar cancer reconstruction at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico. CONCLUSION: The present article aims to review the reconstructive alternatives in Vulvar Cancer, several algorithms for surgical treatment have been published before; but they tend to be complex, in part be cause of the low incidence of Vulvar Cancer and the several options of reconstructive procedures.