Abnormal preoperative haematological parameters in Endometrial cancer; reflecting tumour aggressiveness or reduced response to radiotherapy?

BACKGROUND: In endometrial cancer (EC), preoperative anaemia, thrombocytosis and leucocytosis appear to be associated with worse prognosis. It remains unclear whether these parameters solely reflect tumour aggressiveness, or also impact response to adjuvant treatment. Therefore, our primary aim is to evaluate the prognostic relevance of anaemia, thrombocytosis and leucocytosis on survival in EC. Secondary, to explore their predictive relevance in response to radiotherapy in EC. METHODS: A retrospective multicentre cohort study was performed within 10 hospitals. Preoperative haematological parameters were defined as: Anaemia - haemoglobin <7.45 mmol/L (<12 g/Dl), thrombocytosis - platelets >400 × 109 platelets/L, leucocytosis - leukocytes >10 × 109/L. The relationship of haematological parameters with clinicopathological characteristics, ESGO/ESTRO/ESP risk groups and survival were evaluated. Furthermore, the predictive value of haematological parameters was determined on the overall response to adjuvant radiotherapy and for the ESGO/ESTRO/ESP intermediate-risk group solely receiving radiotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 894 patients were included with a median follow-up of 4.5 years. Anaemia was present in 103 (11.5%), thrombocytosis in 79 (8.8%) and leucocytosis in 114 (12.7%) patients. The presence of anaemia or thrombocytosis was significantly associated with ESGO/ESTRO/ESP high-risk (respectively, P = 0.002 and P = 0.041). In the entire cohort, anaemia remained independently associated with decreased disease-specific survival (HR 2.31, 95% CI (1.19-4.50), P = 0.013) after adjusting for age, the abnormal haematological parameters and ESGO/ESTRO/ESP risk groups. In patients that were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 239), anaemia was associated with significant reduced 5-year disease-specific and recurrence-free survival (P = 0.005 and P = 0.025, respectively). In ESGO/ESTRO/ESP intermediate risk patients that received solely vaginal brachytherapy (n = 74), anaemia was associated with reduced disease-specific survival (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Current data demonstrate the importance of preoperative anaemia as independent prognostic factor in patients with EC. Moreover, anaemia seems to be associated with reduced response to radiotherapy. Prospective validation in a larger study cohort is needed to verify anaemia as predictive biomarker for radiotherapy.What is already known on this subject? In endometrial cancer, preoperative abnormal haematological parameters like, anaemia, thrombocytosis and leucocytosis appears to be associated with FIGO advanced-stage and unfavourable outcome.What do the results of this study add? It remains unclear whether anaemia, thrombocytosis or leucocytosis solely reflecting worse prognosis by advanced tumour stage, or also impact response to adjuvant treatment. Current data demonstrate that anaemia is independent associated with decreased disease-specific survival and anaemia seems related with reduced response to radiotherapy and in specific to vaginal brachytherapy in ESGO/ESTRO/ESP intermediate risk patients.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Specific applied adjuvant treatment is needed if patients with anaemia have a reduced response to radiotherapy in EC. Prospective validation in a larger study cohort is required to verify anaemia as predictive biomarker for radiotherapy and to further evaluate the prognostic/predictive impact of anaemia in addition to the molecular subgroups.

In this study we focused on three specific blood values before surgery to predict survival outcomes in endometrial cancer patients: low haemoglobin (anaemia), high platelet count (thrombocytosis) and high white blood cell count (leucocytosis). We studied 894 patients with endometrial cancer over about 4.5 years, in which 11.5% had anaemia, 8.8% thrombocytosis and 12.7% leucocytosis. Anaemia was linked to a lower chance of surviving endometrial cancer, even after we considering patients' age, thrombocytosis, leucocytosis and the endometrial cancer risk classification groups. In patients who received radiotherapy after surgery (293 patients), anaemia was linked to a lower change of surviving and cancer coming back within 5 years. In patients within the intermediate endometrial cancer risk classification group who only received specific radiotherapy (74 patients), anaemia was even linked with lower chance of survival. In conclusion, anaemia is an important factor in predicting endometrial cancer outcomes, and it might also make radiotherapy less effective for some patients.

Functional estrogen receptor signal transduction pathway activity and antihormonal therapy response in low-grade ovarian carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Advanced low-grade ovarian carcinoma (LGOC) is difficult to treat. In several studies, high estrogen receptor (ER) protein expression was observed in patients with LGOC, which suggests that antihormonal therapy (AHT) is a treatment option. However, only a subgroup of patients respond to AHT, and this response cannot be adequately predicted by currently used immunohistochemistry (IHC). A possible explanation is that IHC only takes the ligand, but not the activity, of the whole signal transduction pathway (STP) into account. Therefore, in this study, the authors assessed whether functional STP activity can be an alternative tool to predict response to AHT in LGOC. METHODS: Tumor tissue samples were obtained from patients with primary or recurrent LGOC who subsequently received AHT. Histoscores of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) were determined. In addition, STP activity of the ER STP and of six other STPs known to play a role in ovarian cancer was assessed and compared with the STP activity of healthy postmenopausal fallopian tube epithelium. RESULTS: Patients who had normal ER STP activity had a progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.1 months. This was significantly shorter in patients who had low and very high ER STP activity, with a median PFS of 6.0 and 2.1 months, respectively (p < .001). Unlike ER histoscores, PR histoscores were strongly correlated to the ER STP activity and thus to PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant low and very high functional ER STP activity and low PR histoscores in patients with LGOC indicate decreased response to AHT. ER IHC is not representative of functional ER STP activity and is not related to PFS.

Recurrent Cancer Is Associated With Dissatisfaction With Care-A Longitudinal Analysis Among Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal impact of a recurrence of gynecological cancer on satisfaction with information provision and care. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of a recurrence on illness perceptions, anxiety, and depression and health-related quality of life. METHODS: This study is a longitudinal analysis from the ROGY Care trial, conducted between 2011 and 2014, including patients with endometrial (n = 215) and ovarian (n = 149) cancer. Patients were invited to complete questionnaires directly after initial treatment and after 6, 12, and 24 months. Satisfaction with information provision and care, illness perceptions, anxiety, and depression were compared before and after the recurrence. Linear mixed-model analyses were conducted to assess the differences in outcomes of patients with a recurrence compared with patients without a recurrence. RESULTS: During 2-year follow-up, 25 patients with endometrial cancer (12%) and 64 patients with ovarian cancer (43%) had recurrent disease, of whom 9 endometrial and 26 ovarian cancer patients completed at least 1 questionnaire after their recurrence was determined. Patients reported lower satisfaction with care after the diagnosis of a recurrence (doctor interpersonal skills, exchange of information between caregivers, and general satisfaction with care) compared with patients without recurrence. In addition, patients reported lower health-related quality of life, more anxiety and depression, and more threatening illness perceptions after diagnosis of a recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: After diagnosis of recurrent disease, endometrial and ovarian cancer patients were less satisfied with care compared with patients without a recurrence. Our findings suggest that patients with recurrent cancer are in need of care that is better tailored to their needs.

Effects of Survivorship Care Plans on patient reported outcomes in ovarian cancer during 2-year follow-up - The ROGY care trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term impact of an automatically generated Survivorship Care Plan (SCP) on patient reported outcomes in ovarian cancer in routine clinical practice. Outcome measures included satisfaction with information provision and care, illness perceptions and health care utilization. METHODS: In this pragmatic cluster randomized trial, twelve hospitals in the South of the Netherlands were randomized to 'SCP care' or 'usual care'. All newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients in the 'SCP care' arm received an SCP that was automatically generated by the oncology provider, by clicking a button in the web-based Registrationsystem Oncological GYnecology (ROGY). Ovarian cancer patients (N=174, mean age 63.3, SD=11.4; all stages) completed questionnaires directly after initial treatment and after 6, 12 and 24months. RESULTS: First questionnaires were returned from 61 (67%) ovarian cancer patients in the 'SCP care' arm and 113 (72%) patients in the 'usual care' arm. In the 'SCP care' arm, 66% (N=41) of the patients reported receipt of an SCP. No overall differences were observed between the trial arms on satisfaction with information provision, satisfaction with care or health care utilization. Regarding illness perceptions, patients in the 'SCP care' arm had lower beliefs that the treatment would help to cure their disease (overall, 6.7 vs. 7.5, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SCPs did not increase satisfaction with information provision or care in ovarian cancer patients. Our trial results suggest that ovarian cancer patients may not benefit from an SCP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01185626.

Clinical Practice of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Early-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy improves survival in women with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Yet, there is a wide variety in clinical practice. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with FIGO I and IIa EOC (2006-2010) in the south of the Netherlands were analyzed. The percentage of patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy was determined as well as the comprehensiveness of staging and outcome. RESULTS: Forty percent (54/135) of the patients with early-stage EOC received adjuvant chemotherapy. Treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with FIGO stage, clear-cell histology and nonoptimal staging. Optimal staging was achieved in 50%, and nonoptimal staging was associated with advanced age, comorbidity and treatment in a non-referral hospital. Overall, there was no difference in outcome between patients with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. Yet, in grade 3 tumors, adjuvant chemotherapy seems beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Selective treatment of patients with early-stage EOC might reduce adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising outcome.

PIpelle Prospective ENDOmetrial carcinoma (PIPENDO) study, pre-operative recognition of high risk endometrial carcinoma: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynaecologic malignancy in industrialised countries and the incidence is still rising. Primary treatment is based on preoperative risk classification and consists in most cases of hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In patients with serous and clear cell histology a complete surgical staging is mandatory. However, in routine clinical practice final histology regularly does not correspond with the preoperative histological diagnosis. This results in both over and under treatment. METHODS/DESIGN: The aim of this multicentre, prospective cohort study is to select a panel of prognostic biomarkers to improve preoperative diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma in order to identify those patients that need extended surgery and/or additional treatment. Additionally, we will determine whether incorporation of cervical cytology and comorbidity could improve this preoperative risk classification. All patients treated for endometrial carcinoma in the participating hospitals from September 2011 till December 2013 are included. Patient characteristics, as well as comorbidity are registered. Patients without preoperative histology, history of hysterectomy and/or endometrial carcinoma or no surgical treatment including hysterectomy are excluded. The preoperative histology and final pathology will be reviewed and compared by expert pathologists. Additional immunohistochemical analysis of IMP3, p53, ER, PR, MLH1, PTEN, beta-catenin, p16, Ki-67, stathmin, ARID1A and L1CAM will be performed. Preoperative histology will be compared with the final pathology results. Follow-up will be at least 24 months to determine risk factors for recurrence and outcome. DISCUSSION: This study is designed to improve surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma patients. A total of 432 endometrial carcinoma patients were enrolled between 2011 and 2013. Follow-up will be completed in 2015. Preoperative histology will be evaluated systematically and background endometrium will be classified. This is the first study incorporating immunohistochemistry, cervical cytology and comorbidity to define the optimal panel of prognostic biomarkers that contribute in clinical decision making in the management of endometrial carcinoma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register number NTR3503.

Preoperative CA125 Significantly Improves Risk Stratification in High-Grade Endometrial Cancer.

Patients with high-grade endometrial carcinoma (EC) have an increased risk of tumor spread and lymph node metastasis (LNM). Preoperative imaging and CA125 can be used in work-up. As data on cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in high-grade EC are limited, we aimed to study primarily the predictive value of CA125, and secondarily the contributive value of computed tomography (CT) for advanced stage and LNM. Patients with high-grade EC (n = 333) and available preoperative CA125 were included retrospectively. The association of CA125 and CT findings with LNM was analyzed by logistic regression. Elevated CA125 ((>35 U/mL), (35.2% (68/193)) was significantly associated with stage III-IV disease (60.3% (41/68)) compared with normal CA125 (20.8% (26/125), [p < 0.001]), and with reduced disease-specific-(DSS) (p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). The overall accuracy of predicting LNM by CT resulted in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.623 (p < 0.001) independent of CA125. Stratification by CA125 resulted in an AUC of 0.484 (normal), and 0.660 (elevated). In multivariate analysis elevated CA125, non-endometrioid histology, pathological deep myometrial invasion ≥50%, and cervical involvement were significant predictors of LNM, whereas suspected LNM on CT was not. This shows that elevated CA125 is a relevant independent predictor of advanced stage and outcome specifically in high-grade EC.

Improving preoperative diagnosis in endometrial cancer using systematic morphological assessment and a small immunohistochemical panel.

Preoperative histopathological classification determines the primary surgical approach in endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients but has only moderate agreement between preoperative and postoperative diagnosis. The aim of the PIpelle Prospective ENDOmetrial carcinoma (PIPENDO) study is to determine whether histopathological assessment and a small panel of diagnostic biomarkers decreases discrepancies between preoperative and postoperative diagnosis in EC. Preoperative endometrial tissue of 378 included patients with EC was stained with 15 different antibodies. Clinically relevant discrepancies in grade or histological subtype between original preoperative and reviewed postoperative diagnosis were observed in 75 (20%) patients. Highest clinically relevant discrepancy was found in grade 2 ECs (20%), compared to 5% and 14% in respectively grade 1 and 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinomas (EECs). A practical two-biomarker panel with PR and p53 improved diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.92; 95%CI = 0.88-0.95) compared to solely morphological evaluation (AUC = 0.86). In preoperative high-grade EC, the diagnostic accuracy of histological subtype was improved by a three-immunohistochemical biomarker panel (PR, IMP3, and L1CAM) (AUC = 0.93; 95%CI = 0.88-0.98) compared to solely morphological evaluation (AUC = 0.81). In conclusion to improve correct preoperative diagnosis in EC, we recommend use of a panel of at least two easily accessible immunohistochemical biomarkers (PR and p53), only in grade 2 ECs. Overall, this will reduce clinically relevant discrepancies in tumor grade and subtype with postoperative diagnosis with 6% (from 20% to 14%). Addition of PR, IMP3, and L1CAM for histological subtyping in high-grade EECs resulted in a further decrease in discrepancies with 8% (from 20% to 12%).

Improved preoperative risk stratification with CA-125 in low-grade endometrial cancer: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The global obesity epidemic has great impact on the prevalence of low-grade endometrial carcinoma. The preoperative tumor serum marker cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) might contribute to improved identification of high-risk patients within this group. The study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of CA-125 in relation to established preoperative prognosticators, with a focus on identifying patients with poor outcome in low-grade endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients. METHODS: Prospective multicenter cohort study including all consecutive patients surgically treated for endometrial carcinoma in nine collaborating hospitals from September 2011 until December 2013. All preoperative histopathological diagnoses were reviewed in a blinded manner. Associations between CA-125 and clinicopathological features were determined. Univariable and multivariable analysis by Cox regression were used. Separate analyses were performed for preoperatively designated low-grade and high-grade endometrial carcinoma patients. RESULTS: A total of 333 patients were analyzed. CA-125 was associated with poor prognostic features including advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. In multivariable analysis, age, preoperative tumor and CA-125 were significantly associated with disease-free survival (DFS); preoperative grade, tumor type, FIGO and CA-125 were significantly associated with disease-specific survival (DSS). Low-grade EC patients with elevated CA-125 revealed a DFS of 80.6% and DSS of 87.1%, compared to 92.1% and 97.2% in low-grade EC patients with normal CA-125. CONCLUSION: Preoperative elevated CA-125 was associated with poor prognostic features and independently associated with DFS and DSS. Particularly patients with low-grade EC and elevated CA-125 represent a group with poor outcome and should be considered as high-risk endometrial carcinoma.

Impact of an Automatically Generated Cancer Survivorship Care Plan on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Routine Clinical Practice: Longitudinal Outcomes of a Pragmatic, Cluster Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to longitudinally assess the impact of an automatically generated survivorship care plan (SCP) on patient-reported outcomes in routine clinical practice. Primary outcomes were patient satisfaction with information and care. Secondary outcomes included illness perceptions and health care use. METHODS: Twelve hospitals were randomly assigned to SCP care or usual care in a pragmatic, cluster randomized trial. Newly diagnosed patients with endometrial cancer completed questionnaires after diagnosis (n = 221; 75% response), 6 months (n = 158), and 12 months (n = 147). An SCP application was built in the Web-based ROGY (Registration System Oncological Gynecology). By clicking the SCP button, a patient-tailored SCP was generated. RESULTS: In the SCP care arm, 74% of patients received an SCP. They reported receiving more information about their treatment (mean [M] = 57, standard deviation [SD] = 20 v M = 47, SD = 24; P = .03), other services (M = 35, SD = 22 v M = 25, SD = 22; P = .03), and different places of care (M = 27, SD = 25 v M = 23, SD = 26; P = .04) than the usual care arm (scales, 0 to 100). However, there were no differences regarding satisfaction with information or care. Patients in the SCP care arm experienced more symptoms (M = 3.3, SD = 2.0 v M = 2.6, SD = 1.6; P = .03), were more concerned about their illness (M = 4.4, SD = 2.3 v M = 3.9, SD = 2.1; P = .03), were more affected emotionally (M = 4.0, SD = 2.2 v M = 3.7, SD = 2.2; P = .046), and reported more cancer-related contact with their primary care physician (M = 1.8, SD = 2.0 v M = 1.1, SD = 0.9; P = .003) than those in the usual care arm (scale, 1 to 10). These effects did not differ over time. CONCLUSION: The present trial showed no evidence of a benefit of SCPs on satisfaction with information and care. Furthermore, SCPs increased patients' concerns, emotional impact, experienced symptoms, and the amount of cancer-related contact with the primary care physician. Whether this may ultimately lead to more empowered patients should be investigated further.

The impact of a cancer Survivorship Care Plan on gynecological cancer patient and health care provider reported outcomes (ROGY Care): study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for improvement of information provision and post-treatment care for cancer survivors. A Survivorship Care Plan (SCP) is recommended by the American Institute of Medicine and the Dutch Health Council, which is a summary of patients' course of treatment as a formal document, and includes recommendations for subsequent cancer surveillance, management of late effects, and strategies for health promotion. Until now, evidence on the effects of implementing the SCP in clinical practice is lacking. The rationale and study design of a pragmatic cluster randomized trial, aiming to assess the impact of SCP care in routine clinical practice, is presented. METHODS/DESIGN: A web-based patient registration system 'Registrationsystem Oncological GYnecology' (ROGY) is used by gynecologists in the South of the Netherlands since 2006. A personalized SCP can automatically be generated out of ROGY. In this pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial, 12 hospitals are randomized to either 'usual care' or 'SCP care'. In patients with 'usual care', the gynecologist provides care as usual. In patients with 'SCP care', information about the tumor stage and treatment is personally discussed with the patient and a document is handed to the patient. Prospectively, all patients diagnosed with endometrial or ovarian cancer in the participating hospitals will be approached for study participation. Patients will complete questionnaires after surgery, and before additional treatment, and after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. In addition, health care providers will be asked their opinion about implementation of SCP care. Primary outcome is defined as patient satisfaction with information provision and care. Secondary outcomes are illness perception, health-related quality of life, health care use, prevalence, course and referral rate of survivors with psychosocial distress, and health care providers' evaluation of SCP care. DISCUSSION: The ROGY Care trial will help to gain insight into the impact of SCP care on patient reported outcomes, and on the evaluation of cancer survivors and health care providers of the different elements of the SCP. Therefore, results will contribute to efforts to improve quality of care for cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial Registration: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT01185626 Medical Research Ethics Committee Reference Number: NL33429.008.10 Grant Reference Number: UVT2010-4743.