Role of systematic lymphadenectomy at the time of interval debulking surgery for patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma who achieved complete gross resection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of systematic lymphadenectomy at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery for patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma who achieved complete gross resection. METHODS: The National Cancer DataBase was accessed, and patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery and achieved complete gross resection were identified. Patients who did not undergo lymphadenectomy and those who underwent systematic lymphadenectomy (defined as at least 20 lymph nodes removed) were selected for further analysis. Median overall survival was compared with the log-rank test and controlled for a priori selected confounders. RESULTS: A total of 1060 patients were identified. Systematic lymphadenectomy was performed for 125 (11.8%) patients with a median of 29 lymph nodes (range 20-72) removed. Rate of lymph node metastasis was 62.4%. Patients who underwent systematic lymphadenectomy had higher rate of unplanned readmission (8.9% vs 1.6%, p<0.001), and median hospital stay (6 vs 4 days, p<0.001). Median overall survival for patients who did and did not undergo systematic lymphadenectomy was 44.2 and 40.4 months, respectively, p=0.40. After controlling for confounders, performance of systematic lymphadenectomy was not associated with better survival (HR=0.98, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.19). CONCLUSION: Systematic lymphadenectomy is rarely performed at the time of interval cytoreductive surgery and not associated with a survival benefit for patients who achieved complete gross resection.

Vulvar Cancer, Version 3.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Vulvar cancer is annually diagnosed in an estimated 6,470 individuals and the vast majority are histologically squamous cell carcinomas. Vulvar cancer accounts for 5% to 8% of gynecologic malignancies. Known risk factors for vulvar cancer include increasing age, infection with human papillomavirus, cigarette smoking, inflammatory conditions affecting the vulva, and immunodeficiency. Most vulvar neoplasias are diagnosed at early stages. Rarer histologies exist and include melanoma, extramammary Paget's disease, Bartholin gland adenocarcinoma, verrucous carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and sarcoma. This manuscript discusses recommendations outlined in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for treatments, surveillance, systemic therapy options, and gynecologic survivorship.

Molecular landscape of ERBB2/HER2 gene amplification among patients with gynecologic malignancies; clinical implications and future directions.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the prevalence of ERBB2/HER2 gene amplification among patients with gynecologic malignancies. METHODS: The American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Genomics Evidence of Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) (version 13.1) database was accessed and patients with endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer were identified. Patients with available data on the presence of copy-number gene alterations were selected for further analysis. Incidence of ERBB2 amplification following stratification by tumor site and histology was evaluated. Data from the OncoKB database, as provided by cBioPortal, was utilized to determine presence of pathogenic genomic alterations. RESULTS: A total of 6961 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified: 49.1% with ovarian cancer, 45.2% with endometrial cancer and 5.7% with cervical cancer respectively. Overall incidence of ERBB2 amplification was 3.8%. Highest incidence of ERBB2 amplification was observed among patients with mucinous ovarian (14.4%), uterine serous (13.2%), uterine clear cell (9.4%), and uterine carcinosarcoma (7.9%). ERBB2 amplification was rare among patients with TP53 wild-type endometrioid endometrial cancer (0.4%). High incidence of mutations in genes of the PI3K pathway was observed among patients with ERBB2 amplified tumors. CONCLUSION: ERBB2 amplification is frequently encountered among patients with uterine serous carcinoma, and mucinous ovarian carcinoma. In addition, a high incidence was also observed among those with uterine clear cell carcinoma, and uterine carcinosarcoma. For patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, incidence of ERBB2 amplification is low, especially in the absence of TP53 mutations.

Impact of delayed interval cytoreductive surgery on the survival of patients with advanced stage high-grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to use real-world data to investigate the impact of delayed interval cytoreductive surgery on the survival of patients with advanced stage high-grade ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: We accessed the National Cancer Database and identified patients diagnosed between 2004-2015 with advanced stage high-grade ovarian carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent interval cytoreductive surgery. Based on timing between surgery and chemotherapy administration patients were categorized into standard (9-13.0 weeks) and delayed (13.01-26 weeks) interval cytoreductive surgery groups. Overall survival was compared with the log-rank test and a Cox model was constructed to control for a priori selected confounders. RESULTS: We identified a total of 5051 patients; 2389 (47.3%) and 2662 (52.7%) in the standard and delayed interval cytoreductive surgery groups respectively. There was no difference in complete gross resection rates (53.2% vs 54.5%, p=0.51). Patients in the delayed interval cytoreductive surgery group were less likely to undergo complex surgery (39.3% vs 45.6%, p<0.001) and had lower rates of unplanned re-admission (4.1% vs 2.6%, p=0.003). There was no difference in overall survival between the standard and delayed interval cytoreductive surgery groups, p=0.13 (median 34.3 vs 33.9 months) even after controlling for confounders (hazard ratio (HR) 1.04, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.97, 1.12). There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups for patients with no gross residual (p=0.95; median overall survival 40.08 vs 39.8 months) or gross residual disease (p=0.16; median overall survival 32.89 and 32.16 months). CONCLUSION: For patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer delayed interval cytoreductive surgery may not be associated with worse overall survival.

Prognostic value of isolated tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes in low risk endometrial cancer: results from an international multi-institutional study.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic significance of isolated tumor cells (≤0.2 mm) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) of endometrial cancer patients is still unclear. Our aim was to assess the prognostic value of isolated tumor cells in patients with low risk endometrial cancer who underwent SLN biopsy and did not receive adjuvant therapy. Outcomes were compared with node negative patients. METHODS: Patients with SLNs-isolated tumor cells between 2013 and 2019 were identified from 15 centers worldwide, while SLN negative patients were identified from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, between 2013 and 2018. Only low risk patients (stage IA, endometrioid histology, grade 1 or 2) who did not receive any adjuvant therapy were included. Primary outcomes were recurrence free, non-vaginal recurrence free, and overall survival, evaluated with Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: 494 patients (42 isolated tumor cells and 452 node negative) were included. There were 21 (4.3%) recurrences (5 SLNs-isolated tumor cells, 16 node negative); recurrence was vaginal in six patients (1 isolated tumor cells, 5 node negative), and non-vaginal in 15 (4 isolated tumor cells, 11 node negative). Median follow-up among those without recurrence was 2.3 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.1-3.0) and 2.6 years (IQR 0.6-4.2) in the SLN-isolated tumor cell and node negative patients, respectively. The presence of SLNs-isolated tumor cells, lymphovascular space invasion, and International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) grade 2 were significant risk factors for recurrence on univariate analysis. SLN-isolated tumor cell patients had worse recurrence free survival (p<0.01) and non-vaginal recurrence free survival (p<0.01) compared with node negative patients. Similar results were observed in the subgroup of patients without lymphovascular space invasion (n=480). There was no difference in overall survival between the two cohorts in the full sample and the subset excluding patients with lymphovascular space invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLNs-isolated tumor cells and low risk profile, without adjuvant therapy, had a significantly worse recurrence free survival compared with node negative patients with similar risk factors, after adjusting for grade and excluding patients with lymphovascular space invasion. However, the presence of SLNs-isolated tumor cells was not associated with worse overall survival.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Cervical Cancer, Version 1.2024.

The NCCN Guidelines for Cervical Cancer provide recommendations for all aspects of management for cervical cancer, including the diagnostic workup, staging, pathology, and treatment. The guidelines also include details on histopathologic classification of cervical cancer regarding diagnostic features, molecular profiles, and clinical outcomes. The treatment landscape of advanced cervical cancer is evolving constantly. These NCCN Guidelines Insights provide a summary of recent updates regarding the systemic therapy recommendations for recurrent or metastatic disease.

Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on the overall survival of patients with advanced-stage low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma following primary cytoreductive surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use and outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with advanced-stage low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma following primary cytoreductive surgery. METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage II-IV low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma who underwent primary debulking surgery with known residual disease status and had at least 1 month of follow-up were identified in the National Cancer Database. Adjuvant chemotherapy was defined as receipt of chemotherapy within 6 months of surgery. Overall survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox model was constructed to control for a priori-selected confounders. A systematic review of the literature was also performed. RESULTS: In total, 618 patients with stage II-IV low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery were identified; 501 (81.1%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, while 117 (18.9%) patients did not. The median follow-up of the present cohort was 47.97 months. There was no difference in overall survival between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.78; 4-year overall survival rates were 77.5% and 76.1%, respectively). After controlling for patient age, medical co-morbidities, disease stage, and residual disease status, administration of adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with better overall survival (HR=0.87, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.38). Based on data from three retrospective studies, omission of adjuvant chemotherapy following cytoreductive surgery was not associated with worse progression-free survival benefit (HR=1.25, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.95) for patients with stage III-V low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy may not be associated with an overall survival benefit for patients with advanced-stage low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma following primary cytoreductive surgery.

Role of immunotherapy for lymph node positive vulvar melanoma: utilization and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization and outcomes of adjuvant immunotherapy for patients with vulvar melanoma and inguinal lymph node metastases. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was accessed and patients with vulvar melanoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 who did not have distant metastases, underwent inguinal lymphadenectomy, had positive lymph nodes, and at least 1 month of follow-up were identified. Administration of immunotherapy was evaluated and clinicopathological characteristics were compared. Median overall survival was compared with the log-rank test. Stratified analysis based on clinical status of lymph nodes was performed. A Cox model was constructed to evaluate survival after controlling for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were identified; the rate of immunotherapy use was 25% (75 patients). Patients who received immunotherapy were younger (median 58 vs 70 years, p<0.001); however, the two groups were comparable in terms of clinical lymph node status, rate of positive tumor margins, presence of tumor ulceration, tumor size, Breslow thickness, and performance of comprehensive lymphadenectomy. There was no overall survival difference between patients who did (median 31.08 months) and did not (median 22.77 months) receive immunotherapy (p=0.18). Following stratification by clinical lymph node status, immunotherapy did not improve overall survival of patients with clinically negative (median 35.35 vs 33.22, p=0.75) or positive lymph nodes (median 23.33 vs 16.99, p=0.64). After controlling for confounders, administration of immunotherapy was not associated with better overall survival (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.14). CONCLUSIONS: In this study approximately one in four patients received adjuvant immunotherapy. Immunotherapy was not associated with improved overall survival.

Next generation sequencing reveals a high prevalence of pathogenic mutations in homologous recombination DNA damage repair genes among patients with uterine sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the incidence of homologous recombination DNA damage response (HR-DDR) genomic alterations among patients with uterine sarcoma. METHODS: The American Association for Cancer Research GENIE v13.0 database was accessed and patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma, adenosarcoma, undifferentiated uterine sarcoma, high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma, and endometrial stromal sarcoma not otherwise specified were identified. We determined the incidence of pathogenic alterations in the following genes involved in HR-DDR: ATM, ARID1A, ATRX, BAP1, BARD1, BLM, BRCA2, BRCA1, BRIP1, CHEK2, CHEK1, FANCA, FANCC, FANCD2, FANCE, FANCF, FANCG, FANCL, MRE11, NBN, PALB2, RAD50, RAD51, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, WRN. Data from the OncoKB database, as provided by cBioPortal, was utilized to determine the presence of pathogenic genomic alterations. RESULTS: A total of 509 patients contributing with 525 samples were identified. Median patient age at sample collection was 56 years while the majority were White (80.7%). The most common histologic subtype was leiomyosarcoma (63.8%) followed by adenosarcoma (12.3%). The overall incidence of HR-DDR genomic alterations was 28.2%. The most commonly altered genes were ATRX (18.2%), BRCA2 (4%), and RAD51B (2.6%). The highest incidence of HR-DDR genomic alterations was observed among patients with leiomyosarcoma (35.4%), adenosarcoma (27%) and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (30%), while those with low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma had the lowest (2.9%) incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 3 patients with uterine sarcoma harbor a pathogenic alteration in HR-DDR genes. Incidence is high among patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma and adenosarcoma.

Combination ATR (ceralasertib) and PARP (olaparib) Inhibitor (CAPRI) Trial in Acquired PARP Inhibitor-Resistant Homologous Recombination-Deficient Ovarian Cancer.

PURPOSE: Addition of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase inhibitors (ATRi) to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) overcomes PARPi resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cell and mouse models. We present the results of an investigator-initiated study of combination PARPi (olaparib) and ATRi (ceralasertib) in patients with acquired PARPi-resistant HGSOC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had recurrent, platinum-sensitive BRCA1/2 mutated or homologous recombination (HR)-deficient (HRD) HGSOC and clinically benefited from PARPi (response by imaging/CA-125 or duration of maintenance therapy; > 12 months first-line or > 6 months ≥ second-line) before progression. No intervening chemotherapy was permitted. Patients received olaparib 300 mg twice daily and ceralasertib 160 mg daily on days 1 to 7 of a 28-day cycle. Primary objectives were safety and objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Thirteen patients enrolled were evaluable for safety and 12 for efficacy; 62% (n = 8) had germline BRCA1/2 mutations, 23% (n = 3) somatic BRCA1/2 mutations, and 15% (n = 2) tumors with positive HRD assay. Prior PARPi indication was treatment for recurrence (54%, n = 7), second-line maintenance (38%, n = 5) and first-line treatment with carboplatin/paclitaxel (8%, n = 1). There were 6 partial responses yielding an ORR of 50% (95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.72). Median treatment duration was 8 cycles (range 4-23+). Grade (G) 3/4 toxicities were 38% (n = 5); 15% (n = 2) G3 anemia, 23% (n = 3) G3 thrombocytopenia, 8% (n = 1) G4 neutropenia. Four patients required dose reductions. No patient discontinued treatment due to toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Combination olaparib and ceralasertib is tolerable and shows activity in HR-deficient platinum-sensitive recurrent HGSOC that benefited and then progressed with PARPi as the penultimate regimen. These data suggest that ceralasertib resensitizes PARPi-resistant HGSOCs to olaparib, warranting further investigation.

Uterine Neoplasms, Version 1.2023, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (also known as endometrial cancer, or more broadly as uterine cancer or carcinoma of the uterine corpus) is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract in the United States. It is estimated that 65,950 new uterine cancer cases will have occurred in 2022, with 12,550 deaths resulting from the disease. Endometrial carcinoma includes pure endometrioid cancer and carcinomas with high-risk endometrial histology (including uterine serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma [also known as malignant mixed Müllerian tumor], and undifferentiated/dedifferentiated carcinoma). Stromal or mesenchymal sarcomas are uncommon subtypes accounting for approximately 3% of all uterine cancers. This selection from the NCCN Guidelines for Uterine Neoplasms focuses on the diagnosis, staging, and management of pure endometrioid carcinoma. The complete version of the NCCN Guidelines for Uterine Neoplasms is available online at NCCN.org.

Facility level variation in the utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with higher surgical morbidity for patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate outcomes for advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients based on facility-level utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). METHODS: Stage III-IV EOC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Percentage of patients managed with NACT was calculated for facilities, reporting ≥120 patients. Facilities with lowest and highest quartile of NACT rate comprised the low and high-utilizing groups. Clinico-pathological characteristics were collected, and appropriate statistical analysis performed. RESULTS: High- and low-utilizing facilities managed on average 54.1% and 25.4% of patients with NACT respectively. Patients managed at high-utilizing facilities were significantly more likely to be >65 (p = 0.029), have stage IV disease (p < 0.001) and comorbidities (p < 0.001). Patients managed with primary debulking surgery (PDS) at low-utilizing facilities were significantly more likely to be >65, have stage IV disease, and have comorbidities (all, p < 0.001). Patients undergoing PDS at low-utilizing facilities were significantly less likely to achieve complete gross resection (p < 0.001), and were significantly more likely to experience 90-day mortality (p < 0.001), and unplanned 30-day readmission (p < 0.001). After controlling for age, comorbidities, race, insurance status, stage, grade and histology, high-utilizing facilities trended towards better overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99). Overall, patients undergoing PDS had better OS compared to those who had NACT (median 42 vs 27 months, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite treating an EOC population with more advanced disease and comorbidities, high-utilizing facilities have lower surgical morbidity and mortality with no detrimental impact on long-term survival. Careful patient selection to minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with PDS is pivotal.

Addition of External Beam Radiation Therapy to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Stage IIIC Uterine Endometrioid Carcinoma: Utilization and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate whether the addition of external beam radiation (EBRT) to adjuvant chemotherapy with or without vaginal brachytherapy is associated with better survival for patients with stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 with apparent early-stage endometrioid adenocarcinoma, without a history of another tumor, who underwent hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy and had positive lymph nodes were identified in the National Cancer Database. Those who received adjuvant chemotherapy (defined as receipt of treatment within 6 mo from surgery) and had at least 1 month of follow-up were selected for further analysis. Overall survival was compared between patients who did and did not receive EBRT within 6 months from surgery with the log-rank test. A Cox model was also constructed to control for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 3116 patients were identified; 1458 (46.8%) received chemotherapy without and 1658 (53.2%) with EBRT. Pathologic characteristics (tumor grade, size, endocervical, and lymph-vascular invasion) were comparable between the two groups. Patients who received external beam radiation had better survival compared with those who did not, P =0.001; 5-year overall survival rates were 83.1% and 77.9%, respectively. After controlling for patient age, race, presence of comorbidities, insurance status, tumor size, grade and endocervical invasion, and the presence of lymph-vascular invasion, the addition of EBRT was associated with a survival benefit (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lymph nodes, addition of external beam radiation to adjuvant chemotherapy may be associated with a survival benefit.

Oncologic outcomes of surgical para-aortic lymph node staging in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma undergoing chemoradiation.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the utilization and impact of surgical para-aortic lymph node staging on the survival of patients with locally advanced stage cervical carcinoma receiving definitive chemoradiation. METHODS: We identified patients in the National Cancer Database diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2015 with locally advanced (FIGO 2009 stage IB2-IVA) cervical carcinoma who did not undergo hysterectomy, received primary chemoradiation and had at least 1 month of follow-up. Two groups of patients were formed based on the assessment method of para-aortic lymph node status - radiologic assessment only versus surgical lymphadenectomy. Overall survival was compared with the log-rank test after Kaplan-Meier curves were generated. A Cox model was constructed to control for a priori selected confounders. RESULTS: We identified a total of 3540 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Para-aortic staging was performed in 333 (9.4%) patients. These patients were younger (median age 46 vs 52 years, p<0.001), less likely to have co-morbidities (8.7% vs 15.6%, p<0.001), more likely to have private insurance (48.9% vs 37.8%, p<0.001) and receive brachytherapy (76.9% vs 70.9%, p=0.022). The rate of para-aortic lymphadenectomy was comparable between patients with stage IB2-II and III-IVA disease (9.4% for both groups, p=0.98). Patients who underwent para-aortic lymphadenectomy were also more likely to have lymph nodes categorized as positive compared with those who had imaging only (27.3% vs 13.2%, p<0.001). There was no difference in overall survival between patients who underwent radiologic only or surgical para-aortic lymph node assessment (p=0.80 from log-rank test); 4 year overall survival rates were 62.9% and 63%. After controlling for confounders, performance of para-aortic lymphadenectomy was not associated with a survival benefit (HR 1.07, 95% CIs: 0.88 to 1.31). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of patients with locally advanced stage cervical carcinoma, para-aortic lymphadenectomy was rarely performed and not associated with a survival benefit.

Safety of ovarian preservation for premenopausal patients with FIGO stage I grade 2 and 3 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization and outcomes of ovarian preservation for premenopausal patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I grade 2 and 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma undergoing hysterectomy. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was accessed; patients aged ≤45 years diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2015 with FIGO stage I grade 2 or 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, who underwent hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and had at least 1 month of follow-up, were identified. Overall survival was assessed following generation of Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox model was constructed to control for a priori selected variables. RESULTS: A total of 2941 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified; 200 (6.8%) patients did not undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Rate of ovarian preservation was comparable between patients with grade 2 (n=163, 6.6%) and grade 3 (n=37, 7.7%) tumors (p=0.38). Patients who did not undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were younger (median 39 vs 41 years, p<0.001) and less likely to undergo surgical lymph node assessment (52% vs 76.2%, p<0.001). There was no difference in overall survival between patients who did and did not undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (p=0.94); 5 year overall survival rates were 96.6% and 97%, respectively. After controlling for confounders, including tumor grade, ovarian preservation was not associated with worse overall survival (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.84). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with grade 2 and 3 FIGO stage I endometrioid carcinoma undergoing hysterectomy, ovarian preservation is rarely performed while no clear detrimental effect on overall survival was found.

Delay in adjuvant chemotherapy administration for patients with FIGO stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma is associated with worse survival; an analysis of the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVE: The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy within 42 days from surgery is one of the proposed quality measures for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy delay in the survival of patients with stage I EOC. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was accessed, and patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with FIGO stage I EOC who received multi-agent chemotherapy were identified. Overall survival (OS) was compared between patients who received chemotherapy <6 weeks and 6-12 weeks from surgery with the log-rank test following generation of Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox model was constructed to control for a priori selected confounders. RESULTS: A total of 8549 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy at a median 35 days from surgery (interquartile range 19) were identified; 67.7% received adjuvant chemotherapy <6 weeks from surgery while 32.3% experienced a delay. Patients who experienced a delay were more likely to have comorbidities (18.4% vs 14.9%, p < 0.001), and be managed in non-academic facilities (57.1% vs 53.2%, p = 0.001). Patients who experienced a delay had worse OS compared to those who did not, p < 0.001; 5-year OS rates 85.7% and 89.7%, respectively. For patients with high-grade serous tumors, those who experienced a delay had a 5-yr OS of 81.9% compared to 88.6% for those who did not, p < 0.001. After controlling for age, race, presence of comorbidities, insurance status, tumor histology and grade, performance of lymphadenectomy and substage, chemotherapy delay was associated with worse survival (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.42). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with early stage EOC administration of adjuvant chemotherapy within 6 weeks from surgery was associated with better overall survival, especially for those with stage IC disease.

Disparities in cancer-specific and overall survival in black women with endometrial cancer: A Medicare-SEER study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for different racial groups of women with surgically staged endometrial cancer by histologic subtype. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with stage I-III endometrioid, serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma who underwent hysterectomy as primary surgical staging in the 2000-2016 SEER-Medicare database. OS and CSS outcomes were stratified by race (defined as White, Black, Other), stage, and histology. Survival was assessed with descriptive analyses, log-rank tests and unadjusted and adjusted multivariable cox regression models. RESULTS: Of the 24,142 women identified, 85.5% were White, 8.5% Black, and 6% other races. Receipt of adjuvant therapy differed only for stage III endometrioid: Black women were less likely to receive adjuvant treatment after hysterectomy (61.2% vs. 70.1% White, p = 0.03). For stage I, Black women had worse CSS for all histologies other than clear cell in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. For stage II, Black women had worse CSS for endometrioid histology in unadjusted analyses and similar OS. For stage III, Black women with endometrioid carcinoma had worse CSS and OS in unadjusted analyses, but no significant difference in CSS in adjusted analyses. "Other" race showed improved OS for Stage I endometrioid adenocarcinoma without significant differences in outcomes when compared to White women. CONCLUSION: Across histologies other than clear cell, Black women diagnosed with stage I endometrial cancer had consistently worse CSS, despite similar receipt of adjuvant therapy. Differences in CSS and OS at higher stages disappeared once accounting for treatment disparities.

Patterns of adjuvant treatment and survival outcomes in stage I uterine carcinosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns in type and sequence of adjuvant treatment and associated differences in overall survival among women with Stage I uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS). METHODS: Women with stage I UCS from 2000 to 2015 were identified through the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database linked to Medicare-based claims follow-up data through 2016. Data including demographics, co-morbidities, surgical procedure, surgical pathology and type and sequence of adjuvant treatment were collected. The primary study outcome was overall survival (OS) by type and sequence of adjuvant therapy. Cancer specific survival was also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 755 women with Stage I UCS were identified. Of these, 56.3% (n = 445) received adjuvant therapy, whereas 43.7% (n = 330) did not. In comparison to no adjuvant treatment, an overall survival benefit was noted with receipt of chemotherapy alone for women with Stage I disease (log rank p < 0.01). Pairwise comparisons did not show a benefit in OS of concurrent RT-chemo, sequential RT-chemo, or sequential chemo-RT, over chemotherapy alone (p > 0.05 for all). Likewise, radiation alone and no treatment were associated with worse OS compared to chemotherapy alone (p < 0.001 for both). Adjusted Cox regression models demonstrated an OS benefit only in the chemotherapy alone cohort for Stage I disease (HR 0.43 95% CI 0.32, 0.60, p < 0.0001), as well as for CSS (HR 0.41, 95 %CI 0.26, 0.62, p < 0.0001), compared to no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to no adjuvant therapy, an overall survival and cancer-specific survival benefit was noted with receipt of chemotherapy alone in Stage I UCS.

Combination ATR and PARP Inhibitor (CAPRI): A phase 2 study of ceralasertib plus olaparib in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Platinum-resistant, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) has limited treatment options. Preclinical data suggest that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase inhibitors (ATRi) are synergistic. CAPRI (NCT03462342) is an investigator-initiated study of olaparib plus ceralasertib in recurrent HGSOC. Herein, we present results from the platinum-resistant cohort. METHODS: A Simon 2-stage design was utilized. Platinum-resistant HGSOC patients received ceralasertib 160 mg orally daily, days 1-7 and olaparib 300 mg orally twice daily, days 1-28 of a 28-day cycle until toxicity or progression. Primary endpoints were toxicity and efficacy including objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST. Secondary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The null hypothesis (≤5% ORR) would be rejected if there were ≥ 1 responses in 12 patients. RESULTS: Fourteen PARPi-naïve patients were evaluable for toxicity; 12 were evaluable for response. Three had BRCA1 mutations (1 germline, 2 somatic). Adverse events possibly related to treatment were primarily grade (G) 1/2. G3 toxicities included nausea (14.3%), fatigue (7.1%), anorexia (7.1%), and anemia (7.1%). No objective responses occurred. Best response was stable disease in 9 patients and progressive disease in three. Five patients had a ≥ 20% to <30% reduction in disease burden, including 3 with BRCA1 mutations. Three of 11 patients (27%; 2 with BRCA1 mutations) evaluable by Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup criteria had >50% CA-125 decline, including 2 with CA-125 normalization. Median PFS was 4.2 months overall (90% CI:3.5-8.2) and 8.2 months (3.6 months-not determined) for patients with BRCA1 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Olaparib plus ceralasertib is well-tolerated. No objective responses occurred, though a signal of activity was seen particularly in disease associated with BRCA1. Further evaluation of this combination should include alternate dosing strategies in genomically-selected populations.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Uterine Neoplasms, Version 3.2021.

The NCCN Guidelines for Uterine Neoplasms provide recommendations for diagnostic workup, clinical staging, and treatment options for patients with endometrial cancer or uterine sarcoma. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on the recent addition of molecular profiling information to aid in accurate diagnosis, classification, and treatment of uterine sarcomas.