Patterns of cervical cancer screening follow-up in the era of prolonged screening intervals.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known as to how prolonged screening recommendations for cervical cancer have affected compliance. OBJECTIVE: We examined compliance with repeat cervical cancer screening among U.S. women aged 30-64 who underwent index screening between 2013 and 2019. STUDY DESIGN: The IBM Watson Health MarketScan Database was used to identify commercially-insured women 30-64 years old who underwent cervical cancer screening from 2013 to 2019. The cohort was limited to women with continuous insurance 12 months before and ≥ 2 months after index testing. Patients with prior hysterectomy, more frequent surveillance needs, or a history of abnormal cytology, histology, or HPV test were excluded. Index screening included cytology, co-testing, or primary HPV testing. Cumulative incidence curves described screening intervals. Compliance was considered if repeat screening occurred 2.5-4 years after index cytology and 4.5-6 years after index co-testing. Cause-specific hazard models examined factors associated with compliance. RESULTS: Of 5,368,713 patients identified, co-testing was performed in 2,873,070 (53.5%), cytology in 2,422,480 (45.1%), and primary HPV testing in 73,163 (1.4%). The cumulative incidence of repeat screening among all women by seven years was 81.9%. Of those who underwent repeat screening, 85.7% with index cytology and 96.6% with index co-testing were rescreened early. Only, 12.2% with index cytology had appropriate rescreening and 2.1% had delayed rescreening. Among the index co-testing group, 3.2% had appropriate rescreening and 0.3% had delayed rescreening. CONCLUSION: Appropriate cervical cancer follow-up screening is highly variable. The cumulative incidence rate of repeat screening was 81.9% and among women rescreened, the vast majority are tested earlier than recommended by current guidelines.

Trends in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for low-grade serous ovarian cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) use for low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) and to quantify associations between NACT and extent of cytoreductive surgery. METHODS: We identified women treated for stage III or IV serous ovarian cancer in a Commission on Cancer accredited program between January 2004-December 2020. Regression models were developed to evaluate trends in NACT use for LGSOC, to identify factors associated with receipt of NACT, and to quantify associations between NACT and bowel or urinary resection at the time of surgery. Demographic and clinical factors were used for confounder control. RESULTS: We observed 3350 patients who received treatment for LGSOC during the study period. The proportion of patients who received NACT increased from 9.5% in 2004 to 25.9% in 2020, corresponding to an annual percent change of 7.2% (95% CI 5.6-8.9). Increasing age (rate ratio (RR) 1.15; 95% CI 1.07-1.24), and stage IV disease (RR 2.66; 95% CI 2.31-3.07) were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving NACT. For patients with high-grade disease, NACT was associated with a decrease in likelihood of bowel or urinary surgery (35.3% versus 23.9%; RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.65-0.71). For LGSOC, NACT was associated with a higher likelihood of these procedures (26.6% versus 32.2%; RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.08-1.42). CONCLUSION: NACT use among patients with LGSOC has increased from 2004 to 2020. While NACT was associated with a lower rate of gastrointestinal and urinary surgery among patients with high-grade disease, patients with LGSOC receiving NACT were more likely to undergo these procedures.

Heterogeneity of outcomes of endometrial cancer patients included in prospective clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess heterogeneity in five-year overall survival of patients with endometrial cancer using a large retrospective database with cohorts defined by recent prospective clinical trials. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomy from 2004 to 2016. The reported inclusion criteria for GOG-249, PORTEC-3, and GOG-258 were used to define the respective cohorts. Five-year overall survival for each cohort was stratified by tumor characteristics and adjuvant therapy regimens. RESULTS: A total of 89,133 patients were identified who would have fulfilled the entry criteria to GOG-249, PORTEC-3, or GOG-258. When stratified by tumor characteristics, irrespective of adjuvant therapy, five-year overall survival ranged from 59.9%-81.7% for patients meeting GOG-249 inclusion criteria, 40.2%-81.8% for patients meeting PORTEC-3 inclusion criteria, and 17.5%-75.0% for those meeting GOG-258 inclusion criteria. Analysis of subgroups by adjuvant therapy regimen revealed significant improvement in five-year overall survival for chemoradiotherapy compared to chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone for endometroid stage III and stage IVA disease and for some stages of serous and clear cell histology. CONCLUSIONS: Recent prospective trials of adjuvant therapy for endometrial cancer have included heterogeneous cohorts of patients based on five-year overall survival rates when the populations are stratified by tumor characteristics. The variation in expected five-year overall survival for subsets of patients may result in underpowered studies or misleading results.

Dostarlimab for recurrent mismatch repair-deficient endometrial cancer: A cost-effectiveness study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with recurrent endometrial cancer treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel whose disease progresses have few effective treatment options. Based on promising clinical trial data, the anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) antibody dostarlimab was recently granted accelerated approval for endometrial cancer by the US Food and Drug Administration. We developed a decision model to examine the cost-effectiveness of dostarlimab for patients with progressive/recurrent deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) endometrial cancer whose disease has progressed with first-line chemotherapy. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness study. POPULATION: Hypothetical cohort of 6000 women with progressive/recurrent dMMR endometrial cancer. METHODS: The initial decision point in the Markov model was treatment with dostarlimab, pembrolizumab or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). Model probabilities, and cost and utility values were derived with assumptions drawn from published literature. Effectiveness was estimated as average quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. One-way, two-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to vary the assumptions across a range of plausible values. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was the least costly strategy, at $55,732, followed by dostarlimab ($151,533) and pembrolizumab ($154,597). Based on a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY, PLD was cost-effective compared with dostarlimab, with an ICER of $331,913 per QALY gained for dostarlimab, whereas pembrolizumab was ruled out by extended dominance (less effective, more costly), compared with dostarlimab. In one-way sensitivity analyses, dostarlimab was cost-effective when its cost was reduced to $4905 (52% reduction). These results were robust in a variety of sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Dostarlimab is associated with greater survival compared with other treatments for women with recurrent dMMR endometrial cancer. Although the agent is substantially more costly, dostarlimab became cost-effective when its cost was reduced to $5489 per cycle.

Containment Bag Use Among Women Who Undergo Hysterectomy With Laparoscopic Power Morcellation.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate trends in use of laparoscopic power morcellators in women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy and to examine use of containment systems in these patients in relation to safety guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). METHODS: We examined data that were recorded in the Premier Healthcare Database from patients who underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy from 2010 to 2018. Patients were stratified based on use of laparoscopic power morcellators. The cohort was further stratified as either pre-FDA guidance (2010 quarter 1-2014 quarter 1) or post-FDA guidance (2014 quarter 2-2018 quarter 2). Interrupted time series analyses were performed to determine the effect of FDA guidance on the use of laparoscopic power morcellators and containment bags. RESULTS: Among 67,115 patients, laparoscopic power morcellator use decreased from 66.7% in 2013 quarter 4 to 13.3% by 2018 quarter 2. The likelihood of laparoscopic power morcellator use decreased by 9.5% for each quarter elapsed in the post-FDA warning period (risk ratio [RR] 0.91, 95% CI 0.90-0.91). Containment bag use rose from 5.2% in 2013 quarter 4 to 15.2% by 2018 quarter 2. The likelihood of containment bag use increased by 3% for each quarter elapsed in the post-FDA warning period (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05). Among women who had laparoscopic power morcellator use, uterine cancers or sarcomas were identified in 54 (0.17%) before the FDA guidance compared with seven (0.12%) after the guidance ( P =.45). Containment bags were used in 11.1% of women with uterine cancers or sarcomas before the FDA guidance compared with 14.3% after the guidance ( P =.12). The perioperative complication rate was 3.3% among women who had laparoscopic power morcellator use without a containment bag compared with 4.5% ( P =.001) in those with a containment bag (aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.64). CONCLUSION: Use of laparoscopic power morcellators has decreased over time. Containment bag use increased after the FDA's 2014 guidance; however, most procedures employing laparoscopic power morcellators are still performed without a containment bag.

Evaluation of Treatment With Talazoparib and Avelumab in Patients With Recurrent Mismatch Repair Proficient Endometrial Cancer.

Importance: Although the activity of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib (the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved immunotherapy for mismatch repair proficient endometrial cancer [MMRP EC]) is compelling, there are no biomarkers of response and most patients do not tolerate, do not respond to, or develop resistance to this regimen, highlighting the need for additional, potentially biomarker-driven therapeutic approaches for patients with recurrent MMRP EC. Objective: To assess the potential positive outcomes and safety of the combination of the polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase inhibitor talazoparib and the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor avelumab in recurrent MMRP EC. Design, Settings, and Participants: This investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm, 2-stage, phase 2 study nonrandomized controlled trial patients at 4 institutions in the US. Key eligibility criteria included measurable disease, unlimited prior therapies, and all endometrial cancer histologies. Interventions: Talazoparib, 1 mg, orally, daily, and avelumab, 10 mg/kg, intravenously, every 2 weeks, were administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. Main Outcomes and Measures: Statistical considerations were developed for 2 coprimary objectives of objective response rate and rate of progression-free survival at 6 months, with a 2-stage design that allowed for early discontinuation for futility. Prespecified exploratory objectives included the association of immunogenomic features (determined by targeted-panel next-generation sequencing and immunohistochemistry) with activity. Results: Thirty-five female patients (mean [SD] age, 67.9 [8.41] years) received protocol therapy; 9 (25.7%) derived clinical benefit after meeting at least 1 of the 2 coprimary end points. Four patients (11.4%) exhibited confirmed objective response rates (4 partial responses), and 8 (22.9%) survived progression free at 6 months. The most common grade 3 and 4 treatment-related toxic effects were anemia (16 [46%]), thrombocytopenia (10 [29%]), and neutropenia (4 [11%]); no patient discontinued receipt of therapy because of toxic effects. Tumors with homologous recombination repair alterations were associated with clinical benefit from treatment with avelumab and talazoparib. Tumor mutational burden, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and PD-L1 status were not associated with clinical benefit. Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this nonrandomized controlled trial suggest that treatment with avelumab and talazoparib demonstrated a favorable toxic effect profile and met the predetermined criteria to be considered worthy of further evaluation in MMRP EC. Immunogenomic profiling provided insights that may inform ongoing and future studies of polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase and PD-L1 inhibitor combinations in endometrial cancer. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02912572.

Temporal Trends in Cervical Cancer Screening Practices and Associated Downstream Abnormalities and Procedures Among Women With Insurance in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal trends in cervical cancer screening practices and associated downstream abnormalities and procedures. METHODS: Women aged 18-64 years with commercial insurance or Medicaid insurance from 2008 to 2019 were identified using the IBM MarketScan databases. The annual rates of screening overall and by type of test (cytology, co-testing, or primary human papillomavirus testing) were examined. Downstream abnormal cytologic and histologic test results, colposcopies, and excisional procedures were examined, and rates were reported for the population of eligible patients with continuous insurance and for those who underwent screening. Changes over time in testing and outcomes were compared using χ2 tests and Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2019, the annual screening prevalence decreased from 42.6% to 29.4% in women with commercial insurance (P<.001) and from 27.9% to 12.4% among women with Medicaid insurance (P<.001). In the cohort of women with commercial insurance, cytology usage decreased from 79.4% to 38.9% and co-testing increased from 20.1% to 59.6% (P<.001). Per 1,000 women screened, the rate of abnormal histologic and cytologic test results rose from 96 to 119 (P<.001) and colposcopies rose from 33 to 42 (P<.001); excisional procedures remained relatively constant. Per 1,000 eligible women, the rate of abnormal histologic and cytologic test results decreased from 41 to 35 (P<.001), colposcopies declined from 14 to 12, and excisional procedures decreased from 3 to 2. CONCLUSION: Human papillomavirus testing has been rapidly incorporated into cervical cancer screening and is associated with an increasing trend of downstream abnormalities and procedures among screened women but a declining trend at the population level.

Utilization and outcomes of adjuvant therapy for stage II and III uterine leiomyosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal adjuvant therapy for uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) remains uncertain. We analyzed the utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for stage II and III uLMS and explored the association between use of adjuvant therapy and survival. METHODS: Patients with stage II or III uLMS treated from 2004 to 2016 and recorded in the National Cancer Database were identified. Multivariable regression models were fit to estimate predictors of use of either adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy. To analyze the impact of chemotherapy on all-cause mortality, an inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) propensity score method was used to account for measured confounders, and the receipt of radiation therapy was adjusted in the outcome model. The process was repeated to analyze the impact of radiation therapy on all-cause mortality by using an IPTW propensity score method and adjusting for the receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 890 patients were identified. Adjuvant chemotherapy use increased from 62.2% in 2010 to 70.4% in 2016, whereas radiation usage decreased from 26.7% in 2010 to 10.4% in 2016. Patients with stage III (vs. stage II) disease were less likely to receive radiation therapy. After propensity score weighting, chemotherapy was associated with a 30% decreased risk of all-cause mortality in stage III patients (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.45-0.98) but had no effect on mortality for stage II patients (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.70-1.20). Radiation therapy was associated with a 26% decreased risk of mortality for stage II tumors (HR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53-0.99) and a 57% decrease in mortality for stage III disease (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.18-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Among women with stage II-III uLMS, use of chemotherapy is increasing while use of radiation therapy is decreasing. Radiation therapy is associated with improved survival in both stage II and III disease, while there was no association between use of adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in stage II patients.

A Translational Model to Improve Early Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancers.

Neural network analyses of circulating miRNAs have shown potential as non-invasive screening tests for ovarian cancer. A clinically useful test would detect occult disease when complete cytoreduction is most feasible. Here we used murine xenografts to sensitize a neural network model to detect low volume disease and applied the model to sera from 75 early-stage ovarian cancer cases age-matched to 200 benign adnexal masses or healthy controls. The 14-miRNA model efficiently discriminated tumor bearing animals from controls with 100% sensitivity down to tumor inoculums of 50,000 cells. Among early-stage patient samples, the model performed well with 73% sensitivity at 91% specificity. Applied to a population with 1% disease prevalence, we hypothesize the model would detect most early-stage ovarian cancers while maintaining a negative predictive value of 99.97% (95% CI 99.95%-99.98%). Overall, this supports the concept that miRNAs may be useful as screening markers for early-stage disease.

Use of Estrogen Therapy After Surgical Menopause in Women Who Are Premenopausal.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of estrogen therapy (ET) and patterns of follow-up evaluation for sequelae of estrogen deprivation among women who were premenopausal who underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) for benign gynecologic diseases. METHODS: The IBM Watson Health MarketScan Research Databases were used to identify women between age 18 and 50 years who underwent BSO from 2008 to 2019. Estrogen therapy was defined as any prescription of estrogen filled from 6 weeks before BSO to 36 months after BSO. Patterns of follow-up testing including bone mineral density and lipid testing were examined. RESULTS: We identified a total of 61,980 women who underwent BSO for benign indications. Overall, 64.5% (95% CI 64.1-64.9%) of women received ET. The rate of ET use within 36 months of surgery declined from a peak of 69.5% in 2008 to 58.2% in 2016. The median duration of continuous ET was 5.3 months. Estrogen therapy use declined with increasing age. The cumulative rate of ET use at 36 months after surgery was 79.1% (95% CI 76.9-81.1) in those aged 18-29 years, 75.9% (95% CI 74.5-77.3%) in those aged 30-34 years, 70.2% (95% CI 69.1-71.2%) in those aged 35-39 years, 66.1% (95% CI 65.3-66.9%) in those aged 40-44 years, and 60.0% (95% CI 59.4-60.6%) in those aged 45-50 years. In a multivariable model, women who underwent surgery more recently and those with medical comorbidities were less likely to receive ET, whereas younger women, those with Medicaid insurance, those outside of the northeast, and those who underwent concurrent hysterectomy were more likely to receive ET. CONCLUSION: Estrogen therapy use in women who are premenopausal who underwent BSO for benign gynecologic diseases has declined substantially over the past decade.

Prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon placement during cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum.

BACKGROUND: The utility of prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon placement in the surgical management of placenta accreta spectrum is debated. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we review outcomes of surgical management of placenta accreta spectrum with and without prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheter use at a single institution. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive viable singleton pregnancies with a confirmed pathologic diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum undergoing scheduled delivery from October 2018 through November 2020. In the T1 period (October 2018-August 2019), prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheters were placed in the operating room before the start of surgery. Balloons were inflated after neonatal delivery and deflated after hysterectomy completion. In the T2 period (September 2019-November 2020), endovascular catheters were not used. In both time periods, all surgeries were performed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team using a standardized surgical approach. The outcomes compared included the estimated blood loss, anesthesia duration, operating room time, surgical duration, and a composite of surgical complications. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included in the study (T1=10; T2=20). The proportion of patients with placenta increta or percreta was 80% in both groups, as defined by surgical pathology. The median estimated blood loss was 875 mL in T1 and 1000 mL in T2 (P=.84). The proportion of patients requiring any packed red blood cell transfusion was 60% in T1 and 40% in T2 (P=.44). The proportion of patients requiring >4 units of packed red blood cells was 20% in T1 and 5% in T2 (P=.25). Surgical complications were observed in 1 patient in each group. Median operative anesthesia duration was 497 minutes in T1 and 296 minutes in T2 (P<.001). Median duration of operating room time was 498 minutes in T1 and 205 minutes in T2 (P<.001). Median surgical duration was 227 minutes in T1 and 182 minutes in T2 (P<.05). The median duration of time for prophylactic balloon catheter placement was 74 minutes (range, 46-109 minutes). The median postoperative length of stay was similar in both groups (6 days in T1 and 5.5 days in T2; P=.36). CONCLUSION: The use of prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheters was not associated with decreased blood loss, packed red blood cell transfusion, or surgical complications. Catheter use was associated with increased duration of anesthesia, operating room time, and surgical time.

Pathologic characteristics, patterns of care, and outcomes of Asian-Americans and Pacific islanders with uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the patterns of care and outcomes of Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) to non-Hispanic White (NHW) women with uterine cancer, and examine differences across Asian country of origin. METHODS: National Cancer Database was used to identify AAPI and NHW women with uterine cancer diagnosed from 2004 to 2017. Marginal multivariable log-linear regression models and Cox proportional-hazards models were developed to estimate differences in quality-of-care and all-cause mortality between AAPI and NHW women and across AAPI ethnic groups. RESULTS: We identified 13,454 AAPI and 354,693 NHW women. Compared to NHW women, AAPI patients were younger at diagnosis (median age 57 vs. 62 years), had fewer comorbidities, more often had serous or sarcoma histologic subtypes and stage III/IV cancer. AAPI women had a slightly higher rate of receiving pelvic lymphadenectomy for deeply invasive or high-grade tumors (77.6% vs. 74.3%), and a lower rate of undergoing minimally invasive surgery (70.4% vs. 74.8%) for stage I-IIIC tumors. Among patients undergoing hysterectomy, AAPI women had a lower mortality compared with NHW women for cancer stage I/II/III, and a 28% reduction for type I (grade 1 or 2 endometrioid cancers) disease (aHR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.64-0.81). Among AAPI subgroups, Pacific Islanders had the worst survival across different cancer stage and disease type. CONCLUSION: AAPI women are diagnosed with uterine cancer at a younger age and have more aggressive histologic subtypes and advanced stage than their White counterparts. They have a similar level of quality-of-care as NHW women, and an improved survival for early stage and type I disease.

Uptake and outcomes of sentinel lymph node mapping in women undergoing minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the patterns and outcomes of sentinel lymph node (SLN) assessment in women with endometrial cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: United States inpatient and outpatient hospital services. POPULATION: Women with endometrial cancer who underwent a laparoscopic or robotic-assisted hysterectomy. METHODS: The Perspective Database from 2012 to 2018 was used. Performance of lymph node dissection was classified as SLN mapping, lymph node dissection or no nodal evaluation. Adjusted regression models were developed to examine the association between SLN mapping and morbidity and cost. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Utilisation rates, morbidity and cost of both lymph node dissection and SLN mapping. RESULTS: Among 45 381 patients, SLN mapping was performed for 7768 patients (17.1%), lymph node dissection was performed for 23 214 patients (51.2%) and no lymphatic evaluation was performed for 14 399 patients (31.7%). SLN mapping increased from 1.8% in 2012 to 35.3% in 2018, whereas the rate of lymph node dissection decreased from 63.5% to 39.1% (p < 0.001). Among women who underwent nodal evaluation, residence in the west, White race and use of robotic-assisted hysterectomy were associated with SLN mapping (p < 0.05 for all). The complication rate was 5.9% for SLN mapping, compared with 7.3% in those that underwent lymph node dissection (aRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.77-0.95). The median hospital costs for women who underwent SLN mapping ($10 479) and lymph node dissection ($10 747) were higher than for those who did not undergo nodal assessment ($9149) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The performance of SLN mapping is increasing for endometrial cancer. Compared with lymph node dissection, SLN mapping is associated with lower morbidity. SLN mapping significantly increases the costs compared with hysterectomy alone. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: SLN mapping is increasing rapidly for endometrial cancer and is associated with decreased perioperative morbidity.

Adoption of minimally invasive surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with metastatic uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced stage uterine cancer is increasing. We analyzed the use and outcomes of open versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for women with stage IV uterine cancer who received NACT and underwent IDS. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify women with stage IV uterine cancer diagnosed from 2010 to 2017 and treated with NACT. Among women who underwent IDS, overall survival (OS) was compared between those who underwent laparotomy vs a minimally invasive approach. To account for imbalances in confounders, a propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1618 women were identified. Minimally invasive IDS was performed in 31.1% and increased from 16.2% in 2010 to 40.4% in 2017 (P < 0.001). More recent year of diagnosis and performance of surgery at a comprehensive cancer center were associated with increased use of MIS (P < 0.05). Women with serous and clear cell tumors, and carcinosarcomas (compared to endometrioid tumors), as well as Medicaid coverage (compared to commercial insurance) were less likely to undergo an MIS approach (P < 0.05). The median OS was 28 months (95% CI 23.7-30.7) and 24.3 months (95% CI 22.3-26.1) for MIS and laparotomy, respectively. After propensity score balancing, there was no association between the use of MIS and survival (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.71-1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Among women with stage IV uterine cancer treated with NACT performance of minimally invasive debulking surgery is increasing. Compared to laparotomy, MIS does not appear to negatively impact survival.

Patterns of cervical cancer screening among Medicaid beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer screening guidelines have evolved over time with the incorporation of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing along with cytology. Current screening guidelines recommend cytological screening every 3 years or HPV testing with or without cytology every 5 years in women age 30-65 years. We examined the use of cervical cancer screening among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. POPULATION: Women age 30-64 years at average risk for cervical cancer who underwent cervical cancer screening with cytology, co-testing or primary HPV testing from 2013 to 2016. METHODS: The IBM Watson Health Multi-State Medicaid MarketScan Database was used. Subsequent screening rates within 3 years of the index test were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The rate of repeat cervical cancer screening was analysed using a cumulative incidence function. RESULTS: A total of 265 083 patients were identified. Overall, 43.1% (n = 114 312) had index co-testing, 55.2% (n = 146 309) had cytology and 1.7% (n = 4462) had primary HPV testing. The cumulative incidence of early, repeat cervical cancer screening was 3.9% at 12 months, 22.7% at 24 months and 33.3% at 36 months. During the period from 12 to 24 months after follow up, 20.9% of women underwent repeat screening while 19.4% underwent repeat screening 24-36 months after the index test. Among women who did not undergo repeat cervical cancer screening, a yearly gynaecological examination was performed in only 16 627 (10.7%) during year 2 and in 11 116 (8.8%) during year 3. CONCLUSION: Among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries, cervical cancer screening is frequently overused. Women who do not undergo cervical cancer screening are unlikely to undergo routine gynaecological examination. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Among average-risk Medicaid beneficiaries, cervical cancer screening is frequently overused.

Long-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic (TLH) and abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), particularly for women with medical comorbidities. We examined the use and long-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy for women with early-stage endometrial cancer. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database was used to identify women with stage I-II endometrial cancer treated with primary hysterectomy from 2000 to 2015. Multivariable regression models were developed to examine clinical, demographic, and pathologic factors associated with performance of TVH. The association between route of hysterectomy and cancer-specific and overall survival was examined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 19,212 patients including 837 (4.6%) who underwent TVH were identified. Performance of TVH declined from 4.5% in 2000 to 2.2% in 2015 (P < 0.0001). Compared to patients 65-69 years of age, patients 75-79 years old (aRR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.19-1.79) and those >80 years old (aRR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.97) were more likely to undergo TVH. Women with high grade tumors were less likely to undergo TVH. Five-year overall and cancer specific survivals were similar for TAH, TLH, and TVH. In multivariable models, there was no association between TVH and either cancer-specific survival (HR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.65-1.22) compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Use of TVH for stage I and II endometrial cancer has decreased in the U.S. Chronologic age is the greatest predictor of performance of TVH. Performance of TVH does not negatively impact survival for women with early-stage endometrial cancer.

Trends in the Use of Minimally Invasive Adnexal Surgery in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utilization of minimally invasive adnexal surgery, including ovarian cystectomy and oophorectomy, among women with benign gynecologic diseases and compare the associated morbidity and mortality of minimally invasive and open surgery. METHODS: Women with benign ovarian pathology who underwent an ovarian cystectomy or oophorectomy from 2016 through 2018 in the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample and Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases were included. Patients with a diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy or concurrent hysterectomy were excluded. Population-level weighted estimates were developed, and perioperative morbidity, mortality, and hospital charges were examined based on surgical approach for each procedure. RESULTS: The cohort included 351,207 women who underwent oophorectomy and 220,893 women who underwent cystectomy, when weighted representing 547,836 and 328,408 patients, respectively, nationwide. A minimally invasive surgical approach was used in 294,190 (89.6%) patients who underwent ovarian cystectomy, and in 478,402 (87.3%) of patients who underwent oophorectomy. Use of minimally invasive surgery for cystectomy increased from 88.7% in 2016 to 91.0% in 2018, and the rate of minimally invasive surgery for oophorectomy increased from 85.8% to 88.7% over the same time period (P<.001 for both). The complication rates for ovarian cystectomy were 2.7% for minimally invasive surgery and 8.8% for laparotomy (P<.001); for oophorectomy the complication rate was 3.1% for minimally invasive surgery and 22.9% for laparotomy (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery is used in the majority of women who are undergoing oophorectomy and ovarian cystectomy for benign indications. Compared with laparotomy, minimally invasive surgery is associated with fewer complications.

Association Between Overall Survival and the Tendency for Cancer Programs to Administer Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

IMPORTANCE: Randomized clinical trials have found that, in patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has similar long-term survival and improved perioperative outcomes compared with primary cytoreductive surgery. Despite this, considerable controversy remains about the appropriate use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the proportion of patients who receive this treatment varies considerably among cancer programs in the US. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between high levels of neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration and overall survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This difference-in-differences comparative effectiveness analysis leveraged differential adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer programs in the US and included women with a diagnosis of stage IIIC and IV epithelial ovarian cancer between January 2004 and December 2015 who were followed up through the end of 2018. The data were analyzed between September 2020 and January 2021. EXPOSURES: Treatment in a cancer program with high levels of neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration (more often than expected based on case mix) or in a program that continued to restrict its use after the 2010 publication of a clinical trial demonstrating the noninferiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with primary surgery for the treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Case mix-standardized median overall survival time and 1-year all-cause mortality assessed with a flexible parametric survival model. RESULTS: We identified 19 562 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.9 [12.6] years; 3.2% Asian, 8.0% Black, 4.8% Hispanic, 82.5% White individuals) who were treated in 332 cancer programs that increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 21.7% in 2004 to 2009 to 42.2% in 2010 to 2015 and 19 737 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.5 [12.6] years; 3.1% Asian, 7.7% Black, 6.5% Hispanic, 81.8% White individuals) who were treated in 332 programs that marginally increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (20.1% to 22.5%) over these periods. The standardized median overall survival times improved by similar magnitudes in programs with high (from 31.6 [IQR, 12.3-70.1] to 37.9 [IQR, 17.0-84.9] months; 6.3-month difference; 95% CI, 4.2-8.3) and low (from 31.4 [IQR, 12.1-67.2] to 36.8 [IQR, 15.0-80.3] months; 5.4-month difference, 95% CI, 3.5-7.3) use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy after 2010 (difference-in-differences, 0.9 months; 95% CI, -1.9 to 3.7). One-year mortality declined more in programs with high (from 25.6% to 19.3%; risk difference, -5.2%; 95% CI, -6.4 to -4.1) than with low (from 24.9% to 21.8%; risk difference, -3.2%, 95% CI, -4.3 to -2.0) use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (difference-in-differences, -2.1%; 95% CI, -3.7 to -0.5). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this comparative effectiveness research study, compared with cancer programs with low use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, those with high use had similar improvements in median overall survival and larger declines in short-term mortality.

Impact of clinical characteristics on human chorionic gonadotropin regression after molar pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effects of age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and contraception on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regression following the evacuation of a molar pregnancy. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 277 patients with molar pregnancies between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 2015. The rate of hCG regression was estimated using mixed-effects linear regression models on daily log-transformed serum hCG levels after evacuation. RESULTS: There were no differences in hCG half-lives among age (p=0.13) or race/ethnicity (p=0.16) groups. Women with obesity and hormonal contraceptive use demonstrated faster hCG regression than their counterparts (3.2 versus. 3.7 days, p=0.02 and 3.4 versus. 4.0 days, p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Age and race/ethnicity were not associated with hCG regression rates. Hormonal contraceptive use and obesity were associated with shorter hCG half-lives, but with unlikely clinical significance. It is important to understand whether the clinical characteristics of patients may influence the hCG regression curve, as it has been proposed as a way to predict the risk of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.