Patterns of recurrence in 1988 FIGO stage IC endometrioid endometrial cancer

ObjectivesTo evaluate patterns of recurrence in 1988 FIGO stage IC endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma.MethodsA prospectively maintained endometrial cancer database was utilized to identify all patients with stage IC endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma treated between 2/93 and 6/09. Patterns of recurrence and risk factors were analyzed.ResultsOne hundred thirty-four patients with stage IC endometrial cancer were identified. Median age was 66 years (range, 31–91 years). All patients were initially treated surgically, and 79% underwent comprehensive surgical staging with lymphadenectomy. Median number of lymph nodes removed was 18 (range, 1–45). Fifty-one patients (38%) had FIGO grade 1 tumors, 55 (41%) had grade 2 tumors, and 28 (21%) had grade 3 tumors. The majority of patients (91%) received adjuvant radiation therapy. With a median follow-up of 36 months (range, 0.6–141.4 months), 10 patients recurred. Of these, 2 (20%) were grade 1, 2 (20%) were grade 2, and 6 (60%) were grade 3. Nine (90%) of these recurrences had a distant component and 7 (70%) were fatal. Overall, the 3 year cumulative incidence failure rate for grade 1/2 tumors was 5.4%; for grade 3 tumors it was 28.9% (P < 0.001). Age, BMI, and lymphovascular invasion were not associated with an increased risk of recurrence.ConclusionsPatients with stage IC, grade 3 endometrial cancer had a significantly increased risk of recurrence (28.9%). All of these recurrences had a distant component and the majority were fatal. Further investigation into the addition of adjuvant systemic therapy in these high-risk patients is warranted.

► Patients with stage IC, grade 3 endometrial cancer had increased risk of recurrence.
► All of these recurrences had a distant component and the majority were fatal.
► Further investigation into addition of adjuvant systemic therapy is needed.