Primary radiation therapy for medically inoperable patients with clinical stage I and II endometrial carcinoma

ObjectiveTo determine the outcomes associated with primary radiation therapy for medically inoperable, clinical stage I and II, endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC).MethodsA multi-institution, retrospective chart review from January 1997 to January 2009 was performed. Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Disease-specific survival was analyzed using a competing risks approach.ResultsSeventy-four patients were evaluable. The median age and BMI were 65 years (range 36-92 years) and 46 kg/m2 (range 23-111 kg/m2), respectively. 85.1% had severe systemic disease, most frequently cardiopulmonary risk and morbid obesity. With a mean follow-up of 31 months, 13 patients (17.6%) experienced a recurrence. The median PFS and OS were 43.5 months and 47.2 months, respectively. Overall, 35 women died, including 4 women who died of unknown cause. Of the remaining 31 women, 7 patients (9.5%) died of disease, while 24 died of other causes (32.4%). The hazard ratio comparing the risk of death due to other causes to the risk of death due to disease was 3.4 (95% CI 1.4-9.4, p = 0.003). Among patients who are alive three years after diagnosis, 14% recurred and the conditional recurrence estimate did not exceed 16%.ConclusionsPrimary radiation therapy for clinical stage I and II EAC is a feasible option for medically inoperable patients and provides disease control, with fewer than 16% of surviving patients experiencing recurrence.

► Primary radiation therapy for stage I and II endometrial cancer is a feasible option. ► The probability of cancer recurrence in patients receiving such treatment is 15%. ► These patients are 3.4 times likely to die from causes other than endometrial cancer.