High-Risk Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Role of Adjuvant Therapy and Prognostic Factors Affecting Survival
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> High-grade endometrial cancer, including non-endometrioid and grade 3 endometrioid histologies, is associated with poor prognosis despite early-stage diagnosis. This study assessed the prognosis of early-stage high-grade endometrial cancer, identified prognostic factors, and evaluated the optimal candidates for adjuvant therapy. <b>Methods:</b> We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients with 2018 FIGO stage I-II high-grade endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomies between 2008 and 2022. Adjuvant therapy was determined by a multidisciplinary team. Survival outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. <b>Results:</b> Of 106 patients, 60 had non-endometrioid, and 46 had grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma; 69 (65.1%) received adjuvant therapy. After a median follow-up of 48.8 months, 37 patients experienced disease progression, and 21 died. Non-endometrioid histology was significantly associated with worse overall survival (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Lack of lymph node dissection, deeper invasion, and the omission of adjuvant therapy were additional adverse prognostic factors. Adjuvant therapy improved the overall survival (<i>p</i> = 0.009), disease-free survival (<i>p</i> = 0.021), and locoregional recurrence-free survival (<i>p</i> = 0.034) in patients with one or two risk factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> Non-endometrioid histology, deep invasion, and the lack of lymph node dissection are associated with worse survival in early-stage high-grade endometrial cancer. Adjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with these risk factors.
Authors
- Sung Jong Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6077-2649)
- Yeon‐Sil Kim
- Keun Ho Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9005-7796)
- Ji Hyun Hong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6237-891X)
- Soo Young Hur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6563-2293)
- Jun Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7967-0917)
Institutions
- The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (KR)
- Catholic University of Korea (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cancers
- Published
- 2025-06-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17122056
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.23