Insights from the Pre-Molecular Era in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: Benchmarking Prognostic Indicators in High-Risk Tumours

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Although the binarism between type I and II endometrial cancer was dismissed and substituted with molecular classification, histopathological features remain of paramount importance. Hence, analysing survival outcomes according to histological type, our aim is to clarify whether the morphological features of the tumour retain prognostic relevance in the context of advanced disease. <b>Methods</b>: This is a retrospective analysis led within the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance Network. <b>Results</b>: We include 148 FIGO 2009 stage III-IV patients affected by endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) G1, G2, and G3, carcinosarcoma (CS), serous carcinoma (SC), and clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the uterus. Five year overall survival (OS) is distinct among the histological groups (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001), being 73.3% for G2 endometrioid, 49.2% for G3 endometrioid, 8.3% for CS, and 28.4% for SC. The divergence was marked also for 5 year progression-free survival (PFS) (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001) as follows: for G2 endometrioid, was 76.4%; for G3 endometrioid, 52.7%; and for carcinosarcoma, 5.9%. PFS after 18 months for serous carcinoma was 5.7%. The multivariate analysis found G3 endometrioid (HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.20-7.11, <i>p</i>-value 0.018), carcinosarcoma (HR 12.15, 95% CI 5.07-29.11, <i>p</i>-value < 0.001), and serous carcinoma (HR 4.84, 95% CI 2.16-10.83, <i>p</i>-value < 0.001) as independent predictors of poor survival, as well as cervical invasion (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.10-3.05, <i>p</i>-value 0.020) as the only histopathological feature confirmed. Regarding progression-free only carcinosarcoma (HR 14.91, 95% CI 5.28-41.11) and serous carcinoma (HR 17.68, 95% CI 6.41-48.75) were associated with an increased risk of recurrence. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our findings testify that, beyond the disease stage, histological subtype remains a major determinant of survival outcome. Cervical involvement is associated with a more aggressive disease, possibly correlated to death beyond relapse. Prospective trials involving advanced stage endometrial cancer, stratified by histological subtype and integrated with the molecular classification, are required.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-12-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248726
Primary Topic
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Insights from the Pre-Molecular Era in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: Benchmarking Prognostic Indicators in High-Risk Tumours

Journal of Clinical Medicine
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
article

Insights from the Pre-Molecular Era in Advanced Endometrial Cancer: Benchmarking Prognostic Indicators in High-Risk Tumours

article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Although the binarism between type I and II endometrial cancer was dismissed and substituted with molecular classification, histopathological features remain of paramount importance. Hence, analysing survival outcomes according to histological type, our aim is to clarify whether the morphological features of the tumour retain prognostic relevance in the context of advanced disease. <b>Methods</b>: This is a retrospective analysis led within the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance Network. <b>Results</b>: We include 148 FIGO 2009 stage III-IV patients affected by endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) G1, G2, and G3, carcinosarcoma (CS), serous carcinoma (SC), and clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the uterus. Five year overall survival (OS) is distinct among the histological groups (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001), being 73.3% for G2 endometrioid, 49.2% for G3 endometrioid, 8.3% for CS, and 28.4% for SC. The divergence was marked also for 5 year progression-free survival (PFS) (<i>p</i>-value < 0.001) as follows: for G2 endometrioid, was 76.4%; for G3 endometrioid, 52.7%; and for carcinosarcoma, 5.9%. PFS after 18 months for serous carcinoma was 5.7%. The multivariate analysis found G3 endometrioid (HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.20-7.11, <i>p</i>-value 0.018), carcinosarcoma (HR 12.15, 95% CI 5.07-29.11, <i>p</i>-value < 0.001), and serous carcinoma (HR 4.84, 95% CI 2.16-10.83, <i>p</i>-value < 0.001) as independent predictors of poor survival, as well as cervical invasion (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.10-3.05, <i>p</i>-value 0.020) as the only histopathological feature confirmed. Regarding progression-free only carcinosarcoma (HR 14.91, 95% CI 5.28-41.11) and serous carcinoma (HR 17.68, 95% CI 6.41-48.75) were associated with an increased risk of recurrence. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our findings testify that, beyond the disease stage, histological subtype remains a major determinant of survival outcome. Cervical involvement is associated with a more aggressive disease, possibly correlated to death beyond relapse. Prospective trials involving advanced stage endometrial cancer, stratified by histological subtype and integrated with the molecular classification, are required.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(24)
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Wexham Park Hospital (GB), Churchill Hospital (GB), Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB), University of Oxford (GB), Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea (IT), Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB), University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (GB), University of Brescia (IT)
University of Oxford
No poverty
Openalex Percentile: Top 28%
Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments
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