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Clear Cell carcinoma of the uterus is an uncommon type of
endometrial cancer and is considered a high risk group (greater chance of relapse or
recurrence than the more common type called adenocarcinoma.) Most authorities recommend
additional therapy after surgery, though there is no consensus on what's best,
radiation (whole abdomen WART, or pelvis) and/or chemotherapy. We generally use postOp
pelvic radiation someitmes combined with chemotherapy in non-protocol patients. (see the NNCN guidelines for clear cell
cancer.) A recent literature review noted that these patients often
relapse in the pelvis (unlike serous which often relapses in the
abdomen) and postOp pelvic irradiation is useful.
Several reports in the literature have shown that, compared with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, patients with papillary serous (PS) and clear cell (CC)
histologic features do worse. PS or CC cancers of the uterus are often associated with
lymphatic invasion, deep myometrial invasion, intra-abdominal relapse, and a poor outcome.
In the 2001 FIGO report, of 5914 patients, 305 had PS and 140 had CC cancer. The 5-year survival rate was 54.3% and 63.2% for PS and CC, respectively,
compared with 79.9% for endometrioid carcinoma. When only patients with Stage I
disease were analyzed, the 5-year survival rate was 72% for PS and 79.6% for CC,
respectively. Even women with stage I serous cancer may benefit from postOp
chemotherapy +/- radiation (go here). |
Outcome and patterns of failure in pathologic stages I–IV clear-cell carcinoma of the endometrium: implications for adjuvant radiation therapy.
Kevin T. Murphy, International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics,2003; 55:5 : 1272-1276
Endometrial carcinoma is the fourth most common cancer in women,
with an estimated 35,000 cases per year in the United States Fortunately, most are
classified as adenocarcinoma and have a favorable prognosis. However, approximately 5% of patients present with clear-cell carcinoma
These tumors are considered more aggressive with poorer
outcomes.
Most investigators group clear-cell tumors together with the more common papillary serous
histology Thus, many clear-cell patients are often treated with whole-abdominal radiation
therapy (WART) and/or chemotherapy, even when the disease is confined to the uterus.
Although selected studies have focused solely on clear-cell histology , most include a
limited number of patients or fail to describe in detail the adjuvant therapy
administered and sites of failure. As a result, the optimal management of these
patients remains less defined.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the outcome and patterns of failure in pathologic
Stages I–IV clear-cell carcinoma of the endometrium treated at our institution and to
discuss implications for adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). Clear-cell carcinoma comprises a
small percentage of endometrial cancers, frequently presents as a mixed histology, and has
a poor overall outcome. Unlike papillary serous tumors, clear-cell
carcinoma does not seem to have a high propensity for abdominal failure. Our
results thus do not support the routine use of whole-abdominal RT in these patients.
Future protocols should focus instead on combinations of locoregional RT and chemotherapy
to reduce the risk of local and systemic recurrence.
