Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy In Endometrial Cancer Research Articles

Lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer: is paraaortic lymphadenectomy necessary?

Total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) have been performed as a standard surgical treatment for endometrial cancer. Many studies have reported on issues such as whether retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy should also be performed with TAH+BSO, to what extent lymphadenectomy should be performed when TAH+BSO is performed, and in what type of patients should lymphadenectomy be performed. These issues have been actively discussed, but there has not been any consensus. In this review article, the benefits of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in the initial surgical treatment for endometrial cancer will be discussed in terms of patients with pelvic lymphadenectomy and those with paraaortic (PA) lymphadenectomy. From the previous data, the establishment of TAH+BSO plus pelvic lymphadenectomy as the standard surgical treatment for endometrial cancer is thought to be reasonable. In this situation, is there benefit in performing PA lymphadenectomy? A discussion will be provided by separating the diagnostic significance from the therapeutic significance of this treatment. At present, there are no established treatments for PA-lymph node-positive patients that can be recommended more than the adjuvant therapies that are already performed at various institutions. A scientific basis that clearly indicates the therapeutic effect of PA lymphadenectomy does not exist at the present time. Despite performing thorough PA lymphadenectomy, the route of progression to extrauterine sites cannot be completely controlled. The standard surgical procedure for endometrial cancer is TAH+BSO+pelvic lymphadenectomy, which is considered necessary and sufficient. At present, the addition of PA lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer can be regarded as only an investigated protocol.

The value of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer to avoid unnecessary radiotherapy.

The case histories of 95 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between July 1998 and December 2002 were reviewed. These patients were staged according to FIGO classification and included peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO), and pelvic with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The FIGO surgical stages were as follow: IA, 9 (9.5%); IB, 35 (36.8%); IC, 16 (16.8%); IIB, 10 (10.5%); IIIA, 5 (5.3%); IIIB, 1 (1.1%); IIIC, 19 (20.0%). In addition to TAHBSO, 47 (49.5%) patients had pelvic lymphadenectomy whereas 48 (50.5%) had both pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Nineteen (20.0%) of 95 patients had nodal metastases. Positive pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were found in 15 (15.8%) of 95 and 12 (25.0%) of 48 patients, respectively. According to the result of the lymphadenectomy, 19 (20.0%) patients had their surgical stage upgraded to stage IIIC and 61 (64.2%) patients had a change in their management plan. Twelve (12.6%) patients required extended field irradiation due to para-aortic nodal metastases and 49 (51.6%) patients with negative nodes avoided postoperative external radiotherapy. By defining the lymphatic spread via surgical staging, postoperative radiotherapy can be recommended to patients with nodal metastases, while it can be withheld from those patients with negative nodes, irrespective of the presence of risk factors.

The value of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer to avoid unnecessary radiotherapy

The case histories of 95 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between July 1998 and December 2002 were reviewed. These patients were staged according to FIGO classification and included peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO), and pelvic with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The FIGO surgical stages were as follow: IA, 9 (9.5%); IB, 35 (36.8%); IC, 16 (16.8%); IIB, 10 (10.5%); IIIA, 5 (5.3%); IIIB, 1 (1.1%); IIIC, 19 (20.0%). In addition to TAHBSO, 47 (49.5%) patients had pelvic lymphadenectomy whereas 48 (50.5%) had both pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Nineteen (20.0%) of 95 patients had nodal metastases. Positive pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were found in 15 (15.8%) of 95 and 12 (25.0%) of 48 patients, respectively. According to the result of the lymphadenectomy, 19 (20.0%) patients had their surgical stage upgraded to stage IIIC and 61 (64.2%) patients had a change in their management plan. Twelve (12.6%) patients required extended field irradiation due to para-aortic nodal metastases and 49 (51.6%) patients with negative nodes avoided postoperative external radiotherapy. By defining the lymphatic spread via surgical staging, postoperative radiotherapy can be recommended to patients with nodal metastases, while it can be withheld from those patients with negative nodes, irrespective of the presence of risk factors.

Potential Therapeutic Role of Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy in Node-Positive Endometrial Cancer

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the potential therapeutic role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) in high-risk patients with endometrial cancer.Methods. We studied two groups of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent operation at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) during the interval 1984 to 1993: (1) 137 patients at high risk for para-aortic lymph node involvement (myometrial invasion >50%, palpable positive pelvic nodes, or positive adnexae), excluding stage IV disease, and (2) 51 patients with positive nodes (pelvic or para-aortic), excluding stage IV disease. By our definition, PAL required removal of five or more para-aortic nodes.Results. In both groups, no significant difference existed between patients who had PAL (PAL+) and those who did not (PAL−) in regard to clinical or pathologic variables, percentage irradiated, or surgical or radiation complications. Among the 137 high-risk patients, the 5-year progression-free survival was 62% and the 5-year overall survival was 71% for the PAL− group compared with 77 and 85%, respectively, for the PAL+ group (P = 0.12 and 0.06, respectively). For the 51 patients with positive nodes, the 5-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival for the PAL− group were 36 and 42% compared with 76 and 77% for the PAL+ group (P = 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). Lymph node recurrences were detected in 37% of the PAL− patients but in none of the PAL+ patients (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis suggested that submission to PAL was a cogent predictor of progression-free survival (odds ratio = 0.25; P = 0.01) and overall survival (odds ratio = 0.23; P = 0.006).Conclusions. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role for formal PAL in endometrial cancer.