Trudy R. Baker

SEVERE RADIATION MORBIDITY IN CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX: IMPACT OF PRETHERAPY SURGICAL STAGING AND PREVIOUS SURGERY

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to delineate the factors which (a) contribute to an increase in the severe, radiation induced complication rate and (b) have a significant effect on survival in patients with International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) Stage I-IVA cervical cancer undergoing pretherapy surgical staging. METHODS AND MATERIALS From 1971-1991, 189 patients underwent pretherapy surgical staging via a retroperitoneal approach (67) or transperitoneal approach (122). Seventy-nine patients had previously experienced a laparotomy. Patients subsequently received a median of 85 Gy to point A. In patients receiving paraaortic radiation, a median of 45 Gy was administered. One hundred and thirty-two (69.8%) patients received hydroxyurea as a radiation sensitizer. RESULTS Pretherapy surgical evaluation revealed that 21 of 89 (23.6%) Stage II patients and 32 of 85 (37.6%) Stage III patients had paraaortic lymph node metastases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis detailed the significant factors favorably influencing the radiation-induced complication rate to be a retroperitoneal approach of pretherapy surgical staging and no previous laparotomy. Survival was significantly prolonged in patients receiving hydroxyurea, evaluated via a retroperitoneal incision, with negative paraaortic lymph nodes, and with an early stage of disease. CONCLUSION A retroperitoneal approach to pretherapy surgical staging and absence of previous surgery reduced the incidence of subsequent radiation-induced complications. Despite improvements in the detection of occult disease, prolonged survival is impaired when the therapeutic measures currently available are used.

Long term survival by cytoreductive surgery to less than 1 cm, induction weekly cisplatin and monthly cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphaide therapy in advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma

Background. Survival rates for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer remain low despite improved chemotherapy regimens and cytoreductive surgery.

Survival in patients with paraaortic lymph node metastases from endometrial adenocarcinoma clinically limited to the uterus

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was (a) to evaluate the incidence of paraaortic lymph node metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the endometrium clinically limited to the uterus (1971 FIGO Stages I and II) and (b) to report the 5 year disease-free survival of patients with histologically documented paraaortic lymph node metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma clinically limited to the uterus treated on two separate protocols. METHODS AND MATERIALS From June 1979 to June 1990, 109 patients underwent staging paraaortic lymphadenectomy or paraaortic lymph node biopsy at the time of total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for adenocarcinoma of the endometrium clinically limited to the uterus. Patients with histologically documented paraaortic lymph node metastasis were treated on two protocols: (a) pelvic radiation (5,040 cGy) plus progestins or (b) pelvic radiation therapy (5,040 cGy) plus paraaortic radiation (4,500 cGy). RESULTS Paraaortic lymph node metastases was primarily associated with grade 3 tumors (34.4%) and deep myometrial invasion (42%) and was present in 17.4% (19) of 109 patients. None of the women treated with pelvic radiation therapy and progestins survived five years disease-free. In contrast, the 5 year disease-free survival was 27% for patients treated by pelvic and paraaortic radiation. CONCLUSIONS Since all patients with macroscopic metastases to the paraaortic lymph nodes developed recurrent cancer and only a small percentage of those with microscopic metastases to the paraaortic lymph nodes survived disease-free at 5 years, improved survival for patients with paraaortic lymph node metastases will necessitate the addition of effective cytotoxic chemotherapy to pelvic and paraaortic radiation.

Five-year survival for stage IC or stage I grade 3 epithelial ovarian cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Thirty-two stage IC or stage I grade 3 patients with invasive ovarian adenocarcinoma were treated with 6 months of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 60.5 months, there have been three (9%) recurrences. The 5-year progression-free survival was 90.5% and the 5-year survival was 93.3%.

A prospective trial of progesterone therapy for malignant peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial carcinoma

From February 1982 to February 1991, 45 patients with endometrial carcinoma confined to the uterus except for malignant peritoneal cytology were treated with 1 year of progesterone therapy. Thirty-six patients have undergone planned second-look laparoscopy with repeat peritoneal washings and the remaining 9 patients either refused second-look laparoscopy or the procedure was medically contraindicated. Of the 36 who underwent second-look laparoscopy, 34 (94.5%) were NED (no evidence of disease) and had negative repeat peritoneal cytology and 2 (5.5%) had persistent malignant cytology. The latter two patients, after an additional year of progesterone therapy, were found to be NED and had negative peritoneal cytology at third-look laparoscopy. Of the 45 women enrolled in this protocol, no patient has developed recurrent endometrial cancer, and the expected 5-year disease-free survival was 88.6%.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy for stage II ovarian adenocarcinoma : a preliminary report

Abstract We have performed three sequential trials in patients with FIGO stage II ovarian cancer in an attempt to improve long-term survival. The first trial utilized whole-abdomen radiation and a pelvic boost and the second study utilized pelvic radiation plus melphalan chemotherapy. These trials resulted in estimated 5-year survivals of 40 and 50%, respectively ( Gynecol. Oncol. 23 , 168–175, 1986). In the current study, 20 patients were treated with 6 months of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The estimated progression-free survival was only 45%. However, by tailoring salvage therapy to the findings at second-look laparotomy, the estimated 5-year survival was 77%. Notwithstanding the latter result of 77%, improved therapy is still required for the relatively rare patient who has stage II ovarian cancer.