The role of cytoreductive surgery for newly diagnosed advanced-stage uterine carcinosarcoma

Abstract

Objectives: Uterine carcinosarcoma (CS) is a rare but aggressive malignancy frequently associated with extrauterine metastasis at the time of diagnosis. The objective of this study was to assess the role of cytoreductive surgery in patients with stage IIIC-IVB uterine CS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with uterine CS treated at our institution from 1990 to 2009. Clinicopathologic factors, surgical procedures, adjuvant therapy, and survival outcomes were collected for all patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors predictive of survival outcomes were compared using the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Results: An analysis of 44 patients was performed (stage IIIC, n=14; stage IVB, n=30). Complete gross resection was achieved in 57% of patients. PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 8.6 months and 18.5 months, respectively. Complete gross resection was associated with a median OS of 52.3 months versus 8.6 months in patients with gross residual disease (P<0.0001). Stage IIIC disease was associated with a median OS of 52.3 months versus 17.5 months for patients with stage IVB disease. In patients who received adjuvant therapy, OS was 30.1 months versus 4.7 months in patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, only complete gross resection and the ability to receive adjuvant therapy were independently associated with OS.

Conclusions: Cytoreductive surgery, with a goal of achieving a complete gross resection, is associated with an improvement in OS among patients with advanced uterine CS.