A Turkish Gynecologic Oncology Group study of fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage endometrial cancer

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the results of fertility-sparing treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) in patients treated at Turkish gynecologic oncology centers, and to present a review of the literature.

Methods: Thirteen healthcare centers in Turkey were contacted to determine if they were eligible to participate in the study. Centers that were eligible and agreed to participate were sent a database form to record the demographic characteristics, clinicopathologic findings, and follow-up results for their EC patients.

Results: Eleven Turkish healthcare centers provided data on 43 EC patients. Mean duration of treatment was 5 months and mean follow-up was 49 months. In total, 35 (81.4%) patients were tumor free following primary progesterone therapy. Mean time from the end of progesterone therapy to pregnancy was 10.6 ± 4.3 months (range, 3-18 months). Two patients had tumor recurrence during follow-up. The pregnancy rate among the 31 women who actively sought pregnancy was 41.9% (n=13).

Conclusion: Conservative management of early-stage EC in women of reproductive age using oral progestins was effective and did not compromise oncological outcome. Pregnancy in the study patients was achieved spontaneously and artificially.