Cervical stromal invasion predicting survival in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the extent to which cervical stromal invasion would predict survival.

METHODS

Cases of stage II endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma from three academic institutions were reviewed. A gynecologic pathologist reevaluated archived slides and measured the depth of cervical stromal invasion. Clinical data were abstracted and statistical analysis performed.

RESULTS

Of 116 cases, 31 (27%) had gland involvement and 85 (73%) cervical stromal invasion. Cervical stromal invasion was categorized as the inner two thirds (n=59 [69%]) compared with the outer third (n=26 [31%]). Women with outer third cervical stromal invasion compared with those with inner two-thirds cervical stromal invasion were more likely to be aged at least 65 years (69% compared with 46%, P=.038), have at least 50% myometrial invasion (77% compared with 44%, P=.004), lymphvascular space invasion (46% compared with 20%, P=.016), and to have died (50% compared with 19%, P=.004). Overall survival for patients with no invasion and inner two-thirds cervical stromal invasion did not differ (106 compared with 146 months, P=.89). Survival for outer third cervical stromal invasion was 91 months (P=.021). Multivariable analysis found deep myometrial invasion (hazard ratio 3.1; confidence interval [CI], 1.2-8.2), lymphvascular space invasion (hazard ratio 3.2; CI 1.2-8.4), and outer third cervical stromal invasion (hazard ratio 2.8; CI 1.1-7.2) were independent predictors of death.

CONCLUSION

Deep (outer third) cervical stromal invasion is an independent predictor of death in stage II endometrial cancers and these patients should receive radiation therapy. Superficial cervical stromal invasion did not increase risk of death and adjuvant radiation for this patient group may not be necessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.