ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The role of adjuvant therapy in the management of patients with malignant mixed Müllerian tumors (MMMT) of the uterus has not been defined. The outcome of planned multimodality therapy for patients with apparent early stage disease was assessed. METHODS: A pilot study was performed on 38 patients with clinical Stage I or II MMMTs of the uterus who were offered treatment according to a standard protocol. The protocol consisted of removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries and surgical staging followed by tailored radiation therapy and chemotherapy, consisting of cisplatin and epirubicin. RESULTS: The overall survival was 74% (28 of 38 patients), with a mean duration of follow-up for survivors of 55 months (range, 17-121 months). The mean time to death from disease was 26 months (range, 7-87 months). The survival rate for those patients who completed treatment according to the multimodality protocol was 95% (20 of 21 patients), with a disease free survival rate of 90% (19 of 21 patients). The overall survival of patients who did not receive the recommended treatment protocol for various reasons was 47% (8 of 17 patients). An analysis of survival curves demonstrated that there was a significant survival advantage for those patients who completed the treatment according to the multimodality protocol (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, patients with clinical Stage I or II MMMTs who underwent surgical staging and aggressive adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy had an excellent survival rate. The results justify a randomized prospective study of this approach.