Endometrial Cancer Characteristics and Risk of Recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: To describe clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes of endometrial adenocarcinomas stratified by mismatch repair (MMR) status. METHODS: Single-institution, retrospective study of all women with endometrioid adenocarcinomas treated from January 2012 through December 2017. Patients were categorized into one of three groups based on MMR testing: intact MMR expression (MMR+), probable MMR mutation (MMR-), or MLH1 hypermethylation (hMLH1+). Demographics, pathologic characteristics, recurrence rates, and survival differences were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 316 women were included in the analysis: 235 (74.4%) patients in the MMR+ group, 10 (3.1%) in the MMR- group, and 71 (22.5%) in the hMLH1+ group. Patients with hMLH1+ were significantly older, exhibited higher-grade histology and presence of lymphovascular space invasion, and were more likely to have received adjuvant treatment. The early stage hMLH1+ patients were more likely to recur (15.3% hMLH1+ vs 2.3% MMR+ vs 12.5% MMR-, P < .001). Hypermethylation remained a significant predictor of recurrence in multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 5.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54-16.86; P = .008). Recurrence-free survival was significantly reduced in early stage hMLH1+ (hazard ratio, 7.40; 95% CI, 2.80-21.62; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Women with hMLH1+ endometrial cancer have worse prognostic features and recur more frequently, even in patients traditionally considered low risk for recurrence.

Development of endometrial stromal sarcoma in a patient undergoing in vitro fertilization: A case report.

Development of endometrial stromal sarcoma during in vitro fertilization (IVF) is rare. We encountered a case of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) presenting as a new endometrial mass in a patient undergoing donor egg IVF, despite normal imaging and exams prior to and throughout treatment. To our knowledge, this is the only report describing the rapid growth of ESS during IVF treatment. When diagnosing an endometrial stromal sarcoma, it is important for the clinician and patient to be aware that full histologic inspection is required to distinguish it from a benign neoplasm. Given the need for a hysterectomy for definitive diagnosis, this case presents ethical challenges and potential for patient distress.

A prospective pilot study on the incidence of post-operative lymphedema in women with endometrial cancer.

To determine the incidence of lower-extremity lymphedema after surgical therapy including lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer patients using standardized leg measurements. Also, to determine additional risk factors for the development of lymphedema and to study the effect of lymphedema on one's quality of life. In this prospective cohort study, patients with the diagnosis of endometrial cancer who were to undergo definitive surgical management were evaluated pre-operatively and followed post-operatively over the course of two years. Standardized leg measurements were performed by the same individuals at six time-points. Subjects also completed a standardized quality-of-life survey at each time-point. The incidence of lymphedema in 39 women with endometrial cancer using a standardized leg measurement protocol was 12.8% with lymphedema defined as a 20% increase in post-operative leg measurements. There was no significant association between the development of lymphedema and the number of pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes removed, medical comorbidities, or surgical approach (p > 0.05). Of the five patients who met criteria for lymphedema, only one had worsening quality-of-life concerns post-operatively on the FACT-En, version 4, survey. This is the first prospective study using standardized leg measurements to calculate the incidence of post-operative lymphedema in endometrial cancer. Medical comorbidities, surgical approach, number of lymph nodes removed, and location of lymph nodes removed did not appear to affect the development of lymphedema in this cohort. A prospective, multicenter trial is needed to confirm these findings and to further assess the impact of lymphedema on one's quality of life.