Factors Affecting Risk of Mortality in Women With Vaginal Cancer

Abstract

Objective-To estimate the current effect of demographics, pathology, and treatment on mortality among women with vaginal cancer.Methods-Using data from 17 population-based cancer registries that participate in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, 2,149 women diagnosed with primary vaginal cancer between 1990 to 2004 were identified. The association between various demographic factors, tumor characteristics, and treatments and risk of vaginal cancer mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards modeling.Results-The mean age at diagnosis was 65.7 ± 14.3 years. Approximately 66% of all cases were non-Hispanic whites. Incidence was highest among African-American women (1.24/100,000 personyears). The 5-year disease specific-survival was 84% (Stage I), 75% (Stage II), and 57% (Stage III/ IV). In a multivariate adjusted model, women with tumors greater than 4 cm and advanced disease had elevated risks of mortality (HR 1.71, 4.67, respectively). Compared to women with squamous cell carcinomas, patients with vaginal melanoma had a 1.51-fold (95% CI: 1.07-2.41) increased risk of mortality. Surgery alone as a treatment modality had the lowest risk of mortality. The risk of mortality has decreased over time, as women diagnosed after 2000 had an adjusted 17% decrease in their risk of death compared to women from 1990-1994.Conclusion-Stage, tumor size, histology, and treatment modality significantly affect a woman's risk of mortality from vaginal cancer. There appears to be a survival advantage that is temporally related with the advent of chemoradiation.

Definitive Radiotherapy for Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina: Are High-Dose External Beam Radiotherapy and High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy Boost the Best Treatment? Experience of Two Italian Institutes

“…Shah et al [30] reported a significantly higher risk of death for patients aged 70-79 years and aged 80-89 years compared with those aged 50-59 years [30]. In our study, women aged 70 years or older had a 1.696-fold higher risk of death compared with younger women.…”

“…Older age at presentation was a predictor of poor clinical outcome in most papers [6,20,[28][29][30]. Shah et al [30] reported a significantly higher risk of death for patients aged 70-79 years and aged 80-89 years compared with those aged 50-59 years [30].…”

Primary Vaginal Melanoma, A Rare and Aggressive Entity. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…The incidence rates have been found to be very high for post-menopausal women, ranging between 2.08/100,000 for 60-to 69-year-old women and 4.43/100,000 for 80-to 89-year-old women (11). The average age at first diagnosis was found to be 57 years (7).…”

“…The average age at first diagnosis was found to be 57 years (7). Socioeconomic factors such as level of education, income and poverty seem to have no influence on incidence rates (11).…”

Vaginal Cancer Trends in Women of Low Resources Settings

“…A single institution review suggested that tumor stage, site, and size were all important prognostic factors [24]. Shah et al [25] also reported stage, tumor size, histology, and treatment modality significantly affected a woman's risk of mortality from vaginal cancer. There seemed to be a survival advantage that was temporally related to the advent of chemo radiation.…”