Should Endometrial Cancer Treatment Be Centralized?

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract in Western and emerging countries. In 2012, new cancer cases numbered 319,605, and 76,160 cancer deaths were diagnosed worldwide. ECs are usually diagnosed after menopause; 70% of ECs are diagnosed at an early stage with a favorable prognosis and a 5-year overall survival rate of 77%. On the contrary, women with advanced or recurrent disease have extremely poor outcomes because they show a low response rate to conventional chemotherapy. EC is generally considered easy to treat, although it presents a 5-year mortality of 25%. Though the guidelines (GLs) recommend treatment in specialized centers by physicians specializing in gynecologic oncology, most women are managed by general gynecologists, resulting in differences and discrepancies in clinical management. In this paper we reviewed the literature with the aim of highlighting where the treatment of EC patients requires gynecologic oncologists, as suggested by the GLs. Moreover, we sought to identify the causes of the lack of GL adherence, suggesting useful changes to ensure adequate treatment for all EC patients.

Optimizing Outcomes through a Multidisciplinary Team Approach in Endometrial Cancer

“…A recent study conducted by our group highlighted the tasks of a high-volume center. These include making decisions about patients, referrals to smaller centers, performing histological diagnosis, selecting patients for adjuvant therapy, determining eligibility and treatment options for fertility-sparing approaches, and choosing appropriate follow-up protocols [ 44 ]. During MDT discussion, it is imperative to take into account not only the tumor characteristics but also the social conditions of the patient.…”

Advancements in Endometrial Cancer Research in 2023

“…8,9 For many years, endometrial cancer care has been beset with poor outcomes for patients with advanced stage disease. 10,11 Identifying endometrial cancer at an early stage is associated with better outcomes, 1 but there is currently no public health screening programme for this type of cancer, 12,13 and only females symptomatic for endometrial carcinoma (e.g., presenting with abnormal bleeding) typically seek medical help for its diagnosis and treatment. 14 Disease characterisation in patients with endometrial cancer is not only a clinical process.…”

Protein disulfide isomerase A3 as novel biomarker for endometrial cancer

“…Consequently, this cancer poses a significant threat to women’s health, particularly in developing countries ( 3 , 4 ). While postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used treatments for endometrial cancer patients ( 5 ), their efficacy varies among individuals, and the toxicity associated with these therapies cannot be ignored ( 6 , 7 ). Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new treatment targets for endometrial cancer to improve patient outcomes.…”