Radiotherapy in the treatment of sarcomas of the corpus uteri

Abstract

One hundred forty-seven cases of sarcomas of the corpus uteri, including 71 leiomyosarcomas, 30 endometrial stromal sarcomas, 23 mixed mesodermal sarcomas, and 23 carcinosarcomas were treated at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. These tumors represent 6.7% of all cancers of the uterine corpus. Treatment varied from surgery (56 cases) to radiotherapy (37 cases) or combined surgery and irradiation (54 cases). The 5-year crude survival rate of the entire series was 37% with no significant difference between the 4 histologic groups. The clinical extent of tumor was the most significant prognostic factor. Suggestive evidence of increased survival rates was seen in those treated by combined surgery and irradiation. A significant decrease in the recurrence rates followed this combined approach.