Adjuvant radiotherapy and local recurrence in vulvar cancer - a subset analysis of the AGO-CaRE-1 study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The impact of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to the vulva with regard to prognosis and local recurrence in patients with vulvar squamous cell cancer (VSCC) is poorly described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In the AGO-CaRE-1 study 1618 patients with primary VSCC FIGO stage ≥ IB, treated between 1998-2008, were documented. In this retrospective subanalysis, 360 patients were included based on the following criteria: nodal involvement (pN+), known RT treatment and known radiation fields.

RESULTS:

The majority had pT1b/pT2 tumors (n=299; 83.1%). In 76.7%, R0 resection was achieved. 57/360 (15.8%) N+ patients were treated with adjuvant RT to the groins/pelvis and 146/360 (40.5%) received adjuvant RT to the vulva and groins/pelvis. 157/360 (43.6%) patients did not receive any adjuvant RT. HPV status was available in 162/360 patients (45.0%), 75/162 tumors were HPV+(46.3%), 87/162 (53.7%) HPV-. During a median follow-up of 17.2 months, recurrence at the vulva only occurred in 25.5% of patients without adjuvant RT, in 22.8% of patients with adjuvant RT to groins/pelvis and in 15.8% of patients with adjuvant RT to the vulva and groins/pelvis respectively. The risk reducing effect of local RT was independent of the resection margin status. 50% disease free survival time (50% DFST) indicated a stronger impact of adjuvant RT to the vulva in HPV+ compared to HPV- patients (50% DFST 20.7 months vs. 17.8 months).

CONCLUSION:

Adjuvant RT to the vulva was associated with a lower risk for local recurrence in N+ VSCC independent of the resection margin status. This observation was more pronounced in patients with HPV+ tumors in comparison to HPV- tumors.

• Authors: Linn Woelber, Katharina Prieske, Christine Zu Eulenburg, Stefanie Corradini, Cordula Petersen, Mareike Bommert, Thomas Blankenstein, Felix Hilpert, Nikolaus de Gregorio, Severine Iborra, Jalid Sehouli, Atanas Ignatov, Peter Hillemanns, Sophie Fuerst, Hans-Georg Strauss, Klaus Baumann, Matthias W Beckmann, Alexander Mustea, Sven Mahner, Anna Jaeger
• Journal: Gynecologic oncology (Gynecol Oncol) Vol. 164 Issue 1 Pg. 68-75 (01 2022) ISSN: 1095-6859 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34794839 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (mortality, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Germany
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (mortality, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
• Vulvar Neoplasms (mortality, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Young Adult