Locally advanced cervical cancer: a descriptive analysis of 20 patients with a visceral recurrence

Abstract

Purpose: To perform a descriptive analysis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who developed a visceral recurrence, and to identify factors that may favor this atypical aggressive progression.
Patients and methods: The data from twenty patients with LACC and visceral recurrence were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: The majority of the patients (85%) developed a recurrence within 2 years of their primary therapy. All died from their cancer, with a median survival of 28.7 months (range 13.4 - 35.9 months). None of the characteristics related to the patient, the tumor, or the treatment were associated with visceral recurrence (p> 0.05). The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 classification only plays a partial role in predicting the risk of recurrence. On the other hand, the FIGO 2018 version appears to be more discriminating by taking the lymph node status into account.
Conclusion: LACC is a heterogeneous group of diseases with a wide range of outcomes. No clear prognostic factors are associated with visceral progression. Other variables – probably linked to the molecular changes within the tumor itself – may constitute a means to stratify the development risk once identified and standardized, but may also be useful for targeted therapies.