PALM SPRINGS, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In a pair of studies presented today at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists 37th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, researchers have found in a large randomized trial of laparoscopy versus laparotomy for surgical treatment of uterine (endometrial) cancer that laparoscopy is safe, and when successfully completed reduces hospital stay by 50 percent, and contributes to a better quality of life from the patient’s perspective. Additionally, the study provided the best guidelines to date for predicting the likelihood of successful laparoscopic surgery, based on weight and Body Mass Index (BMI).
“Prospective Randomized Trial of Laparoscopy vs. Laparotomy for Comprehensive Surgical Staging of Uterine Cancer” and “Quality of Life of Patients with Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Laparoscopic FIGO Staging Compared to Laparotomy” are Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) supported studies, and are led by Joan L. Walker, M.D. of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center and Alice B. Kornblith, Ph.D. of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, respectively.
“We’ve found that a less invasive surgery like laparoscopy is as safe as the more traditional approach of laparotomy and also lessens the risk of serious complications,” explained Dr. Walker. “While the operative time increased using laparoscopy, the significant reduction in hospital stay and the reduced risk of serious complications makes utilizing this procedure when feasible worthwhile.”
“Additionally, patients treated by laparoscopy had a superior quality of life through six weeks post-surgery compared to the laparotomy patients,” said Dr. Kornblith. “This was likely due to it being a less invasive procedure resulting in less pain, faster recovery and a reduced length of hospital stay.”
Prospective Randomized Trial of Laparoscopy vs. Laparotomy for Comprehensive Surgical Staging of Uterine Cancer
The multi-institutional randomized trial was conducted nationwide by the GOG in over 30 institutions and multiple affiliate sites. Nearly one hundred participating gynecologic oncologists enrolled 2,616 participants. Prospective Randomized Trial of Laparoscopy vs. Laparotomy for Comprehensive Surgical Staging of Uterine Cancer study was initiated in May of 1996. Randomization was designed such that twice as many participants underwent laparoscopy compared to laparotomy, resulting in 1,696 randomized to laparoscopy and 920 to laparotomy. Study results reveal a lower incidence of serious complications (14 percent vs. 21 percent) and a 50 percent reduction (from four to two days) in hospital stay for patients completing their procedure laparoscopically.
The study also provides new weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines to better predict which patients will be good candidates for successful laparoscopy procedures. The BMI is a measure of body size based on height and weight. Traditional guidelines suggested patients with a BMI greater than 32 were not good candidates for laparoscopic procedures. A woman who is five- foot-three and 180 pounds would have a BMI of 32. This study found that patients with a BMI of 32 had a surgical staging success rate of 70 percent.
Quality of Life of Patients with Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Laparoscopic FIGO Staging Compared to Laparotomy
782 patients (524 laparoscopy and 258 laparotomy) who had participated in the clinical trial participated in this quality of life study. After the patients initial (baseline) assessment they were given follow-up assessment forms to be completed at one week, three weeks, six weeks and six months. Patients were assessed with the following questionnaires: overall quality of life (FACT-G), Physical Symptoms from Laparoscopy (PA), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) items, MOS Physical Functioning (PF), Fear of Recurrence (FR), body image/Personal Appearance (PA), and resumption of normal activities.
The analysis of the results found that within the six week post-surgery period, laparoscopy patients had a better overall quality of life, physical functioning, personal appearance, and an earlier resumption to normal activities than did the laparotomy patients. At six months there were no quality of life differences between the two surgeries, with the exception of laparoscopy patients reporting better body image than the laparotomy patients.
“These studies are really exciting and could change the landscape of how uterine cancer surgical staging is taught and performed,” said Dr. Walker. “For a physician to see the patient the next morning and find that she is sitting up, ready to go home -- this is quite different from the traditional open surgery.”
Uterine (endometrial) cancer is a common malignancy of the female reproductive tract. In 2005, the American Cancer Society estimated more than 40,000 cases of uterine cancer, and more than 7,000 deaths. The median age at diagnosis is in the early 60s and women who are obese or who have diabetes are at greater risk for developing the disease. The risk of dying of uterine cancer is increased by age and Black race.
The study, “Prospective Randomized Trial of Laparoscopy vs. Laparotomy for Comprehensive Surgical Staging of Uterine Cancer,” was conducted by Joan L. Walker, M.D., University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK; Marion Piedmonte, GOG Statistical and Data Center, Buffalo, NY; Nick M. Spirtos, Women’s Cancer Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; Scott M. Eisenkop, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, Tarzana, CA; John B. Schlaerth, Pacific Gynecologic Specialists, Pasadena, CA; Robert S. Mannel, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK; and Gregory Spiegel, St. Thomas Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
The study, “Quality of Life of Patients with Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Laparoscopic FIGO Staging Compared to Laparotomy,” was conducted by Alice B. Kornblith, Ph.D., Women Cancers Program, Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA; Helen Q. Huang, M.A., Gynecology Oncology Group Statistical and Data Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY; Joan Walker, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oklahoma University of Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK; Nick M. Spirtos, M.D., Women’s Cancer Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; Jacob Rotmensch, M.D., Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, IL; and David Cella, Ph.D., Center on Outcomes, Research and Education, Northwestern University Medical School, Evanston, IL.
The 2006 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer is the premier educational and scientific event for physicians and health care professionals involved in the field of gynecologic oncology and is being held March 22-26 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California. For more information visit, http://www.sgo.org .
About SGO
The SGO is a national medical specialty organization of physicians who are trained in the comprehensive management of women with malignancies of the reproductive tract. Its purpose is to improve the care of women with gynecologic cancer by encouraging research, disseminating knowledge which will raise the standards of practice in the prevention and treatment of gynecologic malignancies and cooperating with other organizations interested in women’s health care, oncology and related fields. The Society’s membership is primarily comprised of gynecologic oncologists, as well as other related medical specialists such as, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists. SGO members provide multidisciplinary cancer care including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, supportive care and surgery. More information on the SGO can be found at http://www.sgo.org .
Contact: Jennifer Grunstad Cell: (312) 282-0627
On-site SGO Annual Meeting Newsroom: (760) 322-8469
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists
CONTACT: Jennifer Grunstad of SGO, Cell, +1-312-282-0627, or On-site SGOAnnual Meeting Newsroom, +1-760-322-8469
Web site: http://www.sgo.org/
