Endometrial carcinosarcoma

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Giorgio Bogani - , IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori - Milano (Author)
  • Isabelle Ray-Coquard - , Centre Léon Bérard (Author)
  • Nicole Concin - , Innsbruck Medical University (Author)
  • Natalie Yan Li Ngoi - , National University of Singapore (Author)
  • Philippe Morice - , Institut Gustave Roussy (Author)
  • Giuseppe Caruso - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Takayuki Enomoto - , Niigata University (Author)
  • Kazuhiro Takehara - , National Hospital Organization, Japan (Author)
  • Hannelore Denys - , Ghent University (Author)
  • Domenica Lorusso - , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Author)
  • Robert Coleman - , University of Texas at Austin (Author)
  • Michelle M. Vaughan - , Canterbury District Health Board (Author)
  • Masashi Takano - , National Defense Medical College Tokorozawa (Author)
  • Diane Michele Provencher - , University of Montreal (Author)
  • Satoru Sagae - , Hokkaido Ohno Memorial Hospital (Author)
  • Pauline Wimberger - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Author)
  • Robert Póka - , University of Debrecen (Author)
  • Yakir Segev - , Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center (Author)
  • Se Ik Kim - , Seoul National University (Author)
  • Jae Weon Kim - , Seoul National University (Author)
  • Francisco Jose Candido Dos Reis - , Universidade de São Paulo (Author)
  • Pedro T. Ramirez - , University of Texas at Austin (Author)
  • Andrea Mariani - , Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (Author)
  • Mario Leitao - , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Author)
  • Vicky Makker - , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Author)
  • Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum - , Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Author)
  • Ignace Vergote - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • Gianfranco Zannoni - , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Author)
  • David Tan - , National University of Singapore (Author)
  • Mary McCormack - , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Biagio Paolini - , IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori - Milano (Author)
  • Marta Bini - , IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori - Milano (Author)
  • Francesco Raspagliesi - , IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori - Milano (Author)
  • Pierluigi Benedetti Panici - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Violante Di Donato - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Ludovico Muzii - , University of Rome La Sapienza (Author)
  • Nicoletta Colombo - , University of Milan - Bicocca (Author)
  • Sandro Pignata - , National Cancer Institute (Author)
  • Giovanni Scambia - , Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Author)
  • Bradley J. Monk - , University of Arizona (Author)

Abstract

Endometrial carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive high-grade endometrial carcinoma with secondary sarcomatous trans-differentiation (conversion theory). The clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up roughly align with those of the more common endometrioid counterpart, although endometrial carcinosarcoma is more frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Endometrial carcinosarcoma is not a single entity but encompasses different histological subtypes, depending on the type of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. The majority of endometrial carcinosarcomas are characterized by p53 abnormalities. The proportion of POLE and microsatellite instablity-high (MSI-H) is directly related to the epithelial component, being approximately 25% and 3% in endometrioid and non-endometrioid components. The management of non-metastatic disease is based on a multimodal approach with optimal surgery followed by (concomitant or sequential) chemotherapy and radiotherapy, even for early stages. Palliative chemotherapy is recommended in the metastatic or recurrent setting, with carboplatin/paclitaxel doublet being the first-line regimen. Although the introduction of immunotherapy plus/minus a tyrosine kinase inhibitor shifted the paradigm of treatment of patients with recurrent endometrial cancer, patients with endometrial carcinosarcoma were excluded from most studies evaluating single-agent immunotherapy or the combination. However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the use of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in endometrial cancer (all histotypes) after progression on chemotherapy and single-agent immunotherapy in MSI-H cancers. In the era of precision medicine, emerging knowledge on molecular endometrial carcinosarcoma is opening new promising therapeutic options for more personalized treatment. The present review outlines state-of-the-art knowledge and future directions for patients with endometrial carcinosarcoma.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)147-174
Number of pages28
JournalInternational journal of gynecological cancer
Volume33
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36585027

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • carcinosarcoma, genital neoplasms, female, uterine cancer, Carboplatin/therapeutic use, Uterine Neoplasms/pathology, Humans, Endometrial Neoplasms/therapy, Carcinosarcoma/therapy, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Female, Combined Modality Therapy

Library keywords