Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in western countries. Radiotherapy remains the mainstay of postoperative management, but accumulating data show that adjuvant chemotherapy may display promising results after staging surgery. The prognosis of patients with metastatic diseas...

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Main Authors: Flora Zagouri, George Bozas, Eftichia Kafantari, Marinos Tsiatas, Nikitas Nikitas, Meletios-A. Dimopoulos, Christos A. Papadimitriou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Obstetrics and Gynecology International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/749579
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author Flora Zagouri
George Bozas
Eftichia Kafantari
Marinos Tsiatas
Nikitas Nikitas
Meletios-A. Dimopoulos
Christos A. Papadimitriou
author_facet Flora Zagouri
George Bozas
Eftichia Kafantari
Marinos Tsiatas
Nikitas Nikitas
Meletios-A. Dimopoulos
Christos A. Papadimitriou
author_sort Flora Zagouri
collection DOAJ
description Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in western countries. Radiotherapy remains the mainstay of postoperative management, but accumulating data show that adjuvant chemotherapy may display promising results after staging surgery. The prognosis of patients with metastatic disease remains disappointing with only one-year survival. Progestins represent an effective option, especially for those patients with low-grade estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive disease. Chemotherapy using the combination of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin is beneficial for patients with advanced or metastatic disease after staging surgery and potentially for patients with early-stage disease and high-risk factors. Toxicity is a point in question; however, the combination of paclitaxel with carboplatin may diminish these concerns. In women with multiple medical comorbidities, single-agent chemotherapy may be better tolerated with acceptable results. Our increased knowledge of the molecular aspects of endometrial cancer biology has paved the way for clinical research to develop novel targeted antineoplastic agents (everolimus, temsirolimus, gefitinib, erlotinib, cetuximab, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, sorafenib) as more effective and less toxic options. Continued investigation into the molecular pathways of endometrial cancer development and progression will increase our knowledge of this disease leading to the discovery of novel, superior agents.
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spelling doaj-art-d9c93d240c224993bcadbef0165511e52025-08-20T02:21:25ZengWileyObstetrics and Gynecology International1687-95891687-95972010-01-01201010.1155/2010/749579749579Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?Flora Zagouri0George Bozas1Eftichia Kafantari2Marinos Tsiatas3Nikitas Nikitas4Meletios-A. Dimopoulos5Christos A. Papadimitriou6Department of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, GreeceEndometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in western countries. Radiotherapy remains the mainstay of postoperative management, but accumulating data show that adjuvant chemotherapy may display promising results after staging surgery. The prognosis of patients with metastatic disease remains disappointing with only one-year survival. Progestins represent an effective option, especially for those patients with low-grade estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive disease. Chemotherapy using the combination of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin is beneficial for patients with advanced or metastatic disease after staging surgery and potentially for patients with early-stage disease and high-risk factors. Toxicity is a point in question; however, the combination of paclitaxel with carboplatin may diminish these concerns. In women with multiple medical comorbidities, single-agent chemotherapy may be better tolerated with acceptable results. Our increased knowledge of the molecular aspects of endometrial cancer biology has paved the way for clinical research to develop novel targeted antineoplastic agents (everolimus, temsirolimus, gefitinib, erlotinib, cetuximab, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, sorafenib) as more effective and less toxic options. Continued investigation into the molecular pathways of endometrial cancer development and progression will increase our knowledge of this disease leading to the discovery of novel, superior agents.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/749579
spellingShingle Flora Zagouri
George Bozas
Eftichia Kafantari
Marinos Tsiatas
Nikitas Nikitas
Meletios-A. Dimopoulos
Christos A. Papadimitriou
Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
Obstetrics and Gynecology International
title Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
title_full Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
title_fullStr Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
title_full_unstemmed Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
title_short Endometrial Cancer: What Is New in Adjuvant and Molecularly Targeted Therapy?
title_sort endometrial cancer what is new in adjuvant and molecularly targeted therapy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/749579
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AT marinostsiatas endometrialcancerwhatisnewinadjuvantandmolecularlytargetedtherapy
AT nikitasnikitas endometrialcancerwhatisnewinadjuvantandmolecularlytargetedtherapy
AT meletiosadimopoulos endometrialcancerwhatisnewinadjuvantandmolecularlytargetedtherapy
AT christosapapadimitriou endometrialcancerwhatisnewinadjuvantandmolecularlytargetedtherapy