Secondary cytoreduction in the management of recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma

Abstract Objectives To identify effective treatment options for patients with recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Methods Patients with uterine LMS treated between 1976 and 1999 were identified. Charts were retrospectively reviewed and relevant clinical and pathologic data extracted. Survival curves were generated using the methods of Kaplan and Meier. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional model. Results Chart review identified 128 patients with recurrent uterine LMS. The median time to recurrence was 1.3 years. The median disease-specific survival from the time of first recurrence was 1.8 years. Multivariate analysis demonstrated secondary cytoreductive surgery, prolonged time to recurrence and localized recurrence were significantly and independently associated with improved disease-specific survival from time of first recurrence. Neither chemotherapy nor radiation therapy was associated with improvement in outcome in patients with recurrent uterine LMS. Conclusions These data suggest that secondary cytoreductive surgery is associated with prolonged survival in a select group of patients with recurrent uterine LMS. Patients presenting after a prolonged progression-free interval with an isolated site of recurrence amenable to complete resection are the best candidates for attempted surgical resection. These findings require confirmation from a larger and preferably prospectively gathered database.