Abstract
Introduction: Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is a subtype of endometrial cancer accounting for a disproportionate number of uterine cancer-related deaths. Recent studies have enhanced the understanding of the pathogenesis of USC, advanced treatment guidelines, and have driven the investigation of targeted therapies. A search of the PubMed database was performed for research articles published between 1/1/2005 and 1/1/2020 in which the studied population included women with USC. Areas covered: Complete surgical staging, including comprehensive lymphadenectomy and omentectomy, is recommended in all patients. Genomic studies have helped guide treatment recommendations and have driven the development of agents targeting the HER2/neu, PIK3/AKT, and CCNE1/FBXW7 pathways. Platinum/taxane chemotherapy ± radiotherapy is associated with the best survival compared to other treatments for all stages. For those with HER2-positive advanced/recurrent disease, the addition of trastuzumab to carboplatin/paclitaxel improves survival. Expert opinion: The rarity of USC limits the feasibility of randomized studies. Systemic chemotherapy is recommended for all stages of USC, particularly in light of the high rates of multi-site or distant recurrence. Pathological testing of tumor samples for molecular targets is expected to play a larger role in guiding clinical management. Clinical trials are needed to establish the clinical efficacy and safety of novel targeted therapies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-13 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- adjuvant chemotherapy
- endometrial cancer
- genomics
- surgery
- targeted therapy
- Uterine serous carcinoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous)
- Health Policy
- Pharmacology (medical)