Uterine cancers (sarcoma)

A uterine sarcoma is a highly malignant type of cancer that forms from the uterine corpus. Uterine sarcomas comprise less than five per cent of uterine cancers, with risk factors similar to those for endometrial cancers. Sarcoma means a malignant tumour of connective or non-epithelial tissue.

Types of uterine cancers

• Mixed mesodermal tumours – carcinosarcoma whereby the sarcoma is mixed with adenocarcinoma, previously known as malignant mixed mullerian tumour
• Leiomyosarcomas
• Endometrial stromal tumours

Symptoms of uterine cancers

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Sometimes pelvic pain
• Sometimes pelvic mass can be felt

Staging of uterine cancers

1. Confined to the corpus
2. Confined to the corpus and cervix
3. Spread outside the uterus but confined to the pelvis
4. Spread outside the true pelvis or into the mucosa of the bladder or rectum

Outcomes for uterine cancers

Prognosis of uterine cancers such as these sarcomas is reasonably poor, with stage one survival rates sitting at about 50 per cent, while stage four cancers had just a three per cent survival rate. These cancers typically recur in the uterus, abdomen and lungs.

Treatments for uterine cancer

Treatments typically involve a total hysterectomy, removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (salpingo-oophorectomy) or complete removal of all pelvic organs (pelvic exenteration). Radiation therapy delays recurrence, but doesn’t improve survival rates.

Chemotherapy may be used when tumours are recurrent or advanced, with the drug varying by tumour type. Chemotherapy isn’t very effective at increasing survival rates. Progestins may be effective for endometrial stromal tumours.