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Vaginal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]Purpose of This PDQ SummaryThis PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of vaginal cancer. This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Information about the following is included in this summary:
This summary is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions. Some of the reference citations in the summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations. Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options are described as either "standard" or "under clinical evaluation." These classifications should not be used as a basis for reimbursement determinations. This summary is available in a patient version, written in less technical language, and in Spanish. General InformationNote: Estimated new cases and deaths from vaginal (and other female genital) cancer in the United States in 2009:[1]
Carcinomas of the vagina are uncommon tumors comprising 1% to 2% of gynecologic malignancies. They can be effectively treated, and when found in early stages, are often curable. The histologic distinction between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma is important because the two types represent distinct diseases, each with a different pathogenesis and natural history. Squamous cell vaginal cancer (approximately 85% of cases) initially spreads superficially within the vaginal wall and later invades the paravaginal tissues and the parametria. Distant metastases occur most commonly in the lungs and liver.[2] Adenocarcinoma (approximately 15% of cases) has a peak incidence between 17 and 21 years of age and differs from squamous cell carcinoma by an increase in pulmonary metastases and supraclavicular and pelvic node involvement.[3] Rarely, melanoma and sarcoma are described as primary vaginal cancers. Adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare and aggressive mixed epithelial tumor comprising approximately 1% to 2% of cases. Prognosis depends primarily on the stage of disease, but survival is reduced in patients who are greater than 60 years of age, are symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, have lesions of the middle and lower third of the vagina, or have poorly differentiated tumors.[4,5] In addition, the length of vaginal wall involvement has been found to be significantly correlated to survival and stage of disease in squamous cell carcinoma patients.[6] Therapeutic alternatives depend on stage; surgery or radiation therapy is highly effective in early stages, while radiation therapy is the primary treatment of more advanced stages.[7,8] Chemotherapy has not been shown to be curative for advanced vaginal cancer, and there are no standard drug regimens. Clear cell adenocarcinomas are rare and occur most often in patients less than 30 years of age who have a history of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES). The incidence of this disease, which is highest for those exposed during the first trimester, peaked in the mid-1970s, reflecting the use of DES in the 1950s.[3] Young women with a history of in utero DES exposure should prospectively be followed carefully to diagnose this disease at an early stage. In women who have been carefully followed and well-managed, the disease is highly curable. Vaginal adenosis is most commonly found in young women who had in utero exposure to DES and may coexist with a clear cell adenocarcinoma, though it rarely progresses to adenocarcinoma. Adenosis is replaced by squamous metaplasia, which occurs naturally, and requires follow-up but not removal. The natural history, prognosis, and treatment of other primary vaginal cancers (sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and carcinoid tumors) may be different, and specific references should be sought.[9] References:
Stage InformationCervical biopsies are mandatory to rule out carcinoma of the cervix. Carcinoma of the vulva should also be ruled out. Stages are defined by the Federation Internationale de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique (FIGO) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer's (AJCC) TNM classification.[1] The definitions of the T categories correspond to the stages accepted by the FIGO and both systems are included for comparison. TNM Definitions TNM Categories/FIGO Stages Primary tumor (T)
Regional lymph nodes (N)
Distant metastasis (M)
AJCC Stage Groupings Stage 0
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IVA
Stage IVB
References:
Treatment Option OverviewFactors to be considered in planning therapy for vaginal cancer are:
In a large series of women studied retrospectively for 30 years, 50% had undergone hysterectomy prior to the diagnosis of vaginal cancer.[1] In this posthysterectomy group, 31 of 50 (62%) women developed cancers limited to the upper third of the vagina. In women who had not previously undergone hysterectomy, upper vaginal lesions were found in only 17 of 50 (34%) women. The lymphatics may drain to pelvic or inguinal nodes or both, depending on tumor location, and consideration should be given to these areas in treatment planning. The proximity of the vagina to the bladder or rectum limits treatment options and increases complications involving these organs. For patients with carcinoma of the vagina in its early stages, standard treatment applied by gynecologic oncologists or radiation oncologists is highly effective. For patients with stages III and IVA disease, radiation therapy alone is standard. For patients with stage IVB disease, current therapy is inadequate, and no established anticancer drugs can be considered standard treatment. Considering the rarity of such patients, they should be considered candidates for clinical trials using anticancer drugs and/or radiosensitizers to attempt to improve survival or local control. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage 0 Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ This disease is usually multifocal and commonly occurs at the vaginal vault. Because vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is associated with other genital neoplasias, the cervix (when present) and vulva should be carefully examined. The treatments listed below produce equivalent cure rates. The selection of treatment depends on patient factors and local expertise (e.g., anatomical distortion of the vaginal vault [related to wall closure at the time of hysterectomy] requires excision for technical reasons to exclude the possibility of invasion by buried disease). Lesions with hyperkeratosis respond better to excision or laser vaporization than to fluorouracil.[1] STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage 0 vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage I Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma The treatments listed below produce equivalent cure rates. The selection of treatment depends on patient factors and local expertise. STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR SUPERFICIAL LESIONS LESS THAN 0.5 CM THICK:
STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR LESIONS GREATER THAN 0.5 CM THICK:
Adenocarcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage II Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma Radiation therapy is the standard treatment for patients with stage II vaginal carcinoma. STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Adenocarcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage III Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Adenocarcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage IVA Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Adenocarcinoma STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IVA vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Stage IVB Vaginal CancerSquamous Cell Carcinoma Patients should be considered candidates for one of the ongoing clinical trials to improve therapeutic results. Standard treatment is inadequate. STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Adenocarcinoma Patients should be considered candidates for one of the ongoing clinical trials to improve therapeutic results. STANDARD TREATMENT OPTIONS:
Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IVB vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. Recurrent Vaginal CancerRecurrence carries a grave prognosis. In a large series only five of fifty patients with recurrence were salvaged by surgery or radiation therapy. All five of these salvaged patients originally presented with stage I or II disease and failed in the central pelvis.[1] Most recurrences are in the first 2 years after treatment. In centrally recurrent vaginal cancers, some patients may be candidates for pelvic exenteration or radiation therapy. Neither cisplatin nor mitoxantrone has significant activity in recurrent or advanced squamous cell cancer. There is no standard chemotherapy. Current Clinical Trials Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent vaginal cancer. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site. References:
Get More Information From NCICALL 1-800-4-CANCER For more information, U.S. residents may call the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers with TTY equipment may call 1-800-332-8615. The call is free and a trained Cancer Information Specialist is available to answer your questions. CHAT ONLINE The NCI's LiveHelp® online chat service provides Internet users with the ability to chat online with an Information Specialist. The service is available from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Information Specialists can help Internet users find information on NCI Web sites and answer questions about cancer. WRITE TO US For more information from the NCI, please write to this address:
SEARCH THE NCI WEB SITE The NCI Web site provides online access to information on cancer, clinical trials, and other Web sites and organizations that offer support and resources for cancer patients and their families. For a quick search, use our "Best Bets" search box in the upper right hand corner of each Web page. The results that are most closely related to your search term will be listed as Best Bets at the top of the list of search results. There are also many other places to get materials and information about cancer treatment and services. Hospitals in your area may have information about local and regional agencies that have information on finances, getting to and from treatment, receiving care at home, and dealing with problems related to cancer treatment. FIND PUBLICATIONS The NCI has booklets and other materials for patients, health professionals, and the public. These publications discuss types of cancer, methods of cancer treatment, coping with cancer, and clinical trials. Some publications provide information on tests for cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer statistics, and NCI research activities. NCI materials on these and other topics may be ordered online or printed directly from the NCI Publications Locator. These materials can also be ordered by telephone from the Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), TTY at 1-800-332-8615. Changes to This Summary (07 / 01 / 2009)The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above. GENERAL INFORMATION Updated statistics with estimated new cases and deaths for 2009 (cited American Cancer Society as reference 1). More InformationABOUT PDQ
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IMPORTANT: This information is intended mainly for use by doctors and other health care professionals. If you have questions about this topic, you can ask your doctor, or call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). Date Last Modified: 2009-07-01
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