Adjuvant radiotherapy and local recurrence in vulvar cancer - a subset analysis of the AGO-CaRE-1 study

Background. The impact of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to the vulva with regard to prognosis and local recurrence in patients with vulvar squamous cell cancer (VSCC) is poorly described. Patients and methods. In the AGO-CaRE-1 study 1618 patients with primary VSCC FIGO stage >= IB, treated between 1998-2008, were documented. In this retrospective subanalysis, 360 patients were included based on the following criteria: nodal involvement (pN+), known RT treatment and known radiation fields. Results. The majority had pT1b/pT2 tumors (n=299; 83.1%). In 76.7%, R0 resection was achieved. 57/360 (15.8%) N+ patients were treated with adjuvant RT to the groins/pelvis and 146/360 (40.5%) received adjuvant RT to the vulva and groins/pelvis. 157/360 (43.6%) patients did not receive any adjuvant RT. HPV status was available in 162/360 patients (45.0%), 75/162 tumors were HPV+(46.3%), 87/162 (53.7%) HPV-. During a median follow-up of 17.2 months, recurrence at the vulva only occurred in 25.5% of patients without adjuvant RT, in 22.8% of patients with adjuvant RT to groins/pelvis and in 15.8% of patients with adjuvant RT to the vulva and groins/pelvis respectively. The risk reducing effect of local RT was independent of the resection margin status. 50% disease free survival time (50% DFST) indicated a stronger impact of adjuvant RT to the vulva in HPV+ compared to HPV-patients (50% DFST 20.7 months vs. 17.8 months). Conclusion. Adjuvant RT to the vulva was associated with a lower risk for local recurrence in N+ VSCC independent of the resection margin status. This observation was more pronounced in patients with HPV+ tumors in comparison to HPV-tumors. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

Adjuvant radiotherapy to the vulva reduces the risk of local recurrence in patients with vulvar squamous cell cancer, particularly in HPV-positive patients.