Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Gynecologic Carcinosarcoma: A Single-Institution Experience

Simple Summary: Carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive gynecologic cancer that may arise in any of the organs of the female reproductive tract. Most commonly, gynecologic carcinosarcoma is of uterine origin and was previously known as malignant mixed Mullerian tumor. Uterine carcinosarcoma accounts for less than 5% of all uterine malignancies. Because of the rarity of this diagnosis, gynecologic carcinosarcomas have been understudied. We aimed to determine the incidence, treatment course, and quantitate treatment outcomes via progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of gynecologic carcinosarcoma in a primarily minority patient population. We aimed to determine the incidence, treatment regimen, and treatment outcomes (including progression-free survival and overall survival) of gynecologic carcinosarcoma, a rare, aggressive, and understudied gynecologic malignancy. This retrospective review included all patients with gynecologic cancers diagnosed and treated at a single tertiary care comprehensive cancer center between January 2012 and May 2021. A total of 2116 patients were eligible for review, of which 84 cases were identified as carcinosarcoma: 66 were uterine (5.2% of uterine cancers), 17 were ovarian (3.6% of ovarian cancers), 1 was cervical (0.28% of cervical cancers), and 1 was untyped. Of the patients, 76.2% presented advanced-stage disease (stage III/IV) at the time of diagnosis. Minority patients were more likely to present with stage III/IV (p < 0.0001). The majority of patients underwent surgical resection followed by systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. The median PFS was 7.5 months. Of the patients, 55% were alive 1 year after diagnosis, and 45% were alive at 5 years. In the studied population, minorities were more likely to present with more advanced disease. The rate of gynecologic carcinosarcomas was consistent with historical reports.

Automated summary

Carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive gynecologic cancer that mainly originates from the uterus, accounting for less than 5% of all uterine malignancies. In this retrospective study, the majority of patients presented with advanced-stage disease, and minority patients were more likely to have advanced-stage disease. Surgical resection followed by chemotherapy was the common treatment approach, with a median progression-free survival of approximately 7.5 months.