The role of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced type II endometrial cancer is controversial. We thus aimed to present our experience with the hypothesis that neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy is associated with similarly high rates of downstaging and locoregional control for type II endometrial cancer and type I endometrial cancer.

Thirty-four patients with type II endometrial cancer with clinical evidence of cervical ± parametrium involvement treated with neoadjuvant external beam radiation therapy (45-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy with a median total dose of 20 Gy (range, 15-27.5) in 4 fractions (range, 3-5) and concurrent platinum chemotherapy ± adjuvant chemotherapy from 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with type I pathologic diagnoses and those treated with definitive (rather than preoperative) intent were excluded.

Pathologic characteristics were as follows: 38% were carcinosarcoma, 18% serous, and 24% clear cell. Ninety-four percent of patients were downstaged to an extrafascial hysterectomy, and 94% had negative surgical margins. The 2-year local control, regional control, distant control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 87.8%, 81.3%, 76.3%, 52.5%, and 63.7%, respectively. There was 1 subacute grade 3 and 1 late grade 3 small bowel obstruction, directly attributable to radiation therapy.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy effectively downstages the majority of locally advanced type II endometrial cancers, thereby increasing the likelihood of achieving complete resection with negative margins.