Trainee and Faculty Members Internationally Recognized for Endometrial Cancer Study
The University of Toronto's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has proven to be an internationally renowned institution for research in all ObGyn-related topics, including gynaecologic oncology. Recently, a trainee and a number of faculty members were involved in a research study on endometrial cancer. The study, entitled "Assessment of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs Lymphadenectomy for Intermediate- and High-Grade Endometrial Cancer Staging", was featured in the highly regarded JAMA Surgery Journal, and has received international attention, including being the plenary lecture at the international Society of Gynecologic Oncology meeting in 2020. The team was also presented with the Presidential Award at this meeting!
The study's first author, Dr. Maria Cusimano (PGY3 resident), was joined by primary investigators Dr. Sarah Ferguson (Professor), Dr. Danielle Vicus (Associate Professor) and Dr. Kate Pulman (Assistant Professor). Further assistance was provided by faculty members Dr. Marcus Bernardini (Associate Professor), Dr. Genevieve Bouchard-Fortier (Assistant Professor), Dr. Allan Covens (Professor), Dr. Lilian Gien (Associate Professor), Dr. Liat Hogen (Assistant Professor), Dr. Rachel Kupets (Associate Professor), Dr. Stephane Laframboise (Assistant Professor) and Dr. Taymaa May (Associate Professor), all members of the Department's Gynaecologic Oncology Division. This collaborative project involved three hospital sites, including University Health Network, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Trillium Health Partners.
The SENTOR study was a prospective cohort study of 156 participants evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the sentinel lymph node biopsy in accurately identifying lymph node metastases in patients with clinical stage 1 intermediate or high grade endometrial cancer.
"This study highlights the phenomenal collaboration between all three-sites of the Division of Gynaecologic Oncology at the University of Toronto and the amazing work of our resident and PhD candidate Dr. Maria Cusimano," said Dr. Sarah Ferguson. "Our study is the first study to focus on the population with highest risk of lymph node involvement using contemporary tracer and reported a sensitivity of 96%, false negative rate of < 4% and negative predictive value of 99%. These results clearly show that sentinel lymph node biopsy can replace comprehensive pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy as an accurate staging technique."
Dr. Ferguson goes on to explain, "Traditionally patients with high grade endometrial cancer have undergone extensive lymph node removal to accurately stage their cancer and direct adjuvant therapy. Though only 20% of patients with high grade endometrial cancer will have metastatic disease to lymph nodes all were subjected to comprehensive lymphadenectomy and the potential risk of lower leg lymphedema. The ability to accurately stage patients with a less invasive surgical technique will significantly decrease the long-term adverse effect of surgery (lymphedema) and improve patient’s quality of life."
Congratulations to everyone involved in the study! Read the full publication on JAMA Surgery's website.
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