Adjuvant therapy in node-positive vulvar cancer

Abstract

Due to an increasing incidence with concurrently decreasing age at onset, vulvar cancer represents a current challenge for gynecologic oncologists. Positive lymph nodes of the groins have been proven to be the most important prognostic factor for affected patients, significantly impairing overall survival. Distinct criteria for indication of adjuvant therapy following primary tumor resection and groin surgery are still under debate. At present, only patients with two or more positive lymph nodes are treated with adjuvant radiotherapy despite growing evidence that patients with only one nodal macrometastasis already have a significantly worse outcome and might benefit from adjuvant treatment. This review discusses existing evidence focusing on different therapeutic approaches and their potential indication in vulvar cancer. Based on the available data the need for future trials is being elaborated.

Keywords::

• adjuvant therapy
• chemoradiation
• future trials
• neoadjuvant treatment
• perspectives
• radiation
• vulvar cancer

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.