What we do
About our project
Background information
Carcinosarcoma of the uterus (CSU) is a rare but aggressive uterine tumor with a poor prognosis. The overall 5-year survival is 43% for all stages. Retrospective studies suggest a correlation between survival and the extent of surgery. This is why surgery includes para and pelvine lymph node dissection. Clear evidence to establish consensus guidelines for treatment - let alone evidence based guidelines - is lacking, however, because CSU are often excluded from major clinical studies on the effects of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy.
Execution of the project
In 2014 we developed a regional guideline on treatment of CSU, which included centralized treatment of CSU. The Carcinosarcoma (CUS) study is a prospective registration study of all patients treated for CSU in the of South-West Netherlands region according to the new regional guideline. We aim to disclose risk factors, treatment characteristics and quality-of-life (QoL) aspects. We will compare our data with data from other hospitals in the Netherlands (with different treatment protocols) regarding progression-free and overall survival as well as QoL and consider the feasibility of a national randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Overall aim
We will analyse treatment variables in relation to progression-free survival (primary endpoint) and overall survival, toxicity and QoL (secondary endpoints).
Our research focus
Quality of Life
QoL is an important issue in the care and cure for cancer patients. We will ask patients to fill in a QoL questionnaire, allowing us to investigate the relation between the different treatment modalities and patients’ QoL and the relation to overall survival.
Endometrial Damage Repair Study
Patients can opt to be enrolled in the translational Endometrial Damage Repair Study.
Collaborations
Collaboration within Erasmus MC
- ACE Gynaecological Tumours.
- The departments of Oncology, Radiotherapy and Pathology.
Our team
- Heleen van Beekhuizen, gynaecological oncologist
contact - Babs van der Kooy, AIOS gynaecology
contact - Vera de Geus, research fellow
contact - Marianne Maliepaard, Research collaborator
contact - Ingrid Boere, medical oncologist
contact - Jan Willem Mens, radiotherapist
contact - Patricia Ewing, gynaecopathologist
contact
