Carcinosarcoma of the fallopian tube: report of four cases and review of literature

Abstract

Aim: Carcinosarcoma of the fallopian tube is extremely rare and the therapeutic prognosis of this disease is unknown.

Methods: We report on four new cases of this disease and have reviewed 59 carcinosarcomas of the fallopian tube and analyzed the prognosis with respect to the chosen therapeutic method in order to explore the most appropriate therapy.

Results: Out of the 59 patients reviewed, the prognosis was examined in 51 patients that allowed it to be tracked. The 3-year survival rates were 63% for the 27 stage I/II patients and 40% for the 24 stage III/IV patients. The 3-year survival rates were 36% for the 14 surgery-alone patients, 59% for the 13 radiation therapy following surgery patients, 54% for the 27 chemotherapy following surgery patients (the chemotherapy group) and 100% in for the four chemoradiotherapy following surgery patients. A significant difference was observed between the surgery-alone and the chemotherapy groups (Wilcoxon test, P < 0.05), the chemoradiotherapy group demonstrating a better tendency as to survival rate than the surgery-alone group (Wilcoxon test, P = 0.06). Stage III/IV patients accounted for a two-thirds of the chemotherapy group. The 3-year survival rate for all the stage I-IV patients was 63% when a platinum drug was used and 21% when it was not used, suggesting the possibility of extending life through the use of a platinum drug.

Conclusion: Chemotherapy using a platinum drug after surgery seems to be most effective treatment in this disease.