Treatment Strategies and Prognosis of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the most common gynecological cancer diagnosed in the women in the United States. The lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer is 2.58% in US women. The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 47,000 new cases and 8,120 deaths due to endometrial cancer in 2011 (Siegel et al. 2011). There does appear to be a significant difference in prognosis based on race. The incidence of endometrial cancer is higher in white women compared to the black women (age adjusted incidence rate: 24.8 vs. 20.9 per 100,000 women), but the death rate from endometrial cancer in the black women is almost two times that of the white women (age adjusted death rate: 3.9 vs. 7.2 per 100,000 women) (Howlader N). Furthermore, the incidence and the death rate have remained stable in the white women; although it has been rising steadily in the black women (by 1.7% per year and 0.8% per year, respectively) (Howlader N). The management strategies in endometrial cancer have evolved dramatically in the past two decades. Despite the advances in the treatment of endometrial cancer; the death rate from endometrial cancer remains high. Clearly, more effective treatment strategies are needed.