BackgroundUp to 40% of vulvar cancer patients present with local recurrence within 10 years of follow-up. An inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) is indicated if not performed at primary treatment.... Show moreBackgroundUp to 40% of vulvar cancer patients present with local recurrence within 10 years of follow-up. An inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) is indicated if not performed at primary treatment. The incidence and risk factors for lymph node metastases (LNM) at first local recurrence, however, are unclear. Our aim was to determine the incidence of LNM at first local recurrence, in relation to previous groin treatment and clinicopathological factors.MethodsA multicenter cohort study including vulvar cancer patients with a first macroinvasive local recurrence after primary surgical treatment between 2000 and 2015 was conducted in the Netherlands. Groin status at local recurrence was defined as positive (N+), negative (N-) or unknown (N?) and based on histology, imaging and follow-up. Patient-, tumour- and treatment characteristics of primary and recurrent disease were analysed.ResultsOverall, 16.3% (66/404) had a N+groin status at first local recurrence, 66.4% (268/404) N- and 17.3% (70/404) N?groin status. The incidence of a N+groin status was comparable after previous SLN and IFL, 11.5% and 13.8%, respectively. A N+ groin status was related to tumour size (25 vs.12 mm; P < 0.001), depth of invasion (5 vs. 3 mm; P < 0.001) and poorly differentiated tumours (22.9 vs. 11.9%; P = 0.050) at local recurrence.ConclusionsThe incidence of LNM at first local recurrence in vulvar cancer patients was 16.3%, and independent of previous type of groin surgery. In accordance with primary diagnosis, tumour size, depth of invasion, and tumour grade were significantly associated with a positive groin status. Show less
Kolk, W.L. van der; Zee, A.G.J. van der; Slomovitz, B.M.; Baldwin, P.J.W.; Doorn, H.C. van; Hullu, J.A. de; ... ; GROINSS-V I II Participants 2022
Objective. Optimal management of the contralateral groin in patients with early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and a metastatic unilateral inguinal sentinel lymph node (SN) is unclear.... Show moreObjective. Optimal management of the contralateral groin in patients with early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and a metastatic unilateral inguinal sentinel lymph node (SN) is unclear. We analyzed patients who participated in GROINSS-V I or II to determine whether treatment of the contralateral groin can safely be omitted in patients with a unilateral metastatic SN.Methods. We selected the patients with a unilateral metastatic SN from the GROINSS-V I and II databases. We determined the incidence of contralateral additional non-SN metastases in patients with unilateral SN-metastasis who underwent bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL). In those who underwent only ipsilateral groin treatment or no further treatment, we determined the incidence of contralateral groin recurrences during follow-up.Results. Of 1912 patients with early-stage VSCC, 366 had a unilateral metastatic SN. Subsequently, 244 had an IFL or no treatment of the contralateral groin. In seven patients (7/244; 2.9% [95% CI: 1.4%-5.8%]) disease was di-agnosed in the contralateral groin: five had contralateral non-SN metastasis at IFL and two developed an isolated contralateral groin recurrence after no further treatment. Five of them had a primary tumor >= 30 mm. Bilateral ra-diotherapy was administered in 122 patients, of whom one (1/122; 0.8% [95% CI: 0.1%-4.5%]) had a contralateral groin recurrence.Conclusion. The risk of contralateral lymph node metastases in patients with early-stage VSCC and a unilateral metastatic SN is low. It appears safe to limit groin treatment to unilateral IFL or inguinofemoral radiotherapy in these cases.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Show less
Doorn, H.C. van; Oonk, M.H.M.; Fons, G.; Gaarenstroom, K.N.; Hullu, J. de; Rosmalen, J. van; Beekhuizen, H.J. van 2022
Background: Standard groin treatment in recurrent vulvar cancer consists of uni- or bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL), whereas in the primary setting women with selected unifocal... Show moreBackground: Standard groin treatment in recurrent vulvar cancer consists of uni- or bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL), whereas in the primary setting women with selected unifocal tumours will undergo a sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure. The SLN procedure results in fewer short and long-term sequelae compared to IFL, but some concerns must first be considered. Lymph drainage of the vulvar region can be affected by a previous surgery, which might reduce the number of detectable SLN nodes (feasibility) but increase the chance of encountering aberrant lymph drainage patterns such as bilateral SLNs in lateral tumours or SLNs at unexpected locations. Therefore, the SLN procedure potentially carries a higher risk of groin recurrence if a tumour positive node is not retrieved, but may also improve outcomes for women with aberrant drainage patterns. Since the relative benefits and drawbacks of the SLN procedure are still unclear we will investigate the safety of the SLN procedure in women with a first recurrent vulvar cancer. In a simultaneously started registration study we prospectively gather information on women with a first recurrence of vulvar cancer ineligible for the SLN procedure.Method: In this prospective multicentre observational study all women with a first recurrence of vulvar cancer will be asked to consent to the collection of information on their diagnostics, treatment and outcome, and to complete quality of life and lymph oedema questionnaires. Women with unifocal tumours smaller than 4cm and unsuspicious groin nodes will be offered the SLN procedure, with follow-up every 3 months together with imaging at 6 and 12 months when the SLN is tumour negative. The primary outcome is groin recurrence within 2 years of initial surgery. A total of 150 women with negative SLNs will be required to demonstrate safety, a stopping rule will apply and an extensive statistical analysis has been designed.Discussion: Should the SLN procedure prove feasible and safe in recurrent vulvar cancer, it will be available for implementation in clinics worldwide. The inclusion of women ineligible for the SLN procedure in the current prospective study will help to bridge knowledge gaps and define future research questions. Show less
Oonk, M.H.M.; Slomovitz, B.; Baldwin, P.J.W.; Doorn, H.C. van; Velden, J. van der; Hullu, J.A. de; ... ; Zee, A.G.J. van der 2021
PURPOSE The Groningen International Study on Sentinel nodes in Vulvar cancer (GROINSS-V)-II investigated whether inguinofemoral radiotherapy is a safe alternative to inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy ... Show morePURPOSE The Groningen International Study on Sentinel nodes in Vulvar cancer (GROINSS-V)-II investigated whether inguinofemoral radiotherapy is a safe alternative to inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) in vulvar cancer patients with a metastatic sentinel node (SN).METHODS GROINSS-V-II was a prospective multicenter phase-II single-arm treatment trial, including patients with early-stage vulvar cancer (diameter < 4 cm) without signs of lymph node involvement at imaging, who had primary surgical treatment (local excision with SN biopsy). Where the SN was involved (metastasis of any size), inguinofemoral radiotherapy was given (50 Gy). The primary end point was isolated groin recurrence rate at 24 months. Stopping rules were defined for the occurrence of groin recurrences.RESULTS From December 2005 until October 2016, 1,535 eligible patients were registered. The SN showed metastasis in 322 (21.0%) patients. In June 2010, with 91 SN-positive patients included, the stopping rule was activated because the isolated groin recurrence rate in this group went above our predefined threshold. Among 10 patients with an isolated groin recurrence, nine had SN metastases > 2 mm and/or extracapsular spread. The protocol was amended so that those with SN macrometastases (> 2 mm) underwent standard of care (IFL), whereas patients with SN micrometastases (<= 2 mm) continued to receive inguinofemoral radiotherapy. Among 160 patients with SN micrometastases, 126 received inguinofemoral radiotherapy, with an ipsilateral isolated groin recurrence rate at 2 years of 1.6%. Among 162 patients with SN macrometastases, the isolated groin recurrence rate at 2 years was 22% in those who underwent radiotherapy, and 6.9% in those who underwent IFL (P = .011). Treatment-related morbidity after radiotherapy was less frequent compared with IFL.CONCLUSION Inguinofemoral radiotherapy is a safe alternative for IFL in patients with SN micrometastases, with minimal morbidity. For patients with SN macrometastasis, radiotherapy with a total dose of 50 Gy resulted in more isolated groin recurrences compared with IFL. (C) 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology Show less
Linden, M. van der; Oonk, M.H.M.; Doorn, H.C. van; Bulten, J.; Dorst, E.B.L. van; Fons, G.; ... ; Hullu, J.A. de 2019
Background: Vulvar Paget disease (VPD) is a rare skin disorder that is considered premalignant.Objective: To assess the clinical course, treatment schedules, and effect of invasion and treatment on... Show moreBackground: Vulvar Paget disease (VPD) is a rare skin disorder that is considered premalignant.Objective: To assess the clinical course, treatment schedules, and effect of invasion and treatment on recurrence and survival in patients with VPD.Methods: Data on women with VPD were retrieved from the medical files and pathology reports in all Dutch tertiary university medical centers. Disease-free survival and 5-year disease-specific survival were estimated by using Kaplan-Meier curves.Results: Data on 113 patients whose VPD was diagnosed between 1991 and 2016 were analyzed; 77% had noninvasive VPD. Most of the women (65%) underwent a surgical procedure. Recurrences were reported in 40%. Of the women with noninvasive VPD, 8% developed invasion. There were no disease-specific deaths reported in the women with noninvasive VPD. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was greater than 98% in noninvasive and microinvasive VPD, but significantly worse in invasive VPD (50% [P < .0005]).Limitations: The main limitations of this study are its retrospective character and the fact that original pathology samples were not available for reassessment.Conclusions: VPD is extremely rare, and the recurrence rates are high. Most patients have noninvasive VPD, which does not affect survival and should be considered a chronic disorder with limited invasive potential. In cases of invasive disease, survival decreases significantly. Show less
Trietsch, M.D.; Oonk, M.H.M.; Hawinkels, L.J.A.C.; Bor, R.; Eendenburg, J.D.H. van; Ivanova, Z.; ... ; Bosse, T. 2016
Conclusion: This is the first study to show high L1CAM-expression at the infiltrating margin of VSCC's. L1CAM-expressing VSCCs had a significantly worse prognosis compared to L1CAM-negative tumours... Show moreConclusion: This is the first study to show high L1CAM-expression at the infiltrating margin of VSCC's. L1CAM-expressing VSCCs had a significantly worse prognosis compared to L1CAM-negative tumours. The highest expression was observed in spindle-shaped cells, where it might be correlated to their invasive capacity. Show less
Doorn, H.C. van; Beekhuizen, H.J. van; Gaarenstroom, K.N.; Velden, J. van der; Zee, A.G.J. van der; Oonk, M.H.M.; Hullu, J.A. de 2016
