Endometrial Cancer

What is endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine body cancer, is a type of cancer that begins in the inner lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. It primarily affects women over the age of 60.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of endometrial cancer are:

• abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge: bleeding outside of menstruation or the appearance of unusual fluid
• postmenopausal vaginal bleeding: any vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women should be considered a warning sign
• pelvic pain: discomfort or pain in the lower abdominal area
• weight loss: unexplained weight loss despite maintaining regular eating habits
• appearance of inguinal lymph nodes: small lumps in the groin area

Causes

The causes of endometrial cancer depend on several factors and usually result from the accumulation of certain risk elements. The main ones are:

• hormonal imbalance (estrogen and progesterone): individuals who have never been pregnant, experienced late menopause, or underwent hormone replacement therapy are at increased risk of developing endometrial tumors
• obesity: excess body weight alters hormone levels, significantly increasing the risk of developing endometrial cancer
• medical history: when there are family cases of the disease, or if the patient has previously had another type of cancer

Lifestyle habits may also be directly related to the development of endometrial tumors. American data show a significant increase in the number of cases in recent years, likely related to the current obesity and sedentary lifestyle epidemic.

 

Diagnosis

Endometrial cancer can be diagnosed through the following methods:

• imaging tests: such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, which can reveal suspicious thickening of the endometrium
• hysteroscopy: a procedure used to visualize the inside of the uterus, allowing the doctor to collect tissue samples from suspicious areas for biopsy
• curettage (Dilation and Curettage - D&C): removal of a small amount of uterine tissue for laboratory analysis (biopsy)
• histopathological evaluation: once a tissue sample is collected, it is analyzed by a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis

Treatment

Once the diagnosis of an endometrial tumor is confirmed, imaging tests are necessary to assess the extent of the disease and plan the treatment.

Additionally, it is important to analyze the tumor at the molecular level. This means examining the specific characteristics of the tumor cells, as different features may respond better to different types of therapies.

Treatments for endometrial cancer vary depending on the stage of the disease. In the early stages, tumors are generally treated with:

• surgery: complete removal of the uterus and associated structures
• radiotherapy: use of radiation to stop the growth of or eliminate tumor cells
• brachytherapy: localized use of radiation to interrupt the local growth of tumor cells
• chemotherapy: medications used to eliminate any remaining circulating tumor cells

In more advanced stages, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy may also be used to control symptoms and slow the growth of tumor cells. Other approaches include:

• immunotherapy: medications used to stimulate the patient’s immune system to control tumor cells
• targeted therapy: depending on the presence of certain genes (called targets) in the tumor, specific medications (called blockers) may be used to neutralize them
• hormone therapy: an attempt to control cancer growth through the use of hormones, especially in tumors that have hormone receptors

The Oncology and Hematology department at Einstein offers comprehensive care from diagnosis through treatment. Learn more.

Prevention

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is essential for preventing endometrial tumors. Women should be encouraged to maintain a routine of regular physical activity, a healthy weight, and a balanced diet.

Regular medical check-ups are also important, along with additional tests, as needed, to monitor for potential symptoms.

References

National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Câncer)

By Einstein Editorial Board