Management of Oligometastatic Gynecological Cancer: Use of Systemic Chemotherapy to Select Patients for Curative Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Oligometastatic cancer is a growing field in oncology, offering potential curative-intent treatments for highly selected patients with a limited number of metastases beyond the primary tumor. The definition of oligometastatic cancers varies according to tumor type. Careful selection of patients is important. We describe the role of short-course systemic chemotherapy in selecting patients for curative treatment of gynecological malignancies.

Methods: Three cases of gynecological cancers with oligometastatic disease treated with systemic chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and/or surgery are reported and discussed.

Results/Discussion: All three patients had a complete or very good partial response to 3 cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by either surgery or curative radiotherapy.  All patients are alive and disease-free when writing this report, with follow-up periods ranging from 10 to 33 months after primary diagnosis.

Conclusion: This case series highlights the feasibility and potential benefits of curative-intent treatments in carefully selected oligometastatic cancer patients with underlying gynecological malignancies. Challenges in defining the optimal treatment approach and sequencing of therapies remain, emphasizing the importance of personalized plans and ongoing research. Integrated care and multidisciplinary team discussions were crucial in tailoring treatment plans.