Fertility-preserving treatment in women with early endometrial cancer: The Chinese experience

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignant tumor of the female reproductive tract in developed countries and the second most common gynecologic malignancy in China. Although EC is most often diagnosed in postmenopausal women, the increase in obesity rates and other lifestyle changes has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of EC among younger women. Approximately 4% of patients are diagnosed before the age of 40 years and before having given birth. Such patients may have a strong desire to preserve their fertility despite oncologic risks and thus may be reluctant to undergo standard treatment for EC, which includes hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and surgical staging. Therefore, more conservative treatment approaches may need to be discussed, along with their associated oncologic and reproductive outcomes. In fact, various studies have confirmed the effectiveness and safety of conservative treatment in EC. This review aimed to provide a concise yet informative overview of the current status of fertility-preserving treatment for EC in China, as well as to summarize the latest and ongoing research efforts in this area.