Surgical principles for managing stage IB2, IIA2, and IIB uterine cervical cancer (bulky tumors) in Japan: A survey of the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the current operative management of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2, IIA2, and IIB uterine cervical cancer (bulky tumors) in Japan by surveying the member institutions of the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group. Methods: We conducted a survey to assess current operative management, including indications and treatment, at all 199 active member institutions of the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group. Results: A total of 166 institutions (83.4%) responded to the survey. For patients with stage IIB squamous cell carcinoma, 35.5% (59/166) of the institutions performed surgery. For stage IIB nonsquamous cell carcinoma, surgery was performed at 88 (53.7%) of 164 institutions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was provided by 75 (45.5%) of 165 institutions (actively in 44 and reluctantly in 31). At 101 (61.2%) of 165 institutions, para-aortic node dissection was performed as part of radical surgery in patients with any indications. At 96 (57.9%) of 166 institutions, high-risk patients underwent chemoradiotherapy after surgery. On the other hand adjuvant chemotherapy was given to high-risk and intermediate-risk patients at 19.9% and 33.1% institutions, respectively. More than half of the 166 institutions considered the number of metastatic nodes (91/166, 54.8%) and tumor histology (116/166, 69.9%) when selecting adjuvant therapy. Conclusions: This survey provided information regarding the current surgical management of uterine cervical cancer (stages IB2, IIA2, and IIA) in Japan.