Relapse of endometrial carcinoma related to steroid receptor concentration, staging, histologic grading and myometrial invasion.

Estradiol and progesterone receptor concentrations were positively correlated to the stage of the disease and to the grade of the tumors, but not to myometrial invasion. Myometrial invasion of more than the inner third and degree of differentiation are both important prognostic factors. By combining low estradiol receptor concentration and the degree of myometrial invasion in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, stage I-II, it was possible to identify a group of patients containing a high percentage of relapses. This group consisted of 60% of all patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma stage I-II, who had a relapse rate of almost 50%, and were thus suitable for aggressive initial treatment.