Present status and future direction of clinical trials in advanced endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial adenocarcinoma is staged surgically, and advanced endometrial carcinoma is considered to be FIGO stage III and IV. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) has come a long way in developing new strategies in the management of advanced endometrial carcinoma. Combining surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the 5-year survival has improved to between 40-60% in newly diagnosed advanced endometrial carcinoma. Recent findings in GOG184 indicate that multiple risk factors noted at the time of surgical staging could lead to concurrent clinical trials that could be completed expeditiously rather than a subsequent ten year long phase III trial including all the various risk subgroups of patients. This review is a focus on the accomplishments of the GOG in advanced endometrial carcinoma with an emphasis on future challenges.