Stage I Uterine Sarcoma
Stage II Uterine Sarcoma
Stage III Uterine Sarcoma
Stage IV Uterine Sarcoma

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of stage I uterine sarcoma may include the following:

• Surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy).
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy to the pelvis.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I uterine sarcoma ¹.

Treatment of stage II uterine sarcoma may include the following:

• Surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy).
• Surgery followed by radiation therapy to the pelvis.
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II uterine sarcoma ².

Treatment of stage III uterine sarcoma may include the following:

• Surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy).
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by radiation therapy to the pelvis.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III uterine sarcoma ³.

There is no standard treatment for patients with stage IV uterine sarcoma. Treatment may include a clinical trial using chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV uterine sarcoma ⁴.

Glossary Terms

Surgery to remove both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

A surgical procedure in which the lymph nodes are removed and examined to see whether they contain cancer. For a regional lymphadenectomy, some of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed; for a radical lymphadenectomy, most or all of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed. Also called lymph node dissection.

The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called radiotherapy and irradiation.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Stage I uterine sarcoma is divided into stages IA, IB, and IC based on how far the cancer has spread into the wall of the uterus. In stage IA, cancer is in the endometrium only. In stage IB, cancer has spread into the inner half of the myometrium (muscle layer of the uterus). In stage IC, cancer has spread to the outer half of the myometrium.

Stage II uterine sarcoma is divided into stages IIA and IIB based on how far the cancer has spread into the cervix. In stage IIA, cancer has spread to the glands where the cervix and uterus meet. In stage IIB, cancer has spread into the connective tissue of the cervix.

Stage III uterine sarcoma is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB based on how far the cancer has spread within the pelvis (lower part of the abdomen between the hip bones). In stage IIIA, cancer has spread to the outermost layer of the uterus; and /or tissues just beyond the uterus; and/or the peritoneum. In stage IIIB, cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis and/or near the uterus.

Stage IV uterine sarcoma is divided into stages IVA and IVB. In stage IVA, cancer has spread to the bladder and/or bowel wall. In stage IVB, cancer has spread to other parts of the body beyond the pelvis, including lymph nodes in the abdomen and groin.

In medicine, treatment that experts agree is appropriate, accepted, and widely used. Health care providers are obligated to provide patients with standard therapy. Also called standard of care or best practice.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Surgery to remove the entire uterus, including the cervix. Also called complete hysterectomy.