Research into Endometrial Cancer

The main lines of research involve all the specialists concerned in the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer.

Regarding surgical treatment, several studies have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the sentinel lymph node technique, which is currently considered as the standard method for lymph node assessment in many cases. Research is ongoing to further optimise its use and to reduce surgical morbidity.

In terms of systemic therapy, the benefit of combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy has been demonstrated in patients with advanced or recurrent disease. These combinations are now also being evaluated as adjuvant treatment following surgery in high‑risk patients, as well as within new therapeutic combinations and treatment protocols.

Drugs that have shown benefit in other gynaecological cancers, such as PARP inhibitors, are also currently being evaluated both as maintenance monotherapy and in combination with immunotherapy, particularly in tumours with alterations in DNA repair mechanisms.

Serous and aggressive forms of endometrial tumours are often characterised by mutations in a gene called TP53 and, in some cases, by HER2 overexpression. As a result, targeted therapies directed against these therapeutic targets are being developed and evaluated, with some already implemented in selected clinical situations.

In addition, new hormonal therapies are also being studied, including selective hormone receptor modulators and their combination with drugs that inhibit cell division, including cyclin inhibitors like CDK4/6 inhibitors, which have shown promising results in hormone receptor-positive tumours.

In radiotherapy, multiple lines of research are also ongoing. These include optimisation of dose and fractionation in postoperative brachytherapy, strategies to minimise side effects, improvements in precision through advanced radiotherapy techniques, and studies to personalise treatment according to individual risk.