Clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric-type of HPV-independent endocervical adenocarcinomas

Background We aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with gastric-type of HPV-independent endocervical adenocarcinoma (GAS HPVI ECA), and compare them with non-GAS HPVI ECA cases. Methods Thirty-eight GASs [including 17 minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA), 21 non-MDA GAS] and 17 non-GAS HPVI ECAs were studied. Data of clinical features, pathological characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were evaluated. Results The median age of patients with GAS and non-GAS HPVI ECA was 46 and 48 years, respectively ( p = 0.93). Compared with non-GAS HPVI ECAs, GAS had more common complains of vaginal watery discharge ( p = 0.04). GAS cases were also associated with higher clinical stage ( p = 0.036), more common in deeper cervical stromal invasion ( p = 0.002) and lymphoavascular invasion ( p = 0.044). GAS was associated with worse median progression-free survival (PFS) ( p = 0.02) and median overall survival (OS) ( p = 0.03) over patients with non-GAS HPVI ECAs. MDA had similar clinical and pathological features and prognosis compared with non-MDA GAS. Of note, serum CA19–9 levels were significantly higher in GAS than that in non-GAS HPVI ECA cases. Conclusions GAS cases were more likely to have high risk pathological factors and poorer PFS and OS compared with non-GAS HPVI ECAs. Serum CA19–9 may be helpful for diagnosis and screening in patients with GAS.