The validity of the subsequent pregnancy index score for fertility-sparing trachelectomy in early-stage cervical cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate timing and a prediction model for pregnancy in early-stage cervical cancer patients who underwent fertility-sparing trachelectomy.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Academic multicenter.

Patient(s): Women ages <45 years with clinical stage I-II cervical cancer were enrolled between 2009 and 2013 (n = 393).

Intervention(s): Planned fertility-sparing trachelectomy.

Main outcome measure(s): Cumulative incidences and clinicopathological characteristics of those who developed subsequent pregnancy were examined.

Result(s): There were 77 (21.6%) women who had subsequent pregnancies after fertility-sparing trachelectomy with 1-, 2-, and 5-year cumulative pregnancy rates of 2.8%, 6.2%, and 17.4%, respectively. The median time to develop subsequent pregnancy was 3.2 years. In a competing risk analysis, women had a higher risk of recurrent cancer than conception during the first 11 months postsurgery. On multivariable analysis, younger age, being married, and postoperative reproductive treatment were independently associated with an increased chance of developing a subsequent pregnancy. The subsequent pregnancy index (SPI) score to predict the likelihood of having pregnancy was proposed, and it was calculated based on age, marital status, and reproductive treatment (2, 2, and 4 points, respectively). Women with a higher SPI score had significantly higher subsequent pregnancy rates (5-year pregnancy rate; the score was 3 in 4.7% of cases; 4 to 5 in 11.3%; 6 to 7 in 27.4%; and 8 in 50.8%), but they had similar recurrence rates (5.0%).

Conclusion(s): The SPI score proposed in our study is useful in predicting subsequent pregnancy in women with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing fertility-sparing trachelectomy.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; fertility sparing; pregnancy; trachelectomy.