Minimally Invasive Surgery Versus Open Radical Hysterectomy in Presumably Early Stage Cervical Cancer: a Retrospective Multicenter Non-inferiority Study Comparing Overall and Progression-free Survival.

Scientific Description This is a retrospective observational study with prospective follow-up designed to evaluate the long-term oncologic safety and perioperative outcomes of radical laparoscopic hysterectomy compared to abdominal (open) radical hysterectomy in women with early-stage cervical cancer. The study specifically addresses surgical management practices adopted after the publication of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer (LACC) trial, which reported inferior oncologic outcomes associated with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for radical hysterectomy.

The primary objective of this study is to compare overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the two surgical approaches. Secondary objectives include assessment of short-term surgical morbidity, recurrence patterns, and demographic and clinical factors potentially associated with adverse outcomes.

Study Population Eligible participants will be adult (≥18 years), legally competent women diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer, defined as FIGO 2018 stages IB1 to IIA1, excluding IB3 tumors. All patients must have negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) results confirmed by ultrastaging.

To ensure homogeneity and minimize confounding associated with surgical technique, strict intraoperative criteria will be applied:

Use of a uterine manipulator is not permitted; A protective vaginal cuff closure maneuver (e.g., by suture, clamp, or stapler) must be performed to prevent tumor spillage during colpotomy; SNB may be performed as a first step, followed by radical hysterectomy classified as type B or C according to the Querleu-Morrow classification; Preoperative conization is allowed but not mandatory.

Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study with prospective follow-up. Surgical and perioperative data will be collected retrospectively from medical records. Eligible patients who underwent radical hysterectomy by either laparoscopic or abdominal approach in the post-LACC era will be identified and included.

Prospective follow-up will be conducted over a minimum period of 5 years, with evaluations scheduled at 6-month intervals.

Each follow-up visit will include:

Gynecological examination and transvaginal and/or transabdominal ultrasound; In symptomatic patients, additional imaging including contrast-enhanced CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and pelvic MRI as clinically indicated.

Endpoints

Primary endpoints:

Overall survival (OS): Time from radical hysterectomy to death from any cause. Progression-free survival (PFS): Time from radical hysterectomy to first documented recurrence or death.

Secondary endpoints:

Surgical complication rates within 30 and 60 days postoperatively, categorized using the Clavien-Dindo classification; Anatomic site and mode of recurrence (local, regional, or distant); Duration of surgery; Demographic and clinical variables, including age, BMI, tumor size, histologic subtype, and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI).

Data Collection and Management Data will be extracted from patient medical records, surgical reports, pathology reports, and follow-up documentation. No study-specific interventions will be introduced beyond the standard follow-up protocol consistent with national and institutional guidelines for cervical cancer surveillance.

All clinical, surgical, and outcome data will be anonymized and stored securely. Data analysis will involve time-to-event methods (Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox proportional hazards models) and comparative statistics (e.g., chi-square, t-test, or non-parametric equivalents as appropriate).

Scientific Rationale The LACC trial demonstrated inferior disease-free and overall survival outcomes for minimally invasive radical hysterectomy compared to open surgery, which prompted a global shift in surgical practice. However, methodological concerns-including inconsistent use of uterine manipulators, absence of protective colpotomy techniques, and variability in surgeon experience-may have influenced the observed outcomes.

This study seeks to investigate whether meticulous surgical technique, standardized intraoperative precautions (such as omission of uterine manipulators and protective closure of the vaginal cuff), and proper patient selection (i.e., early-stage tumors with negative SNB) can mitigate the risks previously associated with the laparoscopic approach.

By comparing outcomes in a well-defined cohort treated after dissemination of the LACC trial results, this study aims to provide contemporary, real-world data on the oncologic safety of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in selected early-stage cervical cancer patients.