gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive sys-
tems.- The endoderm is the innermost layer. It is the
foundation for the tissues that line the inside of
the gastrointestinal, urinary, pulmonary, and
reproductive organs and structures.
These layers differentiate into their respective
structures and organs during the embryonic stage.
When this differentiation is complete, the devel-
oping life becomes a FETUS.
For further discussion of the embryo within the
context of the structures and functions of repro-
duction and sexuality, please see the overview
section “The Reproductive System.”
See also PREGNANCY.
endometrial cancer A malignant (cancerous)
tumor, sometimes called uterine cancer, that arises
from the tissues of the endometrium, the lining of
the UTERUS. Often endometrial cancer is HORMONE
driven, which means it requires ESTROGENS to
grow. Doctors in the United States diagnose
endometrial cancer in about 40,000 women each
year; it is the fourth most common cancer among
women. With early detection and treatment,
endometrial cancer is highly treatable. Endome-
trial cancer tends to develop slowly, typically over
years, and most commonly occurs in women over
age 60.
Endometrial cancer develops when the cells
that form the endometrium become disordered,
often as a consequence of chronic ENDOMETRIALendometrial cancer 273BASIC STAGING OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCERStage Meaning Treatment Options
stage 0/carcinoma cancer remains confined to the cells of its total HYSTERECTOMYwith optional bilateral salpingo-
in situ origin OOPHORECTOMY
stage 1 cancer remains confined to the body of the total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
UTERUS and SENTINEL LYMPH NODE DISSECTION
adjuvant RADIATION THERAPY
stage 2 cancer involves the uterus and the CERVIX preoperative radiation therapy
total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
and sentinel lymph node dissection
stage 3 cancer has spread beyond the uterus though preoperative radiation therapy
remains confined to the pelvic area radical hysterectomy
cancer may involve the VAGINAand LYMPH adjuvant HORMONAL THERAPY
nodes adjacent to the uterus
stage 4 cancer has spread to other organs in the radiation therapy
abdomen such as the RECTUMor BLADDER hormonal therapy
cancer has spread to distant sites clinical trials
stage 4 recurrent cancer has returned after treatment radiation therapy
hormonal therapy
clinical trials
four to six cycles of two-drug (doxorubicin and cisplatin)
or three-drug (doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel)
combination CHEMOTHERAPY
IMMUNOTHERAPY