The value of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemor- adiotherapy (CCRT) in loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer patients. METHODS: The medical records of 24 patients were retrospectively reviewed who underwent CCRT' and 62 patients who had underwent radiation therapy alone at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University Hospital from September, 1994 to August 2000 for loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer (stage IIb-IVa and Ib-IIa with bulky tumor mass or pelvic lymph node involvement detected by magnetic resonance imaging). Radiotherapy was performed for 7 weeks during which the patients underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy concomitantly. Chemotherapeutic regimen consisted of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1, 4) and 5-FU (1000 mg/m2 on day 2-5, 30-33). The toxicity was assessed according to the GOG toxicity criteria. RESULTS: In the CCRT group, 2 of 18 patients (11.1%) had recurrent disease. Of the 22 patients who were followed up, the overall survival rate was 83.3%, and the relapse-free survival rate was 89.9%. In the radiotherapy alone group, 19 of 61 patients (32.3%) had recurrent disease. Of the 62 patients who were followed up, the overall survival rate was 75.4% and the relapsed-free survival rate was 67.7%. Relative risk reduction rate of the death rate in the CCRT group was 66% (RR 0.34), and 32% (RR 0.68) in the recurrence rate. Acute toxicities in the CCRT group were enteritis grade 3:3 (12.5%), leukopenia grade 3:2 (8.3%), anemia grade 3:1 (4.1%) and grade 4:2 (8.3%). The acute toxicities in the radiation therapy alone group were enteritis grade 3:7 (11.3%), rectal bleeding grade 3:1 (1%). Increased acute toxicities developed in the CCRT group. CONCLUSION: This study shows improved overall survival rates and relapse-free survival rates but some increase in acute toxicity. It is suggested that CCRT be the standard treatment of loco-regionally advanced cervical cancer. Due to small size sample and short duration of follow up, further study of a large group of patients and the long term survival rate are necessary.

The Significance of Normal 100 gm Oral Glucose Tolerance Test on Perinatal Outcomes / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate perinatal outcomes in patients with abnormal 50 gm challenge test followed by normal 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value. METHODS: We examined the pregnancy outcomes of 423 women classified as the study group with abnormal 50 gm oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) followed by normal 100 gm OGTT based on NDDG criteria. If the 1-hour plasma glucose value of 50 gm OGCT was over 130 mg/dL, the patient was scheduled for a full 3-hour 100 gm OGTT. 50 gm OGCT and 100 gm OGTT were administered at 24-28 and 28-32 weeks' gestation, respectively. The control group constituted of 467 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched negative screenees. We defined poor maternal outcomes as those suffering from any one of hydramnios or oligohydramnios, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery due to cephalopelvic disproportion, dystocia, or fetal distress. We also defined poor neonatal outcomes as those suffering from any one of hyperbilirubinemia, hypoglycemia, congenital anomaly, admission to neonatal intensive care unit due to respiratory distress syndrome, or perinatal mortality. Retrospective review of outcomes of these patients was performed. Student t-test, Fisher's exact test and chi-square test were used to determine the statistical significance. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic and obstetric characteristics between the control group and the study group. There were no significant differences in gestational age (38.7+/-1.5 vs 38.5+/-1.5 weeks), birth weight (3189.2+/-420.9 vs 3236.7+/-423.1 gm), between the groups. And there were no significant differences in preterm birth (6.2% vs 7.4%), large for gestational age births (4.5% vs 5.0%), intrauterine growth restriction (5.4% vs 4.3%) between the groups. There were no significant differences in poor maternal outcomes (15.6% vs 18.7%) and poor neonatal outcomes (3.9% vs 5.7%) between the groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that abnormal value on 50 gm challenge test followed by normal 100 gm OGTT is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Endometriosis is closely associated with endometrial polyps; The effectiveness of hysteroscopy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of hysteroscopy and the incidence of endometrial polyps in women with endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 99 patients determined to be with infertility by laparoscopic procedure from March 1999 to February 2000 were prospectively analyzed at Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Korea. The study group was 63 patients with endometriosis and the control group consisted of 36 patients without endometriosis. The presence of endometriosis was documented laparoscopically and scored according to The American Fertility Society Classification. We confirmed the presence of endometrial polyps by pathologic examination after polypectomy. We compared the results of the operation to that of the hysterosalpingogram(HSG) and transvaginal sonogram(TVS) before the procedure. RESULTS: Among the 99 patients with infertility, endometrial polyps were found in 40 of 63 women(63.5%) with endometriosis but in only 10 of 36 women(38.5%) without endometriosis. The greater the degree of endometriosis was accompanied by increased incidence of endometrial polyps, and in particular, women with stage three endomeriosis or higher all showed the presence of endometrial polyps. The sensitivity and specificity of the HSG detecting the presence of an endometrial polyp is 55.3%, 87.2%, and that of the TVS is 78.9%, 95.7%. DISCUSSION: The presence of endometrial polyps is significantly associated with the presence of endometriosis, and therefore hysteroscopy should be performed in patients with endometriosis who have not been confirmed with endometrial pathology by HSG or TVS.

A Novel Anti-apoptosis Gene, Survivin, Expressed in Uterine Cervical Carcinoma / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Survivin is a novel inhibitor of apoptosis. Suppression of apoptosis is important for carcinogenesis and tumor growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether survivin is expressed in the tissues of normal uterine cervix, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) and squamous cell carsinoma of the uterine cervix, as a first step for evaluation of the clinical significance of survivin in uterine cervical cancer. METHODS: We investigated the expression of survivin in the tissues of 11 cases of normal uterine cervix and 14 cases of CIN III and 20 cases of uterine cervical cancer, using Immunohistochemistry at department of obstetrics and gynecology of Ajou university hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2001 and then compared with the results of three groups. RESULTS: The expression of survivin is increased significantly in cases of CIN III and uterine cervical cancer compared with controls. (p<0.05, One way ANOVA test) CONCLUSION: This study shows survivin could play an important role in the carcinogenesis mechanism of uterine cervix. And further study will be followed to evaluate the clinical relationship of survivin in uterine cervical cancer and whether to act a prognostic factor or not.