Ovarian Cancer during Pregnancy: Clinical and Pregnancy Outcome

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical feature and pregnancy outcome in patients with ovarian cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 27 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer during pregnancy at Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center from January 1996 to December 2006. Mean age of the patients was 29.1 yr (range 23-40), and a mean follow-up period was 57 months (range 7-112 months). Of 27 patients, 15 (55.5%) had borderline malignancies, 7 (25.9%) had epithelial malignancies and 5 (18.6%) had germ cell tumors. A total of 26 patients received a conservative surgery preserving pregnancy. The mean time for surgical intervention during pregnancy was 20 weeks of gestational age. Of the 27 patients, 26 had full term delivery of a healthy baby without any congenital malformation. Only one patient with epithelial ovarian cancer had a relapse at 19 months after the first conservative operation with adjuvant chemotherapy. There were few data for managing patients with ovarian cancer diagnosed during pregnancy. This study results could help establish a guideline for management of ovarian malignancy complicating pregnancy.

Fertility preservation in patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of fertility preservation in the treatment of patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 21 patients with early EOC from January 1995 to December 2006. All eligible patients with a strong desire to preserve fertility were younger than 35 years and underwent fertility-sparing surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-one eligible patients with a median age of 26.7 years (range, 20 to 33 years) were identified, and the mean follow-up period was 43 months (range, 5 to 86 months). Only one patient with stage IC recurred 34 months after the first operation. A total of five patients were able to become pregnant at least once after the first fertility preserving treatment, with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. All five patients succeeded in full-term vaginal delivery with healthy infants. No patients died of their disease. CONCLUSION: Fertility preserving treatment in patients with early EOC can be considered as a proper treatment strategy in patients with early EOC, who have the strong desire for fertility preservation.

Clinicopathologic study of ovarian granulosa cell tumors / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of granulosa cell tumor of the ovary (OGCT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 27 patients with OGCT at our hospitals from January 1995 to December 2003. RESULTS: The mean age was 48.3 years (24~70) and mean follow up period was 56.7 months (12~102). The most common symptom was vaginal bleeding (n=11, 40.7%). The tumors were ranging from 3 cm to 21 cm in diameter (mean: 9.9). Post-surgical FIGO stage was stage I in 20 (74.1%), stage II in 6 (22.2%), and stage III in 1 (3.7%). Endoemetrial samples were available in 21 patients and the results were endometrial carcinoma in 1 and endometrial hyperplasias in 5. Staging operation was performed in 17, unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 6, total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 2, and fertility sparing operation in 2. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in 13 patients (48.2%). Two patients had recurred and recurrence rate was 7.4% (2/27). Two recurred patients finally died of the disease at 42 months and 103 months after first operation respectively. During follow-up period, 2 patients had 3 pregnancies and all of them delivered at term. CONCLUSION: These results shows that most OGCT is detected in early stage and have relatively excellent survival. However, because OGCT is a slow-growing tumor and has a late recurrence, long time follow-up is required.

The effect of lymph-vascular space invasion on clinicopathologic features in patients with endometrial cance / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) on clinicopathologic features and outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: All women who were surgically treated for endometrial cancer at the Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center between January 2000 and December 2003 were eligible. One hundred-forty one patients underwent retrospective review of medical record. Pathologic findings of LVSI were reviewed and divided in LVSI-positive group and LVSI-negative. Statistical analysis was performed by dBSTAT-4. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (39%) were LVSI-positive and eighty-six patients (61%) were LVSI-negative. LVSI-positive patients were statistically older than LVSI-negative. LVSI-positive patients had more abnormal cytology, poorer differentiation, larger tumor size (diameter>2 cm), more myometrial invasion. more pelvic nodal metastasis, more paraaortic nodal metastasis, and more advanced stage. There was no difference between the two groups in the percentage of patients with gravidity, parity, histologic types (endometrioid vs nonendometrioid). CONCLUSION: LVSI-positive patients with endometrial cancer are generally older, consistent with more abnormal cytology, poorer differentiation, larger tumor size, more myometrial invasion, more lymph-node metastasis, and more advanced-stage disease. So, LVSI should be a consideration in appropriate treatment in endometrial cancer.

The clinical approach for endometrial biopsies with atypical endometrial hyperplasia for further management / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proper approach in women diagnosed with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) by endometrial biopsy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 108 patients who underwent hysterectomies for AEH diagnosed by endometrial biopsy from 2000 to 2007. The results of the endometrial biopsies were graded on an ordinal scale and were compared with pathologic features obtained at the hysterectomy. RESULTS: AEH was initially diagnosed by dilatation and curettage (87 cases) or endometrial biopsy with a Z-sampler (17 cases). The remaining four cases were diagnosed by hysteroscopic polypectomy. In patients preoperatively diagnosed with AEH by biopsy, hysterectomy specimens revealed a rate of simple or complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia of 33.3% with AEH and normal endometrium found in 52.8 and 3.7% of specimens, respectively. The incidence of endometrial carcinoma was considerably high (11/108, 10.2%). All cases were confined to the endometrium and two of those were located at the adenomyosis without myometrial invasion. All patients with endometrial carcinoma displayed coexisting atypical complex hyperplasia following hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Biopsy specimens showing AEH, particularly atypical complex hyperplasia, are associated with an increased risk of coexisting endometrial carcinoma. When considering management strategies for women with a biopsy diagnosis of AEH, clinicians should take into account the considerable rate of concurrent endometrial cancer and the discrepancy with pathologic diagnosis.

Comparison of surgical approach to staging operation for endometrial cancer including pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To compare laparoscopic surgery with laparotomy in comprehensive surgical staging of endometrial cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 272 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma treated by staging operation including pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy between January, 1996 and December, 2007. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index, or histologic type, but in the laparotomy group, grade and surgical stage were significantly higher. All the patients, 182 in the laparotomy and 90 in the laparoscopy group, had lymphadenectomy, and the mean number of pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes (LNs) obtained were 33.1+/-13.2 and 16.1+/-11.6 in the laparoscopy group, and 32.5+/-14.5 and 19.0+/-12.7 in the laparotomy group, respectively; these differences were not statistically significant. In the laparoscopy group, the operating time and postoperative hospital length of stay were shorter than in the laparotomy group, as were the pre- and post-operative hemoglobin changes. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of intra- or post-operative complications, but positive lymph nodal metastasis and conducting of postoperative adjuvant therapy were highter in the laparotomy group. The operative technique did not influence overall or disease-free survival after adjusting for several confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted surgical staging for endometrial cancer required a shorter operating time, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and lower blood loss compared to traditional laparotomy staging, and can be a good therapeutic option for staging operation including lymphadenectomy of endometrial cancer.

The efficacy and toxicity of topotecan in combination with platinum in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer and primary peritoneal carcinomatosis / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of topotecan, camptothecin analogue topoisomerase I inhibitor, as the combination therapy with platinum in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma and primary peritoneal carcinomatosis. METHOD: In this study, patients who were treated with topotecan between January 2000 and June 2007 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea were reviewed. Fifty-one patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma and peritoneal carcinomatosis were included. These patients' data were analyzed by review of medical records and pathologic and laboratory reports retrospectively. Response was assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria for patients with measurable disease and CA-125 response criteria for patients with non-measurable disease. The toxicities were evaluated according to NCI CTC (Common Toxicity Criteria) version 3.0. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.4 years (ranged between 37 and 69). Forty-four patients had been evaluated by RECIST criteria. The overall response rate was 22.8% (10/44). Platinum-sensitive patients showed more favorable response rate (26.9%) than platinum-resistant patients (16.7%), however, it was not significant statistically (p=0.425). Platinum-sensitive group had significantly longer response duration (12.14 vs. 3.33 months, p=0.022) and time-to-progression (11.34 vs. 7.33 months, p=0.042) than platinum-resistant group. Heavily pretreated group, three or more prior regimens were used, had no significant differences from another group. The most common adverse effect of topotecan in combination with platinum was hematologic toxicity; grade 3/4 neutropenia was 30.6%, anemia was 42.7%, and thrombocytopenia was 8.37% in total 265 cycles of chemotherapy, however, it was tolerable. CONCLUSION: Topotecan in combination with platinum is considered as effective regimen with acceptable toxicity in treating recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma and primary peritoneal carcinomatosis who have failed previous treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Effectiveness and safety of oral capecitabine in patients with gynecologic cancers / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of capecitabine in patients with gynecologic cancers as adjuvant chemotherapy or maintenance treatment. METHODS: In this study, patients who were treated with capecitabine between January 2000 and June 2007 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea were reviewed. Thirty-one patients with gynecologic cancers were included 16 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, 9 patients with cervical cancer after initial treatment, and 6 patients with recurrent cervical cancer. These patients' data were analyzed by review of medical records and pathologic and laboratory reports retrospectively. Response was assessed by both RECIST criteria for patients with measurable disease and CA 125 criteria in patients with ovarian cancer and National Cancer Institute criteria for progression, response, and toxicity were utilized in cervical cancer. RESULTS: Capcitabine was given at a dosage of 2,000-2,500 mg/m2/day orally in a divided dose daily for 14 days followed by a 7-day rest period in all patients. Nine patients with ovarian cancer were treated with more than 2 cycles and their median age was 49 years (43-67). Two patients showed a partial response and the median progression free survival was 3 months. Nine patients with cervical cancer after initial treatment were in the complete response state and their median progression free survival was 24.5 months. No partial or complete responses were seen in 6 patients with recurrent cervical cancer. There was no severe toxicity. CONCLUSION: Although capecitabine is a well-tolerated regimen, as a single agent, it produces minimal benefit in recurrent ovarian and cervical cancer population.

A case of huge uterine myoma associated with pulmonary thromboembolism / 대한산부인과학회지

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious illness sometimes causing death due to acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Blood stasis of the pelvic vein is a major etiologic factor for DVT. Occasionally a huge uterine myoma can cause compression of the pelvic venous system leading to DVT. We experienced a very rare case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a 45-year-old woman with a huge uterine myoma and no other recognized risk factors for PTE and DVT. The patient was successfully treated with thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapy associated with total hysterectomy.

Proportion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T lymphocyte in peripheral blood of patients with gynecologic cancer / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Recently the existence of a CD4+CD25+ regulatory (Treg) population has been described in rodents and humans. It is unclear how the immune response cells interact to tumor cells effectively, but the malignant tumor cell growth was suppressed by the main effect of T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in experimental studies using various biologic response modifier. This study was performed to investigate the proportion of CD4+CD25high Tregs and expression of Foxp3 in Peripheral blood (PBL)s in patients with cervical, ovarian or uterine cancers. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 10 healthy women and a total of 40 patients with gynecologic cancer at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from March 2005 to September 2005, were enrolled in study group. Information regarding patient history and tumor stage was recorded. They were diagnosed at same center at first, and never been treated any therapy. The population of CD4+CD25+high Tregs as a percentage of total CD4+cells was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. We measured the proportion of Treg cell that co-express CD4 and CD25 in the peripheral blood lymphocytes form patients with either cervical, ovarian uterine cancer or carcinoma in situ of cervix. Expression of Foxp3 in the CD4+subsets defined by electrophoresis. RESULTS: The following tumor entities were included cervical cancer (n=10. 7 in stage I, 1 in stage II, 1 in stage III, 1 in stage IV); ovarian cancer (n=10. 4 in stage I, 0 in stage II, 5 in stage III, 1 in stage IV), ; uterine cancer (n=10. 9 in stage I, 0 in stage II, 0 in stage III, 1 in stage IV). In cervical cancer patient, ovarian cancer patients, uterine cancer patients and healthy women, the proportion of CD4+CD25high Tregs was 4.53% (SD 2.30), 6.89% (SD 7.81), 4.37% (SD 2.43) and 0.87% (SD 0.57) of the total CD4+cells respectively. The proportion of CD4+CD25+high T cells was significantly higher in cervical cancer patients (p=0.016), ovarian cancer patients (p=0.001) and uterine cancer patients (p=0.038) when compared with healthy women. But there was no significant difference in proportion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs comparing with healthy women. Expression of Foxp3 was significantly thicker in tumor-associated lymphocytes than control T cells by electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data suggested that the increase in frequency of regulatory T cells might play a role in modulation of the immune response against cervical, ovarian, uterine cancer could be important in design of immunotherapeutic approaches.

The Results of Postoperative Radiotherapy for Endometrial Carcinoma / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and prognostic factors of postoperative radiotherapy in endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1991 to August 2003, 76 patients with endometrial carcinoma received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy after hysterectomy at Asan Medical Center. Stage was classified as FIGO I in 41 (53.9%), II in 12 (53.9%), and III in 23 (30.3%). Histologic grade 1, 2 and 3 were in 29 (38.2%), 20 (26.3%), and 27 (35.5%) respectively. Forty two patients received both external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and intracavitary radiation (ICR), 34 patients were treated with EBRT or ICR alone. EBRT dose was 50.4 Gy, ICR was performed in 4~6 fractions with 4~5 Gy per fraction. Median follow?up period was 51 (range 5~121) months. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival was 89.6%. In univariate analysis, statistically significant factors to overall survival were FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis and histologic grade. In disease free survival, FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis and lymphovascular invasion were significant prognostic factors. Recurrence was seen in 11 patients. Of these, systemic failure was in 10 patients. There were no moderate to severe complications after radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: The outcome of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in endometrial carcinoma was good. Main pattern of failure after postoperative radiotherapy was distant metastasis. So, adjuvant chemotherapy may help in improving outcome. Further study on chemotherapy in combined with postoperative radiotherapy will be needed, especially for patients with high risk factors such as high FIGO stage, lymphovascular invasion, and high histologic grade.

Comparison of characteristics of Dendritic Cells derived from CD 14+ Monocyte and CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cell in Human Umbilical Cord Blood / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To compare the morphological, phenotypical, and functional characteristics of dendritic cells (DCs) generated from two precursor cell sources (CD 14+ monocyte and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell) of human umbilical cord blood (UCB) under identical ex vivo generation conditions and to determine the best cellular source for DCs-based anticancer immunotherapy. METHODS: CD14+ monocytes and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells were isolated from human UCB and induced to differentiate into DCs under identical culture conditions using granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (800 U/mL) and IL-4 (500 U/mL). Then maturation of DCs was induced with IFN-gamma (1000 U/mL) and LPS (1 microgram/mL). Morphology was compared with confocal microscopy and phenotypical analysis was done with FACS. The level of IL-12p70 production was determined with ELISA kit and T cell proliferation capacity was assessed with mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). RESULTS: Eight-day-old mature DCs from CD14+ monocytes or CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells had identical morphology. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CD14+ monocyte-derived DCs (M-DCs) and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-derived DCs (CD34-DCs) showed similar enhanced expression of CD80, CD83, and CD86 (P>0.05). The level of IL-12p70 production was significantly higher in mature DCs (8-day-old) than immature DCs (6-day-old) of either source (P<0.05), but it was significantly highly elevated in CD34-DCs (P<0.05). DCs of both precursors showed potent stimulation capacity in MLR, with CD34-DCs having a maximum effect at 1:2 ratio and M-DCs at 1:20 ratio, although CD34-DCs had significantly greater proliferative effects at all ratios (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that CD34-DCs may be a more attractive source for DC-based immunotherapy. But because of morphologic, phenotypical, and functional similarities between the two cellular sources, both are good sources for generating DCs and one is not superior to the other. Thus cellular availability could be an important factor in determining DC-generation protocol to be used if all other issues are equal. Further comparative testing for these two precursors is in need.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the uterine Cervix: Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of the 19 cases / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics, prognostic factors, and survival time of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: The medical records of 19 patients who were diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and whose initial treatment was between October 1996 and December 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics, FIGO stage (classification according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), tumor size, lymph node metastasis, treatments, and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 years. The overall survival time was 57.3 months, and 5-year survival rate was 52.6%. Twelve patients were in FIGO stage I or IIa and 7 were in FIGO stages IIb-IV. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for neuroendocrine marker, chromogranin and synaptophysin, in 17 patients, and negative in 2 patients. Tumor size at diagnosis was under 2 cm in 12 patients and over 2 cm in 7 patients. Disease recurred in 8 patients, and 9 patients died. Through analyzing Overall survival time, FIGO stage and tumor size were significant prognostic factors in small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. CONCLUSION: Our study found FIGO stage and tumor size were significant prognostic factors in small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Urinary tract injuries after total hysterectomy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, characteristics, and convalescence times of urinary tract injury after gynecological surgery, total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), total vaginal hysterectomy (VH), radical hysterectomy (RH), and laparoscopic-assisted radical hysterectomy (LRH). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 109 patients with urinary tract injuries after total hysterectomy from May 1989 to April 2004. During the study period, 18,721 hysterectomies were carried out. RESULTS: The total incidence of urinary tract injury after total hysterectomy was 0.59%, as follows: TAH, 0.55%; LAVH, 0.64%; VH, 0.62%; RH, 0.69%; and LRH, 1.56%. The total incidence of bladder and ureteric injury was, respectively, 0.51 and 0.09%, as follows: TAH, 0.51 and 0.04%; LAVH, 0.57 and 0.07%; VH, 0.62 and 0%; RH, 0.21 and 0.49%; and LRH, 1.79 and 0.89%. There was no significant difference of the incidence of urinary tract injury type of operation with benign findings (P>0.05), but there was significant difference of the incidence of injury between type of operation with benign and malignant findings (P<0.05). The convalescence times were 10.3+/-8.7 days after bladder injury and 44.4+/-16.27 days after ureteric injury diagnosed intraoperatively, but 33.3+/-46.6 days after bladder injury and 69.0+/-16.4 days after ureteric injury diagnosed postoperatively. There was significant difference between both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, total hysterectomy resulted in 0.59% incidence of urinary tract injury and repair of these injuries was successful in all cases. There was no significant difference for incidence of urinary tract injury between types of operation with benign findings, but there was significant difference between types of operation for benign and malignant findings. The convalescence times for intraoperatively recognized injuries were significantly shorter than those for injuries recognized postoperatively. 109, but significant difference between benign and malignant gynecological operations (P<0.05). Tintraoperatively recognized.

Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumor of the Uterus: Retrospective Study of 26 cases / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT) of the uterus. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study was done on 26 patients diagnosed with the MMMT of the uterus at our hospital from Janurary, 1994 to December, 2004. Demographic data, pathologic findings, stages, treatment, prognosis and survival time were reviewed. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 59 years. Most of the patients (76.9%) were in the postmenopausal state. The most common symptom was vaginal bleeding (65.4%). There were 17 patients (65.4%) with stage I, 3 patients (11.6%) with stage II, 4 patients (15.4%) with stage III, 2 patients (7.6%) with stage IV disease in this study. Of the hysterectomy specimens, 4 (15.4%) of them were heterologous tumors, 22 (84.6%) of them were homologous tumors. Overall 5 year survival rate of all stages was 60% and the patients with advanced stages (III, IV) showed poorer prognosis than the patients with early stages (I, II) (P=0.001). Myometrial invasion depth was also significant prognostic factor (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The MMMT of the uterus is a highly malignant tumor and the significant prognostic factor is the FIGO stage and myometrial invasion depth.

Identification of CYP2C8 gene polymorphisms in Korean patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and their association with effect and toxicity of anticancer drug / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The frequency of CYP2C8 gene polymorphisms in Korean patients with epithelial ovarian cancer was identified and their association with toxicity and effect of the anticancer drug according to haplotypes was analyzed. METHODS: DNA was extracted from 57 epithelial ovarian cancer patients between January 2004 and March 2005. Genetic variations that are three common SNPs (CYP2C8*1D; -411T>C, CYP2C8*1C; -370T>G and CYP2C8*1B; -271C>A) by direct sequence analysis from 57 Korean women with epithelial ovarian cancer were observed. 33 patients who received debulking surgery, were diagnosed over FIGO state III, serous ovarian cancer were enrolled and received paclitaxel based chemotherapy. Among 33 patients 21 chemo-sensitive patients and 12 resistant patients were analyzed. Using these SNPs, We constructed haplotypes and haplotype pairs. CYP2C8 genotypes according to the clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. RESULTS: Genetic analysis revealed the common SNPs' allele frequencies of -411T>C, -370T>G, and -271C>A were 0.3, 0.44, and 0.1. Two common SNPs allele frequency was similar to the data in Korean population substantially, but CYP2C8*1C frequency was more frequent in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and especially in FIGO stage III. Disease free interval in CYP2C8*1C homologous group was longer than others. CONCLUSION: CYP2C8*1C SNPs were detected more frequently in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and especially in FIGO stage III patients. CYP2C8*1C homologous patients had more longer disease free interval than others.

Clinical Usefulness of Cytokeratin 7 and 20 Expression in Metastatic Ovarian Tumors / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pattern of Cytokeratin (CK) 7 and 20 expression and evaluate its clinical usefulness in the differential diagnosis of metastatic ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred eighty nine cases pathologically diagnosed as having metastatic ovarian carcinoma were reviewed from January 1990 to December 2003 at Asan Medical Center. Immunohistochemistry for CK7 and CK20 was performed in 92 cases. RESULTS: One hundred seventy five cases were originated from non-gynecologic organs. The most common primary site was stomach (88 patients) followed by colon (53 patients). Fourteen cases were originated from gynecologic organs, such as uterine cervix, endometrium, and fallopian tube. 82.5% (33/40) of the stomach cancers was CK7 positive, whereas only 23.5% (8/34) of the colorectal cancers was CK7 positive. 82.5% (33/40) of the stomach cancers and 100% (34/34) of the colorectal cancers was CK20 positive. CK7+/CK20+ pattern was the most frequent in stomach cancer (70.0%, 28/40). In colorectal cancer, CK7-/CK20+ pattern had the largest portion (76.5%, 26/34) and there was no CK7+/CK20- pattern in contrast to primary ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSION: CK7 and CK20 expression patterns in primary gastric carcinomas vary considerably. The CK7-/CK20+ expression pattern is specific for metastatic colorectal carcinomas to the ovary and expression pattern of CK is one of the useful methods to differentiate primary ovary cancers from metastatic ovarian carcinomas from colon, especially in left side colon cancer.

Clinicopathologic Analysis and Prognosis of Endodermal Sinus Tumor of the Ovary / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and pathological characteristics of endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the ovary. METHODS: Seventeen patients who were treated with EST of the ovary between September 1991 and February 2005 were reviewed retrospectively for clinicopathologic characteristics, treatments, and outcomes. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 22.0 years (range 7-43). Nine patients (52.9%) were stage I, 3 (17.6%) stage II, 4 (23.5%) stage III, and 1 (5.9%) stage IV. Twelve of 17 patients underwent conservative surgery including unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, unilateral oophorectomy and others were underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. All patients received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Eleven patients received BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) combination chemotherapy and the others received VAC (vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide). One patient had recurred, and 3 patients had died of the disease. The mean overall survival is 153.6 months. Patients with stage I and II had a more favorable prognosis than those with stage III and IV disease (p<0.05). Patients received BEP combination chemotherapy showed significantly better prognosis than patients received VAC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Less advanced stage and BEP combination chemotherapy showed significantly better prognosis.

The Relationship between Expression of 1-Cys Peroxiredoxin and Resistance to Cisplatin in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between expression of 1-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx) and resistance to cisplatin in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry of 1-Cys Prx was performed on both normal ovarian tissues and the tissues of epithelial ovarian cancer. Western blot was performed to measure the expression of 1-Cys Prx in SKOV-3, OVCAR-3 and SNU-8 after treatment with cisplatin. Expression of 1-Cys Prx in SKOV-3 was also measured according to both time after treatment with cisplatin and concentration of cisplatin. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with and without antioxidants in SKOV-3. SKOV-3 was transfected with 1-Cys Prx green fluorescent protein plasmid to overexpress 1-Cys Prx and TUNEL assay was performed after treatment with cisplatin to examine apoptosis. RESULTS: 1-Cys Prx was strongly expressed in both stroma and epithelium of both normal ovary and epithelial ovarian cancer, especially in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. SNU-8 and OVCAR-3 exhibited about 1.5 fold higher expression than SKOV-3. SKOV-3 showed the peak expression at 48 hours after treatment with cisplatin and in 3 microgram/mL concentration of cisplatin. The generation of ROS was increased after treatment with cisplatin to SKOV-3 and the survival of SKOV-3 against cisplatin was correlated with the concentration of antioxidants (p<0.001). No apoptosis occurred in 1-Cys Prx overexpressed SKOV-3 cells. CONCLUSION: 1-Cys Prx was shown to increase the resistance to cisplatin in epithelial ovarian cancer cell line. The result suggests that the resistance may be due to overexpression of 1-Cys Prx, which is responsible for removal of ROS generated by cisplatin.

Clinical significance of surgical staging and lymphadenectomy in patients with borderline ovarian tumors / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of patients with borderline ovarian tumors who had been surgically staged with those who were not staged. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2004, there were 204 patients who underwent surgery and were diagnosed as borderline ovarian tumors. A retrospective review was performed. Two groups were identified: patients who underwent surgical staging (n=98) versus those who were not staged (n=106). Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Between the two groups, there were no differences of the mean age of the time of diagnosis, parity, BMI, family history, pretreatment CA 125 level, tumor size, and disease recurrence, but were significant differences of FIGO stage (p=0.04), histologic types (p<0.01), operation time (p<0.01), length of hospital stay (p<0.01), and adjuvant chemotherapy (p<0.01). The lymph node positivity rate were 3.5% and 7.1% in patients with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy respectively. All patients with postive lymph nodes showed the micropapillary serous carcinoma. The 5 year disease-free survival rate was 90%. The overall disease-free survival was significantly found to be decreased in patients with advanced FIGO stage (p<0.01). There was no significant difference of overall disease-free survival regard to pretreatment CA 125 level (p=0.72), histologic types (p=0.78), adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.45), and surgical staging with lymphadenectomy (p=0.79). CONCLUSION: Disease-free survival was not significantly different between staged and unstaged patients who had surgery with borderline ovarian tumors. It seems that routine pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is not necessary in the majority of women with borderline ovarian tumors.