ABSTRACT
Amnion, chorion, and decidua were separated from fetal membranes at term from women with no labor (cesarean delivery [CS], n = 10), labor (normal delivery, n = 10), and labor during premature rupture of membranes (PROM; n = 8) for evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7. The expression of pro-MMP-7 was immunohistochemically demonstrated in amnion, chorion, and decidua. Interestingly, however, Western blotting revealed that pro-MMP-7 and MMP-7 expression was the lowest in amnion from PROM, whereas it was the highest in chorion and decidua from PROM. Importantly, the enzymatic activity of MMP-7 determined with an MMP-7-specific substrate was higher in amnion from PROM than that from CS. Moreover, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 level was lower in amnion from PROM than that from CS. Thus, MMP-7 is expressed in fetal membranes (amnion, chorion, and decidua), and its activity is increased in amnion of PROM at term, accompanied with the reduced level of TIMP-1, which may suggest the possible involvement of MMP-7 in PROM.
Subject(s)
Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/metabolism , Matrix Metalloproteinase 7/metabolism , Amnion/metabolism , Chorion/metabolism , Decidua/metabolism , Female , Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/enzymology , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Matrix Metalloproteinase 7/biosynthesis , Pregnancy , Term Birth , Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/biosynthesisABSTRACT
Docetaxel and carboplatin were used as adjuvant chemotherapy or maintenance chemotherapy for cancer of the ovary and fallopian tube. Docetaxel 70 mg/m2 and carboplatin (area under the concentration-versus-time curve of 5) were administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Thirty-two patients (median age, 54 years) were assessable. We had objective responses from 5 of 7 (70%) assessable patients. Our toxicity findings included the following: grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (70% of courses); grade 3 or 4 leucocytopenia (35% of courses); hypersensitive reaction (25% of patients, none requiring discontinuation of therapy): edema (30% of patients): peripheral neuropathy (6% of patients). The combination of docetaxel and carboplatin is highly active in cancer of the ovary and follapian tube. The adverse effect was significant neutropenia, but peripheral neuropathy was rare. This regimen represents a reasonable first-line option for patients with ovarian cancer.
