Serous adenocarcinofibroma of the ovary--report of two cases and review of the literature.

We investigated the clinical and histologic characteristics of patients with ovarian serous adenocarcinofibroma. Because the tumors in both cases contained fibroma components; they were hard and clinically indistinguishable from uterine myoma, even by computed tomography. Both patients experienced relapses associated with tumors that originated outside the abdominal cavity (the subcutaneous abdominal wall in case 1, and the inguinal lymph nodes in case 2). The serum level of CA125 was normal or only moderately elevated at the first onset and relapse. The present cases suggest that the diagnostic features and clinical course differ between ovarian serous adenocarcinoma and serous adenocarcinofibroma.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor as a marker of ovarian carcinoma.

Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a cytokine which stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of phagocytic cells. We evaluated the usefulness of M-CSF as a serum tumor marker for ovarian malignancies and also assessed M-CSF production by tumor cells and the role of an autocrine system in such M-CSF production. The findings obtained were as follows: i) Serum M-CSF was a useful marker for malignant ovarian tumors. ii) M-CSF was a marker for both epithelial stromal tumors and for germ cell tumors. It was also a marker for dysgerminoma, for which no specific tumor marker is currently available. iii) The value of combined assays employing M-CSF was confirmed. iv) M-CSF production was demonstrated in various malignant ovarian tumor cell lines, but the presence of an autocrine system for M-CSF was not confirmed.

[Combination of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and cisplatin as a new regimen for patients with advanced ovarian cancer].

It has been reported that the antitumor effect of CPT-11 is manifested through the inhibition of topoisomerase I by SN-38 which is an active metabolite of CPT-11 produced by intracellular carboxylesterase, and that CPT-11 is effective against recurrent ovarian carcinoma. We investigated the antitumor effect and adverse reactions in the combined therapy with CPT-11 and CDDP in patients with prior chemotherapy for recurrent carcinoma, and in 7 patients without prior chemotherapy, consisting of 4 patients with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for clear cell carcinoma and 3 patients with metastatic ovarian carcinoma. CDDP was administered on day 1 and CPT-11 was administered three times on days 1, 8 and 15. The dose of both CDDP and CPT-11 was 50 mg/m2 or 60 mg/m2. Adverse reactions were investigated in all patients and the antitumor effect was assessed in 12 patients with recurrent carcinoma who had measurable lesions. (1) The DLF was neutropenia. The neutrophil count nadiar occurred on day 18 or 19. Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were observed in 60% or more of the patients, but they disappeared following short term administration of G-CSF. In patients with recurrent carcinoma given CDDP and CPT-11 at 60 mg/m2, the incidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions and number of occasions on which CPT-11 administration had to be postponed were higher than those in patients given 50 mg/m2. (2) Mild platelet reduction was observed. (3) Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea was observed in 3.2% of patients with recurrent carcinoma and in 7.7% of patients with metastatic ovarian carcinoma. (4) The antitumor effect was evaluated in 12 patients with recurrent carcinoma: CR in 2 patients. PR in 3, NC in 6, and PD in one. The response rate was 41.7%. (5) An antitumor effect was observed in 2 patients with serous carcinoma and in one patient each with mucous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma. In conclusion, adverse reactions caused by the combination therapy with CPT-11 and CDDP (CPT-11: 50-60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15, CDDP: 50-60 mg/m2 on day 1) can be relieved by short term administration of G-CSF and it is suggested that the combination therapy may be effective in treating ovarian carcinoma.

[Direct anti-tumor effect of recombinant human IFN-gamma evaluated in ovarian pseudomyxoma peritoneally transplanted into nude mice].

Different doses of recombinant human interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) between 1 X 10(6) and 2 X 10(7) U/kg were administered to nude mice for 21 days continuously. As a result, an anti-tumor effect was noted in comparison with a control group, although there was no significant difference between groups at each dose level. Serum CEA value was found to decrease in the groups as follows: 1 X 10(6) U/kg, 71.5 +/- 10 ng/ml; 3 X 10(6) U/kg, 90.6 +/- 4 ng/ml; 8 X 10(6) U/kg, 56.5 +/- 0.7 ng/ml; 2 X 10(7) U/kg, 47.4 +/- 12 ng/ml. Generally, the level was found to decrease in groups with high-dose administration. There was no difference in histological effect between groups at each dose level, and also no strong anti-tumor effect like that produced with other anti-cancer agents was noted with regard to histological change. It was revealed that recombinant human IFN-gamma was effective for suppression of tumor proliferation in human ovarian tumor, although its histological effect was less effective than that of anti-cancer agents such as Adriamycin and Cis-DDP.