Surgical treatment of recurrent gynecological malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive overview of surgical treatment of recurrent gynecological malignancies. Recurrent breast malignancies are not included in this review. METHODOLOGY: A review providing overview of surgical treatment options for recurrent malignancies of adnexa of the uterus (ovary, fallopian tube), uterine corpus, uterine cervix, and carcinoma of the vagina and vulva. CONCLUSION: Optimal surgical treatment for patients with recurrent cancer is based on multidisciplinary approach with stratification according to individual prognostic markers. These include patient's performance status, outcome of primary surgery, current extent of recurrence, and histopathological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics. Decision about choice of treatment should be individually discussed and evaluated by the multidisciplinary oncogynecological commission board.

Induction chemotherapy with cemiplimab in a patient with coexistent vulvar cancer and autoimmune disease: A case report.

There is limited data regarding the use of immunotherapy for patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and coexisting autoimmune disease. Cemiplimab is a PD-1 inhibitor approved for use in patients with locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. However, little is known about its efficacy in the setting of vulvar cancer. We present a case of advanced vulvar squamous cell carcinoma treated with induction chemotherapy and immunotherapy with cemiplimab followed by definitive chemoradiation in the setting of multiple autoimmune diseases. She achieved a complete clinical response and experienced no worsening of her autoimmune conditions despite cessation of her immunosuppressants and initiating an immune checkpoint inhibitor. We review existing data on neoadjuvant treatment of vulvar cancer and the use of cemiplimab in genital and inguinal squamous cell carcinomas. Ongoing exploration of cemiplimab's efficacy in vulvar cancer and safety in immunosuppressed patients is critical.

Systematic review - Adjuvant radiotherapy of the vulva in primary vulvar cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Adjuvant radiotherapy to the vulva in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is frequently performed albeit strong evidence is lacking. This systematic review aims to summarize the current literature on this topic. METHODS: 19 retrospective studies were included and analyzed, focusing on the primary outcome of local recurrence. RESULTS: The publications present conflicting results. While the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy to the groins in case of node-positive VSCC is well established, the indication criteria and effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy to the vulva remain unclear. Based on the studies included in this review, the current evidence suggests that adjuvant radiotherapy to the vulva might not significantly reduce the risk of recurrence or only in certain subgroups. CONCLUSION: Most of the studies do not consider individual risk factors such as HPV status, resection margin, lymph node stage, grading and others. As a result, the comparability and reliability of these findings are limited. This review aims to highlight the need of further research addressing the risk stratification, considering both oncologic risk factors and adverse events.

Review effects of radiation treatment on HPV-related vulvar cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: Vulvar carcinoma exhibits a robust correlation alongside HPV infection; however, the impact of HPV rank on the prognostic outcomes of radiation therapy within vulvar malignancies stays ambiguous. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive examination as well as meta-analysis to assess the influence of infection with HPV upon the long-term outlook as well as sensitivity of individuals with vulvar cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Methods: A meticulous examination of the existing research was conducted in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A thorough search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, as well as Cochrane Library databases, covering the entire available literature till April 1, 2023. The studies that met the inclusion criteria contained data about HPV infection and oncological outcomes in patients with vulvar cancer who received radiation therapy. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023417957). Results: We identified 12 retrospective studies meeting our inclusion criteria, which included a total of 3967 patients. Patients with HPV-associated vulvar cancer achieved a better overall survival rate after radiotherapy (HR=0.71, 95%CI: 0.54-0.93, P=0.01), and showed a significant improvement in disease-free survival (HR=0.75, 95%CI: 0.58-0.97, P=0.09) and progression-free survival (HR=0.31, 95%CI: 0.22-0.45, P,<0.01). Meanwhile, the complete remission rate after radiotherapy was higher for HPV-associated vulvar cancer patients (M-H=4.02, 95% CI: 1.87-8.61, P=0.0003), and the local control rate was better (HR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.15-3.15, P=0.01), exhibiting a reduced incidence of relapse within the field of study (HR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.10-0.42, P<0.001). Conclusion: In comparison to HPV-independent vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, patients with HPV-associated vulvar cancer exhibit higher sensitivity to radiotherapy, with a significant difference in prognosis. Further research should investigate the mechanisms underlying this high sensitivity to radiotherapy caused by HPV, and should be evaluated using high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Conservative Management of Vulvar Cancer-Where Should We Draw the Line?

Vulvar cancer is a rare disease, and cure rates were low until the mid-20th century. The introduction of an en bloc radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin and pelvic lymph node dissection saw them rise from 15-20% to 60-70%. However, this very radical surgery was associated with high physical and psychological morbidity. Wounds were usually left open to granulate, and the average post-operative hospital stay was about 90 days. Many attempts have been made to decrease morbidity without compromising survival. Modifications that have proven to be successful are as follows: (i) the elimination of routine pelvic node dissection, (ii) the use of separate incisions for groin dissection, (iii) the use of unilateral groin dissection for lateral, unifocal lesions, (iv) and radical local excision with 1 cm surgical margins for unifocal lesions. Sentinel node biopsy with ultrasonic groin surveillance for patients with node-negative disease has been the most recent modification and is advocated for patients whose primary cancer is <4 cm in diameter. Controversy currently exists around the need for 1 cm surgical margins around all primary lesions and on the appropriate ultrasonic surveillance for patients with negative sentinel nodes.

Lymph node ratio as an indicator of nodal status in the assessment of survival and recurrence in vulvar cancer: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal lymph node (LN) metastasis and particularly the number of metastatic lymph nodes (NMLN) represent a determinant prognostic factor in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). However, the NMLN may be related to the number of removed LNs. Therefore, the lymph node ratio (LNR) reflects not only the burden of LN involvement but also the quality and extent of lymphadenectomy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of the LNR and the count of LN on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). DESIGN: This study is a retrospective, longitudinal, institution-based study. METHODS: This study included 192 patients treated for VSCC at the Salah Azaiez Institute between 1994 and 2022. Clinical, pathological, and evolutionary data were reported. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and predictive factors of outcome were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Surgery consisted of a radical vulvectomy, hemivulvectomy, and pelvic exenteration in, respectively, 96.4%, 2.1%, and 1.6% of cases followed by adjuvant radiotherapy in 38.5% of cases. LN dissection was bilateral in 88.5% of cases. LNR = 0, LNR = 0-0.2, and LNR ⩾0.2 were recorded in, respectively, 64.7%, 22.1%, and 13.2% of cases. With a mean follow-up time of 35 ± 42.06 months, the 5-year OS was 52.5% and the 5-year RFS was 55.8%. On multivariate analysis, the independent prognostic factors of OS were the LNR (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.702; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.282-14.245; p < 0.0001), Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (HR = 2.089; 95% CI = 1.028-4.277; p = 0.042), and free margins (HR = 2.247; 95% CI = 1.215-4.155; p = 0.01). Recurrences were recorded in 37.5% of cases. Independent prognostic factors of RFS were the LNR (HR = 2.911; 95% CI = 1.468-5.779; p = 0.002), FIGO stage (HR = 1.835; 95% CI = 1.071-3.141; p = 0.027), and free margins (HR = 2.091; 95% CI = 1.286-3.999; p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Surgical margin, FIGO stage, and LNR represent the independent prognostic factors of survival and LNR showed superior prognostic predictive accuracy compared with the revised 2021 FIGO staging system for predicting OS and RFS in VSCC.

A Rare Case of Primary Vulval Amelanotic Melanoma Involving the Urethra.

A 60-year-old woman came to the Emergency Department complaining of a vaginal formation. The urologist suspected a urethral caruncle: the patient was discharged with vaginal oestrogen cream to relieve symptoms and a follow-up was suggested. After two months the patient returned to the Emergency Department since the mass was increasing in volume and complaining of dysuria and haematuria. Ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance revealed a mass arising from the mucosa and involving the vulva and the urethra, suspicious of malignancy. We present a challenging diagnosis of an infiltrative and rapidly progressive primary vulval amelanotic melanoma with a complete imaging evaluation and a confirmed histological diagnosis.

The role of HR-HPV integration in the progression of premalignant lesions into different cancer types.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is associated with the development of different types of cancer, such as cervical, head and neck (including oral, laryngeal, and oropharyngeal), vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal cancers. The progression of premalignant lesions to cancer depends on factors associated with the host cell and the different epithelia infected by HPV, such as basal cells of the flat epithelium and the cells of the squamocolumnar transformation zone (STZ) found in the uterine cervix and the anal canal, which is rich in heparan sulfate proteoglycans and integrin-like receptors. On the other hand, factors associated with the viral genotype, infection with multiple viruses, viral load, viral persistence, and type of integration determine the viral breakage pattern and the sites at which the virus integrates into the host cell genome (introns, exons, intergenic regions), inducing the loss of function of tumor suppressor genes and increasing oncogene expression. This review describes the role of viral integration and the molecular mechanisms induced by HR-HPV in different types of tissues. The purpose of this review is to identify the common factors associated with the role of integration events in the progression of premalignant lesions in different types of cancer.

Study of 138 vulvar lichen sclerosus patients and the malignant risk transformation.

Objective: To report the prevalence of malignant transformation of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) and possible risk factors. Methods: This is a cohort study with data analysis from medical records of 138 patients with histological diagnosis of VLS registered at the Vulvar Pathology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, between 2007 and 2017. Predominance of risk factors was performed using logistic regression analysis. The variables studied were the length of follow-up, age, regular or irregular follow up; presence of symptoms (dyspareunia, pruritus and/or vulvar burning); histology characteristics, the presence of epithelial hyperplasia; and the presence of autoimmune diseases. Results: There were 138 patients included in the study, and among them five progressed to malignant transformation. The patients had a median age of 59 years and 83% were symptomatic. The most frequent symptom was itching with 72%. Autoimmune diseases were present in 11.6%, the most prevalent being thyroid disease. All five case of malignant transformation (0.6%) had an irregular follow up. The logistic regression analysis was used among the studied variables, and no statistical significance was found among them (p ≥ 0.05). The relationship between hyperplasia and the clinical outcome of malignant transformation, in which non-significant but acceptable p value close to 0.05 was observed. Conclusion: The prevalence of malignant transformation in patients with VLS was 0.6%, and common factors were the lack of adherence to medical treatments and the loss of follow-up.

Whole-Exome Sequencing of Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinomas Reveals an Impaired Prognosis in Patients With TP53 Mutations and Concurrent CCND1 Gains.

Very little information is available on the mutational landscape of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC), a disease that mainly affects older women. Studies focusing on the mutational patterns of the currently recognized etiopathogenic types of this tumor (human papillomavirus [HPV]-associated [HPV-A], HPV-independent [HPV-I] with TP53 mutation [HPV-I/TP53mut], and HPV-I with wild-type TP53 [HPV-I/TP53wt]) are particularly rare, and there is almost no information on the prognostic implications of these abnormalities.Whole-exome DNA sequencing of 60 VSCC and matched normal tissues from each patient was performed. HPV detection, immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16, p53, and mismatch repair proteins were also performed. Ten tumors (16.7%) were classified as HPV-A, 37 (61.7%) as HPV-I/TP53mut, and 13 (21.6%) as HPV-I/TP53wt. TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene (66.7%), followed by FAT1 (28.3%), CDKN2A (25.0%), RNF213 (23.3%), NFE2L2 (20%) and PIK3CA (20%). All the 60 tumors (100%) were DNA mismatch repair proficient. Seventeen tumors (28.3%) showed CCND1 gain. Bivariate analysis, adjusted for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, revealed that TP53 mutation, CCND1 gain, and the combination of the 2 alterations were strongly associated with impaired recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 4.4; P < .001) and disease-specific survival (hazard ratio, 6.1; P = .002). Similar results were obtained when p53 IHC status was used instead of TP53 status and when considering only HPV-I VSCC. However, in the latter category, p53 IHC maintained its prognostic impact only in combination with CCND1 gains. All tumors carried at least one potentially actionable genomic alteration. In conclusion, VSCCs with CCND1 gain represent a prognostically adverse category among HPV-I/TP53mut tumors. All patients with VSCCs are potential candidates for targeted therapy.

Unveiling a Dermatological Rarity: The Enigma of Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade III (HSIL) and the Role of p53 in Its Development.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, also known as VIN, is a non-invasive squamous lesion and precursor of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva. There is no screening test for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Diagnosis of VIN is made clinically and confirmed with a biopsy. We describe a 66-year-old woman with a condyloma-like tumour located in the skin on the vestibule of the vagina. A biopsy sample was taken from the nodule. The definitive diagnosis is supported by the histological examination (VIN III) and immunohistochemical examination of p16(+), p53(+), and a few cell nuclei. The case provides information on the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation. Lifelong surveillance is essential since the resection of individual lesions does not guarantee the prevention of invasive cancer.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tumor Stage and Pathohistological Parameters of Vulvar Cancer.

Background/Objectives: Vulvar cancer (VC) comprises a small fraction of female neoplasms with notable high-incidence clusters among German regions. Despite a proposed impact of nationwide lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological diseases, the effect on VC staging and tumor characteristics remains yet to be resolved; therefore, analyzing pathological data from patients with squamous cell VC pre-, during, and post-COVID in a high-incidence region may offer insights into potential epidemiological and clinical trends. Methods: We identified a total of 90 patients who were diagnosed at the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Saarland, between 2018 and 2023, and defined three distinct cohorts: a pre-COVID cohort (2018-2019), a COVID cohort (2020-2021), and a post-COVID cohort (2022-2023). Histomorphological data were collected from the individual patient reports and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test or the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Although we found no statistically significant differences in age, T-stage, perineural infiltration, blood vessel infiltration, resection status, grading, or resection margin between our three cohorts, surprisingly, we determined a greater extent of lymphovascular infiltration (Fisher's exact test; p = 0.041), as well as deeper tumor infiltration depth (Kruskal-Wallis test; p < 0.001) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we did not identify any soft indications of abnormalities in patient care within our center (unchanged status of the resection margins across all three cohorts). Conclusions: Our results clearly do not support a negative affection of clinical or pathobiological characteristics of VC during or after the pandemic. However, final assessments regarding the pandemic's effect on VC require additional study approaches in various regions, preferably with future extended timeframes of a longer follow-up.

Changing the paradigm: Elimination - Not only of cervical cancer.

The WHO's initiative to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 does not address the increasing incidence of vulvar, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers linked to high-risk HPV. Currently, the prevention of these three cancers faces various obstacles, such as a lack of specialized screening programs, well-defined management guidelines, and widespread public awareness. Without any interventions, the incidence of these three cancers will likely rise in the upcoming years, increasingly affecting younger individuals. We recommend expanding the WHO's initiative to include vulvar, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. This involves developing screening and management protocols similar to those for cervical cancer, implementing gender-neutral HPV vaccination programs, establishing clear referral pathways to specialized centers, promoting public awareness, and providing education to healthcare providers and high-risk individuals.

Overall survival associated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in metastatic vulvar cancer: A retrospective cohort study based on the SEER database.

Background: Large cancer registries help analyze the prognosis of rare malignancies, such as advanced vulvar cancer. This study aimed to compare the overall survival (OS) rates of patients with metastatic vulvar cancer who had undergone chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone and identify prognostic factors using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used the SEER database to identify patients with metastatic vulvar cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2019. Propensity score matching was performed to balance the covariates. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models were used to analyze OS. Results: A total of 685 patients were included and divided into chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy groups, and 400 patients were included after propensity score matching. The chemoradiotherapy group had higher OS in the matched cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.7367; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5906-0.9190; P = 0.0049) than the radiotherapy group, which was similar to that in the pre-matched cohort (P < 0.0001). Patients who had undergone surgery + radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy showed higher OS rates than those who had received radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for patients aged <75 years and local tumor excision/destruction or surgical removal of the primary site was the recommended surgical choice (P < 0.05). Chemoradiotherapy is sufficient for patients ≥75 years of age. Conclusions: Patients with metastatic vulvar cancer should undergo surgery if they can tolerate it. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should be encouraged because this treatment modality was associated with higher OS than radiotherapy alone.

DNA Methylation and p53 Immunohistochemistry as Prognostic Biomarkers for Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is an inflammatory dermatosis that can progress to human papillomavirus (HPV)-independent vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (HPVi VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Although LS has a much lower cancer risk compared with HPVi VIN (5% vs 50%, respectively), its incidence is significantly higher. Therefore, there is a clinical need to identify LS patients with an increased cancer risk. Our objective was to study the value of DNA methylation and p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as prognostic biomarkers for progression to cancer in patients with LS. Vulvar tissues from 236 patients were selected, including 75 LS and 68 HPVi VIN, both with and without cancer development, 32 VSCC, and 61 healthy vulvar controls. Samples were subjected to p53 IHC and DNA methylation analysis of a 3-gene marker panel containing ZNF582, SST, and miR124-2. Methylation levels and p53 IHC status (mutant or wild-type) were assessed and compared among all disease categories. Odds ratios were determined to identify whether the biomarkers were associated with progression to cancer in patients with LS. The highest methylation levels were found in HPVi VIN and VSCC, followed by LS and healthy vulvar controls. The largest heterogeneity in methylation levels was observed in LS cases. In fact, the 3-marker panel tested positive in 70% of LS, which progressed to VSCC vs only 17% of LS in patients without cancer development (P = .002). Also, mutant p53 IHC was observed more frequently in LS with progression to VSCC compared with nonprogressive LS cases (42% vs 3%, respectively, P = .001). Multivariable analysis identified a mutant p53 status as the only independent risk factor for cancer development in LS (odds ratio: 34.0, 95% CI: 1.4-807.4). In conclusion, DNA methylation testing and p53 IHC show strong potential as prognostic biomarkers for the identification of LS patients at high risk of progression to cancer.

Impact of age on tumor size in vulvar cancer: A multicenter study by the Francogyn group.

OBJECTIVE: Vulvar cancer is a rare pathology affecting mainly elderly women. This study aims to evaluate the impact of age on tumor size in vulvar cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective observational study carried out between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2020, in patients operated on for vulvar cancer. Univariate analysis was performed according to patients' age ≥ or <65 years. Factors associated with tumor size found to be significant according to age were then included in a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: Of the 382 patients included, there were 133 patients aged <65 years and 249 ≥ 65 years. Radical total vulvectomy surgeries were more frequently performed in women ≥65 years (n = 72 (28.9 %) versus n = 20 (15 %); p = 0.004). The median histological tumor size and interquartile range was 20 mm [13-29] in the <65 years and 30 mm [15-42] in patients ≥65 years (p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that age ≥65 years had a regression coefficient of 7.15 95 % CI [2.32; 11.99] (p = 0.004), constituting a risk factor for larger histological tumour size. Patients aged ≥65 years old had a higher early complication rate (n = 150 (62 %) versus n = 56 (42.7 %), p = 0.001). They also had a greater risk of recurrence (HR = 1.89 (95%CI (1.24-2.89)), p = 0.003) with a worse overall survival (HR = 5.64 (95%CI (1.70-18.68)), p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Age is a risk factor for larger tumor size, leading to more radical surgery and a greater risk of complications in already fragile patients, with a greater risk of recurrence and an impact on overall survival.

Lower incidence of vaginal cancer after cervical human papillomavirus screening - long-term follow-up of Finnish randomized screening trial.

OBJECTIVE: Around 70% of vaginal cancers and 40-50% of vulvar cancers are attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV). Globally the burden of these diseases is estimated to grow due to the increasing HPV prevalence and rapidly aging global population. We aimed to examine if HPV screening for cervical cancer has an additional beneficial effect in preventing vaginal and vulvar cancers. To assess this, we used long-term follow-up data from the Finnish randomized HPV screening trial. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2008, over 236,000 women were individually randomized (1:1) to primary HPV or cytology screening in Southern Finland. We followed this cohort up to the year 2020. To compare the study arms, we calculated site-specific and pooled incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and mortality rate ratios (MRRs) for vaginal and vulvar cancers using Poisson regression. RESULTS: During 3,5 million person-years of follow-up, the IRR for vaginal cancer in the HPV arm compared to the cytology arm was 0.40 (95% CI 0.17-0.88) and the corresponding MRR was 0.74 (95% 0.21-2.24). The corresponding IRR for vulvar cancer was 0.73 (95% 0.50-1.08) and the MRR was 0.64 (95% 0.23-1.62). The pooled IRR was 0.67 (95% 0.47 ̶ 0.95) and MRR 0.67 (95% 0.31 ̶ 1.37). CONCLUSION: We found lower incidence of vaginal cancers with HPV screening compared to cytology screening. To validate our results, we recommend analyzing data on vaginal and vulvar cancers also from other HPV screening studies.

Vaginal microbiota and gynecological cancers: a complex and evolving relationship.

The vagina hosts a community of microorganisms known as the vaginal microbiota. This community is relatively stable and straightforward, with Lactobacillus species being the most dominant members. The vaginal microbiota has various functions that are essential for maintaining human health and balance. For example, it can metabolise dietary nutrients, produce growth factors, communicate with other bacteria, modulate the immune system, and prevent the invasion of harmful pathogens. When the vaginal microbiota is disrupted, it can lead to diseases and infections. The observed disturbance is distinguished by a reduction in the prevalence of Lactobacillus and a concurrent rise in the number of other bacterial species that exhibit a higher tolerance to low oxygen levels. Gynecologic cancers are a group of cancers that affect the female reproductive organs and tissues, such as the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, vulva, and endometrium. These cancers are a major global health problem for women. Understanding the complex interactions between the host and the vaginal microorganisms may provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of gynecologic cancers. This could improve the quality of life and health outcomes for women.

Clinical outcomes with utilization of high-potency topical steroids in patients with lichen sclerosus-associated vulvar cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of high-potency topical steroid use on risk of recurrence of lichen sclerosus-associated vulvar cancer. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating patients with lichen sclerosus (LS)- associated vulvar squamous cell cancer (VSCC). Demographic and clinical outcome data were compared between two comparison groups: patients who received steroids, mainly clobetasol, and patients who did not receive steroids following treatment of LS-related vulvar cancer. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact test or chi-square test. Continuous variables were compared using a two-sided student's t-test. Time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival plot and compared using Mantel-Cox log rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression models were conducted to generate hazard ratios for both TTR and OS. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were included, with 36 patients receiving steroid treatment and 13 patients in the expectant management group. The median age of diagnosis was 68. The average BMI was 31.7 +/- 7.0. The median length of follow up was 41 months. The majority of patients were diagnosed with stage I VSCC. There was no difference in demographics or oncologic management of vulvar cancer between the two cohorts. Overall recurrence was decreased among patients who received steroid treatment when compared to patients who did not, 12 patients (33.3%) versus 9 patients (69.2%) respectively (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: High-potency topical steroid use following treatment of lichen sclerosus-associated vulvar squamous cell carcinoma is associated with decreased risk of recurrence and prolonged median time to recurrence.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) for sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles has been widely studied and standardized for breast and prostate cancer, but there is scarce evidence concerning its use in vulvar cancer. The objective of this study was to compare SLN detection using a SPIO tracer injected at the time of the surgery detected by a magnetometer, with the standard procedure of using a technetium 99 radioisotope (Tc99) detected by a gamma probe, in patients with vulvar cancer. METHODS: The SPIO vulvar cancer study was a single-center prospective interventional non-inferiority study of SPIO compared to Tc99, conducted between 2016 and 2021 in patients who met the GROINSS-V study inclusion criteria for selective sentinel lymph node dissection in vulvar cancer. RESULTS: We included 18 patients and a total of 41 SLNs. The level of agreement between tracers was 92.7% (80.6%-97.4%), corresponding to 38 out of 41 SLNs, which confirms the non-inferiority of SPIO compared to Tc99. The SLN detection rate per groin was 96.3 (81.7%-99.3) using Tc99 and 100% (87.5%-100%) using SPIO. Both tracers had a detection rate of 100% for positive lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SPIO as a tracer for detecting SLNs in patients with vulvar cancer has shown to be non-inferior to that of the standard radiotracer, with the advantages of not requiring nuclear medicine and being able to inject it at the time of surgery after induction of anesthesia.