Precautions during Direct Oral Anticoagulant Introduction in Gynecologic Malignancies: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

The risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence/exacerbation or a change from a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to another anticoagulant in patients with gynecologic cancer using DOACs have not been thoroughly elucidated. Here, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for a composite primary outcome, including VTE recurrence/exacerbation, or a change from a DOAC to another anticoagulant, in this population. A total of 63 patients were analyzed. Risk factors for a primary outcome within 2 years after DOAC initiation were investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Among the 63 patients, 10 developed a primary outcome. Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 18.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.25-350.74), pulmonary embolism (PE) or proximal deep vein thrombosis without PE (aOR, 55.6; 95% CI, 3.29-11,774.66), and D-dimer levels in the third tertile (≥7.6 µg/dL) when VTE was first diagnosed (aOR, 6.37; 95% CI, 1.17-66.61) were associated with increased odds of a primary outcome in patients with gynecologic cancer using DOACs. Patients with one or more risk factors for a primary outcome require careful follow-up after DOAC initiation for the early recognition of treatment failure.

Establishment of a Diagnostic Method for Pelvic Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Uterine Cancer.

This study investigated the usefulness of conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing metastasis of pelvic sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with gynecological cancer. We examined 74 SLNs of patients with endometrial cancer (n = 26) and cervical cancer (n = 11). Patients underwent US and CEUS followed by SLN biopsy; US and CEUS results were evaluated visually and quantitatively and compared between pathological metastasis-negative and -positive groups. To support CEUS results, the microvessel density of SLNs was evaluated immunohistochemically. Seventeen positive and 40 negative SLNs were evaluable. Margin and enhancement patterns by visual assessment revealed significant differences (p = 0.046 and 0.022, respectively). In quantitative time-intensity curve analyses, the weakest peak intensities (PImin), PI ratio and PI difference indicated significant differences (p = 0.045, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were 0.64, 0.82 and 0.83, respectively. The most effective PI ratio from the AUC was 1.3 (sensitivity = 82%, specificity = 70%), and the PI difference from the AUC was 20 (sensitivity = 88%, specificity = 70%). Microvessel density was significantly lower in metastatic lesions than in other areas. The quantitative analysis of CEUS seemed to be a reasonable method for distinguishing lymph node metastasis in patients with gynecological cancer.

Prospective evaluation of sentinel node navigation surgery in Japanese patients with low-risk endometrial cancer-safety and occurrence of lymphedema.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to clarify the occurrence rate of lymphedema and prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer according to sentinel lymph node biopsy alone with intraoperative histopathological examination. METHODS: The study included 45 consecutive patients with endometrial cancer treated at Tohoku University Hospital between October 2014 and August 2017. All patients had endometrial carcinoma with endometrioid histology Grade 1 or Grade 2 confirmed by biopsy and stage I on magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography at their preoperative evaluation. Sentinel lymph node detection was performed by radioisotope and dye. Patients who were diagnosed intraoperatively as negative for sentinel lymph node metastasis did not undergo further systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy. The occurrence rate of lymphedema and prognosis was evaluated. RESULTS: Bilateral sentinel lymph nodes were detected in 44 of 45 patients (97%). Forty-three patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy alone, and only two patients underwent systematic lymphadenectomy. Sentinel lymph node metastases were detected in one patient intraoperatively and two patients postoperatively as ITCs. No patients experienced recurrence. New symptomatic lower-extremity lymphedema was identified in one of 43 patients (2.3%) who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy alone. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy alone with intraoperative histopathological diagnosis appears to be a safe and effective strategy to detect lymph node metastasis and to reduce the number of patients with lower-extremity lymphedema among patients with endometrial cancer.

Aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the ovary with multiple metastases treated with everolimus: A case report.

•Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) frequently occur in the lungs or the gastrointestinal tract; they are uncommon in the ovary.•The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has been reported as a treatment for advanced NETs.•We describe a patient with an aggressive primary ovarian NET, successfully treated with everolimus (an mTOR inhibitor).

Eccrine porocarcinoma of the vulva: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumors arising from the vulva account for only 0.6 % of all cancers in female patients. The predominant histologic type, representing about 90 % of these malignancies, is squamous cell carcinoma. Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from sweat glands. The incidence of eccrine porocarcinoma is estimated at 0.005-0.01 % of all cutaneous tumors. To the best of our knowledge, only seven previous cases of vulvar eccrine porocarcinoma have been reported in the English-language literature. We present the case of a patient with eccrine porocarcinoma of the vulva, and we summarize the clinical features of this disease using seven previously reported cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old Japanese woman visited a local hospital complaining of fever and left vulvar pain for 2 months. An initial examination revealed a 1 × 1 cm, firm, ulcerative mass in the inner aspect of the left labium minorum. With a preoperative diagnosis of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, we performed a radical local excision followed by bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. Histological examination showed eccrine porocarcinoma, stage IB (T1bN0M0). Radiation therapy with weekly cisplatin administration was then given as adjuvant therapy. One month after treatment was completed, computed tomography revealed multiple metastases in the bilateral lungs and in the sacral bone. The patient received three courses of chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) and underwent palliative radiation therapy to the sacrum. She died of her disease 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report the case of a patient with eccrine porocarcinoma of the vulva and summarize the clinical features and the treatment options of eccrine porocarcinoma from a few retrospective case reports. Although eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare disease, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of its clinical and histological features and its biological behavior.

The structure of a new cardenolide diglycoside and the biological activities of eleven cardenolide diglycosides from Nerium oleander.

A new cardenolide diglycoside (1) was isolated from Nerium oleander together with ten known cardenolide diglycosides 2-11. The structure of compound 1 was established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1-11 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Compounds 2-5 were active at an IC(50) value of less than 0.8 µM. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-11 was evaluated against three human cell lines normal human fibroblast cells (WI-38), malignant tumor cells induced from WI-38 (VA-13), and human liver tumor cells (HepG2). Compound 3 was active toward VA-13 cells, and compounds 2-5 were active toward HepG2 cells at IC(50) values of less than 1.3 µM. The multidrug resistance (MDR)-reversal activity of compounds 1-11 was evaluated on the basis of the amount of calcein in MDR human ovarian cancer 2780AD cells in the presence of each compound. Compounds 1 and 8 showed moderate effects on calcein accumulation.

Three new cardenolides from methanol extract of stems and twigs of Nerium oleander.

Two new cardenolide monoglycosides, cardenolides B-1 (1) and B-2 (2) were isolated from Nerium oleander, together with oleagenin (3) which is the first isolated compound from natural sources. The structure of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data.

Odoroside A and ouabain inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase and prevent NF-kappaB-inducible protein expression by blocking Na+-dependent amino acid transport.

Inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1 (IL-1), trigger the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB that induces the expression of a variety of genes, including intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. Odoroside A [3beta-O-(beta-D-diginosyl)-14-hydroxy-5beta,14beta-card-20(22)-enolide] was found to inhibit the cell-surface expression of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha and IL-1 at comparable concentrations in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. In this study, the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced cell-surface ICAM-1 expression by odoroside A together with the specific Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor ouabain was further investigated. Odoroside A and ouabain neither prevented IkappaBalpha degradation nor NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus upon TNF-alpha stimulation. While odoroside A and ouabain had no inhibitory effect on the induction of ICAM-1 mRNA, they inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression at the protein level. Consistent with these results, odoroside A and ouabain potently reduced de novo protein synthesis, largely due to its ability to block Na(+)-dependent transport of amino acids across the plasma membrane, but not to interfering with the translation machinery. As a direct molecular target, odoroside A was found to inhibit the ATP-hydrolyzing activity of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase as potently as ouabain. These results clearly demonstrate that odoroside A and ouabain prevent NF-kappaB-inducible protein expression by blocking the Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport.

Bioactive cardenolides from the stems and twigs of Nerium oleander.

Four new cardenolide monoglycosides, cardenolides N-1 (1), N-2 (2), N-3 (3), and N-4 (4), were isolated from Nerium oleander, together with two known cardenolides, 5 and 12, and seven cardenolide monoglycosides, 6-11 and 13. The structures of compounds 1-4 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1-13 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 11-13 were active at an IC50 value of less than 1 microM. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-13 was evaluated against three human cell lines, normal human fibroblast cells (WI-38), malignant tumor cells induced from WI-38 (VA-13), and human liver tumor cells (HepG2). Compounds 1, 4, 6, and 11-13 were active toward V-13 cells, and compounds 1, 11, and 12 were active toward HepG2 cells at IC50 values of less than 1 microM. Compounds 4, 5, 10, and 12 showed selective cell growth inhibitory activity toward V-13 tumor cells compared with that of parental normal WI-38 cells. The MDR-reversal activity of compounds 1-13 was evaluated on the basis of the amount of calcein accumulated in MDR human ovarian cancer 2780AD cells in the presence of each compound. Compounds 4, 9, and 10 showed significant effects on calcein accumulation, compound 4 showing stronger activity than that of verapamil.

Bioactive pregnanes from Nerium oleander.

Three new pregnanes, 21-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12,20-trione (1), 20R-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12-dione (2), and 16beta,17beta-epoxy-12beta-hydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione (3), were isolated from Nerium oleander, together with two known compounds, 12beta-hydroxypregna-4,6,16-triene-3,20-dione (neridienone A, 4) and 20S,21-dihydroxypregna-4,6-diene-3,12-dione (neridienone B, 5). The structures of compounds 1-3 were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory activity in vitro of compounds 2-4 was examined on the basis of inhibitory activity against the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and compound 4 was active. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1-5 was evaluated against four human cell lines, normal human fibroblast cells (WI-38), malignant tumor cells induced from WI-38 (VA-13), human liver tumor cells (HepG2), and human lung carcinoma cells (A-549). Compound 4 showed significant cell growth inhibition of VA-13 and HepG2 cells. The MDR-reversal activity of compounds 1-5 was evaluated on the basis of the amount of calcein accumulated in MDR human ovarian cancer 2780AD cells in the presence of each compound. Compounds 1, 2, and 5 showed significant effects on calcein accumulation.