Dietary factors and cancers of breast, endometrium, and ovary: Strategies for modifying fat intake in African American women

Modification of dietary fat and fiber could help prevent cancers of the breast, endometrium, and ovary that are prevalent in African-American women. Dietary intervention programs aimed at reducing fat intake have had mixed results in this population. The transtheoretic model is proposed for achieving dietary change. Strategies for changing health behaviors in African-American women include heightening sensitivity to cultural values among health educators and the use of multiple strategies to reinforce messages. To stimulate healthier eating, it is important to incorporate the distinct habitual eating patterns into innovative intervention methods, using effective behavioral change methods. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:S255-64.)     

Subcutaneous estradiol pellets for endometrial preparation in donor oocyte recipients with a poor endometrial response

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of subcutaneous estradiol pellets in donor oocyte recipients with an inadequate endometrial response. Methods: The subjects were 13 women with ovarian failure and a maximal endometrial thickness <10 mm on standard estrogen regimens, as demonstrated during mock and/or prior oocyte donation cycles. They underwent pellet implantation (100–250 mg of estradiol) 6–13 weeks before oocyte donation. Results: Maximal (mean ± SD) endometrial thickness was 8.7±1.5 mm on standard regimens, in contrast to 11.7± 1.8 mm on pellets, while estradiol levels were 674±844 and 815±706 pg/ml, respectively. The estradiol:estrone ratio on pellets was >1. There was 1 pregnancy with early loss during 10 cycles on other estrogen regimens and 12 pregnancies during 19 cycles on pellets. The pregnancy and implantation rates were, respectively, 63 and 27% on pellets and 41 and 14% on standard regimens in historical controls. Conclusions: We conclude that estradiol pellets after a single administration provide constant estradiol levels extending into the first trimester of pregnancy, a physiologic estradiol:estrone ratio, and a better endometrial response than standard estrogen regimens. Implantation and pregnancy rates are higher. This approach may be especially suitable for recipients with a poor endometrial response. Presented at the IXth World Congress on In Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproduction, Vienna, Austria, April 3, 1995, and the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Seattle, Washington, October 7–12, 1995.     

An Analysis of Approaches to the Management of Endometrial Cancer in North America: A CTF Study

Objective.The aim of this study was to define the clinical–therapeutical approach to endometrial cancer now being followed in some of the most important centers of reference for gynecological cancer in North America by means of a questionnaire.Study design.The questionnaire focused on four principal areas: (1) surgical staging and therapy; (2) adjuvant treatment; (3) treatment modifications; and (4) management of advanced stages (FIGO III–IV).Results.There were 48 evaluable responses (77%) received by the end of December 1994 which were considered for this analysis. Lymphadenectomy is utilized routinely in 26/48 centers (54.2%) and in selective clinical–pathological conditions in another 21/48 centers (43.5%). In the majority of centers (31/48; 64.6%) radical surgery is utilized for selected indications such as cervical involvement. Only 3/48 (6.2%) centers consider the vaginal approach totally inappropriate. The great majority (40/48; 83.3%) of the centers considered postsurgical adjuvant therapy to be necessary in FIGO Stage Ic. Brachytherapy is routinely performed in 3 centers (6.2%) in postsurgical management of Stage I endometrial cancer, while the majority of the centers (31/48; 64.6%) perform brachytherapy of the vaginal vault in certain clinical–pathological conditions. A wide variety of treatments are used for advanced stages (FIGO III–IV).Conclusions.It emerges that some controversial aspects exist on endometrial cancer treatment, and these conflicting data need a large-scale multicenter randomized clinical trial.     

P16蛋白在子宫内膜癌的表达及与细胞增殖活性的关系

目的：探讨P16基因蛋白在子宫内膜癌发生中的作用。方法：采用免疫组化方法对42例子宫内膜癌中P16蛋白和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达进行观察。结果：P16蛋白在子宫内膜癌的阳性率为69．1％（29／42），显著低于其在正常子宫内膜（100％，8／8）及子宫内膜不典型增生（90．9％，20／22）中的阳性率（P＜0．05）。等级相关分析显示，随肿瘤组织学分级的增加、临床分期的升高及肿瘤浸润深度的增加，P16蛋白阳性率逐渐降低（P＜0．01）。PCNA标记指数与肿瘤分化程度及临床分期有关，而与浸润无关。P16蛋白阳性者的PCNA指数低于P16蛋白阴性者（P＜0．05）。结论：P16基因蛋白参与子宫内膜癌的发生、发展，并与部分生物学行为有关。     

PTEN、p53在子宫内膜浆液性癌和宫内膜样癌中的表达及临床病理意义

目的研究PTEN和p53在子宫内膜浆液性癌和宫内膜癌中的表达及临床病理意义。方法应用免疫组化方法检测26例宫内膜浆液性癌、42例宫内膜样癌和25例正常增生期宫内膜组织中PTEN、p53蛋白的表达。结果PTEN和p53蛋白在子宫浆液性癌、宫内膜样癌、正常增生期内膜中的阳性表达率分别为86.4%、28.6%、100%和76.9%、27.3%、0%。PTEN在子宫内膜样癌中阳性表达率明显低于浆液性癌(P<0.001)。p53蛋白表达与子宫内膜癌组织学类型、临床分期、病理分级、肌层浸润等因素有关(P<0.05)。结论PTEN突变和表达缺失与宫内膜样癌的发生、发展有关。p53基因突变和过表达与宫内膜浆液性癌发生发展关系密切。PTEN及p53蛋白检测对鉴别子宫浆液性癌与宫内膜样癌有重要价值。     

Primary clinical analysis of medical disorders in Chinese women with endometrial carcinoma

The objectives of this study were to survey the prevalence of medical disorders in Chinese women with endometrial carcinoma and evaluate their potential impact on the clinical treatment and prognosis. Three hundred and seven women with endometrial carcinoma, from July 1, 1971 to October 31, 2001, were analyzed retrospectively. One hundred and forty-six of them (47.6%) were found to have associated medical disorders. The most common medical disorders were hypertension (33.9%), diabetes mellitus (9.8%), and coronary heart disease (9.4%). As many as 38.4% of the women had two or more medical disorders. The patients with medical disorders were on average elder than those without any medical disorders (P < 0.01). Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were administered more commonly in the group with medical disorders than in the one without (P < 0.01). The rate of surgical procedures was significantly lower in the group with medical disorders than in the group without (P < 0.01). However, the extent of surgical interventions was similar in both groups (P > 0.05). The occurrence of medical disorders was independent of the tumor stage, grade, and histological types (P > 0.05). In addition, follow-up data showed that the 3-year and 5-year survivals were not influenced by the medical disorders (P > 0.05). The results thus suggest that Chinese women with endometrial carcinoma have frequently concurrent medical disorders. Selection of treatment strategies can be influenced by these associated medical disorders, but the overall survival is little changed.     

Clinical significance of survivin in the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial carcinoma

Objective： To investigate the clinical significance of survivin in endometrial carcinoma and to investigate the relationship between the expression of survivin and Ki-67. Methods： Immunohistochemical S-P （streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex）method was performed to detect the expression of survivin and Ki-67 antigen in 15 cases of normal endometrium, 21 cases of endometrial simple and complex hyperplasia, 22 cases of endometrial atypical hyperplasia, and 61 cases of endometrial carcinoma. Results： Survivin was hardly detected in some normal endometrium in the proliferative phase and in the secretory phase. However, the level of survivin expression in atypical hyperplasia endometrium（72.73%）was higher than that in normal en- dometrium （7.14%）（P 〈 0.05）, including simple and complex hyperplasia （42.38%）（P 〈 0.01 ）, and was lower than that in endometrial carcinoma（90.17%）（P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, significant correlation was present between the expression of survivin and the characteristics of endometrial carcinoma, including clinical stage, histological grade and the presence of invasion to myometrium （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, Ki-67 antigen expression was positively correlated with survivin expression in all specimen. Ki-67 labeled indexes （LIs）in hyperplasia endometrium were significantly lower than those in atypical hyperplasia endometrium and endometrial carcinoma （P 〈 0.01 ）, while there was no significant difference in Ki-67 LIs between atypical hyperplasia endometrium and endometrial carcinoma（P 〉 0.05）. There was no significant relationship between Ki-67 LIs and the characteristics of endometrial carcinoma, including histological grade, clinical stage or the invasion to myometrium（P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Survivin may participate in the onset and progression of endometrial carcinoma through inhibiting apoptosis and promoting proliferation. Survivin expression is correlated with the malignant degree and prognosis of tumor. Ki-67 is also associated with carcinogenesis and progression of endometrial carcinoma. The results suggest that survivin could be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for endometrial carcinoma and might provide pathways to treat the patients with recurrent or refractory or rudimental endometrial carcinoma.     

Uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumors in a patient using tamoxifen: report of a case and review of literature

Increasing number of uterine malignancies have been reported in breast cancer patients using tamoxifen. Most of these are endometrial adenocarcinomas. However, only a few cases of endometrial stromal sarcomas have been reported to be linked with tamoxifen usage. A 58-year-old postmenopausal women who had been using tamoxifen for 4 years after a surgery for breast cancer is presented with chronic pelvic pain. Preoperative investigations were indicative of a uterine myoma so that a standard total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Postoperative histologic diagnosis was a uterine tumor resembling ovarian sex cord tumors, which is an exceedingly rare entity itself. The present case is the first designated diagnosis of this rare tumor, with a possible association of tamoxifen usage.     

Immune cells contribute to systemic cross-talk between the embryo and mother during early pregnancy in cooperation with the endocrine system

In early pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone that in turn maintains human embryo implantation in the uterus. This inevitable communication through blood circulation can be called 'systemic cross-talk between the embryo and mother'. Despite considerable evidence suggesting that the human corpus luteum cannot be maintained by HCG alone, no other responsible soluble factors have been proposed. We found that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from pregnant women promoted progesterone production by human luteal cells and propose that both hormones and immune cells participate in this systemic cross-talk. This systemic cross-talk by immune cells is believed to operate in embryo implantation. Splenocytes derived from pregnant mice promoted endometrial differentiation and embryo implantation in vivo . Human PBMC derived from women early in pregnancy promoted invasion of murine embryos in vitro. In addition, recombinant HCG increased the effects of human PBMC on murine embryo invasion. Human chorionic gonadotropin also increased chemokine production by human PBMC through a lectin–glycan interaction, which is a primitive pathway in the immune system. Furthermore, chemokines were shown to induce human trophoblast invasion. These findings suggest that the immune system positively contributes to systemic cross-talk between the embryo and mother in cooperation with the endocrine system. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5 : 19–29)