Association between CD31 expression and histopathologic features in stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between the expression of CD31 in the tumor and the histopathologic findings in patients with carcinoma of the cervix. This study included prospectively 30 women, aged 46.6 +/- 10.7 years, with stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix submitted to radical hysterectomy from November 2001 to September 2002. Samples from the tumor were taken and immunohistochemically evaluated by a monoclonal antibody for CD31. Clinicopathologic characteristics such as stage, tumor size, grade of differentiation, lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI), parametrial involvement, and status of pelvic lymph nodes were also recorded. The clinical stage (FIGO) was IB1 in 22 patients (73.3%) and IB2 in 8 patients (26.7%). The expression of CD31 was significantly associated with tumor size and the presence of LVSI, but not with grade of differentiation and vaginal or parametrial involvement (P= 0.03, P= 0.032, P= 0.352, P= 0.208, and P= 0.242, respectively). On univariate analysis, the presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis was influenced by LVSI (P= 0.003) and CD31 expression (P= 0.032). However, on multivariate analysis, the presence of LVSI (P= 0.007) was the only independent predictor of pelvic lymph node metastasis. The CD31 expression in tumor is significantly associated with LVSI and tumor size in patients with early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.     

A comparison of prognoses of FIGO stage IB adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare clinical and pathologic variables and prognosis of FIGO stage IB adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 521 patients with stage IB squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of cervix who treated primarily by type 3 hysterectomy and pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy at Hacettepe University Hospitals between 1980 and 1997. RESULTS: Age, tumor size, grade, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, parametrial, vaginal, and lymphvascular space involvement (LVSI) were not different between two cell types except number of the lymph nodes involved. Metastasis to three or more lymph nodes was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma. Overall and disease-free survival were 87.7%, 84.0% versus 86.4%, 83.1% for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, respectively (P > 0.05). The rate and site of recurrence were not different between two cell types. Multivariate analysis of disease-free and overall survival revealed independent prognostic factors as tumor size, LVSI, number of involved lymph node, and vaginal involvement. CONCLUSION: Prognosis of FIGO stage IB cervical cancer patients who were treated by primarily radical surgery was found to be same for those with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.     

Prognostic factors in FIGO stage IB cervical cancer without lymph node metastasis and the role of adjuvant radiotherapy after radical hysterectomy

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathologic prognostic variables for disease free survival, overall survival and the role of adjuvant radiotherapy in FIGO stage IB cervical carcinoma without lymph node metastasis. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 393 patients with lymph node negative stage IB cervical cancer treated by type 3 hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy at the Hacettepe University Hospitals between 1980 and 1997. RESULTS: The disease free survival and overall survival were 87.6 and 91.0%, respectively. In univariate analysis, tumor size, depth of invasion, vaginal involvement, lympho-vascular space involvement (LVSI) and adjuvant radiotherapy were found significant in disease free survival. Overall survival was affected by tumor size, LVSI, vaginal involvement and adjuvant radiotherapy. Tumor size, LVSI and vaginal involvement were found as independent prognostic factors for overall and disease free survival in multivariate analysis. Disease free survival, recurrence rate and site did not differ between patients underwent radical surgery and radical surgery plus radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Tumor size, LVSI and vaginal involvement were independent prognostic factors in lymph node negative FIGO stage IB cervical cancer. Adjuvant radiotherapy in stage IB cervical cancer patients with negative nodes provides no survival advantage or better local tumoral control.     

Prognostic factors in surgically treated stage IB–IIB carcinoma of the cervix with negative lymph nodes

Comerci G, Bolger BS, Flannelly G, Maini M, de Barros Lopes A, Monaghan JM. Prognostic factors in surgically treated stage IB–IIB carcinoma of the cervix with negative lymph nodes. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8: 23–26.
Two hundred and seventy-five females with stage IB–IIB negative lymph node cervical cancer, treated between January 1988 and December 1994 by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, form the basis of this analysis. The clinical records were reviewed for all patients including histopathology, clinical features at presentation, and follow-up. Tumors were re-staged according to the 1995 FIGO classification.
Median follow-up was 55 months and 85.8% were followed for longer than two years. There were 21 recurrences, 12 of which were true central recurrence (disease-free survival at 5 years: 91.66%). Fifteen of 25 deaths were due to cervical cancer (crude survival at 5 years: 93.27%). In univariate log-rank analysis, stage ( P = 0.005), tumor size ( P = 0.0002), and lymph-vascular space involvement (LVSI) ( P = 0.01) appeared to be statistically significant factors for tumor recurrence. Other factors including age, histology type, differentiation, adjacent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia, and presence of intraepithelial disease at resection margin were not found to be statistically significant. In multivariate analysis (Cox regression) tumor size ( P = 0.02) and LVSI ( P = 0.03) were the only independent variables. In the presence of negative lymph nodes and complete surgical excision, tumor size and LVSI are important predictors of local recurrence.     

早期宫颈癌锥切标本宫旁浸润的影响因素分析

目的：探讨早期宫颈癌锥切标本宫旁浸润（PI）的影响因素。方法：回顾性分析大连市妇幼保健院2008年1月—2018年2月经宫颈锥切确诊为宫颈癌后行根治性子宫切除术（RH）+腹膜后淋巴结切除术的200例Ⅰa2～Ⅰb1期宫颈癌患者，分析早期宫颈癌PI的影响因素。结果：200例患者中有15例（7.5%）PI阳性，185例（92.5%）PI阴性。单因素分析显示，PI与年龄、病理类型、国际妇产科联盟（FIGO）分期、病理组织学分级、肿瘤大小和切缘状态无关（均P＞0.05），与淋巴脉管间隙浸润（LVSI）和淋巴结转移有关（均P＜0.05）。多因素分析显示，LVSI阳性（OR=5.456，95%CI：1.669～17.833，P=0.005）和淋巴结转移阳性（OR=6.725，95%CI：1.833～24.669，P=0.004）是PI的独立危险因素。结论：早期宫颈锥切标本中LVSI、淋巴结转移与PI有关，可作为PI的预测因子。     

Multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors and outcomes in early cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify pathologic and clinical risk factors that best predicted 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) among patients with early-stage cervical carcinoma, treated by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: The records of 197 patients with early-stage invasive cervical carcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy from 1990 to 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and pathologic variables including age, tumor size (TS), clinical stage, depth of invasion (DI), lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI), cell type, tumor grade, lymph node metastases (LNM), parametrial invasion, surgical margin involvement, and pattern of adjuvant therapy were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods to define those variables that best predicted RFS. RESULTS: Outer 1/3 invasion, LVSI, and LNM were identified as independent poor prognostic factors, which were used to define three prognostic groups: patients (n = 104) with good prognoses (LVSI (-) and LNM (-)), patients (n = 46) with intermediate prognoses (either LVSI (+) without outer 1/3 invasion or LNM (+) without LVSI), and patients (n = 47) with poor prognoses (LVSI (+) patients with outer 1/3 invasion). The estimated 3-year RFS for patients with LVSI and deeply invasive tumors regardless of nodal status and/or nodal metastases receiving adjuvant CT + RT was significantly greater than that for patients who received only adjuvant radiotherapy (80% vs. 49%, P = 0.048 in the group of patients with LVSI and deeply invasive tumors with positive nodes and without positive nodes; 87% vs. 36%, P = 0.013 in the group of patients with LVSI and deeply invasive tumors with positive nodes only). CONCLUSIONS: The multivariate analysis and prognostic grouping system maximally separated patients with early-stage invasive cervical carcinoma into groups with good, intermediate, or poor prognoses, with 3-year RFSs of 90%, 82%, 67%; and 5-year RFSs of 89%, 69%, 43%, respectively. CT + RT played a role in improving RFS among patients with LVSI and deeply invasive tumors and poor prognoses.     

Preoperative platelet count as index of the grading in endometrial carcinoma

AIM: To investigate a possible relationship between preoperative platelet count and following clinicopathological variables of the endometrial carcinoma: age, stage, histological type, histological grading (G), myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, cervical involvement, lymph node metastasis. In particular the existence of a possible relationship between elevated preoperative platelet count (=or>300 000 microL) and negative prognostic factors. METHODS: The authors analyzed retrospectively 120 patients with endometrial carcinoma underwent to surgery as the initial treatment. All the patients were subjected to radical surgical procedure: peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy and omentectomy. Blood platelet count was taken from the patients three days prior to the surgery. RESULTS: The patients with platelet count<300000/microL whom they had a G1, G2, G3 they were respectively the 23.1%, 44.2% and 32.7% versus the 0%, 12.5% and 87.5%, respectively for G1, G2, G3, of the patients with platelet count>300000/microL (P=0.024). Only considering the patients to the stage I of the Federazione Internazionale dei Ginecologi ed Ostetrici (FIGO). The patients with platelet count<300000/microL whom they had a G1, G2, G3 they were respectively the 27.3%, 43.2% and 29.5% versus the 0%, 0% and 100%, respectively for G1, G2, G3, of the patients with platelet count=or>300000/microL (P=0.008). There were no differences respect to age, stage, histological type, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement and cervical involvement. CONCLUSION: Elevated preoperative platelet count, in the patients with endometrial carcinoma, may reflect poor prognostic factor such as higher histological grade. This study allowed to observe: a significant correlation between elevated preoperative platelet count (=or>300000/microL) and tumoral grading (G3) of general population submitted to study; for the patients to the stage I FIGO a more significant correlation between elevated preoperative platelet count (=or>300000/microL) and tumoral grading: the 100% of the patients with platelet count=or>300 000/microL had a histological grading G3.     

早期子宫颈癌脉管间隙及宫旁浸润危险因素1245例分析

目的:探讨子宫颈癌淋巴脉管间隙浸润(lymph-vascular space invasion,LVSI)及宫旁浸润与其他临床病理因素的关系。方法:回顾性分析2009年1月至2019年1月期间于西安交通大学第一附属医院妇科接受手术治疗1245例早期子宫颈癌患者的临床资料,分别根据是否LVSI及宫旁浸润分为LVSI组、无LVSI组和宫旁浸润组、无宫旁浸润组,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析脉管及宫旁浸润危险因素。结果:1245例LVSI率14.1%(175/1245),宫旁浸润率1.85%(23/1245)。单因素分析显示LVSI的发生与病灶类型、病理类型、肿瘤细胞分化程度、子宫颈浸润深度、淋巴转移、切缘阳性、宫旁浸润比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。根据淋巴转移情况分层分析发现,在淋巴未转移组LVSI的发生率与年龄、病灶类型、病理类型、子宫颈浸润深度比较,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示病灶类型为内生型、病理为鳞癌、子宫颈深肌层浸润和淋巴转移相较于非内生型、非鳞癌、子宫颈浸润浅肌层、无淋巴转移早期子宫颈癌患者是发生LVSI的独立危险因素(OR>1,P<0.05)。单因素分析显示宫旁浸润与病灶类型、子宫颈浸润深度、累及阴道、累及宫体下段、切缘阳性、淋巴转移、LVSI有关(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析示病灶类型为内生型、累及宫体下段、淋巴转移相较于非内生型、未累及宫体下段、无淋巴转移的早期子宫颈癌患者是发生宫旁浸润的独立危险因素(OR>1,P<0.05)。结论:子宫颈深肌层浸润、淋巴结转移、内生型的子宫颈鳞癌患者更可能发生LVSI;病灶类型为内生型、累及宫体下段、淋巴转移的患者更可能发生宫旁浸润。     

Intratumoral blood flow analysis in endometrial carcinoma: correlation with tumor characteristics and risk for recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate intratumoral blood flow as assessed by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound with tumor histopathologic characteristics, tumoral stage, and risk for recurrence in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Forty-five patients (mean age: 58.2 years, range: 30 to 83 years) with surgically treated endometrial carcinoma preoperatively evaluated with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound were included in this retrospective study. The lowest arterial resistance index (RI) and highest peak systolic velocity (PSV) were used for intratumoral blood flow analysis. Individual tumor characteristics evaluated were tumor growth pattern, tumor size, histologic type, tumor grade, myometrial infiltration depth, cervical involvement, lymph node metastasis, and lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI). Tumoral stage and risk for recurrence were also evaluated. RESULTS: Significantly lower RI was found in tumors with the following characteristics: infiltrative growth pattern (P = 0,013), grade 3 (P = 0.001), infiltrating >or=50% of the myometrium (P = 0.006), cervical involvement (P = 0.009), LVSI (P = 0.008), lymph-node metastasis (P = 0.049), stage >or=Ic (P = 0.004), and high risk for recurrence (P = 0.001). Significantly higher PSV was found in tumors that were grade 3 (P = 0.034), infiltrating >or=50% of the myometrium (P = 0.029), stage >or=Ic (P = 0.015), and with a high risk for recurrence (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that a correlation between intratumoral blood flow features and histopathological characteristics, tumor stage, and risk for recurrence exists in endometrial cancer. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical usefulness of preoperative assessment of tumor vascularization in these carcinomas.     

Lymph-vascular space invasion and number of positive para-aortic node groups predict survival in node-positive patients with endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine pathologic variables associated with disease-specific survival of node-positive patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with combination of surgery including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Survival of 55 node-positive endometrial carcinoma patients prospectively treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy between 1982 and 2002 at Hokkaido University Hospital was compared to various histopathologic variables. All patients underwent primary surgical treatment including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of intravenous cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide. Survival analyses were performed by the Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis using a forward stepwise selection. RESULTS: Among 303 consecutive endometrial cancer patients treated during the period of this study, 55 patients (18.2%), including 44 without peritoneal metastasis (FIGO stage IIIc) and 11 with peritoneal metastasis (FIGO stage IV), were found to have retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that peritoneal metastasis and lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) were independently related to poor survival in node-positive endometrial carcinoma. The estimated 5-year survival rate of stage IIIc patients with or without moderate/prominent LVSI was 50.9% and 93.3%, respectively with statistically significant difference (P=0.0024). The estimated 5-year survival rate of stage IV patients was 20.0%. Prognosis of stage IIIc patients could be stratified into three groups by the number of positive para-aortic node (PAN) with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 86.4% for no positive PAN (n = 23), 60.4% for one positive PAN (n = 13), and 20.0% for > or = 2 positive PAN (n = 8). The difference of survival rate between no or one positive PAN and > or = 2 positive PAN was statistically significant (P = 0.0007 for no positive PAN vs > or = 2 positive PAN, P = 0.0319 for one positive PAN vs > or = 2 positive PAN). Multivariate analysis including number of positive PAN groups showed that LVSI, number of positive PAN groups were independent prognostic factors for survival. Survival of patients with stage IIIc disease could be stratified into three groups by combination of LVSI and number of positive PAN groups with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 93.3% for no or one positive PAN group with nil or minimal LVSI, 62.6% for no or one positive PAN group with intermediate or prominent LVSI, and 20.0% for > or = 2 positive PAN groups irrespective of LVSI (P = 0.0002 for no or one positive PAN group with nil or minimal LVSI vs > or = 2 positive PAN groups, P = 0.0223 for no or one positive PAN group with nil or minimal LVSI vs no or one positive PAN group with intermediate or prominent LVSI, P = 0.0388 for no or one positive PAN group with intermediate or prominent LVSI vs > or = 2 positive PAN groups). CONCLUSIONS: LVSI and number of positive PAN groups were independent prognostic factors for stage IIIc endometrial cancer patients. Postoperative therapy and follow-up modality need to be individualized according to LVSI and the number of positive PAN for stage IIIc patients. New molecular markers to predict the prognosis of endometrial cancer patients preoperatively should be found for individualization of treatment. New chemotherapy regimen including taxane needs to be considered as an adjuvant therapy for patients with node-positive endometrial cancer.     

Prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival in early-stage cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identfy surgical and histopathologic prognostic factors that could predict 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) after patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy for FIGO Stage I-II cervical carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for all patients undergoing primary radical hysterectomy and pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy for Stage I-II cervical cancer at Ankara Oncology Hospital from 1995 to 2000. Clinical and pathologic variables including age, tumor size (TS), clinical stage, depth of invasion (DI), lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI), cell type, tumor grade, lymph node metastases (LNM), parametrial involvement, surgical margin involvement and pattern of adjuvant therapy were analyzed using univariate analyses. DFS was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Independent prognostic and predictive factors affecting DFS were assessed by the Cox proportional hazard method. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients underwent primary type III radical hysterectomy and pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Five-year DFS was 87.1%. LVSI, parametrial involvement and grade were the prognostic factors that independently affected survival. DFS was not significantly different for age, disease status of the surgical margins, tumor size, depth of invasion, cell type, pelvic lymph node metastases and adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: LVSI, parametrial invasion and histologic grade 2-3 were independent prognostic factors in early-stage cervical cancer patients. Adjuvant radiotherapy in these patients provides no survival advantage.     

Influence of quantity of lymph vascular space invasion on time to recurrence in women with early-stage squamous cancer of the cervix

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the quantity of lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) correlates with time to recurrence in women with early-stage squamous carcinoma of the cervix. METHODS: 101 consecutive women with Stages IA2, IB, and IIA squamous carcinoma of the cervix who had undergone radical hysterectomy between 1991 and 1997, with previously reported histopathologic quantification of LVSI by four methods, were prospectively followed. The outcome measure was time to recurrence. Univariate and stratified log-rank test analysis was performed to test the association of time to recurrence with prognostic factors. Further analysis was focused on recurrence in those patients who had negative surgical margins and whose tumors contained LVSI, incorporating the four quantification measures. RESULTS: Nineteen (19%) women had cancer recurrence. The presence of LVSI (P = 0.05), cervical stromal invasion (P = 0.01), parametrial involvement (P < 0.001), and positive margins (P < 0.0001) were significantly related to time to recurrence on univariate analysis. In patients whose tumors had negative surgical margins and contained LVSI (65%), percentage of all sections with LVSI >29% and total number of foci with LVSI >5 were significantly related to time to recurrence (P = 0.006). When stratifying for cervical stromal invasion, lymph node status, and parametrial involvement in this group, percentage of all sections with LVSI >29% and total number of foci with LVSI >5 were significantly related to time to recurrence (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The quantity of LVSI, as defined by the percentage of all sections with LVSI and total number of foci with LVSI, is an independent prognostic factor for time to recurrence in women with early-stage squamous carcinoma of the cervix.     

Microvessel density (MVD) as a prognosticator in endometrial carcinoma

PURPOSE: To assess microvessel density (MVD) as a marker for angiogenesis in endometrial carcinoma (EC) and normal endometrium at the proliferative and secretory phase, and to determine its prognostic value on survival among cases with EC. METHODS: Forty-three endometrial carcinoma cases were surgically staged and recruited for this case-control study. Tissue specimens from hysterectomies due to benign conditions (uterine descensus, myoma uteri, chronic pelvic pain, adenomyosis), that belonged to proliferative (n = 10) and secretory (n = 10) endometrium (n = 10), were studied as the control group (n = 20). MVD was assessed in hot areas where a high density of microvessels were detected within tumoral tissue and normal endometrium at proliferative and secretory phases. Among EC, various prognosticators such as tumor stage, histological and nuclear grade, tumor size, lympho-vascular space involvement (LVSI), cervical involvement, myometrial invasion, adnexal and lymph node involvement, peritoneal cytology and MVD were analysed in regard to survival. RESULTS: The mean age of cases with EC was 58.3 +/- 1.4. MVD was apparently high in EC cases (p < 0.05). Among control cases, endometrium from proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle was not statistically different (48.5 +/- 3.6 vs 47.4 +/- 3.8, respectively). MVD was correlated with high surgical stage (p < 0.001), cervical involvement (p = 0.01), adnexal involvement (p = 0.04), lympho-vascular space involvement (p = 0.02), pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001) and positive peritoneal cytology (p < 0.001). On univariate analysis, with a MVD cut-off value of 81/0.739 mm2, surgical stage (p < 0.001), LVSI (p < 0.001), retroperitoneal lymph node involvement (p < 0.001), adnexal metastasis (p < 0.001), peritoneal cytology (p = 0.005) and MVD count (p < 0.001) appeared to be independent factors for survival. On multivariate analysis, only pelvic lymph node involvement (p = 0.03) and MVD (p = 0.02) were found to be independent prognosticators on survival. CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenesis is apparent in both initial and further evolution of a tumoral process. MVD appears to have a substantial prognostic value on survival in EC cases.     

早期宫颈癌淋巴结转移规律的临床研究

Objective?To study the risk factors and patterns of pelvic lymph node metastasis in early cervical cancer, which provide a basis for selective lymph node dissection and postoperative individualized clinical target volume (CTV) outlining. Methods?The clinical data of 7 472 patients with early-stage (ⅠA1~ⅡA2) cervical cancer who underwent radical cervical cancer surgery admitted to Hunan Cancer Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results?The rate of pelvic lymph node metastasis in 7 472 patients was 12.93%, and the rate of closed lymph node metastasis accounted for 66.37%. Closed lymph node metastasis was correlated with lymph node metastasis in other regions of the pelvis (χ2=919.478, P<0.001). Among patients with lymph node metastasis, the metastasis rates of lymph nodes with local, skip, and continuous metastasis were 47.72%, 26.92%, and 25.36%, respectively. The mode of lymph node metastasis in early-stage cervical cancer was highly correlated with the type of pathology, lymph vascular space invasion(LVSI) and depth of cervical muscle infiltration (χ2=13.339, P<0.01; χ2=11.365, P<0.01; χ2=16.616, P<0.001). In addition, χ2 test showed that age, tumor grade, tumor size, clinical stage, pathological type, LVSI, deep myometrial infiltration of the cervix, and intrauterine involvement were independent influencing factors of pelvic lymph node metastasis (P<0.001); logistic regression analysis showed that age, pathological type, LVSI, deep myometrial infiltration of the cervix, intrauterine involvement, and tumor grade were independent factors of pelvic lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). Conclusion?The metastasis pattern and risk factors of early cervical cancer can guide the scope of lymph node dissection and the outline of CTV in postoperative personalized radiotherapy target area.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III and squamous cell cervical carcinoma, and its correlation with clinicopathologic variables

The objective of the study was to compare cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III (CIN III) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix, and its correlation with clinicopathologic factors of SCC with a review of the available literature. This study included 25 patients with CIN III and 67 patients with stage I-IIa SCC. All patients in the SCC group were treated with radical hysterectomy plus pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and postoperative chemoradiotherapy based on their histopathologic risk factors. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded sections with COX-2 antibody. COX-2 expression in the SCC group was significantly higher than in the CIN III group (55.2% [37/67] vs 24% [6/25]; P= 0.008). Significantly higher expression of COX-2 was observed in patients with lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) compared to patients without LVSI (61.9% [34/55] vs 33.3% [3/9]; P= 0.02). Additionally, patients with tumor sizes >4 cm had significantly higher COX-2 expression than patients with tumor sizes <4 cm (65.9% [27/41] vs 39% [10/26] P= 0.028). There was no significant relationship with respect to COX-2 expression and parametrial involvement, lymph node metastasis, recurrences, and survival. In multivariate analysis, LVSI was the only statistically significant determinant for COX-2 expression (P= 0.024; OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.1-4.9). Our results and a review of the literature both suggest that COX-2 expression may have a role in the development and progression of CIN III and it is related to some clinicopathologic variables of cervical carcinoma. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of COX-2 inhibitors in the management of CIN and SCC.     

Prognosis of Japanese patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma associated with pelvic endometriosis: clinicopathologic evaluation

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma is commonly associated with pelvic endometriosis. We retrospectively evaluated clinicopathological data on the association between ovarian clear cell carcinoma and pelvic endometriosis. METHODS: Between 1984 and 1995, we evaluated clinicopathological data on 53 Japanese patients with primary ovarian clear cell carcinoma who had been initially treated at Keio University Hospital. The clinical backgrounds and 5-year survival rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty (37.7%) of the 53 patients had carcinoma accompanied by pelvic endometriosis. These 20 cases were classified as FIGO stage I (n = 13, 65%), stage II (n = 1, 5%), stage III (n = 6, 30%), or stage IV (n = 0). The other 33 cases of ovarian clear cell carcinoma had no evidence of association with endometriosis and were classified as stage I (n = 19, 57.6%), stage II (n = 2, 6.1%), stage III (n = 9, 27.2%), or stage IV (n = 3, 9.1%). The incidence of a positive intraperitoneal cytology in stage Ic was significantly less in the group with endometriosis than in that without the endometriosis (n = 1, 14.3% vs n = 9, 64.3%, P = 0.03). The 5-year survival rate of stage I patients was significantly greater in ovarian clear cell carcinoma with pelvic endometriosis (100%) than in that without it (60%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients having ovarian clear cell carcinoma with pelvic endometriosis exhibited a better prognosis than those without endometriosis, especially those patients with stage I cancer.     

Does the density of lymphatic vascular space invasion affect the prognosis of stage Ib and IIA node negative carcinoma of the cervix?

Abstract. Sykes P, Allen D, Cohen C, Scurry J. & Yeo D. Does the density of lymphatic vascular space invasion affect the prognosis of stage Ib and IIA node negative carcinoma of the cervix? Int J Gynecol Cancer 2003; 13: 313–316.
Lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI) has been noted as a poor prognostic factor in many tumors. In some studies of carcinoma of the cervix, LVSI has been demonstrated to be independent of other prognostic factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate if, by a simple quantitative technique, the density of lymphatic invasion could be correlated with the risk of recurrence in node negative early stage carcinoma of the cervix. We analyzed the pathology and clinical course of 71 consecutive patients with stage IB and IIA carcinoma of the cervix treated primarily by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. All cases had negative nodes and adequate surgical margins. There were 67 patients suitable for evaluation. Tumour type, grade, stage and the dimensions of the tumor were recorded. The density of LVSI was categorized as absent (45%), mild (15%), moderate (33%) or severe (7%) depending on the number of lymphatic vascular spaces involved per high power field in the worst affected slide. The patients were followed for 2–8½ years with a mean follow up of 4 years and 2 months. There were 13 recurrences and 7 deaths. All recurrences occurred in less than 2 years after surgery. The risk of recurrence was 40% for patients with extensive LVSI, 32% for moderate, 30% for mild and 3% if LVSI was absent. Only the presence of LVSI was associated with an increased risk of recurrence. The density of lymphatic invasion as represented by the number of lymphatic spaces occupied on the worst histological slide offered no further clinically useful information.     

Tumor diameter and volume assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in the prediction of outcome for invasive cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of pretherapeutic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measurements of tumor diameter and volume with regard to recurrent disease. METHODS: MRI on 0.5- or 1.5-T scanners was performed in 126 consecutive women with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Initial tumor diameter and volume were determined on T(2)-weighted images; volume was calculated by the standard technique of multiplying the sum of the areas by the slice thickness. Patients were treated by radical surgery, radiotherapy, or a combined approach based on clinical International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and individual patient criteria. Clinical data (patient age and FIGO stage), MRI-derived tumor dimensions (diameter and volume), and histological findings (tumor invasion depth and lymph-node involvement) were associated and linked to patient outcome. RESULTS: MRI-based tumor diameter correlated strongly with histological tumor invasion depth and lymph-node status (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01) while tumor volume on MRI was significantly associated only with tumor invasion depth into adjacent tissues (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis demonstrated graphically that MRI-derived tumor diameter and volume and clinical FIGO stage are associated with progression-free survival. Correlation analysis showed a strong association between MRI-derived tumor diameter and volume on MRI (r = 68%, P < 0.01) and also demonstrated a correlation between tumor diameter on MRI and FIGO stage Ib (Ib1 versus Ib2) cervical tumors (r = 46.7%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tumor diameter and volume, determined by pretreatment MRI examinations, predict progression-free survival for patients with invasive cervical carcinoma. This study demonstrates the value of MRI as an adjunct to clinical evaluation of invasive cervical cancer, providing more complete assessment of morphological risk factors important in patient prognosis and treatment planning.     

Significance of tumor volume and corpus uteri invasion in cervical cancer patients treated by radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to show that in advanced cervical cancer patients treated with curative intent, tumor volume and uterine involvement have independent prognostic value. Eligible patients were those seen at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre between December 1995 and June 2001, newly diagnosed with a histologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the cervix, FIGO-staged IB-IVA, and having undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated with curative intent. Potential prognostic factors considered were FIGO stage, clinical tumor diameter, histology, age, tumor volume, and corpus invasion status. MRI was used to determine the tumor volume and whether there was invasion of tumor into the corpus uteri. One hundred and seventy-nine patients were eligible for this study. The cut-off date for follow-up was October 2003, one patient was lost to follow-up, and the mean potential follow-up time was 4.5 years (range 0.2-7.7 years). There were 60 (34%), 78 (44%), 34 (19%), and 7 (4%) patients in FIGO stages IB, II, III, and IVA, respectively. The tumors of 107 (60%) patients exhibited corpus invasion. The median tumor volume was 33 mL (range 0.1-200 mL). The four factors, FIGO stage, clinical tumor diameter, corpus invasion, and tumor volume, were all strongly positively correlated (P < 0.001 in each case). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for all patients was 55% (standard error = 4%). Of the six factors examined, FIGO stage (P= 0.006), clinical tumor diameter (P= 0.013), corpus invasion (P < 0.001), and tumor volume (P < 0.001) were statistically significantly related to OS duration in unifactor analyses. However, only corpus invasion (P= 0.013) and tumor volume (P= 0.004) were significantly and independently associated with OS in multifactor analyses. In particular, after adjusting for corpus involvement and tumor volume, there was no evidence for any relationship between OS and either FIGO stage (P= 0.49) or clinical tumor diameter (P= 0.58). The results from the analysis of failure-free survival were very similar. We conclude that in patients with advanced cervical cancer, tumor volume and corpus invasion provide important prognostic information over and above that provided by FIGO stage, clinical tumor diameter, histology, and age.     

Clear cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: pathology and prognosis in surgically treated stage IB-IIB disease in women not exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to compare the clinical behavior, pathology findings, and prognosis of surgically treated FIGO stage IB-IIB clear cell carcinomas of the cervix with those of squamous cell carcinomas and non-clear cell adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Fifteen patients with clear cell adenocarcinomas of the cervix (8 FIGO stage IB, 7 FIGO stage IIB) were reviewed. The control group consisted of 444 squamous cell carcinomas and 59 non-clear cell adenocarcinomas. None of the patients had a history of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol. All patients underwent radical abdominal hysterectomy with systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy. All specimens were processed as serial giant frontal sections. The mean follow-up in the clear cell group was 83 (13-182) months. Statistical analysis was done with contingency tables, chi(2) tests, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Twelve of the fifteen clear cell carcinomas (80%) were endophytic and tended toward deep cervical infiltration. Clear cell carcinomas extended to the uterine corpus significantly more often than squamous cell and non-clear cell adenocarcarcinomas (P < 0.001). The rates of parametrial involvement and pelvic lymph node involvement were 40 and 47%, respectively. Four patients (27%), all with positive pelvic nodes, developed recurrences an average of 14 (4-48) months after initial therapy. The extrapelvic sites of relapse were the lung, liver, and bone. Clear cell carcinomas had a worse 5-year survival rate (67%) than squamous cell carcinomas (80%) and non-clear cell adenocarcinomas (77%) but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.6). No significant differences were seen for age, growth pattern, parametrial and vaginal involvement, parametrial and pelvic lymph node metastases, frequency of recurrent disease, and time to first recurrence. CONCLUSION: The clinicopathologic findings and prognosis of surgically treated patients with stage IB-IIB clear cell carcinomas without exposure to diethylstilbestrol in utero are similar to those of patients with squamous cell carcinomas and non-clear cell adenocarcinomas.