Laparoscopic port-site metastases in patients with gynecological malignancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to review all reported cases of laparoscopic port-site metastases in patients with gynecological malignancies. Potential etiologies as well as options for prevention are discussed. METHODS: We searched the Medline database for English-language articles presenting raw data on laparoscopic port-site metastases in patients with gynecological malignancies. RESULTS: We found 31 articles describing port-site metastases in 58 patients. Forty patients had low malignant potential (seven patients) or invasive ovarian carcinoma (33 patients). The median age of these patients was 50 years (range: 22-79), and 83% had advanced (stage III or IV) disease. Seventy-one percent of the patients (24 of 34) had ascites, and 97% (29 of 30) had carcinomatosis. Seventy-five percent of the laparoscopic procedures in this group were performed for diagnosis. Median time to diagnosis of port-site metastases was 17 days (range: 4-730). Seventy-one percent of port-site recurrences (15 of 21) were isolated to a tissue-manipulating port. Twelve patients had port-site metastases after laparoscopy for cervical cancer. The median age was 44 years (range: 31-74). Eighty percent of cases were squamous cell carcinoma. In 75% of the patients, laparoscopy was performed for therapeutic purposes. The median time to diagnosis of port-site metastases was 5 months (range: 1.5-19). Four patients had port-site metastases after laparoscopy for uterine cancer. The median age was 63 years (range: 56-72). The median time to diagnosis of metastases was 13.5 months (range: 6-21). Half of the recurrences were in the tissue-manipulating port. Port-site metastases after laparoscopy were reported for one patient each with a diagnosis of fallopian tube carcinoma and vaginal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic port-site metastases are a potential complication of laparoscopy in patients with gynecological malignancies, even in patients with early-stage disease.     

Meningeal carcinomatosis as a late complication of brain metastases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma

The brain represents a rare site of metastasis in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). In recent decades there has been an apparent increase in the number of EOC patients diagnosed with brain metastases, probably as a result of improved prognosis of patients with advanced tumors, but cases of meningeal carcinomatosis complicating EOC remain rare. A patient with Stage III EOC had brain metastases diagnosed 31 months after primary surgery. The isolated brain metastases were controlled with radiosurgery, surgery and chemotherapy. Forty-five months after the diagnosis of brain metastases, meningeal carcinomatosis was diagnosed which led, despite intrathecal therapy, to a fatal outcome. At autopsy, the disease was limited to the central nervous system. Meningeal carcinomatosis may represent a late fatal complication of brain metastases of EOC.     

A pilot study of chemo-radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the vulva

Summary. Advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (FIGO stages III and IV) has a poor cure rate even with exenterative surgery. We report a pilot study of combined pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy (CHT/RT) in all patients with advanced vulval carcinoma presenting to St Bartholomew's Hospital between July 1987 and March 1989. Twelve patients have been treated, of whom nine had primary lesions (four FIGO stage III and five stage IV) and three had recurrent disease after simple or radical vulvectomy. Seven patients were treated with an initial split course of CHT/RT: there was one treatment-related death and the others have all died following recurrence with a median disease-free survival of 5 months (range 3–12) and a median survival of 7 months (range 3-16). Five patients have received a continuous course of CHT/RT: one died before operation with pulmonary metastases, three patients are disease free at 6 to 9 months, and another patient has been treated with only palliative intent. Toxicity was acceptable in the continuous regimen and this treatment seems to have a promising role in the management of advanced carcinoma of the vulva. A review of the literature on combined therapy is presented.     

A pilot study of chemo-radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the vulva

Advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (FIGO stages III and IV) has a poor cure rate even with exenterative surgery. We report a pilot study of combined pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy (CHT/RT) in all patients with advanced vulval carcinoma presenting to St Bartholomew's Hospital between July 1987 and March 1989. Twelve patients have been treated, of whom nine had primary lesions (four FIGO stage III and five stage IV) and three had recurrent disease after simple or radical vulvectomy. Seven patients were treated with an initial split course of CHT/RT: there was one treatment-related death and the others have all died following recurrence with a median disease-free survival of 5 months (range 3-12) and a median survival of 7 months (range 3-16). Five patients have received a continuous course of CHT/RT: one died before operation with pulmonary metastases, three patients are disease free at 6 to 9 months, and another patient has been treated with only palliative intent. Toxicity was acceptable in the continuous regimen and this treatment seems to have a promising role in the management of advanced carcinoma of the vulva. A review of the literature on combined therapy is presented.     

Salvage mastectomy for local and regional recurrence after breast-conserving operation and radiation therapy.

Forty-six patients initially treated for carcinoma of the breast by tumor excision and radiation therapy who had local and regional recurrence with no evidence of distant disease and who underwent salvage mastectomy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1970 and 1990 were reviewed retrospectively. These patients represent a recent series of patients treated with breast-conserving surgery, radiation therapy and subsequent salvage mastectomy with a median follow-up period of five years (range of one to 20 years). The mean age at initial diagnosis was 52 years (range of 31 to 75 years). All patients had excision of the primary tumor; 27 underwent local excision with axillary dissection. The median radiation therapy dose to the breast was 48 Gy. The distribution of stage of disease at the time of breast conserving treatment was stage 0 in seven patients, stage I in 13 patients, stage II in 14 and stage III in one patient. Twenty-seven patients received conservation treatment at other institutions and were referred to our institution for salvage operation. Local and regional relapse occurred at a median of 28 months (range of five months to seven years) after initial treatment. Relapses occurred only in the breast in 35 patients, in the axilla in one patient and in both sites in ten patients. Salvage operation consisted of total mastectomy in 50 per cent, modified radical mastectomy in 33 per cent and radical mastectomy in 17 per cent. Follow-up evaluation after salvage mastectomy (median 28 months, range of one month to 18 years) yielded an actuarial proportion free of disease at five years of 55 per cent (+/- 11 per cent) and an over-all five year survival rate of 76 per cent (+/- 10 per cent). The median time to relapse was 97 months (+/- eight months) and the median survival time was 103 months (+/- seven months). The local recurrence rate after salvage mastectomy was 15 per cent. These data suggest that salvage mastectomy provides local control of recurrent carcinoma of the breast and relapse-free survival time may be improved by postsalvage systemic therapy.     

Active intralymphatic immunotherapy of uterine cervical carcinoma with viral oncolysate: a pilot study

A pilot clinical trial was conducted in patients with squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix to evaluate the clinical and biologic effects of active intralymphatic immunotherapy (AILI) with allogenic viral oncolysate (VO) prior to radiation therapy. Sixteen patients with advanced primary squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix and lymph node metastases underwent bipedal intralymphatic injections of VO. VO was derived from lysates of cervical carcinoma cells that had been infected with influenza A virus. AILI was repeated after 2 weeks and followed one week later by standard or extended-field radiation therapy (RT). The first seven patients were treated at one of the three dose levels: 6 mg (three patients), 12 mg (three patients) and 18 mg (one patient). Remaining patients were treated at the 12 mg dose level. Sixteen patients received 63 injections (one patient received three of four doses) of AILI-VO without significant toxicity. Eleven patients have died of persistent or recurrent carcinoma with a total median survival of 19.4 months. Examination of humoral and cellular immunity during AILI-VO showed an increase in the serum liters of antibodies to a surface antigen on cervical carcinoma cells and to the influenza virus. Increased non-MHC restricted lymphocyte cytotoxicity was exhibited by three of four patients treated above the first dose level. Two of the three patients are survivors. By contrast, lymphocytes of patients treated with AILI-VO exhibited either an increase or a decrease in proliferation responses to cervical carcinoma cells. Similarly, post-treatment lymphocytes exhibited either helper or suppressor inducer effects on pre-treatment lymphocytes.     

Urinary Tract Infection in Patients of Gynecological Malignancies Undergoing External Pelvic Radiotherapy

A total of 216 midstream urine (MSU) samples from 36 patients with gynecological malignancies undergoing external pelvic radiotherapy (RT) were studied periodically every week for any evidence of urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI was detected in 33.3% patients of whom 8.3% had infection at the onset of RT and the rest developed UTI during the course of therapy. All three patients who had UTI at the onset of RT underwent cystoscopy as a part of routine pretreatment workup. A higher preponderance of UTI was observed in patients of stage III carcinoma cervix (33.3%) compared to stage II (16.7%) during the course of RT. Half of the patients with UTI had repealed episodes of infection despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. The study emphasizes the importance of conducting periodic MSU examination in patients with gynecological malignancies during RT and its treatment with appropriate antibiotics to minimize the risks of further injury to the already susceptible uroepithelium following radiotherapy.     

Stage II adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated by two standard regimens of combined preoperative irradiation and surgery

We retrospectively analyzed 77 patients with stage II endometrial carcinoma treated with standard regimens of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery (S). The age range was 31–74 years with a median of 56.3 years. Thirty-three patients received 40 Gy whole pelvis RT followed by either radical or modified radical hysterectomy. Forty-four patients received 50 Gy whole pelvis RT and sequential intrauterine and intravaginal cesium-137 brachytherapy followed by a simple hysterectomy. Median follow-up was 111 months. No patient was lost to follow-up. The overall 5-year actuarial survival was 78%. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups. Several prognostic variables were analyzed. Those with histologic grade I and II had 5-year survival of 89% and 83%, respectively, compared to 62% for grade III ( P =0.045). The 5-year survival for microscopic cervical involvement was 87% compared to 59% for gross involvement ( P = 0.008). Patients with negative or microscopic residual tumor in the surgical specimen and those with negative lymph nodes had less risk of treatment failure. Local failure occurred in only 9%. Major complications (3%) were seen only in the radical surgery group. Combined preoperative RT and S provide high cure rates with minimal complications for patients with stage II endometrial carcinoma. Patients with adverse prognostic factors are candidates for trials of more aggressive local and systemic therapy.     

Adjuvant whole abdominal irradiation in clinical stages I and II papillary serous or clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium: a phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outcome in patients with clinical stage I/II papillary serous (PS) or clear cell (CC) endometrial carcinoma treated with whole abdominal radiotherapy. METHODS: After total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic/para-aortic lymph node sampling, and peritoneal washings, eligible patients received radiotherapy (RT) to the abdomen (3000 cGy at 150 cGy/day) with a pelvic boost (1980 cGy at 180 cGy/day). RESULTS: Among 21 PS patients (median age: 68 years), one refused therapy, and another received a non-protocol vaginal boost. In total, eight patients died of disease (DOD) between 9.6 and 35.2 months. Five others died due to protocol treatment (1), toxicity from subsequent chemotherapy (1), intercurrent disease (1), and unknown cause (2). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 38%. Among treated patients who DOD, sites of recurrence included lung (2), lung/vagina (1), abdomen/pelvis (1), vagina (1), and abdomen (2). Among 13 CC patients (median age: 63 years), one received pelvic RT only and died with intercurrent disease. Five others died due to DOD (3), intercurrent disease (1), and unknown cause (1). Five-year PFS was 54%. Among patients who DOD, sites of recurrence included lung (1), vagina (1), and unknown (1). Grade 3/4 toxicities for both histologic groups included gastrointestinal (three grade 4; three grade 3), hematologic (one grade 4), and cutaneous (one grade 3). CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the treatment failures were within the radiation field. Systemic chemotherapy, radiosensitizing chemotherapy, or sequential radiation and chemotherapy should be considered in future adjuvant trials for these patients.     

A phase II trial of mitomycin, vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin (MOBP) as neoadjuvant therapy in high-risk cervical carcinoma

Twenty patients with locally advanced or metastatic cervical carcinoma were treated with mitomycin, vincristine, bleomycin, and cisplatin (MOBP), prior to radiotherapy (RT) of curative intent. Five patients had stage I disease, 2 stage II, 10 stage III, and 3 stage IV. All but one patient with stage I and II disease had nodal metastases. Patients received two courses of MOBP prior to and cisplatin q 3 weeks during RT. Response rates after completion of MOBP and prior to RT were as follows: 3/18 (16.6%) patients had a complete response (CR), 10/18 (55.5%) had a partial response (PR), 3/18 (16.6%) had improvement, and 2/18 (11.1%) had no response (NR). Five patients developed radiation complications. Of 7 patients with stage I and II disease, 6 (86%) currently have no evidence of disease (NED) (median 27 months). Of 13 patients with advanced disease, 3 (23%) are NED (median 17 months), 8 (61.5%) have expired, and 2 (15.4%) are alive with disease. MOBP is associated with significant response rates in the untreated patient but has not improved survival in patients with advanced disease. Patients with early disease and positive nodes may benefit from this regimen.     

全反式维甲酸三氧化二砷联合化疗治疗儿童急性早幼粒白血病的疗效分析

目的评价全反式维甲酸(ATRA)、三氧化二砷(As2O3)的联合化疗治疗方案对儿童急性早幼粒细胞性白血病(APL)的疗效。 方法1995-07—2005-06在中山大学附属二院及广州市儿童医院共有14例患儿接受了含ATRA、As2O3的联合化疗方案，其中男10例，女4例；年龄 2.1~12岁，平均6.7岁。所有病例起病时均有贫血、皮肤瘀斑或牙龈出血等表现；骨髓检查原始＋幼稚细胞比例为59.0%~97.5%，其中M3a 9例， M3b 5例；8例患儿行PML-RARα融合基因检测，其中阳性6例。比较不同细胞学类型、化疗方案等对APL的疗效及对复发率的影响。 结果14例中有12例(85.71%)使用上述的诱导缓解方案达到骨髓(BM)缓解CR1，由开始治疗到BM CR1的中位时间为5周(2~9周)；该组病例使用 As2O3、DA、HA、EA、DEA序贯或同时联合其它化疗的巩固方案，共2例复发，均为M3b；用不同的巩固方案对APL复发影响差异无显著性 (P=0.195)；含As2O3的方案进行维持治疗可能减少APL患儿的复发；是否加用VP/6MP+MTX序贯维持治疗对控制复发差异无显著性(P=0.66)。 结论含ATRA、As2O3的联合化疗方案对儿童APL是一种有效的治疗方法，可以减少复发。     

Filgrastim support during combination chemotherapy using cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide to treat advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer: a clinical study and literature review

In a private practice setting, 16 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma received cisplatinum 50 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 every three weeks. Growth factor support using filgrastim was initiated on the first cycle of therapy and each subsequent cycle. Sixteen patients were entered into the study with 13 being evaluable. No patient had previously received chemotherapy. The overall response rate was 54% with two complete responses (15%) and five partial responses (38%). Stable disease was seen in 46% of patients. Progression-free survival was observed to be a median of 8.5 months for a complete response, a median of 8.5 months for a partial response and a median of 7 months for stable disease. Fifteen percent of the patients and 3% of all chemotherapy cycles had febrile neutropenic events. There were no deaths due to myelotoxicity. Only one patient required a dose reduction due to neutropenia. Four of the 13 patients required dose reductions due to previous nadir thrombocytopenia. Grade 4 granulocytopenia occurred in 28% of treatment cycles and grade 3 granulocytopenia occurred in 12% of treatment cycles. The use of filgrastim (G-CSF) allowed patients to stay on therapy for an average of seven treatments. Neutropenia was not the dose-limiting toxicity from this dose-intense regimen.     

FIGO stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma with metastases confined to pelvic lymph nodes: analysis of treatment outcomes, prognostic variables, and failure patterns following adjuvant radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic significance of isolated positive pelvic lymph nodes on survival and to analyze other prognostic variables, overall survival, and failure patterns in surgically staged endometrial carcinoma patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes and negative para-aortic lymph nodes following radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: Between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 1997, 782 women underwent primary treatment for uterine cancer at Indiana University Medical Center. Through a review of the medical records, we identified 58 patients with pathologic stage IIIA, 27 patients with pathologic stage IIIB, and 77 patients with pathologic stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma. Patients with pathologically positive or unsampled para-aortic lymph nodes and patients who received preoperative radiation therapy were excluded, leaving a study group of 17 patients with nodal metastases confined to pelvic lymph nodes. Thirteen patients received adjuvant pelvic RT using AP-PA or four-field technique. A median dose of 5040 cGy was delivered. Four patients received whole abdominal irradiation (WAI) delivering a median dose of 3000 cGy. Two patients received vaginal cuff boosts of 1000 and 3560 cGy to 0.5 cm from the vaginal surface mucosa via Cs-137 brachytherapy. Two patients also received adjuvant chemotherapy (cis-platinum and doxorubicin) and/or hormonal therapy (megestrol acetate). Disease-free and overall survivals were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method of statistical analysis and prognostic variables were analyzed using the log-rank test. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 51 months the actuarial 5-year disease-free survival was 81% and the actuarial 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 81 and 72%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that positive peritoneal cytology in conjunction with positive pelvic lymph nodes imparts a greater risk of recurrence and decreased overall survival. There were no pelvic and/or upper abdominal failures, but there were recurrences in the para-aortic lymph nodes (two patients) and distantly (two patients). CONCLUSION: Surgery followed by postoperative pelvic RT is a viable treatment option for pathologically staged stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma with disease confined to the pelvic lymph nodes. Failures in the para-aortic region suggest a possible role for extended-field RT. Patients with positive peritoneal cytology in conjunction with nodal metastasis fared poorly with pelvic RT. Studies evaluating the efficacy of WAI are ongoing. Finally, substages within FIGO stage IIIC are recommended in an effort to better understand and define treatment strategies which might be appropriate for these patients.     

Efficacy and safety of methotrexate therapy for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) can result in disability, growth disturbance, and systemic complications. This study investigated the efficacy and adverse effects of oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy in Taiwanese children with JRA. METHODS: The medical records of 52 Taiwanese children with JRA treated with oral MTX were retrospectively analyzed. The disease onset was polyarticular in 22 children, oligoarticular in 13, and systemic in 17. The indication for MTX therapy was lack of efficacy of previous drugs, including two or more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in all patients. In addition, three patients had received hydroxychloroquine and one had received sulfasalazine, without improvement. Corticosteroid dependency had developed in 27 patients prior to MTX therapy. The mean initial dose of MTX was 9.1 mg.m-2.wk-1 (range, 5-20 mg.m-2.wk-1), and the mean maximal dose was 10.2 mg.m-2.wk-1 (range, 5-20 mg.m-2.wk-1). The mean duration of treatment was 23 months (range, 6-96 mo), and the mean duration of follow-up was 52 months (range, 10-123 mo) from the start of MTX therapy. RESULTS: Thirty-six children (69%) showed clinical improvement and 25 children (48%) achieved clinical remission. The administration of MTX resulted in more than a 50% reduction in required corticosteroid dosage in six children, and complete discontinuation of corticosteroid in 10 children. MTX was discontinued in 18 patients following a mean of 8 months (range, 2-34 mo) of clinical remission. Relapse occurred in nine (50%) of these patients. Thirteen patients (25%) suffered from adverse effects associated with MTX treatment. All of these adverse effects resolved spontaneously, or subsided within 4 weeks following dosage reduction or discontinuation of MTX. CONCLUSIONS: Oral MTX therapy is effective and well-tolerated in Taiwanese children with JRA. It can serve as the first choice of second-line therapy in JRA.     

Adult granulosa-cell tumor of the ovary: a retrospective study of 45 cases

This study describes 45 cases of adult granulosa-cell tumors seen in our institution between 1976 and 1993. The median age was 46.5 years (12–77) and 18 women were postmenopausal. Vaginal bleeding was present in one-third of cases; other complaints were abdominal pain (28%) and the presence of a pelvic mass (47%). The tumor size was variable (<3 cm to 30 cm, median 11.5 cm). FIGO stages were: stage I: 30 (73%) (19 Ia, seven Ic, four I unknown); stage II: seven (17%) (two IIa, five IIC); stage III: three (7%) (one IIIb, two IIIc). Two adenocarcinomas and 13 cases of hyperplasia were found in 25 endometrial samples available. The initial therapy for all the cases was surgery, consisting in 34 patients of hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, ± tumor resection. Sixteen patients received adjuvant therapy as well: chemotherapy (CT) alone for 12, radiotherapy (RT) alone for two, and CT + RT for two patients. Among the 39 patients who achieved a complete response after initial therapy, 15 patients have relapsed (pelvic recurrences) (38.5%) including six stage Ia (three received only conservative surgery). All the recurrent tumors were resected and 14/15 had CT (13/14 with cisplatin). The overall survival rate was 77.2% at 5 years, 66.5% at 10 years, and 41.2% at 20 years. A statistically significant difference was found between the survival of patients with stage Ia disease (75% at 10 and 15 years) and that of other patients (60% at 10 years, and <50% at 15 years). Serum estradiol and serum inhibin were measured in some patients and the results are described.     

Metastases to the upper levels of the axillary nodes in carcinoma of the breast and its implications for nodal sampling procedures

An axillary lymphadenectomy is important for the staging and treatment of metastatic disease in patients with carcinoma of the breast, especially since the nodal status is a primary criterion for using systemic adjuvant chemotherapy. As more conservative operations combined with radiation therapy have been increasingly used for selected patients with carcinoma of the breast, an axillary node sampling instead of a complete axillary dissection has been advocated by some oncologists. However, the possibility exists that node "sampling" understages patients who would otherwise have received adjuvant chemotherapy to improve their chances for cure. We retrospectively examined this hypothesis in a group of 72 patients with documented nodal metastases who had a radical mastectomy (modified or Halsted). Overall, 18 of 72 patients (25 per cent) had metastatic involvement confined to the upper axillary nodes (Levels II and III). Of the patients with no clinically palpable nodes, 32 per cent had metastatic nodal involvement confined to the upper nodes. Medial quadrant lesions exhibited this tendency more than lateral quadrant lesions (50 versus 20 per cent). Larger primary tumors were associated with an increasing likelihood of involved nodes; however, even 14 per cent of the smallest primary lesions of the breast (less than 2 centimeters) had metastases exclusively to the upper axillary region. Since approximately 40 per cent of the patients with carcinoma of the breast have nodal metastases and since 25 per cent of these metastases are confined to the upper portion of the axilla, it is estimated that at least 10 per cent of all women with carcinoma of the breast (25 X 40 per cent) would be understaged by an axillary node sampling procedure.     

The rate of port-site metastases after 2251 laparoscopic procedures in women with underlying malignant disease

BackgroundThe aim was to describe the rate of laparoscopic trocar-related subcutaneous tumor implants in women with underlying malignant disease.MethodsAn analysis of a prospective database of all patients undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic procedures for malignant conditions performed by the gynecologic oncology service.ResultsBetween July 1991 and April 2007, laparoscopic procedures were performed in 1694 patients with a malignant intraabdominal condition and in 505 breast cancer patients undergoing risk-reducing, diagnostic or therapeutic laparoscopic procedures without intraabdominal disease. Port-site metastases were documented in 20 of 1694 patients (1.18%) who underwent laparoscopic procedures for a malignant intraabdominal condition. Of these, 15 patients had a diagnosis of epithelial ovarian or fallopian tube carcinoma, 2 had breast cancer, 2 had cervical cancer, and 1 had uterine cancer. Nineteen of 20 patients (95%) had simultaneous carcinomatosis or metastases to other sites at the time of port-site metastasis. Patients who developed port-site metastases within 7 months from the laparoscopic procedure had a median survival of 12 months whereas patients who developed port-site metastasis > 7 months had a median survival of 37 months (P = 0.004). No port-site recurrence was documented in patients undergoing risk-reducing, diagnostic or therapeutic laparoscopic procedures for breast cancer without intraabdominal disease.ConclusionThe rate of port-site tumor implantation after laparoscopic procedures in women with malignant disease is low and almost always occurs in the setting of synchronous, advanced intraabdominal or distant metastatic disease. The presence of port-site implantation is a surrogate for advanced disease and should not be used as an argument against laparoscopic surgery in gynecologic malignancies.     

Cisplatin as second-line therapy in ovarian carcinoma treated initially with single-agent paclitaxel: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: The platinum compounds are the most active agents in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. Phase II trials demonstrated the activity of paclitaxel in patients with disease clinically resistant to platinum-based front-line therapy, and phase III studies confirmed that a combination of paclitaxel plus a platinum was superior to cyclophosphamide plus a platinum. This study evaluated the activity of platinum in patients with bulky advanced disease treated with single-agent paclitaxel as front-line therapy on a Gynecologic Oncology Group protocol. Those patients who had persistent (stable) or progressive disease while receiving paclitaxel, or a recurrence of disease within 6 months of completing six cycles of paclitaxel therapy, received single-agent cisplatin. METHODS: Thirty-nine eligible patients with ovarian carcinoma persistent, progressive, or recurrent after initial treatment with paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) over 24 h every 3 weeks received cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Among 37 patients evaluable for response, 8 complete (22%) and 13 partial (35%) responses resulted. Twelve (32%) patients exhibited stable disease, while 4 (11%) had increasing disease. Median progression-free survival was 11.0 months. Median survival was 15.0 months. All but two patients were clinically resistant to paclitaxel (progression during or within 6 months after completion of paclitaxel). Grade 2 or worse adverse effects among 39 patients evaluable for toxicity included neutropenia (23), thrombocytopenia (3), anemia (10), nausea and vomiting (23), azotemia (7), neurotoxicity (9), fever (2), and tinnitus (1). CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that cisplatin is active as second-line therapy in patients clinically resistant to paclitaxel. The overall response rate is high (57%) with excellent progression-free and overall survival in the second-line setting.     

Outcome of endometrial carcinoma patients with involvement of the uterine serosa

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to evaluate the outcome of endometrial carcinoma patients undergoing primary surgery who have serosal involvement (SI). METHODS: Between 1980 and 1998, 562 women underwent primary surgery for endometrial cancer at the University of Chicago. Thirty-nine were noted to have SI. FIGO stages were IIIA (19), IIIB (1), IIIC (7), and IV (12). Of the 19 IIIA patients, 15 had solitary SI. Twenty-six patients received pelvic radiation therapy (RT) with or without vaginal brachytherapy (VB). One patient received whole-abdomen radiation therapy, and 13, adjuvant chemotherapy. Solitary SI patients received pelvic RT with or without VB as their sole adjuvant therapy. Disease-free survivals (DFSs) were estimated using the method of Kaplan and Meier and prognostic factors were analyzed by the log-rank test. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 30.3 months, the 5-year actuarial DFS of the entire group was 28.9%. Factors correlated with disease recurrence included tumor stage (P = 0.003) and lymph node involvement (P = 0.04). In addition, patients with solitary SI had a better 5-year DFS (41.5% vs 20%, P = 0.04) than patients with SI plus other extrauterine sites. Relapse occurred in 23 women overall and in 7 of 15 solitary SI patients. The most common site of disease recurrence was distant both in the entire group and in the solitary SI patients. While abdominal recurrences were common in the entire group, they were infrequent in solitary SI patients. CONCLUSION: Endometrial carcinoma patients with SI have a high rate of relapse and a poor outcome. Even when patients have extrauterine disease limited to SI, the outcome is relatively unfavorable. Nonetheless, our results demonstrate the need to distinguish patients with solitary SI and those with SI plus other extrauterine disease sites.     

Nonsurgical Management of Live Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy by Ultrasound-Guided Local Injection and Systemic Methotrexate

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes relative to treatment using systemic methotrexate (MTX) alone or systemic MTX combined with ultrasound (US)–guided local injection of potassium chloride (KCl) or MTX in women with live tubal ectopic pregnancies.DesignCase-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).SettingDepartments of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2 hospitals in China.PatientsEighty-two women with live tubal ectopic pregnancies.InterventionParticipants in the study received treatment using either systemic MTX (n = 37; systemic treatment group) or systemic MTX and US-guided local injection of either MTX or KCl (n = 45; combined treatment group).Measurements and Main ResultsPatient clinical features and outcomes were compared. There were no significant differences between the patient groups insofar as baseline gestational age, β-human chorionic gonadotropin concentration, or size of conceptus. The success rate in patients who received combined therapy (93.3%) was much higher than in those who received only systemic treatment (73.0%) (p < .05). In the combined treatment group, the success rate was similar between women who received locally injected KCl (95.2%) and those who received locally injected MTX (91.7%).ConclusionThe significantly higher success rate in patients who received combined US-guided local injection and systemic MTX suggests that this is an efficient nonsurgical option in women with tubal pregnancy, high serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin concentration, and fetal cardiac activity.