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BACKGROUND.To improve the outcome of endometrial cancer patients, a more accurate prognostic assessment is mandatory. The aims of the study were to evaluate the role of flow cytometric DNA ploidy as an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer and to verify if ploidy was able to distinguish patients with different prognosis into homogeneous subgroups for grade of differentiation and stage.METHODS.In a prospective study, DNA ploidy was evaluated from fresh tumor samples in 174 endometrial cancer patients who underwent surgery as the first treatment. Ploidy, as well as classical parameters, were analyzed in relation to the length of disease‐free survival and disease‐specific survival.RESULTS.DNA aneuploidy was found in 49 patients (28.2%). Patients with DNA‐aneuploid tumors had a significantly reduced disease‐free interval and disease‐specific survival (P < .0001). The 10‐year survival probability was 53.2% for DNA‐aneuploid patients and 91.0% for patients with DNA‐diploid tumors. By multivariate analysis DNA‐aneuploid type was the strongest independent predictor of poor outcome, followed by age and stage. Patients with DNA‐aneuploid tumor had a significantly higher risk ratio for recurrence (5.03) and death due to disease (6.50) than patients with DNA‐diploid tumors. Stratification by DNA‐ploidy within each group by grade of differentiation allowed identification of patients with significantly different outcome. In grade 2 tumors, 10‐year survival was 45.0% in aneuploid cases and 91.9% in diploid cases (P < .0001). Patients with advanced‐stage (>I) diploid tumor did significantly better than patients with stage I aneuploid tumor (P = .04).CONCLUSIONS.The presence of DNA‐aneuploid type in endometrial cancer identifies high‐risk cases among the patients considered ‘low risk’ according to stage and grade of differentiation. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Gynecological oncologists are faced with an increasing proportion of geriatric ovarian cancer patients. Comorbidities are frequently a matter of concern in this age group, and what is adequate treatment for such patients is still debated. The aims of this study were to analyze the feasibility of standard surgery and chemotherapy in a series of elderly ovarian cancer patients (>/=70 years) and to investigate the influence of age (70-75 vs >75 years) on survival. We retrospectively evaluated 89 elderly patients treated at our department between 1985 and 2005. Comorbidities, type of surgical procedure, complications, drugs and schedules of chemotherapy, number of cycles, toxicity, and clinical outcome were registered. Comorbidities were present in 71.9%. Only six patients were inoperable. Among the 83 patients who underwent surgery, 76.4% received adequate surgical treatment. Severe postoperative complications occurred in 16.8%, operative mortality was zero. A total of 801 cycles of chemotherapy were administered to 77 patients (median 10; range 1-38). Overall, G3-G4 toxicity was documented in 61.0%. The rates of dose reduction, treatment delay, and discontinuation were 13.0%, 20.7%, and 3.9%, respectively. Patients who received adequate surgery and those with residual disease <1 cm did significantly better than their counterparts (P= 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). No difference in survival according to age (70-75 vs >75 years) was found. Standard surgery and chemotherapy were feasible in elderly ovarian cancer patients. The type of surgery and the amount of residual disease, but not the age of the patients, significantly influenced the clinical outcome.

Background/Aim: Breast cancer treatment represents a substantial amount of health-care costs and has negative impact on womens' psychological health. Day-Surgery managment (DS) is a favorable alternative to a classic inpatient setting. In our prospective study we evaluated DS-treatment feasibility in terms of patient satisfaction, same-day-discharge rate, surgicalreintervention rate, psychological impact and costs. Patients and Methods: We operated on 131 early breast cancer patients in DS. Surgical outcomes were evaluated. In 64 DStreated breast cancer patients, psychological outcomes were analyzed using validated psychometric questionnaires and comparison was made with a corresponding group of women treated as inpatients. Results: The same-day-discharge rate was 95.4%. No patient required readmission. The surgicalreintervention rate was 6.2%. DS-treatment significantly reduced anxiety (p=0.05) and depression (p=0.01) and afforded cost savings of 49%. Conclusion: DS-treatment of early breast cancer was feasible, with low reintervention rate, reduced anxiety and depression, high patients' satisfaction and substantial financial savings.