AMG 386 combined with weekly paclitaxel was tolerable, with a manageable and distinct toxicity profile. The data suggest evidence of antitumor activity and a dose-response effect, warranting further studies in ovarian cancer.

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A retrospective review of side effects and complications of treatment in 522 patients with endometrial cancer managed in a gyneoncology unit was conducted. This study evaluated 517 patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH BSO). Lymphadendectomy or lymph node sampling was performed with the primary surgery in 264 and 41 cases, respectively. Postoperative radiotherapy was given as external beam or vault brachytherapy. Serious morbidity included lymphedema, hemorrhage, and vaginal stenosis. Lymphadenectomy was associated with lymphedema and lymphocyst formation in 11% of the cases. Vascular injury associated with lymphadenectomy occurred in 0.7% of the cases; however, this was satisfactorily managed through adequate surgical training and experience by staff within the unit. The incidence of vaginal stenosis (54.7%) following postoperative vault brachytherapy was a particular concern for clinical follow-up and sexual function. Although many women were not sexually active prior to treatment, those who were had high levels of sexual dysfunction, even when vaginal stenosis was not present.

Uterine serous papillary carcinoma (USPC) are high-grade tumors with Her2 gene expression and poor prognosis. The human gene Her2 is a proto-oncogene that encodes a protein with tyrosine kinase activity. The objective of this study was to determine Her2 protein expression and gene amplification in USPC using three methods: immunohistochemistry (IHC), chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), to compare the three techniques, and to correlate Her2 expression and amplification with clinical outcome. Clinical data were obtained from the records of the patients provided by the database of the Gynaecological Cancer Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Paraffin-embedded tissues of 45 cases were examined using three techniques. Her2 positive rate was 40%. About 13% was strongly positive by all three methods. About 67% Her2 positive patients had advanced-stage disease. Relapse rate was 61% (P = 0.6). Stages I and II had a better survival with negative receptor. Age and stage were major prognostic variables in Cox analysis. Marker status did not reach statistical significance in overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS), but had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.5 in RFS. Five-year OS with Her2 negative was 39%. HR was 0.97 (95% CI 0.46-2.1). RFS was 39% and HR was 1.4 (95% CI 0.65-2.9). The three methods have strong correlation. IHC, 3+ positive cases should be regarded as exhibiting evidence of gene amplification and do not require further testing. Equivocal results require further testing by CISH or PCR. Age and stage are strong prognostic variables and receptor status has a HR of 1.5 in RFS. The therapeutic role of Trastuzumab should be tested in clinical trial setting.