Objective Adjuvant radiotherapy improves local control but not survival in women with endometrial cancer. This benefit was shown in staged patients with "high intermediate risk" (HIR) disease. Other studies have challenged the need for systematic staging including lymphadenectomy. We sought to determine whether LVSI alone or in combination with other histologic factors predicts lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with endometrioid endometrial cancer. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma who had confirmed presence/absence of LVSI and clinicopathologic data necessary to identify HIR criteria. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated and univariate and multivariate analyses performed as appropriate. Results We identified 757 eligible patients and 628 underwent systematic lymphadenectomy for staging purposes. In the surgically staged group, 242 (38%) patients met uterine HIR criteria and 196 (31%) had LVSI. Both HIR and LVSI were significantly associated with LN metastasis. Among the HIR positive group, 59 had LN metastasis (OR 4.46, 95% CI 2.72–7.32, P<0.0001). Sixty-six LVSI positive patients had nodal metastasis (OR 11.04, 95% CI 6.39–19.07, P<0.0001). The NPV of LVSI and HIR negative specimens was 95.6% and 93.4% respectively. In multivariate analysis, PFS and OS were significantly reduced in both LVSI positive (P<0.0001) and HIR patients (P<0.0001) when compared to patients who were LVSI and HIR negative Conclusions HIR status and LVSI are highly associated with LN metastasis. These features are useful in assessing risk of metastatic disease and may serve as a surrogate for prediction of extrauterine disease.

No abstract

No abstract

Background The effect of body mass index (BMI) on treatment outcomes for patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma undergoing definitive chemoradiation is unclear. Methods This study cohort included all cervical carcinoma patients (n = 404) with stage IB1 and positive lymph nodes or stage ≥ IB2 treated at our facility from January 1998 to January 2008. Mean follow-up time was 47.2 months. BMI was calculated using the National Institute of Health online calculator. BMI categories were created according to the World Health Organization classification system. Primary outcomes were overall survival, disease free survival, and complication rate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated and compared using Cox proportional hazard models. Results On multivariate analysis, when compared to normal weight subjects (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 was associated with decreased overall survival (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.28 - 4.38, p<0.01). The 5-year overall survivals were 33%, 60%, and 68% for a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, and a BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 respectively. A BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 was associated with increased risk for grade 3 or 4 complications when compared to patients with a BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 (radiation enteritis: 16.7% vs. 13.6 % p= 0.03, fistula: 11.1% vs. 8.8% p= 0.05, bowel obstruction 33.3% vs. 4.4% p< 0.001, lymphedema: 5.6% vs. 1.2% p=0.02). Conclusions Underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) with locally advanced cervical cancer have diminished overall survival and more complications than normal weight and obese patients.

Objective No standardized treatment strategies exist for patients with gynecologic malignancies complicated by brain metastases. Identification of poor outcome characteristics, long-term survival indicators, and molecular markers could help individualize and optimize treatment. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 100 gynecologic cancer patients with brain metastases treated at our institution between January 1990 and June 2009. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS) from time of diagnosis of brain metastases. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate associations between OS and clinical factors. We used immunohistochemistry to examine expression of five molecular markers in primary tumors and brain metastases in a subset of patients and matched controls. Statistical tests included the Student’s paired t-test (for marker expression) and Kaplan-Meier test (for correlations). Results On univariate analysis, primary ovarian disease, CA-125 < 81 units/mL at brain metastases diagnosis, and isolated versus multi-focal metastases were all associated with longer survival. Isolated brain metastasis remained the only significant predictor on multivariate analysis (HR 2.66; CI 1.19–5.93; p=0.017). Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) was higher in metastatic brain samples than in primary tumors of controls (P<0.0001). None of the molecular markers were significantly associated with survival. Conclusions Multi-modality therapy may lead to improved clinical outcomes, and VEGF therapy should be investigated in treatment of brain metastases.

No abstract

Objectives Obese women have a high incidence of wound separation after gynecologic surgery. We explored the effect of a prospective care pathway on the incidence of wound complications. Methods Women with a body mass index (BMI)≥30kg/m2 undergoing a gynecologic procedure by a gynecologic oncologist via a vertical abdominal incision were eligible. The surgical protocol required: skin and subcutaneous tissues to be incised using a scalpel or cutting electrocautery, fascial closure using #1 polydioxanone suture, placement of a 7mm Jackson-Pratt drain below Camper’s fascia, closure of Camper’s fascia with 3-0 plain catgut suture and skin closure with staples. Wound complication was defined as the presence of either a wound infection or any separation. Demographic and perioperative data were analyzed using contingency tables. Univariable and multivariable regression models were used to identify predictors of wound complications. Patients were compared using a multivariable model to a historical group of obese patients to assess the efficacy of the care pathway. Results 105 women were enrolled with a median BMI of 38.1. Overall, 39 (37%) had a wound complication. Women with a BMI of 30–39.9 kg/m2 had a significantly lower risk of wound complication as compared to those with a BMI >40 kg/m2 (23% vs 59%, p<0.001). After controlling for factors associated with wound complications the prospective care pathway was associated with a significantly decreased wound complication rate in women with BMI<40kg/m2 (OR 0.40, 95% C.I.: 0.18–0.89). Conclusion This surgical protocol lead to a decreased rate of wound complications among women with BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2.

Objective-Heritable polymorphisms modulate metastatic efficiency in cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP9 (rs17576) and SIPA1 (rs746429, rs931127) have been associated with nodal metastases in multiple cancers. We investigated the association of these SNPs with nodal metastases in early stage cervical cancer.Methods-Consecutive patients with stage IB cervical cancer who underwent a pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection were included. Cases (≥ 1 positive LN, n=101) were compared with controls (negative LN pathology, n=273). Genotyping was performed on genomic DNA in the 3 SNPs using a Taqman assay, and correlated with clinical variables.Results-The G allele at SIPA1 rs931127 was associated with an increased risk of nodal disease (OR 1.9, p=0.03), and approached significance at SIPA 1 rs746429 (OR 2.2, p=0.09) and MMP9 rs17576 (OR 1.5, 0.08). In patients with stage Ib1 lesions (n=304), the G allele at both SIPA1 SNPs were associated with LN metastases (rs746429 OR 10.1, p=0.01; rs931127 OR 2.4, p=0.01). In patients with no lymph vascular space invasion, SIPA1 SNPs were again associated with LN metastases, and all patients with nodal disease had at least one G allele at SIPA1 rs746429.Conclusions-In this case control study, SNPs in SIPA1 varied statistically in cervical cancer patients with and without nodal metastases, and in MMP9 after controlling for stage and lymphvascular space invasion. Further work is needed to characterize inherited polymorphisms that provide a permissive background for the metastatic cascade. Conflict of Interest Statement:The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare Article Precis: SNPs in MMP9 (rs17576) and SIAP1 (rs746429, rs931127) differ between cervical cancer patients with and without nodal metastases and after controlling for clinicopathologic factors.