ObjectiveTo compare clinical outcomes in laparoscopic and open radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (LRH) in early cervical cancer without the selection bias.MethodsOne special retrospective study was conducted with more than 400 patients involved in laparoscopic procedure.ResultsOur results suggest that estimated blood loss and transfusion requirements were significantly lower in the LRH group. Postoperative hospital stay was also significantly shorter in the LRH group. Significant difference was found in the number of pelvic lymph nodes retrieved between the LRH and open radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (ORH) groups. There were no differences in operating time, perioperative complications, progression-free survival, and overall survival between the LRH and ORH groups.ConclusionLRH can be considered a safe and effective alternative to conventional open surgery (ORH) for early-stage cervical cancer.

G3139 in combination with standard-dose weekly docetaxel was well tolerated. The shortened and intermittent G3139 infusion had less cumulative toxicities and still allowed similar total G3139 delivery as the longer infusion. Further studies should examine the molecular effect of the regimen, as well as clinical activities in malignancies for which taxanes are indicated.

Studies in Shanghai and in north-east China indicate that cigarette smoking is a major contributor to the high rates of lung cancer in those areas, but doubts persist regarding the influence of cigarette use on lung cancer rates in other areas of China. In addition, the risk of lung cancer associated with other methods of tobacco consumption--in particular, the use of bamboo water-pipes and long-stem pipes--is uncertain. A population-based case-control study of 427 male lung cancer patients residing in a mining area of Southern China and 1,011 controls was carried out to address this and other issues. Of these patients, 63% smoked cigarettes and (water and long-stem) pipes; 17% and 14% smoked only cigarettes or pipes, respectively; and 6% did not smoke. Compared to non-smokers, smokers of cigarettes only, smokers of pipes only and mixed smokers were at increased risk; OR = 2.6 (95% CI 1.1-6.2), 1.8 (95% CI 0.8-4.2) and 4.1 (95% CI 2.3-9.2), respectively. Risk increased with duration of tobacco use; however, the rate of increase with years of cigarette use was significantly greater than for years of pipe use (p = 0.03). In addition, risks increased 8-fold in the highest quartile of number of cigarettes per day compared to non-cigarette smokers vs. 2.3-fold for the highest quartile of number of liang (50 g) smoked per month compared to non-pipe-smokers; the trends in the ORs differed significantly (p less than 0.001). Results suggest that, in this area of China, tobacco use is an important cause of lung cancer, and that smoking cigarettes may be more deleterious than smoking pipes (primarily water pipes).

Abstract. The identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may provide important prognostic information in several types of solid tumors, including gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CTC count may be used to predict survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with chemotherapy. The CELLection™ Epithelial Enrich kit was used to isolate and purify CTCs from samples of peripheral blood. Immunofluorescent staining was used for CTC counting. High CTC counts were associated with poor tumor differentiation and high serum CEA levels (P=0.021 and 0.005, respectively). After 3 months, 16 patients with decreasing CTC counts after the first cycle of chemotherapy obtained complete response, partial response or stable disease, while 13 patients with increasing CTC counts developed progressive disease. The patients with decreasing CTC counts also exhibited longer progression-free survival (PFS) (P≤0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P= 0.002) compared with those with increasing CTC counts. Among all 59 patients, those with a CTC count of ≤2 cells̸5 ml blood exhibited longer PFS (P≤0.001) and OS (P≤0.001) compared with those with a CTC count of >2 cells̸5 ml blood. The multivariate analysis suggested that an increase of the CTC count after the first cycle of chemotherapy was only an independent prognostic marker of poor PFS (P=0.019). However, a baseline CTC count of >2 cells̸5 ml blood was an independent poor prognostic marker for PFS (P= 0.008) and OS (P= 0.001) in all 59 patients. Our study suggested that patients with a low baseline CTC count or decrease of the CTC count after the first cycle of chemotherapy may benefit significantly from palliative chemotherapy. In conclusion, CTC count may be a good chemotherapy monitoring marker and an ideal prognostic marker for patients receiving palliative chemotherapy.

No abstract

No abstract

LRH was similar to ARH in terms of safety, feasibility, and morbidity, with less blood loss among women with LACC undergoing NACT. Long-term outcomes need to be documented.

Abstract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with paclitaxel combined with carboplatin and cisplatin prior to laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. A total of 19 patients who had bulky cervical cancer of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage Ib2 to IIb2 (lesion diameter >4 cm) received NAC with paclitaxel combined with carboplatin and cisplatin prior to laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The tumor diameter, the response rate, the resection rate and the lymph node metastasis rate after chemotherapy, as well as the toxicity were evaluated. All patients successfully received NAC, with the exception of 1 patient with FIGO Stage Ib2 and 7 cm tumor diameter, who rejected complete therapy. The tumor diameter was reduced from 4.93±0.81cm before NAC to 2.57±1.90 cm after treatment (P<0.01), and the overall response rate [complete remission (CR) + partial remission (PR)] was 78.9% (15/19). Two patients received radiotherapy after NAC, 1 patient was found to have cystic metastasis during the surgery and the operative rate was 83.3% (15/18). Pelvic lymph node metastasis was found in 2 of the 18 patients (11.1%) without parametrial and vaginal margin involvement. Hematological toxicity was the most common side effect and the 3-4 toxicity level was only 11.1% (2/18). In conclusion, NAC with paclitaxel, combined with carboplatin and cisplatin, followed by laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy was found to be effective and safe. Thus, NAC is the ideal treatment for patients with early bulky cervical cancer.