Telomerase activity in the vaginal margins of radical hysterectomy in patients with carcinoma of the cervix: correlation with histology and human papillomavirus.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the telomerase activity both in the tumor and in the vaginal margins of radical hysterectomy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix. Thirty-three patients with SCC of the cervix (study group) and 13 patients with uterine myoma (control group) were prospectively studied. Tissue samples were taken from the tumor or cervix, anterior vaginal margin (AVM), and posterior vaginal margin (PVM). The specimens were analyzed by histopathology, by a telomerase PCR-TRAP-ELISA kit, and by polymerase chain reaction using human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. The telomerase activity was significantly higher in the tumor than in the benign cervix (P < 0.001). There was no difference in telomerase activity in the AVM and PVM in patients with cervical carcinoma compared to the control group. Telomerase activity was associated with the presence of histologic malignancy in the PVM of patients submitted to radical hysterectomy (P= 0.03). This association was not observed with the presence of HPV in AVM or PVM in the study group. Telomerase activity is a marker of histologic malignancy in patients with SCC of the cervix. There was no association between the telomerase activity and the presence of HPV in vaginal margins of patients submitted to radical hysterectomy.

Sentinel node mapping in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer: a case report.

The possibility of reducing morbidity associated with surgical dissection while maintaining accurate tumor staging is one of the greatest advantages of the sentinel node approach in surgical oncology. The sentinel node mapping has already proven to be useful in melanoma, breast cancer, and vulvar cancer. We report the first case of sentinel node detection by technetium-labeled radiocolloid in a pregnant woman with cervical cancer. The histologic analysis of the operative specimen showed a poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma with metastasis in the sentinel node and a neoplasic embolus in a blood vessel of the placental bed. The lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node detection are feasible during pregnancy.

Association between CD31 expression and histopathologic features in stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between the expression of CD31 in the tumor and the histopathologic findings in patients with carcinoma of the cervix. This study included prospectively 30 women, aged 46.6 +/- 10.7 years, with stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix submitted to radical hysterectomy from November 2001 to September 2002. Samples from the tumor were taken and immunohistochemically evaluated by a monoclonal antibody for CD31. Clinicopathologic characteristics such as stage, tumor size, grade of differentiation, lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI), parametrial involvement, and status of pelvic lymph nodes were also recorded. The clinical stage (FIGO) was IB1 in 22 patients (73.3%) and IB2 in 8 patients (26.7%). The expression of CD31 was significantly associated with tumor size and the presence of LVSI, but not with grade of differentiation and vaginal or parametrial involvement (P= 0.03, P= 0.032, P= 0.352, P= 0.208, and P= 0.242, respectively). On univariate analysis, the presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis was influenced by LVSI (P= 0.003) and CD31 expression (P= 0.032). However, on multivariate analysis, the presence of LVSI (P= 0.007) was the only independent predictor of pelvic lymph node metastasis. The CD31 expression in tumor is significantly associated with LVSI and tumor size in patients with early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Phase II trial of bleomycin, ifosfamide, and carboplatin in metastatic cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: A bleomycin, carboplatin, and ifosfamide (BIC) chemotherapy protocol was designed to evaluate tumor response and palliation in patients with advanced cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with stage IV primary or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (19 previously irradiated and 21 nonirradiated) were assigned to treatment with six cycles of BIC: bleomycin, 30 mg bolus on day 1; carboplatin, 200 mg/m2 bolus on day 1; and ifosfamide, 2g/m2 for 3 consecutive days, infused over 2 hours. Mesna was administered as a bolus 15 minutes, and 4 and 8 hours after ifosfamide at 20% (intravenous [IV]), and 40% (orally, at home) of the ifosfamide dose, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (27 stage IVA and eight stage IVB) were considered eligible for response and toxicity evaluation. After a median of four cycles (maximum of six in responders), we observed objective responses in 21 patients (60%), with eight complete responses (CRs; 23%), including two histologically documented by laparotomy, and 13 (37%) partial responses (PRs) (95% confidence limits, 44% to 76%, 9% to 37%, and 21% to 53%, respectively). Median overall survival duration was 11 months (range, 3 to 24+). Median overall survival duration in the nonirradiated group was 17 months versus 4 months in the previously irradiated group (P = .005). The median progression-free survival duration of the responders was 12 months, and the median disease-free survival duration of the complete responders was 14 months. Toxicity was acceptable and included manageable alopecia, vomiting, and neutropenia. There was one toxic death due to febrile neutropenia and sepsis. CONCLUSION: BIC can be administered on an outpatient basis and seems to be effective in inducing tumor response and palliation in patients with disseminated squamous cell carcinoma of cervix, with a possible survival benefit for previously nonirradiated patients, with an acceptable toxicity profile.