Clinical Impact of Pelvic Lymph Node Status in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Treated by Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the treatment outcomes of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients with pelvic lymph node enlargement (PLNE) or stage IIIC1 when compared with no PLNE and unknown PLN status (UNK). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was designed by matching with the ratio of 1:4:4 for patients with PLNE, no PLNE and UNK between 2003 and 2017. The main factor which was used to match was clinical staging. RESULTS: All 360 LACC patients who treated as concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) were composed of 40 with PLNE, 160 with no PLNE and 160 with UNK. The majority of tumor histology (78.9%) was squamous cell carcinoma and 51.1% were diagnosed in stage IIB. Five-year progression free survival rates of patients with PLNE, no PLNE and UNK were 42.7%, 64.5% and 59.0%, respectively (P = 0.191), and corresponding with 5-year overall survival rates of 57.0%, 66.0% and 61.9% (P = 0.608). Patients with PLNE had local recurrence (LR) at 22.5%, compared with no PLNE at 11.3% and UNK at 11.9%. The most common site of LR for patients with PLNE was PLN with odds ratio of 19.7 when using no PLNE as reference (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between distant metastasis rates in PLN statuses of patients with PLNE, no PLNE and UNK at 20.6%, 30.0% and 26.3%, respectively.  Conclusions: LACC patients with PLNE had a trend of poorer survival rates than patients with no PLNE, while treatment outcomes of patients with UNK were not inferior to no PLNE.
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Inappropriate gestational weight gain among teenage pregnancies: prevalence and pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and pregnancy outcomes of inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) among teenage pregnant women. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 2,165 teenage pregnant women who attended our antenatal clinic between January 2007 and August 2015. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with inappropriate GWG, including underweight and overweight, were studied and compared with those of women with appropriate GWG. RESULTS: Complete data of 1,943 women were obtained. Among these women, the mean age was 17.4±1.4 years and mean body mass index at first visit was 19.1±3.0 kg/m2. The prevalence of inappropriate GWG was 61.7%. Underweight women were more likely to experience anemia and preterm delivery, whereas overweight women required more cesarean sections because of cephalopelvic disproportion and preeclampsia, compared to women with appropriate weight gain (all P<0.001). The rates of gestational diabetes mellitus among women who were underweight, overweight, or appropriate weight were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: More than 60% of teenage pregnancies showed inappropriate GWG. GWG had a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Abnormal Cervical Cytology and HighRisk HPV DNA among Bangkok Metropolitan Women.

BACKGROUND: Many strategies are required for cervical cancer reduction e.g. provision of education cautious sexual behavior, HPV vaccination, and early detection of preinvasive cervical lesions and invasive cancer. Basic health data for cervical cytology/ HPV DNA and associated factors are important to make an appropriate policy to fight against cervical cancer. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology and/or HPV DNA and associated factors, including sexual behavior, among Bangkok Metropolitan women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thai women, aged 25to65 years old, had lived in Bangkok for ≥5 years were invited into the study. Liquidbased cervical cytology and HPV DNA tests were performed. Personal data were collected. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Rates of abnormal cytology and/ or highrisk HPV (HRHPV) and factors associated with abnormal test(s) were studied. RESULTS: Abnormal cytology and positive HRHPV were found in 6.3% (279/4442 women) and 6.7% (295/4428), respectively. The most common abnormal cytology was ASCUS (3.5%) while the most common HRHPV genotype was HPV 16 (1.4%) followed by HPV 52 (1.0%), HPV 58 (0.9%), and HPV 18 and HPV 51 at equal frequency (0.7%). Both tests were abnormal in 1.6% (71/4428 women). Rates of HRHPV detection were directly associated with severity of abnormal cytology: 5.4% among normal cytology and 13.0%, 30.8%, 40.0%, 39.5%, 56.3% and 100.0% among ASCUS, ASCH, AGCNOS, LSIL, HSIL, and SCC, respectively. Some 5% of women who had no HRHPV had abnormal cytology, in which 0.3% had ≥ HSIL. Factors associated with abnormal cytology or HRHPV were: age ≤40 years, education lower than (for cytology) or higher than bachelor for HRHPV), history of sexual intercourse, and sexual partners ≥2. CONCLUSIONS: Rates for abnormal cytology and HRHPV detection were 6.3% and 6.7% HRHPV detection was directly associated with severity of abnormal cytology. Significant associated factors were age ≤40 years, lower education, history of sexual intercourse, and sexual partners ≥2.

Uterine Sarcoma: Clinical Presentation, Treatment and Survival Outcomes in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Uterine sarcoma is a group of rare gynecologic tumors with various natures, and different lines of treatment. Most have a poor treatment outcome. This study targeted clinical characteristics, treatment, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and prognostic factors in uterine sarcoma patients in one tertiary center for cancer care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uterine sarcoma patients who were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital between January 1994 and December 2014 were identified. Clinico-pathological data were analyzed. Prognostic outcomes were examined by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: We identified 46 uterine sarcoma patients: 25 carcinosarcoma (CS) (54.3%), 15 leiomyosarcoma (LMS) (32.6%), and 6 undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS) (13.1%) cases. Mean age was 54.0±11.9 years (range 25-82 years). Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common presenting symptom (63.0%). Among 33 patients (71.7%) who had pre-operative tissue collected, diagnosis of malignancy was correct in 29 (87.9%). All patients received primary surgery and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were resected in 34 (73.9%). After surgery, 5 (10.9%) had gross residual tumors. Stage I disease was most commonly found (56.5%). Adjuvant treatment was given to 27 (58.7%), most commonly chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 16.0 months (range 0.8-187.4 months), recurrence was encountered in 22 patients (47.8%). Median time to recurrence was 5.8 months (range1.0-105.5 months). Distant metastasis was more common than local or loco- regional failure. The 2-year PFS was 45.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.6%-59.7%) and the 2-year OS was 48.3% (95% CI, 33.3%-60.7%). Multivariable analyses found residual disease after surgery as a significant factor only for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine sarcoma is a rare tumor entity. Even with multimodalities of treatment, the prognosis is still poor. Successful cytoreductive surgery is a key factor for a good survival outcome.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan Women Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening.

PURPOSE: To assess knowledge, attitudes and cervical cancer screening behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thai women, aged 25-to-65 years old, having lived in Bangkok for 5 years or more were invited to participate in the study. After signing informed consent, all women were asked to complete a self-questionnaire (Thai language) with literate assistance if needed. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts: (I) demographic data; (II) knowledge about cervical cancer screening; and (III) behavior and attitudes, towards cervical cancer screening. Adequate screening was defined as women who had ≥two cervical cancer screening tests except women aged 25-30 years who may have only one screening, and the last screen was within 5 year or had had regular screening. RESULTS: Of 4,339 women, there were 1,857 (42.8%) with adequate screening and 2,482 (57.2%) with inadequate screening. Significant factors associated with inadequate screening included age < 45 years, pre-menopausal status, family monthly income <625 USD, no reported sexual intercourse, nulliparous, no knowledge, lack of awareness and poor attitudes. Three major reasons provided by women for inadequate screening were no symptoms (54.4%), fear of pain (33.2%), and embarrassment (34.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Personal features, knowledge, and attitudes influence screening behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan women. The three most common reasons of women for not undergoinging screening are no symptoms, fear of pain, and embarrassment. These factors should be the focus of attention to improve coverage of cervical cancer screening in Bangkok.

Patterns of adjuvant therapy for endometrial cancer: single institutional experience in Thailand.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of adjuvant therapy and treatment outcomes in patients with endometrial cancer (EMC). METHODS: Patients with EMC treated in the institution were identified. Data collected were age, stage of disease, histopathology, and adjuvant therapy. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were studied. RESULTS: The median age of 383 patients was 57 years (30-86 years). Majority had early-stage diseases (76.5%), endometrioid histopathology (87.2%), and high-grade tumors (74.9%). Less than half (44.4%) had adjuvant therapy. Pelvic radiation was the most common type of adjuvant treatment. We found that 25.7% of stages III to IV patients did not have adjuvant therapy (mainly from old age or poor performance status). On the other hand, 21.5% of patients with stage IA had adjuvant treatment (owing to risk factors or other synchronous cancers). The 5-year PFS and 5-year OS (95% confidence interval) were 84.3% (80.5%-88.1%) and 81.2% (77.1%-85.4%), respectively. Significant prognostic factors for survival by univariable analyses were stage, tumor grade, and histopathology. By multivariable analyses, significant prognostic factors were stage, tumor grade (only for OS), histopathology, and adjuvant therapy. Focusing on stage and adjuvant therapy, we found that the PFS and OS of early-stage patients who had or did not have adjuvant therapy were not significantly different, whereas the PFS and OS of advanced-stage patients who had adjuvant treatment were significantly higher than the PFS and OS of those who did not have adjuvant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of adjuvant therapy for patients with EMC was not according to the standard recommendation in all patients for many reasons. The benefit of adjuvant therapy was demonstrated in advanced- but not in early-stage cancer.

Endometrial carcinoma: clinical characteristic and survival rates by the new compared to the prior FIGO staging systems.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical characteristic features and survival rates of endometrial cancer (EMC) patients according to the new 2009 and prior 1988 FIGO staging systems. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinico-pathological data of EMC patients who had primary surgical treatment between 1992 and 2008 were collected. The new FIGO staging was compared to the prior assigned staging. Survivals of patients according to prior and new staging were compared RESULTS: Data from 259 patients was reviewed. Mean age was 55.4 +/- 9.9 years. Radiation was the most common adjuvant therapy after surgery, 95/106 patients (89.6%). Progression and recurrences occurred in 34 patients (16 with progression and 18 with recurrence) while 47 died (18.1%). Comparing the prior and current staging, early stage I-II was commonly found in both systems. Stages were the same in 81 patients (31.3%), lower in 177 (68.3%), and higher in one (0.4%). After a median follow-up of 57.5 months, 5-year progression-free, cancer-specific and overall survivals according to the prior and new systems were similar in stage III-IV. Survivals of new stage IA (from 16-prior stage IA, 124-IB, 12-IIA, and 1-IIIA) and stage IB (from 32-IC and 8-IIA) were worse than those of prior stage IA or IB. Survivals of the new stage II patients (11-IIB) were the same as prior stage IIB. CONCLUSION: The "new" FIGO staging system for endometrial cancer patients resulted in lower stage in a large number of patients. Survival trends were worse in the new stage I and remained similar in the other stages.

Treatment outcomes of paclitaxel for refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: To study the response rate, toxicity profiles, and survival of refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients treated with paclitaxel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with refractory or recurrent EOC who were treated with paclitaxel between January 2002 and December 2011 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital were identified. Clinicopathological features of the patients including detailed data of paclitaxel treatment were collected. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 44 patients were identified, with a mean age of 52.9±8.2 years. Some 13.6% (six patients) had refractory cancer to first-line chemotherapy while 86.4% (38 patients) had recurrent cancer. Among these, 35 (79.6%) and 9 (20.4%) patients were considered as platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant, respectively. Three patients (6.8%) received fewer than 2 cycles of paclitaxel due to loss to follow-up, leaving 41 patients evaluable for response. The overall response rate observed in all 41 patients was 41.5% (17 patients; 12 complete and five partial responses): 12.5% or 1/8 patients with refractory or platinum-resistant cancer and 48.5% or 16/33 patients with platinum-sensitive disease. Stable disease was demonstrated in 17.0% (seven patients) while progressive disease was apparent in 41.5% (17 patients). Median time to progress was 4.5 months (range, 0.67- 58.6 months). Median progression-free survival was not reached while median overall survival was 16.3 months (95% confidence interval, 11.0 months -21.6 months). Common toxicities were neutropenia, neuropathy, and alopecia. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel is an active agent for refractory or recurrent EOC. Neutropenia, neuropathy and alopecia are common side effects.

Platelet to lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preoperative platelets to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) could predict disease stage, surgical outcome, and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: Medical records of EOC patients who had surgery between January 2004 and December 2010 were reviewed. Clinicopathological and complete blood count data were collected. The optimal predictive value of PLR to predict advanced stage, suboptimal surgery, and survival was determined and compared with those of thrombocytosis (≥400,000 cells/mm(3)) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥2.6. RESULTS: A total of 166 EOC patients were included in the study. PLR of 200 yielded better predictive values than those of thrombocytosis and NLR ≥2.6. The area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of PLR to predict advanced stage were: 0.66, 59.0%, 72.7%, 65.7%, 66.7%, and 66.3%, respectively. The corresponding values to predict suboptimal surgery were: 0.70, 70.0%, 69.8%, 50.0%, 84.4%, and 69.9%. The patients who had PLR≥200 had significantly shorter progression-free and overall survivals than those with PLR<200. Stage, grade, surgical outcome, thrombocytosis, and PLR were significant prognostic factors for survivals by univariable analyses while only stage remained significant by multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: PLR had potential clinical value in predicting advanced stage disease or suboptimal surgery. PLR was a better prognostic indicator for survivals of EOC patients compared to thrombocytosis or NLR>2.6.

Role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic indicator for epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether level of preoperative peripheral blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was a prognostic indicator for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patient. The present study further aimed to evaluate the impact of the change of preoperative/postoperative NLR on the survival. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Medical records of the patients undergoing an operation for EOC in Vajira Hospital between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2009 were reviewed. Demographic, clinicopathological, and laboratory data were assessed. Preoperative NLR level was divided into high (more than 2.6) and low (2.6 or less) groups and their association with survival were determined. The survival of the subjects according to their preoperative NLR compared to postoperative level was also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age of 129 subjects was 49.6 +/- 12.5 years. Median pre- and post-operative NLR were 2.8 (range 0.86 to 30.0) and 2.7 (range 0.16 to 31.3), respectively. Seventy-one patients (55.0%) had high preoperative NLR and 64 (53.8%) had high postoperative value. High preoperative and pre- and post-operative NLR were significantly associated with advanced stage and suboptimal surgery. While high post-operative NLR was significantly associated with advanced stage but not suboptimal surgery. In univariable analysis, preoperative/postoperative high/high NLR tended to associate with poor progression free survival (PFS) but not overall survival (OS), with p = 0.019 and p = 0.052 respectively. By multivariable analysis, the advanced stage and suboptimal surgery, but not preoperative and postoperative NLR, were independent poor prognostic factors for PFS and OS. CONCLUSION: The level of preoperative NLR and the change of preoperative/postoperative NLR level tended to associate with PFS more than OS of EOC patient.

Expression of ER, PR, and Her-2/neu in endometrial cancer: a clinicopathological study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine any association between expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Her-2/neu and clinicopathological features, including survival, of endometrial carcinoma (EMC) patients. METHODS: Samples of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of 108 patients with EMC treated at our institution between January 1994 and December 2007 were immunohistochemically studied. RESULTS: ER, PR, and Her-2/neu expression were positive in 59.3%, 65.7% and 2.8% of cases, respectively. Positive ER expression was significantly associated with grade I-II tumor while PR expression was linked with endometrioid histology, grade I-II tumor, less myometrial invasion (MI) and negative lymph node involvement. Her-2/neu expression was significantly associated with deep MI, while positive ER and negative Her-2/neu expression in combination was significantly associated with longer disease-free and overall survival. CONCLUSION: ER expression is a good prognostic factor while Her-2/neu expression appears to be a poor indicator for both disease-free and overall survival, while PR tended to show favorable influence for only disease-free survival of Thai EMCs.

Endometrial cancer in Thai women: clinico-pathological presentation and survival.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the characteristic features, treatment, survival, and prognostic factors of Thai endometrial cancer (EMC) patients. METHODS: Clinico-pathological data of EMC patients who were treated in the institution from 1992 to 2008 were collected. Survival rates and prognostic factors were studied. RESULTS: The mean age of the 261 patients was 55.4 ± 9.92 years. The most common complaint was abnormal uterine bleeding (87.3%). More than half (75.4%) had other medical illnesses or other cancers (10.7%). The majority (78%) had early stage disease. Post-operative adjuvant therapy was given in 41.4%; the most common was radiation therapy (37.2%). From a median follow-up of 57.5 months (range 0.03-212.3 months), progressive disease was encountered in 16 patients. Eighteen experienced recurrence (three local, 13 distant metastases and two local and distant). Overall, 30 patients died of cancer, while 18 died of other medical illnesses. The 5-year progression-free, cancer specific, and overall survivals (95% confidence intervals) were 86.5% (82.1-90.8%), 88.0% (83.9-92.2%), and 83.6% (78.7-88.4%), respectively. Significant prognostic factors for survival were: histology, grade, depth of myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node status, and Her-2/ neu expression. CONCLUSION: Most endometrial cancer patients in Thailand present at early stages and experience good survival outcomes.

Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Clinicopathologic Study.

BACKGROUND: To examine the rate and degree of expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and associated with clinicopathological factors and survival. METHODS: EOC patients being treated in our institute with available pathological tissue sections during 1996-2003 were identified. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody to COX-1 and COX-2 were studied. Degree of expression was categorized into low and high levels. The degrees of immunohistochemistry staining were associated with clinicopathological factors and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients were included in the study. Most of patients had stage 1 and 3, and the most common histology type was serous carcinoma. The expression rate of COX-1 and COX-2 was 83.2 % and 95.3 %, respectively. Non-mucinous tumor had significant higher level of expression of both COX-1 and COX-2. Except for a high level of expression of COX-2 in association with better response to chemotherapy, no significant association with other clinicopathologic factors were observed. Level of COX-1 or COX-2 expression did not associate with progression-free and overall survival. The combination of COX-1 and COX-2 level was analyzed and the combination of high COX-1 and low COX-2 level significant associated with short progression-free and overall survival. CONCLUSION: EOC in our study showed high rate of COX-1 and COX-2 expression, especially in non-mucinous tumors. High level of COX-2 associated with better response to chemotherapy. Neither COX-1 nor COX-2 expression showed association with survivals while combination of high COX-1 and low COX-2 level of expression was associated with poor progression-free and overall survivals.

Clinicopathological features including hormonal receptor expression and survival in young endometrial cancer patients: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinicopathological features, including hormonal receptor expression and survival, in young Thai endometrial carcinoma (EMC) patients with older patients. METHODS: Young EMC patients aged ≤45 years, treated in the institution from 1992 to 2008, were identified as cases. Controls included EMC patients aged >45 years who had an operation on the nearest dates to the cases. Clinicopathological data and survival of the cases and controls were compared. RESULTS: Mean ages of 41 cases and 123 controls were 40.4 ± 3.7 years and 58.4 ± 8.3 years, respectively. Cases were significantly different from controls in terms of having more nulliparity (58% vs 25%), less medical illness (57% vs 79%), more low-grade tumors (49% vs 14%), more positive estrogen (78% vs 56%) and progesterone (97% vs 61%) receptors expression, and fewer nodal metastases (3% vs 21%). Adjuvant therapy was administered in 29% of the cases and 46% of the controls. From a median follow up of 51 months, cases had significantly fewer progression events and recurrence (5% vs 19%), cancer-related deaths (2% vs 16%), and all deaths (5% vs 23%), with significantly longer 5-year disease-free (97.2% vs 79.6%, p=0.023), cancer-specific (97.1% vs 83.2%, p=0.020), and overall survival (93.1% vs 78.8% p=0.005) than controls as determined by univariate analysis. Survival of cases and controls were not significantly different after adjusting for other prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Young Thai EMC patients had more favorable clinicopathological features with significantly longer survival than older patients as determined by univariate analysis.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: clinico-pathological presentation and survival outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinico-pathological features, treatment, survival, and prognostic factors of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital and Prince of Songkla University. POPULATION: Malignant ovarian germ cell tumor patients treated between January 1996 and December 2007. METHODS: Clinico-pathological data were collected. Patients with malignant tumors arising from benign cystic teratoma were excluded. Survival and potential prognostic factors were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinico-pathological features, survival. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients were identified. The median age was 21 years (range, 4-44 years). The most common complaint was pelvic or abdominal mass (63%). Primary surgery was performed by a gynecologic oncologist in only 39.2% of cases. More than half (64.2%) had early stage disease (stages I-II) and the majority had conservative surgery (73.1%). The most common histopathology was dysgerminoma. Of 124 patients with available follow-up data, 22 did not receive adjuvant treatment; 1 had whole abdominal radiation; and 101 had chemotherapy. Of 89 patients who were evaluable for responses, 4 patients had progressive disease while 85 had complete response. The five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 82.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 75.4-89.5%)] and 92.4% (95% CI, 87.6-97.2%), respectively. Only preoperative tumor marker elevation was a significant poor prognostic factor for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors have a good prognosis with conservative surgical treatment. Chemotherapy is important. Elevated preoperative serum tumor markers are a poor prognostic factor for PFS.

Oral etoposide for refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To study the response rate (RR), toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of the patients with recurrent or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), who had oral etoposide at dosage of 75 mg/day. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients with recurrent or refractory EOC who were treated with oral etoposide between January 1998 and December 2007 were identified from the Archive of the Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the institution. Clinical and pathological data were reviewed. RESULTS: During the present study period, 38 patients receiving oral etoposide were identified. Median age was 51 years (range, 33-72 years). Seven patients could not tolerate chemotherapy side effects during the first cycle, leaving 31 patients evaluable for response. The overall RR was 25.8% (8/31 patients), 19.4% complete (6/31) and 6.4% partial responses (2/31). Stable diseases were demonstrated in 19.4% (6/31) while progressive diseases were found in 54.8% (17/31). The median PFS was 4.8 months (range, 3.3-6.4 months) with 2-year PFS of 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-31.4%) while median OS was 12.0 months (range, 0.75-25.5 months) and 2-year OS was 36.4% (95% CI, 17.4-55.3%). The main toxicity was gastrointestinal side effect. CONCLUSION: Oral etoposide at a daily dosage of 75 mg is an active agent for refractory or recurrent EOC. Gastrointestinal symptom is the most common side effect. This oral chemotherapeutic agent has some advantages over other drugs in terms of convenience for administration and fewer visits.

Prevalence of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and invasive cervical cancer in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) from cervical pap smears.

To determine the prevalence and factors associated with histologic diagnoses of High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) or invasive cervical cancer in women with a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undertermined significance (ASCUS), medical records of women with an ASCUS Pap smear from January 2003 to December 2006 were reviewed. Of 287 women with ASCUS Pap smears in whom data were available, 189 were annotated with "favoring a premalignant or malignant process", 74 with "favoring reactive", and 24 with "not otherwise specified". The prevalences of HSIL and invasive cervical cancer were 9.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Only subtypes of ASCUS were significantly associated with the detection of HSIL or invasive cancer, 12.7% with favoring premalignant or malignant process, 2.7% with favoring reactive, and 16.7% in with ASCUS-NOS (p=0.034).

Prevalence of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and invasive cervical cancer in patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) at cervical pap smear.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with a histologic diagnosis of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and invasive cervical cancer in patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) cervical pap smear findings. METHODS: Medical records (including cytology reports, colposcopic impression, and pathologic results from cervical biopsy, endocervical curetting, cervical conization or hysterectomy) of 226 women with LSIL from conventional cervical pap smears during January 2001 to December 2005, who subsequently underwent colposcopic evaluation at our institution, were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 39.0 years. The incidences of LSIL, HSIL, microinvasive cervical cancer were 58.8%, 15.0%, 1.3% respectively. No associations were found between age, parity, contraception, anti-HIV or menstrual status and the detection of HSIL/invasive cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Approximately 16.3 % of LSIL pap smear cases turn out to be HSIL or invasive cervical cancer from histologic diagnosis.

Results of laparoscopic pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy in gynecologic oncology patients in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the results of laparoscopic lymphadenectomy in gynecologic oncology patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Medical records of 31 gynecologic oncology patients who underwent laparoscopic lymphadenectomy between November 1, 2004 and February 28, 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median age of the study population was 47 years (range 24-77 years). Sixteen patients (51.6%) had endometrial cancer while 15 (48.4%) had ovarian malignancy, with median numbers of resected pelvic and paraaortic nodes of 12 (range 3-30 nodes) and 1 (range 1-3 nodes). The groups of lymphadenectomy only, lymphadenectomy with total laparoscopic hysterectomy, and lymphadenectomy with laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy had median blood losses of 100 ml (range 30-220 ml), 350 ml (range 100-800 ml), and 200 ml (range 150-400 ml) respectively. Accidental injuries of common iliac artery and large bowel occurred in two patients, all of whom were converted to a laparotomy for correcting the damaged sites. Overall, the median duration for postoperative recovery was three days (range 2-8 days). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that surgical staging for gynecologic malignancies can be adequately performed through laparoscopic surgery, with benefit in terms of early postoperative recovery.

Tumor persistence in high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion patients with positive surgical margin post loop electrosurgical excision procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates of persistent and recurrent tumors in patients with High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL) who had positive surgical margin from Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinical and pathological data of all women who underwent LEEP procedures and revealed HSIL lesions with positive surgical margin between July 1997 and December 2004 were recorded. RESULTS: Histologic diagnoses of HSIL with positive surgical margin were found in 95 cases during the study period. Residual diseases were identified at ectocervical margins in 46 cases (48.4%), endocervical margin in 26 cases (27.4%), and both margins in 23 cases (24.2%). Subsequent hysterectomy was performed in 58 cases (61.0%). The remaining 37 cases (38.9%) underwent periodic follow-up with the median follow up period of 11 months (range, 1-74 months). Persistent diseases were identified in 18 of 58 hysterectomized cases but none in 37 follow-up cases. Recurrent disease was identified in only one case in the follow-up group. Overall the rates of persistent and recurrent disease were found in 18.9% and 1.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: In HSIL patients with positive surgical margin from LEEP the rate of persistent disease was 18.9%, while the rate of recurrence was 1.1%.