[Relationship between hormone therapy in women with ovarian malignancy and prognosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between hormone therapy (HT) in women with ovarian malignancy and prognosis. METHODS: HT was used in 31 patients with ovarian cancer after surgery, and 44 cases with ovarian cancer served as control. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, ERbeta and progesterone receptor (PR) was detected by immunohistochemical staining respectively. The level of serum calcitonin and transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) was detected by radio-immune and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay pre- or post-surgery, as well as half a year to one year later post-surgery respectively in these cases. The survival curve of Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test as well as scale risk of Cox model were used to analyze the relationship between HT and prognosis of ovarian cancer. RESULTS: (1) The results of log-rank test showed that there was no difference in survival curve of patients with or without HT [(1108 +/- 52), (1086 +/- 43) d; P = 0.940]; the results of scale risk of Cox model also showed that HT was not an independent prognosis factor for patients with HT. (2) There was no relationship with HT and the accumulated survival in patients with either positive or negative expression of ERalpha, ERbeta and PR in tissue; as well as between HT and the level of serum TGFalpha pre-, post-surgery, or half a year to one year after surgery. (3) The level of serum calcitonin in patients without HT post-surgery half a year to one year later was higher than that pre-surgery [(141 +/- 13), (95 +/- 11) microg/L; P < 0.05], but there was no significant difference between patients with HT half a year to one year later post-surgery and pre-surgery [(90 +/- 18) microg/L, (93 +/- 14) microg/L; P > 0.05]. (4) There was a significant difference in body and emotion function between HT and without HT groups [(1.84 +/- 1.50), (1.45 +/- 0.82); (12.69 +/- 10.20), (12.90 +/- 11.61); P < 0.05], as well as in sex quality and autonomic nerve maladjustment and in the special list made [(1.05 +/- 0.74), (1.77 +/- 1.08); (10.10 +/- 3.21), (13.09 +/- 4.30); P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: There is no adverse influence on prognosis in using of HT for patients with ovarian cancer after surgery. HT for patients with ovarian cancer post-surgery can help keep a stable level of serum calcitonin as well as improve the quality of life.

[Constitutive characteristics and change trend of gynecological malignant tumors in 8009 hospitalized patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the constitutive characteristics and the change trend of gynecologic malignant tumors in hospitalized patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region over the recent 20 years. METHODS: Clinical data of 8009 in-patients who suffered from gynecologic malignant tumors in 23 hospitals from 1985 to 2004 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were analyzed, with respect to the tumor types and change trend. RESULTS: (1) The leading 4 types of malignant tumors were cervical cancers, ovarian cancers, endometrial cancers, and malignant trophoblastic tumors according to the constitutive ratios of the tumors. The constitutive ratio of cervical cancer patients rose year by year, from 17.48% during the 1985-1989 period to 49.25% during the 2000-2004 period (P < 0.01). While the constitutive ratio of malignant trophoblastic tumors dropped year by year. The changes of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, vulvar and vaginal carcinomas, and sarcoma of the uterus were not obvious (P > 0.05). (2) The occurring age of cervical cancers became younger obviously, from > or = 60 years old dropped to < 40 years old. (3) Cervical cancers were found mainly in urban residents in the former 10 years, the constitutive ratio being 67.1%; while in the latter 10 years it gradually shifted to rural residents, accounting for 52.6% of the total gynecological tumors. (4) Patients were usually at stages II, III, IV when they visited a doctor for their diseases. Especially for ovarian cancer, malignant trophoblastic tumors, sarcoma of the uterus, these patients were in the intermediate or advanced stage when they were diagnosed, mainly because of lack of obvious symptoms. The constitutive ratio of these advanced patients was over 60%. CONCLUSIONS: We should strengthen the screening program of cervical cancer, and pay more attention to prevention and control of other gynecological reproductive organ tumors at the same time. On the other hand, we should explore better tumor markers, new methods of diagnosis and treatment to improve early diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic malignant tumors.

[Study on serum vascular endothelial growth factor level in ovarian malignant tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with ovarian carcinomas, and to evaluate the correlation between serum VEGF level and prognosis of ovarian cancer. METHOD: Serum VEGF level in patients with ovarian neoplasms (120 cases of ovarian carcinomas, 25 cases of benign tumors) and 90 healthy women as controls was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), also the change of preoperative and postoperative serum VEGF level of 25 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer was observed. RESULTS: (1)The preoperative serum VEGF levels were (766 +/- 1237) mg/L in malignant groups, and there was a significant difference compared with normal controls (55 +/- 19) mg/L or patients with benign tumor (56 +/- 23) mg/L (P < 0.05). As a cut-off at 100 mg/L, sensitivity and specificity of preoperative serum VEGF levels for diagnosing ovarian cancer was 77% and 87% respectively. (2) Serum VEGF level were significantly elevated in advanced stage (955 +/- 1716) mg/L and poorly differentiated (991 +/- 1349) mg/L compared with early stage (198 +/- 287) mg/L and well differentiated (280 +/- 552) mg/L (P < 0.05), but there is no significant difference between the VEGF level and pathological types (P > 0.05). (3) The postoperative serum VEGF levels (118 +/- 110) mg/L were significantly lower than that in preoperative (1074 +/- 1211) mg/L. (4) The average total survival-time in patients with VEGF(+) was 28 months, but it in patients with VEGF(-) was 35 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF values were higher in malignant tumors and preoperative serum VEGF level has a potential as a marker for diagnosing and monitoring in ovarian neoplasms.

[Establishment and biological characteristics of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line originated from peritoneal effusion].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Establishing ovarian cancer cell lines will benefit researches on biological characteristics of ovarian cancer stem cells and antitumor drugs. This study was to establish a human ovarian carcinoma cell line from peritoneal effusion, and explore its biological characteristics. METHODS: Cells were isolated from peritoneal effusion of an ovarian carcinoma patient, purified and cultured in vitro. The morphology of the cells was observed under electromicroscope. The growth curve of cells was drawn to calculate cell doubling time (TD). Cell karyotype was analyzed. The levels of sex hormone, and the expression of CA125 and CA19-9 in cell culture supernate were detected by radioimmunoassay. The cells were transplanted into nude mice to observe tumor formation. RESULTS: A new ovarian carcinoma cell line was established, which had been maintained in vitro for over 100 passages in two years. Abnormal nuclei were observed under electromicroscope. TD was 40.8 h. The karyotype of the cells was hyperdiploid with 63-120 chromosomes. The level of estradiol in cell culture supernate was 45.0 pg/mL; the level of testosterone was 0.03 ng/mL; pregnendione was undetected; the level of CA125 was 4.49 U/mL; the level of CA19-9 was 4.09 U/mL. Poorly differentiated ovarian adenocarcinoma was formed subcutaneously in nude mice after transplantation. CONCLUSION: The new ovarian carcinoma cell line is proved to be an immortalized and malignant cell line.

[Prokaryotic expression and purification of human papillomavirus type 11 L2E7 fusion protein vaccine and its immunnogenicity].

OBJECTIVE: To construct the Escherichia coli (E. coli) prokaryotic expression system pET9aHPV11L2E7, purify the fusion protein L2E7 and study the immunnogenicity of the protein. METHODS: The HPV11 L2, E7 coding region was amplified from condyloma acuminata tissue specimen by PCR. The recombinant plazmid pET9aHPV11L2E7 was established and sequenced. Fusion protein L2E7 (553 amino acids) was expressed in host strain BL21 (DE3plus) by IPTG inducing and identified by using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Then L2E7 protein purified with CM column was inoculated to Balb/c mice and its cell-mediated and humoral immunnogenicity was assessed by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The E. coli prokaryotic expression system pET9aHPV11L2E7 was established and the purified fusion protein L2E7 was obtained successfully. The mice in vivo experiment indicated that the purified protein L2E7 could induce HPV11E7 specific cell-mediated immune responses and high level HPV L2E7 antibody was detected in serum. CONCLUSION: The purified fusion protein L2E7 could induce specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. It can be used as a candidate of genital wart immune therapeutic vaccine.

[Early recurrent factors of ovarian cancer after treatment].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Recurrence of ovarian cancer is an important factor that leads to therapeutic failure. At present, the treatment in ovarian cancer is not sufficiently effective. This study was designed to investigate the factors of early recurrence after treatment in ovarian cancer in order to reduce its recurrence. METHODS: The clinical data of the ovarian cancer patients admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University during January 1986 to May 1996 who recurred within one year after treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The recurrent rates were compared according to their different clinical stages, pathological types, and residual volumes of the disease as well as the number of courses of pre and postoperative chemotherapy received. Chi-square test was used for statistic analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-two of 373 cases recurred within one year after treatment; the overall recurrent rate was 22.0%. The 1-year recurrent rate in stage I-II patients was lower than that in stage III-IV patients (2.7% versus 30.3%, P< 0.01). The recurrent rate in the patients with undifferentiated adenocarcinoma was higher than that with other pathological type. The recurrent rate in the patients with residuals >or=2 cm was higher than that with residuals < 2 cm (33.8% versus 13.7%, P< 0.01). The recurrent rate in the patients with preoperative chemotherapy was lower than that without it. The recurrent rate in the patients who had received only 1-3 courses of postoperative chemotherapy was higher than that having received 4-6 or >6 courses (67.0% versus 7.7%, 67.0% versus 7.0%, respectively, P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early (1-year) recurrence in the patients with ovarian cancer seems to be closely related to late stage of the disease, incomplete surgery, and insufficient chemotherapy courses.