Clinical consequences of upfront pathology review in the randomised PORTEC-3 trial for high-risk endometrial cancer.

Background: In the PORTEC-3 trial, women with high-risk endometrial cancer (HR-EC) were randomised to receive pelvic radiotherapy (RT) with or without concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy (two cycles of cisplatin 50 mg/m2 in weeks 1 and 4 of RT, followed by four cycles of carboplatin AUC5 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m2). Pathology review was required before patient enrolment. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of central pathology review before randomisation. Patients and methods: A total of 1295 cases underwent pathology review to confirm HR-EC in the Netherlands (n = 395) and the UK (n = 900), and for 1226/1295 (95%) matching review and original reports were available. In total, 329 of these patients were enrolled in the PORTEC-3 trial: 145 in the Netherlands and 184 in the UK, comprising 48% of the total PORTEC-3 cohort of 686 participants. Areas of discrepancies were evaluated, and inter-observer agreement between original and review opinion was evaluated by calculating the kappa value (κ). Results: In the 1226 pathology reviews, 6356 selected items were evaluable for both original and review pathology. In 43% of cases at least one pathology item changed after review. For 102 patients (8%), this discrepancy led to ineligibility for the PORTEC-3 trial, most frequently due to differences in the assessment of histological type (34%), endocervical stromal involvement (27%) and histological grade (19%). Lowest inter-observer agreement was found for histological type (κ = 0.72), lymph-vascular space invasion (κ = 0.72) and histological grade (κ = 0.70). Conclusion: Central pathology review by expert gynaeco-pathologists changed histological type, grade or other items in 43% of women with HR-EC, leading to ineligibility for the PORTEC-3 trial in 8%. Upfront pathology review is essential to ensure enrolment of the target trial-population, and to avoid over- or undertreatment, especially when treatment modalities with substantial toxicity are involved. This study is registered with ISRCTN (ISRCTN14387080, www.controlled-trials.com) and with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00411138).

Prognostic factors for recurrence after conservative treatment in a series of 119 patients with stage I serous borderline tumors of the ovary.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors for recurrence after conservative treatment of a large series of 'apparent' stage I serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOTs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of 119 patients treated conservatively between 2000 and 2009 with follow-up data. All pathological slides were reviewed by the same expert pathologist. Prognostic factors for recurrence were studied (age, histological subtypes and surgical procedure). RESULTS: Conservative surgical procedures were: unilateral cystectomy (n = 43, 36%); unilateral adnexectomy (UA; n = 50, 42%); bilateral cystectomies (n = 11, 9%) and UA + contralateral cystectomy (n = 15, 13%). Stromal microinvasion and/or a micropapillary pattern was present in 21 (18%) and 13 (11%) patients, respectively. With a median follow-up of 45 months, 38 (32%) patients relapsed (10 also had peritoneal disease in the form of noninvasive implants at the first recurrence). In 2 of these 38 patients, progression-to-invasive disease occurred at the second and third relapse (one patient died to the recurrence). Three prognostic factors for recurrence were identified in the univariate analysis: a young age (< or >30 years old), the type of conservative treatment (adnexectomy versus cystectomy) and tumor bilaterality. In the multivariate analysis, only age remained statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this series (the largest reported, to date, on recurrences after the conservative management of stage I SBOT), the risk of relapse was not related to tumor histological subtypes (micropapillary and stromal microinvasion) nor to the use of complete staging surgery. Invasive recurrences were very rare in stage I SBOT, but did occur. A young age, tumor bilaterality and the use of a cystectomy were identified as risk factors for recurrence, suggesting that management of fertility preservation (particularly in very young patients) should be associated with a meticulously conducted follow-up.

Influence of histological subtypes on the risk of an invasive recurrence in a large series of stage I borderline ovarian tumor including 191 conservative treatments.

BACKGROUND: The overall prognosis of stage I borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) is excellent but a small percentage of patients die to their disease. The prognostic factors for such a rare event are still not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to determine these factors for recurrence per se and recurrence in the form of invasive carcinoma in a large series of stage I tumors. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with BOT. Three inclusion criteria were defined: (i) a centralized histological review; (ii) macroscopic stage I tumors; (iii) exclusion of metastatic disease to the ovaries. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2010, 254 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria [140 had mucinous BOT (MBOT) and 114 a serous BOT (SBOT)], and 191 had undergone conservative management. After a median follow-up of 45 months, 43 patients had developed recurrences (31 borderline and 12 invasive). The risks of recurrences were statistically increased after conservative treatment, particularly after a cystectomy, in patients with stage IB and among patients with incompletely staged tumors. In the subgroup of conservatively treated patients (representing 75% of our population), the risks of recurrences were statistically increased in patients affected by a SBOT, in patients who had undergone a cystectomy, in patients with stage IB disease and in patients with a micropapillary pattern (MPP). MBOT and the presence of a MPP were identified as prognostic factors for invasive disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the present series of BOT with the largest number of patients treated conservatively to date, the presence of a MPP and the mucinous subtype were associated with a higher rate of progression to carcinoma after conservative management. These important results suggest that MBOT belong to a 'high-risk' group likely to develop an invasive recurrence after fertility-sparing surgery in stage I BOT.

A randomized clinical trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin followed by radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in patients with localized uterine sarcomas (SARCGYN study). A study of the French Sarcoma Group.

BACKGROUND: There is no proven benefit of adjuvant treatment of uterine sarcoma (US). SARCGYN phase III study compared adjuvant polychemotherapy followed by pelvic radiotherapy (RT) (arm A) versus RT alone (arm B) conducted to detect an increase ≥ 20% of 3-year PFS. METHODS: Patients with FIGO stage ≤ III US, physiological age ≤ 65 years; chemotherapy: four cycles of doxorubicin 50 mg/m² d1, ifosfamide 3 g/m²/day d1-2, cisplatin 75 mg/m² d3, (API) + G-CSF q 3 weeks. Study was stopped because of lack of recruitment. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included: 39 in arm A and 42 in arm B; 52 stage I, 16 stage II, 13 stage III; 53 leiomyosarcomas, 9 undifferenciated sarcomas, 19 carcinosarcomas. Gr 3-4 toxicity during API (/37 patients): thrombopenia (76%), febrile neutropenia (22%) with two toxic deaths; renal gr 3 (1 patient). After a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 41/81 patients recurred, 15 in arm A, 26 in arm B. The 3 years DFS is 55% in arm A, 41% in arm B (P = 0.048). The 3-year overall survival (OS) is 81% in arm A and 69% in arm B (P = 0.41). CONCLUSION: API adjuvant CT statistically increases the 3 year-DFS of patients with US.

How to follow up advanced-stage borderline tumours? Mode of diagnosis of recurrence in a large series stage II-III serous borderline tumours of the ovary.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe how recurrences were diagnosed in the largest series of patients treated for an advanced-stage serous borderline ovarian tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1973 to 2006, 45 patients with a serous borderline tumour and peritoneal implants relapsed among 162 patients with a follow-up exceeding 1 year. Data concerning recurrences and the mode of diagnosis were reviewed. RESULTS: The median follow-up interval was 8.2 years (range 19-286 months). The mode of diagnosis of recurrences was imaging (n = 19), clinical symptoms (n = 8), cancer antigen (CA) 125 elevation (n = 7), secondary surgery (n = 5) and unknown (n = 6). The median time to recurrence was 31 months (range 4-242 month). The type of recurrence was invasive low-grade serous carcinoma in 14 patients. Five patients died of recurrent tumour. Among the 39 patients with a known mode of diagnosis of recurrence, the most frequent diagnostic method for invasive recurrences was blood CA 125 elevation (6 of 13) and the majority of noninvasive recurrences were diagnosed by imaging (16 of 23). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that ultrasound is the most relevant follow-up procedure in this context. Nevertheless, the blood CA 125 test is of particular interest for detecting invasive recurrent disease, which is the most crucial event.

Outcomes after conservative treatment of advanced-stage serous borderline tumors of the ovary.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of the largest series of patients treated conservatively for a stage II or III serous borderline ovarian tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1969 to 2006, 41 patients were treated conservatively for an advanced-stage serous borderline ovarian tumor. Patient outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty patients had undergone a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 18 a unilateral cystectomy and two bilateral cystectomy (unknown for one patient). Three patients had invasive implants. The median duration of follow-up was 57 months (range 4-235). The recurrence rate was high (56%), but overall survival remained excellent (100% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years). One death had occurred due to an invasive ovarian recurrence. Eighteen pregnancies (nine spontaneous) were observed in 14 patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that spontaneous pregnancies can be achieved after conservative treatment of advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors (with noninvasive implants) but the recurrence rate is high. Nevertheless, this high rate has no impact on survival. Conservative surgery can be proposed to patients with a borderline tumor of the ovary and noninvasive peritoneal implants. Should infertility persist following treatment of the borderline tumor, an in vitro fertilization procedure can be cautiously proposed.

Impact of adjuvant treatment modalities on the management of patients with stages I-II endometrial stromal sarcoma.

PURPOSE: To explore whether adjuvant treatment options may impact on the prognosis in localized endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs; stages I and II). The historical options usually discussed in addition to hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoophorectomy (BSO) are active surveillance, pelvic radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, alone or in combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 84 consecutive patients treated for ESS at a single referral center, 54 with localized stage disease were identified. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were estimated and patterns of recurrences described. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 58 months, only one patient had died. None of the 23 patients who had received adjuvant therapy relapsed compared with 13 of 31 patients who had not received any adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant treatments were hormonal therapy (n = 10) and brachytherapy with/without pelvic radiotherapy (n = 13). Almost the majority of relapses were local (92%) and extra-pelvic metastasis was observed in nearly half of the patients (46%). In the multivariate analysis, the major determinants of relapse-free survival were adjuvant treatment, myometrial invasion (P = 0.005) and no BSO (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, adjuvant treatment of localized ESSs was associated with the absence of recurrence.

Sunitinib efficacy in the treatment of metastatic skin adnexal carcinomas: report of two patients with hidradenocarcinoma and trichoblastic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Adnexal carcinomas are rare and diverse cutaneous tumours. They are locally aggressive and have the potential for distant metastasis. Metastatic adnexal carcinomas are very resistant to conventional chemotherapies. Sunitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is reportedly effective for the treatment of various solid cancers. Its use in adnexal carcinomas has never been reported. OBSERVATIONS: The first patient had metastatic clear cell hidradenocarcinoma and was stabilized over 8 months with sunitinib, before she relapsed. The second patient had a metastatic malignant hair follicle tumour (trichoblastic carcinoma) and achieved a partial remission with sunitinib, and disease stabilized after 10 months. Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) performed to evaluate tumour vascularization during treatment depicted a dramatic and early decrease in the tumour blood volume. CONCLUSIONS: Sunitinib was effective in controlling the disease in our two patients. DCE-US using linear raw data may have an early predictive value for tumour response to sunitinib. Further studies involving larger cohorts of patients are warranted in order to confirm the efficacy of sunitinib in these rare tumours.

[Tumour regression is not predictive for higher risk of sentinel node involvement in thin melanomas (Breslow thickness < or = 1 mm)]. / La régression tumorale n'est pas un facteur de risque d'atteinte du ganglion sentinelle dans les mélanomes fins (indice de Breslow < or = 1 mm).

BACKGROUND: Thin melanomas (Breslow thickness < or = 1 mm) are considered highly curable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between histological tumour regression and sentinel lymph node (SLN) involvement in thin melanomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective single-centre study of 34 patients with thin melanomas undergoing SLN biopsy between April 1998 and January 2005. RESULTS: The study included 14 women and 20 men of mean age 56.3 years. Melanomas were located on the neck (n=3), soles (n=4), trunk (n=13) and extremities (n=14). Pathological examination showed 25 SSM, four acral lentiginous melanomas, three in situ melanomas, one nodular melanoma and one unclassified melanoma with a mean Breslow thickness of 0.57 mm. Histological tumour regression was observed in 26 over 34 cases and ulceration was found in one case. Clark levels were as follows: I (n=3), II (n=20), III (n=9), IV (n=2). Growth phase was available in 15 cases (seven radial and eight vertical). Mitotic rates, available in 24 cases, were: 0 (n=9), 1 (n=11), 2 (n=2), 3 (n=1), 6 (n=1). One patient with histological tumour regression (2.9% of cases and 3.8% of cases with regressing tumours) had a metastatic SLN. One patient negative for SLN had a lung relapse and died of the disease. Mean follow-up was 26.2 months. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study and the analysis of the literature show that histological regression of the primary tumour does not seem predictive of higher risk of SLN involvement in thin melanomas. This suggests that screening for SLN is not indicated in thin melanomas, even those with histological regression.

[Melanoma in HIV patients: 14 cases]. / Mélanomes chez des patients séropositifs pour le VIH : 14 cas.

BACKGROUND: a clinical study of 14 patients presenting both malignant melanoma and HIV infection, and analysis of the literature to determine the frequency and specific features of this association. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ten men and four women of median age 43 years were included. In 50% of cases, the primary melanoma consisted of spreading superficial melanoma with a mean Breslow thickness of 2.83 mm. In two cases, regional lymph node metastasis was discovered but with no primary melanoma being identified. HIV infection was already documented on diagnosis of melanoma in 11 cases, and it was discovered in three cases at the time of surgery for melanoma (treatment of the primary melanoma in two cases, and in one case, regional lymph node dissection two years after the initial diagnosis). Eight patients died within a mean period of 39 months, with melanoma being the cause of death in six cases. Following relapse of melanoma, the course of the disease was severe, with mean stage IV survival of 3.6 months. No response to chemotherapy was observed where such treatment was feasible. DISCUSSION: the presence of HIV appears to be an aggravating factor for the outcome of metastatic melanoma. CONCLUSION: our study suggests the importance of clinical examination of pigmented lesions in HIV patients in order to ensure early identification of melanoma.

Feasibility of ovarian cryopreservation in borderline ovarian tumours.

BACKGROUND: Borderline ovarian tumours (BOT) do not exhibit overt stromal invasion and are less aggressive than invasive epithelial ovarian tumours. BOT also arise in younger patients than those who develop epithelial ovarian tumours. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of ovarian cryopreservation (OC) in patients treated for BOT. METHODS: A retrospective study of data concerning young patients (less than 35 years of age) who underwent surgery for a BOT with OC planned during the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients, treated between January 2002 and February 2008, were initially selected but six of them were excluded from the present study (four because the tumour was malignant and two because it was benign). Finally, 17 patients were diagnosed as having BOT based on the frozen section analysis. In nine (53%) of these cases, OC was finally performed. In eight cases, OC was not performed; instead, in four cases a simple cystectomy was finally performed (one patient was in fact pregnant at the time of surgery), in one case malignant disease was found and in three (18%) patients OC was not technically feasible because no normal ovarian parenchyma was evident on gross inspection. CONCLUSION: In patients treated for a BOT, OC was eventually feasible in 53% of patients in whom this procedure was initially planned. In 18%, this procedure was aborted because no macroscopic healthy ovarian tissue could be found.

Results after conservative treatment of serous borderline tumours of the ovary with stromal microinvasion but without micropapillary pattern.

The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of women treated conservatively for a serous borderline ovarian tumour with stromal microinvasion (SBOT-SMI) but without micropapillary pattern. Ten women treated conservatively for a stage I (n= 8) or stage IIIB (n= 2) tumour were followed up. With a median follow-up duration of 62 months (range 7-117 months), five recurrences developed on the preserved ovary. All lesions were borderline recurrences (with noninvasive peritoneal implants in one). All women are currently disease free. Three women achieved a spontaneous pregnancy and three became pregnant after an in vitro fertilisation procedure. This study suggests that conservative treatment of SBOT-SMI is safe.

[Is radical surgery (or parametrectomy) needed in all surgical procedure for early stage cervical cancer?]. / La paramétrectomie est-elle nécessaire pour tous les cancers du col à un stade précoce?

Early stage of cervical cancer is defined by disease confined to the cervix and upper vagina (stage IA to IIA). For early stage, no treatment has demonstrated clear superiority. Treatment options for women with early stage include either exclusive radiotherapy, or radical surgery, or brachytherapy before radical surgery. Radical hysterectomy or trachelectomy include the resection of the parametrium. The rational of parametrectomy is to remove occult disease in the parametrium and its removal is the cause of much of the morbidity of the surgery, specially urinary complications. This surgery can be performed by laparascopy with quality of life improvement and less blood loss but urinary morbidity is still important. The question is if it's possible to be less radical and still oncologically safe. Parametrial invasion is rare in patients with small tumours without lymphovascular space involvement and negative pelvic nodes (no poor prognostic factors). Sentinel node negative could be a strong criteria to predict parametrial involvement. This review reports studies exploring the safety of omitting parametrectomy in these low risk patients and the future possibilities to evaluate these new indications.

[Perineal giant cell fibroblastoma in a five years old boy managed with micrographic surgery and local reconstruction with a posterior perforator thigh flap]. / Fibroblastome à cellules géantes de la région scroto-anale chez un garçon de cinq ans traité par chirurgie micrographique et réparation par lambeau perforant postérieur de cuisse.

A report of a five-year-old male child diagnosed as a recurrent perineal giant cell fibroblasoma is described. Complete tumour removal was obtained with micrographic surgery and complete pathological analysis of the limits of the tumour with the "technique verticale modifiée" developed in our institution. The closure of the operative wound was performed with a posterior perforator thigh flap based on the descending branch of the inferior gluteal vessels. Thanks to these new surgical and pathological approaches, the complete removal of this recurring tumour was achieved with acceptable oncologic, fonctionnal and cosmetic results in this young child.

Prediction and diagnosis of bone metastases in well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine cancer: a prospective comparison of whole body magnetic resonance imaging and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to compare the sensitivity of whole body (WB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) for the diagnosis of bone metastases (BMs) in patients with well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine cancer (WD-GEP-EC) and to determine predictive factors of BM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: WB-MRI and SRS were prospectively performed in 79 patients with bronchial (11), thymic (five), gastric (two), duodeno-pancreatic (24), ileal (26), colic (one), or unknown primary (10) WD-GEP-EC. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients (46%) had 333 BMs involving 119 skeletal segments. WB-MRI and SRS were equally sensitive for detecting patients with BM (86 vs. 81%; P = 0.56), with 33% of the patients diagnosed with only one procedure. WB-MRI detected more BMs than SRS (80 vs. 57%; P = 0.017). Compared with SRS, WB-MRI detected more spine BMs (96 vs. 45%; P < 0.001) and tended to detect more pelvic and lower limb BMs (P = 0.054 and P = 0.06, respectively). Compared with WB-MRI, SRS detected more skull BMs (100 vs. 0%; P < 0.001) and tended to detect more rib BMs (P = 0.08). Sternal and upper-limb BMs were equally detected with WB-MRI and SRS (P = 0.32 and P = 0.46, respectively). Bone staging with SRS and spine MRI rather than WB-MRI would have detected 92% of the patients with BMs and 83% of all BMs. The extent of liver involvement and bronchial-thymic primary tumors were independent predictive factors for BM. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend bone staging with SRS and spine MRI in all patients with bronchial-thymic or unknown primary WD-GEP-EC. In case of duodeno-pancreatic or ileal primary, bone imaging may be restricted to patients with liver metastases.

Survival and reproductive function of 52 women treated with surgery and bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy for ovarian yolk sac tumor.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian yolk sac tumor (YST) is a very rare malignancy arising in young women. Chemotherapy has dramatically improved the prognosis. Current treatment consists of surgery followed by bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy. However, given the rarity of this tumor, ovarian YST-specific survival and outcome after such treatment are not precisely known. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This report concerns prospectively recorded cases that were either treated at Institut Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) or referred there for advice about therapy. From 1990 to 2006, 52 patients underwent surgery followed by BEP chemotherapy. Data on patient characteristics, treatment, survival, and fertility outcome were analyzed to assess treatment efficacy and gonadal toxicity after achieving a complete remission. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients had stage I/II tumors while 17 patients presented with stage III/IV disease. With a median follow-up of 68 months, the overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 94% and 90%, respectively. Forty-one women underwent fertility-sparing surgery. Pregnancy was achieved in 12 of 16 (75%) women who attempted conception. Overall, 19 pregnancies have been recorded. CONCLUSIONS: BEP chemotherapy following fertility-sparing surgery is a very effective treatment of ovarian YSTs. Most of the patients who attempt conception after complete remission will have children.

Peritoneal pseudomyxoma: results of a systematic policy of complete cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is characterized by progressive intraperitoneal accumulation of mucous and mucinous implants, usually derived from a ruptured, possibly malignant mucinous neoplasm of the appendix. Treatment based on complete cytoreductive surgery (CCRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is gaining support. The aim of this study was to identify pre- and perioperative factors of prognostic value. METHODS: A total of 105 patients (with no residual tumours exceeding 2 mm) were treated with CCRS plus HIPEC based on oxaliplatin. Clinical, radiological, pathological factors and blood markers were analysed to determine their prognostic value for survival. RESULTS: Mortality (7.6 per cent) and morbidity (67.6 per cent) were significantly correlated with peritoneal index, pathological grade and blood CA19.9 level. The median follow-up was 48 months. Seven patients died after hospital discharge. Overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates were 80.0 and 68.5 per cent respectively. The Cox model identified only two significant factors impacting on disease-free survival: CA19.9 level and pathological grade. CONCLUSION: CCRS is the most effective treatment for PMP, and adding HIPEC prolongs long-term survival. Further strategies should focus on improving postoperative outcome in extended PMP.

Combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin for the treatment of advanced ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

The objective is to investigate the activity and toxicity of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) regimen in ovarian granulosa cell tumors (OGCTs). Twenty consecutive patients with initial metastatic (5 patients) or recurrent (15 patients) OGCT were treated; BEP regimen: B: 30 mg intravenously or intramurally on days 1, 8, and 15; E: 100 mg/m2/day on days 1-5; and P: 20 mg/m2/day on days 1-5. Median age: 42 years (range: 17-60); median follow-up: 45 months (range: 3-112). The overall response rate is 90% (nine clinical complete response [CR], nine clinical partial response) with a median duration of 24 months (range: 4-77). A second-look laparotomy performed in 11 patients showed a pathologic CR in 7 cases and microscopic disease in 1 case. Seven patients remain free of disease (at 4-84 months); 11 patients relapsed (median: 24 months, range: 13-58), 12 patients are still alive, and 9 patients are without disease (2 patients in second CR). At 4 years, overall survival and event-free survival are respectively 58% and 30%. Toxicity is evaluable for 19 patients (48 cycles). A grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 15% of cycles (in seven patients) with a febrile neutropenia in four patients. Five patients experienced a low bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. BEP regimen appears to be an active regimen for OGCT in first-line chemotherapy.

[Lymphadenectomy for uterine cancer]. / La chirurgie ganglionnaire dans les cancers de l'utérus.

Uterine cancer can metastasize to both the pelvic and para-aortic levels. No one questions the diagnostic and prognostic value of lymphadenectomy, but its therapeutic value is still open to debate. In early cervical cancer (<4 cm.), pelvic lymphadenectomy is a routine part of radical hysterectomy. If pelvic lymph nodes show involvement, one can propose an extension of the lymphadenectomy to the para-aortic level. Studies of sentinel lymph node identification and biopsy at this level are currently under way. The standard treatment of cervical cancer>4 cm is radiotherapy. A pre-radiation laparoscopy to investigate lymph node involvement at the lumbo-aortic level may help to define the extent of the radiation field. For endometrial cancer, the role and benefit of lymphadenectomy are much less clear since these patients often have major co-morbidities which increase the risk of complications from an extended lymph node dissection.

[Not Available]. / La chirurgie ganglionnaire dans les cancers de l'utérus.

S. Gouy, C. Uzan, Y. Zafrani, C. Lhommé, P. Pautier, P. Duvillard, C. Haie-Meder, P. Morice Uterine cancer can metastasize to both the pelvic and para-aortic levels. No one questions the diagnostic and prognostic value of lymphadenectomy, but its therapeutic value is still open to debate. In early cervical cancer (<4 cm.), pelvic lymphadenectomy is a routine part of radical hysterectomy. If pelvic lymph nodes show involvement, one can propose an extension of the lymphadenectomy to the para-aortic level. Studies of sentinel lymph node identification and biopsy at this level are currently under way. The standard treatment of cervical cancer > 4 cm is radiotherapy. A pre-radiation laparoscopy to investigate lymph node involvement at the lumbo-aortic level may help to define the extent of the radiation field. For endometrial cancer, the role and benefit of lymphadenectomy are much less clear since these patients often have major co-morbidities which increase the risk of complications from an extended lymph node dissection.