Zone Formation of Lymphocyte Infiltration at Invasive Front as a Biomarker of Prognosis in Endometrial Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical significance of lymphocyte infiltration (LI) at the invasive front in endometrial carcinomas (EC) has not been determined. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between zone formation of LI at the invasive front of the tumor margin and prognoses of the patients with EC. METHODS: All available pathological slides of the enrolled cases were reviewed, and the degree of LI at the invasive front was categorized into 2 groups: strong LI and weak LI. Clinical significance of LI was evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 333 cases with EC were enrolled in the study: 225 cases with weak LI and 108 cases with strong LI. Weak LI was more frequently observed in the patients with grade1/2 endometrioid EC. Multivariate analyses for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) revealed that weak LI was identified as an independent worse prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.004) in addition to PFS (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Weak LI at the invasive front of the tumor margin was associated with worse prognoses in EC. Although further studies are needed, it is suggested that LI could be a biomarker of prognoses in EC.

Small Foci of Serous Component as a Predictor of Recurrence and Prognosis for Stage IA Endometrial Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Most of the endometrial carcinomas are detected in early stages and have a better prognosis; however, predictive factors for recurrence have not been determined. METHODS: Patients with grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma (EG1) according to the 2014 WHO criteria at FIGO 2009 stage IA that were identified through scanning medical charts were included, and we assessed whether the presence of uterine serous carcinoma (SC) component which comprised less than 5% of the total volume using the ovarian two-tiered grading system could be a recurrent risk factor in these patients. RESULTS: Among 126 cases which met inclusion criteria, 12 cases had SC. SC tumors were divided into 2 groups: SC resembling high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) and SC resembling low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC). Five (3.9%) cases had HGSC and 7 (5.6%) cases had LGSC. Recurrence was observed in 3 of all cases (2.3%): 2 cases with HGSC, and 1 case with LGSC. Regarding several clinicopathological factors, only the presence of SC was associated with recurrence. The sensitivity and specificity to predict recurrence using this system were 100 and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The identification of SC using the ovarian two-tiered grading system could be an accurate predictor of recurrence in stage IA EG1.

Analysis of prophylactic Bakri balloon tamponade failure in patients with placenta previa.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, Bakri balloon (BBT) was effective for women with placenta previa to reduce hemorrhage. However, about 10% of women needed to receive an invasive strategy. Thus, the identification of risk factors and the development of additional measurements for BBT failure was needed. The aim of our study is to investigate the cause and measurements of failing prophylactic BBT in women with placenta previa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women with placenta previa who underwent cesarean section and had a prophylactic BBT inserted during the operation at our institution between January 2015 and December 2017 were enrolled. Patients requiring additional procedures after cesarean section for massive hemorrhage were defined as BBT failures. Additionally, the patterns and risk factors of BBT failure were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy women met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 9 (13%) were in the balloon failure group and 61 (87%), in the balloon success group. Between two groups, the median of postoperative blood loss was 1153 g vs. 70 g (p < 0.01) and the total blood loss 2409 g vs. 971 g (p < 0.01). There were two types of failures in the balloon failure group: balloon prolapse in eight patients (89%) and accidental placental retention in one patient (11%). The hemorrhage was controlled in all patients with balloon prolapse by reinsertion and inflation of the balloon. The patient with placental retention required a uterine artery embolization (UAE). Although three patients required a blood transfusion, none required a hysterectomy. The logistic regression for the risk of balloon failure revealed classification of major previa to be the highest risk factor (Hazard Ratio; 19.1, 95% Confidence Interval; 3.17-367.9, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The major cause of BBT failure was balloon prolapse. It could be treated with non-invasive methods; however, patients with placental retention could not avoid invasive treatment to stop the hemorrhage.

Low Expression of CD44 Is an Independent Factor of Poor Prognosis in Ovarian Mucinous Carcinoma.

AIM: To determine whether CD44, which is associated with tumor growth and metastasis, is related to carcinogenesis and prognosis in ovarian mucinous carcinomas (MACs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue blocks from 71 patients with benign mucinous ovarian tumors were used in the study: 35 were from patients with borderline mucinous ovarian tumors, and 60 from patients with MACs. Immunochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of CD44 and examine its association with tumorigenesis and survival. RESULTS: Compared to benign tumors, borderline tumors had high CD44 expression levels (p=0.047). Conversely, MACs had lower expression than borderline tumors (p=0.032). Progression-free and overall survival of patients with MAC with low CD44 expression were worse than those of patients with high expression (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Malignant transformation of mucinous tumors is associated with changes in CD44 expression, with low expression level being a prognostic factor in MAC.

A Pathological Study Using 2014 WHO Criteria Reveals Poor Prognosis of Grade 3 Ovarian Endometrioid Carcinomas.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical behavior of several grades of endometrioid carcinoma (EC) compared to high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), based on World Health Organization 2014 criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathological features were compared between all grades of EC and HGSC, and between HGSC and either grade 1/2 or grade 3 EC. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients with EC and 214 with HGSC were identified. Among patients with EC, 56 displayed 1/2 EC and nine had grade 3 EC. The progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival of patients with grade 1/2 EC were better than of those of patients with HGSC; however, PFS and OS did not statistically differ between patients with grade 3 EC and those with HGSC. Grade 1/2 EC, but not grade 3, was a better prognostic factor compared with HGSC. CONCLUSION: A grading system for EC would be beneficial for the accurate prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Phenoxodiol Increases Cisplatin Sensitivity in Ovarian Clear Cancer Cells Through XIAP Down-regulation and Autophagy Inhibition.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate whether XIAP down-regulation and autophagy inhibition sensitize ovarian clear cell cancer cells to cisplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ovarian clear cancer cell line KK was used for in vitro analysis. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and phenoxodiol (PXD) or embelin were used as autophagy and XIAP inhibitors, respectively. Non-specific and XIAP-specific siRNAs were transfected using Lipofectamine. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assays. Protein expression was confirmed by western blotting. RESULTS: In KK, down-regulation of XIAP using specific siRNAs together with HCQ treatment enhanced the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin. Although embelin sensitized KK to cisplatin through XIAP down-regulation, it induced autophagy. However, PXD increased cisplatin sensitivity through XIAP down-regulation and autophagy inhibition. Expression of Atg7, Atg12, and Beclin 1 was decreased after PXD treatment. CONCLUSION: PXD increased cisplatin sensitivity through XIAP down-regulation and autophagy inhibition and could be a new candidate for ovarian clear cell carcinoma treatment.

Efficacy of combination chemotherapy using irinotecan and nedaplatin for patients with recurrent and refractory endometrial carcinomas: preliminary analysis and literature review.

PURPOSE: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of an irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT) and nedaplatin (N) combination therapy for recurrent and refractory endometrial carcinoma, administered based on UGT1A1 genotype. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2017, 21 patients who received CPT-N therapy for recurrent endometrial carcinoma as second- or third-line chemotherapy at our hospital were identified. The CPT-N regimen included 40-70 mg/m2 of CPT-11 on days 1, 8, and 15, and 50 mg/m2 of nedaplatin on day 1, q4 weeks. RESULTS: The median patient age was 63 years. The number of prior chemotherapeutic regimens ranged from 1 to 2. Two patients had prior pelvic irradiation. The response rate [ratio of complete remission (CR) to partial remission (PR)] of CPT-N therapy was 3 of 21 (14.3%), and clinical benefit rate (CBR) [the combined percentages of CR, PR, and stable disease (SD)] was 9 of 21 (42.8%). Toxicities included grade 3 neutropenia [4 (19.0%) cases], grade 3 febrile neutropenia [2 (9.5%) cases], and grade 3 diarrhea [3 (14.3%) cases]; all resolved with conservative treatment. Patients with a wild-type UGT1A1 status received higher doses of CPT-11 (p = 0.048) and had similar RR and CBR compared to those with a UGT1A1*6 and *28 status. There were no significant differences in frequencies of hematological or non-hematological toxicities, regardless of UGT1A1 status. CONCLUSIONS: The CPT-N regimen for recurrent and refractory endometrial carcinoma had tolerable side effects and significant efficacy. This regimen is a viable treatment option for endometrial carcinoma.