Effect of a web-based fertility preservation training program for medical professionals in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Our web-based training program called "Educating Medical Professionals about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare" aims to help healthcare professionals communicate promptly with patients and survivors who are adolescents and young adults, with information pertinent to reproductive health issues such as the risk of infertility and fertility preservation. METHODS: The study participants were professional healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, genetic counselors, and dieticians. Pre- and post- and 3-month follow-up tests consisting of 41 questions were administered to measure changes in knowledge and confidence. The participants also received a follow-up survey that covered confidence, communication techniques, and practice habits. A total of 820 healthcare providers participated in this program. RESULTS: The mean total score from the pre-test to the post-test grew significantly (p < 0.01), and participants' self-confidence increased. In addition, there was a change in the behavior of healthcare providers, who began asking about patients' marital status and parity. CONCLUSION: Our web-based fertility preservation training program improved knowledge and self-confidence regarding fertility preservation issues among healthcare providers caring for adolescents and young adult cancer patients and survivors.

Effects of adding a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist to 5 mg olanzapine, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist, and dexamethasone for preventing carboplatin-induced nausea and vomiting: a propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Olanzapine has been reported to be an effective antiemetic in patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist (NK1RA) added to olanzapine, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist (5-HT3RA), and dexamethasone (DEX) has not been proven. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of NK1RA, in combination with three-drug antiemetic regimens containing olanzapine, in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by carboplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Data were pooled for 140 patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy from three multicenter, prospective, single-arm, open-label phase II studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of olanzapine for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The propensity score of the co-administration of NK1RA was estimated for each patient using a logistic regression model that included age, sex, and carboplatin dose. We analyzed a total of 62 patients, who were treated without NK1RA (non-NK1RA group: 31 patients) and with NK1RA (NK1RA group: 31 patients). The patients were selected using propensity score matching. RESULTS: The complete response rate (without emetic episodes or with no administration of rescue medication) in the overall period (0-120 h post carboplatin administration) was 93.5% in the non-NK1RA group and 96.8% in the NK1RA group, with a difference of -3.2% (95% confidence interval, -18.7% to 10.9%; P = 1.000). In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between the groups in daytime sleepiness and concentration impairment, which are the most worrisome adverse events induced by olanzapine. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that antiemetic regimens consisting of olanzapine, 5HT3RA, and DEX without NK1RA may be a treatment option for patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy.

A comparative analysis of MRI findings in endometrial cancer: differentiation between endometrioid adenocarcinoma, serous carcinoma, and clear cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of endometrial cancers and to reveal the differences between endometrioid carcinoma (EC), serous carcinoma (SC), and clear cell carcinoma (CCC). METHODS: In this study, 274 consecutive patients with histopathologically confirmed endometrial cancer (231 ECs, 25 SCs, and 18 CCCs) who underwent MRI before hysterectomy were enrolled. MRI images were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the three pathologies. RESULTS: The maximum diameters (55.6 ± 34.7 vs. 39.3 ± 21.6 vs. 39.4 ± 26.8 mm) (p < 0.05) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values (1.11 ± 0.21 vs. 0.84 ± 0.17 vs. 0.86 ± 0.16 × 10-3 mm2/s) (p < 0.01) were significantly greater in CCCs than in ECs and SCs, respectively. Infiltrative growth pattern (33% vs. 6%) (p < 0.01) was more frequent in CCCs than in ECs. Peritoneal dissemination (16% vs. 0%) (p < 0.01) and heterogeneous signal on diffusion-weighted (61% vs. 32%) (p < 0.05) images were more frequent in SCs than in ECs, respectively. Abnormal ascites (12% vs. 11% vs. 0%) and heterogeneous signal on T1-weighted (28% vs. 50% vs. 9%), T2-weighted (64% vs. 72% vs. 36%), and fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (80% vs. 90% vs. 46%) images were more frequent in SCs and CCCs than in ECs, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SCs frequently exhibited a heterogeneous signal with peritoneal dissemination and abnormal ascites. Alternatively, CCCs tended to have a larger tumor size and higher ADC values with an infiltrative growth pattern, heterogeneous signal, and abnormal ascites. KEY POINTS: • SCs tend to have a heterogeneous signal intensity with peritoneal dissemination and abnormal ascites compared to ECs. • CCCs tend to have a heterogeneous signal intensity with an infiltrative growth pattern and abnormal ascites compared to ECs. • CCCs have a larger tumor size and higher ADC values compared to ECs and SCs.

Pelvic organ prolapse and Japanese lifestyle: prevalence and risk factors in Japan.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Little is known about the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of POP and identify its risk factors in Japan. METHODS: This was a single-centre, cross-sectional study. We recruited Japanese women seen for a Pap smear from July 2018 through May 2019. After providing their informed consent, subjects were asked to complete questionnaires. Pelvic organ support was assessed using the POP quantification (POP-Q) system by an examiner. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for POP. RESULTS: There were 1032 women aged 21 to 84 years. The distribution of POP-Q stage was stage 0, 38.0%; stage I, 45.0%; stage II, 16.4%; stage III, 0.6%; and stage IV, 0%. Rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) of stage II or greater in each age group were 6.6% (2.4-10.8) in 20 s-30 s; 17.6% (13.3-21.9) in 40 s; 17.1% (12.9-21.3) in 50 s; 18.0% (12.6-23.4) in 60 s; and 28.7% (19.6-37.9) in 70 s and over. Multivariate analysis revealed the following risk factors for POP, with odds ratio (95% CI): body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2, 1.63 (1.05-2.51); BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, 0.40 (0.17-0.94); hysterectomy, 4.09 (1.55-10.80); ≥ 3 vaginal deliveries, 2.26 (1.19-4.28); and ≥ 1 cup of coffee per day, 0.63 (0.43-0.92). CONCLUSION: Among Japanese women undergoing routine gynaecological examinations, 17.1% (14.7-19.5) had POP-Q stage II or greater. Overweight, hysterectomy and ≥ 3 vaginal deliveries increased the risk for POP, whereas underweight and daily coffee consumption decreased it.

Indications for fertility preservation not included in the 2017 Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline for Fertility Preservation in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Patients treated with gonadal toxicity, including benign diseases.

In recent years, local governments in Japan have established a public financial support system for fertility preservation in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients. Fertility preservation has become popular for patients with cancers included in the gonadal toxicity risk classification of the 2017 edition of the Guideline for Fertility Preservation in Children, Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Patients from the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology. However, patients with cancer and non-cancer diseases that are not included in the Guideline's gonadal toxicity risk classification also often receive treatment that may affect fertility, but they are often denied the opportunity of fertility preservation because no public financial support is available for diseases not listed in the Guideline. The national research project proposes including these diseases in the indications and treatment for fertility preservation. Therefore, we cooperated with the Japan Society for Fertility Preservation and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research group to solicit opinions from experts in each therapeutic area and reviewed the literature and overseas guidelines. This paper summarizes the findings of the project. We believe that it will be an important source of information for clinicians treating patients who need fertility preservation but note that the appropriateness of fertility preservation for the disorders listed in this report needs to be continuously reviewed as medical care advances.

Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines 2017 for fertility preservation in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients: part 2.

The Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO) published the "JSCO Clinical Practice Guidelines 2017 for Fertility Preservation in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Patients" in 2017. This was the first guideline in cancer reproductive medicine in Japan. In the field of cancer reproductive medicine, close cooperation between an oncologist and a physician for reproductive medicine is important from before treatment initiation until long after treatment. The guideline takes into consideration disease specificity and provides opinions from the perspective of oncologists and specialists in reproductive medicine that are in line with the current state of the Japanese medical system. It is intended to serve as a reference for medical staff in both fields regarding the availability of fertility preservation therapy before the start of cancer treatment. Appropriate use of this guideline makes it easier to determine whether fertility preservation therapy is feasible and, ultimately, to improve survivorship in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients. In this article (Part 2), we describe details by organ/system and also for pediatric cancer.

Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines 2017 for fertility preservation in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients: part 1.

In 2017, the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO) published the JSCO Clinical Practice Guidelines 2017 for Fertility Preservation in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Patients. These were the first Japanese guidelines to address issues of oncofertility. In this field of medicine, sustained close cooperation between oncologists and reproductive specialists is essential from the diagnosis of cancer until many years after completion of cancer treatment. These JSCO guidelines were intended to guide multidisciplinary medical staff in considering the availability of fertility preservation options and to help them decide whether to provide fertility preservation to childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer patients before treatment starts, with the ultimate goal of improving patient survivorship. The guidelines are presented as Parts 1 and 2. This article (Part 1) summarizes the goals of the guidelines and the methods used to develop them and provides an overview of fertility preservation across all oncology areas. It includes general remarks on the basic concepts surrounding fertility preservation and explanations of the impacts of cancer treatment on gonadal function by sex and treatment modality and of the options for protecting/preserving gonadal function and makes recommendations based on 4 clinical questions. Part 2 of these guidelines provides specific recommendations on fertility preservation in 8 types of cancer (gynecologic, breast, urologic, pediatric, hematologic, bone and soft tissue, brain, and digestive).

Intracellular ferritin heavy chain plays the key role in artesunate-induced ferroptosis in ovarian serous carcinoma cells.

Artesunate, an antimalarial drug, induces ferroptosis, but the mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated how Artesunate induces ferroptosis in ovarian serous carcinoma. Experiments were performed using the ovarian serous carcinoma cell lines CaOV3 and SKOV3ip1, and the sensitivity of CaOV3 to Artesunate was higher than that of SKOV3ip1. Ferroptosis inhibitors inhibited Artesunate-induced intracellular lipid peroxi-dation and cell death. However, unlike class 1 ferroptosis inducer erastin, Artesunate had no effect on intracellular glutathione-SH levels. We found that Artesunate-induced changes in lysosomal Fe|2+ were parallel to the induction of ferroptosis. Therefore, ferritin, which oxidizes and binds intracellular Fe|2+, may have an inhibitory effect on ferroptosis. Knockdown of nuclear coactivator 4, a key molecule of ferritinophagy (ferritin-specific autophagy), suppressed Artesunate-induced cell death. Knockdown of ferritin heavy chain by siRNA greatly enhanced the sensitivity to Artesunate, and overexpression of ferritin heavy chain greatly reduced the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cell lines to Artesunate. These results can explain the differential sensitivity of CaOV3 and SKOV3ip1 to Artesunate. In conclusion, enhancement of ferritinophagy is an important step involved in the mechanism of Artesunate-induced ferroptosis, and ferritin heavy chain levels may contribute to the regulation of sensitivity in Artesunate-induced ferroptosis in ovarian serous carcinoma cells.

Efficacy and safety of 5 mg olanzapine for nausea and vomiting management in cancer patients receiving carboplatin: integrated study of three prospective multicenter phase II trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of olanzapine as an antiemetic agent in cancer chemotherapy has been demonstrated. However, few high-quality reports are available on the evaluation of olanzapine's efficacy and safety at a low dose of 5 mg among patients treated with carboplatin regimens. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of 5 mg olanzapine for managing nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving carboplatin regimens and identified patient-related risk factors for carboplatin regimen-induced nausea and vomiting treated with 5 mg olanzapine. METHODS: Data were pooled for 140 patients from three multicenter, prospective, single-arm, open-label phase II studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of olanzapine for managing nausea and vomiting induced by carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the patient-related risk factors. RESULTS: Regarding the endpoints of carboplatin regimen-induced nausea and vomiting control, the complete response, complete control, and total control rates during the overall study period were 87.9, 86.4, and 72.9%, respectively. No treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher were observed. The multivariable logistic regression models revealed that only younger age was significantly associated with an increased risk of non-total control. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in CINV control between the patients treated with or without neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that antiemetic regimens containing low-dose (5 mg) olanzapine could be effective and safe for patients receiving carboplatin-based chemotherapy.

Surveillance of radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer in the early experienced period of minimally invasive surgery in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to conduct a detailed survey of radical hysterectomy in Japanese patients with early-stage cervical cancer, and to compare oncologic outcomes between open and minimally invasive radical hysterectomy. METHODS: In Japan during 2015, the medical records of 929 patients with FIGO stage IB1 and IIA disease treated with radical hysterectomy were retrospectively reviewed. We assessed patients' characteristics, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: The median patient age was 44 (20-80) years. Most patients (94.4%) had stage IB1 disease. Of the patients who underwent radical hysterectomy, 91.2% underwent open surgery and 8.8% underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The median follow-up period was 40.8 months (range, 0.49-51.1 months). The rate of DFS and OS at 4 years in all patients was 88.3% and 96.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified age (≥ 47), adenocarcinoma histology, tumor size (≥ 2 cm), parametrial invasion, positive lymph node metastasis and institutional accreditation as independent predictors of recurrence, and adenocarcinoma, other cell types, and positive lymph node metastasis as independent predictors of death. Oncologic outcomes in all patients were similar between open and MIS, including DFS and OS. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of the Japanese patients underwent radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer was favorable. No significant differences were observed for DFS and OS between open and MIS performed by a limited number of surgeons at a limited number of facilities in Japan. Further investigations are required to identify the appropriate patients might benefit from MIS.

Association between postpartum depression and social support satisfaction levels at four months after childbirth.

This study clarifies the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and satisfaction with social support after childbirth through an anonymous survey of 427 postpartum mothers. Mothers' PPD was found to be significantly associated with satisfaction levels regarding formal-instrumental support (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.162-0.632), informal-instrumental support (OR: 0.547, 95% CI: 0.313-0.955), and informal-psychological support (OR: 0.591, 95% CI: 0.384-0.912) in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. To prevent PPD, specialists as formal support providers must provide qualified care based on comprehensive judgments, and families as informal support providers should help with childcare, housework, and mental support.

Efficacy and safety of 5 mg olanzapine combined with aprepitant, granisetron and dexamethasone to prevent carboplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with gynecologic cancer: A multi-institution phase II study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic administration of 5 mg olanzapine (OLZ) combined with neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist (NK1RA), 5-hydroxytryptamine type-3 receptor antagonist (5-HT3RA), and dexamethasone (DEX) to prevent nausea and vomiting in carboplatin (CBDCA) combination therapy for patients with gynecological cancer. METHODS: We conducted a single-arm, multi-institution, phase II study. Gynecological cancer patients scheduled to receive AUC ≥4 mg/mL/min CBDCA were enrolled. All patients received 5 mg OLZ (once daily after supper on days 1-4) combined with NK1RA, 5-HT3RA, and DEX. The primary end point was complete response (CR; no emesis and rescue therapy) during overall phase (120 h after the start of carboplatin administration). RESULTS: Between May 2018 and June 2019, 60 patients were enrolled from 3 institutions in Japan. A total of 57 patients who met the criteria were included in the efficacy and safety analysis. The CR rate for the overall phase was 78.9%. Acute (0-24 h) and delayed phases (24-120 h) were 96.5% and 80.7%, respectively. Somnolence was observed in 73.7% patients. However, somnolence of grade 2 or higher was observed in only 3.5% of cases. There were no grade 3 or 4 toxicities associated with OLZ. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive use of OLZ combined with standard triplet therapy had promising activity with manageable safety, suggesting that this combination could be an effective standard treatment option for patients with AUC ≥4 mg/mL/min CBDCA combination therapy.

A Comprehensive Review of Ovarian Serous Carcinoma.

Although ovarian serous carcinoma is a well-studied human gynecologic malignancy, this high-grade tumor remains fatal. The main purpose of this review is to summarize the accumulated evidence on serous malignant tumors and to clarify the unresolved issues. We discuss the 8 dichotomies of serous carcinoma: high grade versus low grade, ovarian versus extraovarian primary, extrauterine versus uterine primary, sporadic versus hereditary, orthodox versus alternative histology, p53 overexpression versus complete absence of immunophenotype, TP53-mutated versus intact precursor, and therapy responsive versus refractory. In addition, we summarize the molecular classification of high-grade serous carcinoma. This review would lead readers to rapid and parallel developments in understanding high-grade serous carcinoma.

A Japanese nationwide survey on the cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes and ovarian tissue for cancer patients.

AIM: The survival rates of cancer patients have greatly improved owing to the advances in oncology. The preservation of fertility in cancer patients is an important task. To determine the reality of cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes and ovarian tissue in cancer patients, large-scale survey analysis was performed in Japan. METHODS: We sent 613 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology-certified assisted reproductive technology institutions a questionnaire about their experience of performing cryopreservation for cancer patients between January 2011 and December 2015. Subsequently, the institutions that conducted cryopreservation for cancer patients were sent a second questionnaire. RESULTS: We received replies from 481 (78.5%) institutions. Among them, 126 (26.2%) conducted cryopreservation for cancer patients. These 126 institutions were sent a second questionnaire. Of these, 108 (85.7%) institutions responded. At the 108 institutions, 1085 embryo or oocyte cryopreservation procedures and 122 ovarian tissue cryopreservation procedures were conducted for cancer patients. Cryopreservation was mainly performed for breast cancer patients (~70%), followed by patients with hematological malignancy. A total of 361 and 19 embryo transfer cycles were performed for patients whose embryos and oocytes were cryopreserved, respectively, and 42 and seven institutions reported pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer in patients that underwent embryo and oocyte cryopreservation, respectively. However, pregnancy was not observed in the seven cases that underwent ovarian tissue transfer. CONCLUSION: Indications, age limits and ovarian stimulation protocols for cryopreservation widely varied between the institutions. A national registration system for oncofertility must be established to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the current system.

Assessment of uterine enhancement rate after abdominal radical trachelectomy using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess uterine enhancement rate after abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. METHODS: Ten patients with early uterine cervical cancer, who were treated by ART, were included in this study. Each patient underwent DCE MR imaging using a 3 T unit to assess uterine enhancement rate at three times (before surgery and 1 and 3 months after surgery). The radiologist calculated mean signal intensities of the anterior and posterior myometrium and also measured the signal intensities of the urine in the bladder on the same image, which was expressed as the myometrium-to-urine signal intensity ratio. In the time-intensity ratio curve, enhancement parameters (peak signal intensity ratio and peak time) of the uterine body were compared across the three MR examinations. RESULTS: The peak signal intensity ratio was 6.96 ± 0.98 on MR examinations before surgery, 6.14 ± 0.81 1 month after surgery, and 6.26 ± 0.63 3 months after surgery (p = 0.069). The peak time was 57.6 ± 3.4 s on MR examinations before surgery, 56.4 ± 4.4 s 1 month after surgery, and 53.2 ± 8.0 s 3 months after surgery (p = 0.304). No significant differences were found in either the peak signal intensity ratio or peak time across the three MR examinations. CONCLUSIONS: That no significant decrease of uterine enhancement rate was found after surgery suggests the uterine function and fertility may be preserved after ART.

The inhibitory effect of hypoxic cytotoxin on the expansion of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer.

While an increase in progression free survival time is seen when an angiogenesis inhibitor is used in the treatment of high-relapse rate ovarian cancer, it has little effect on overall survival. A possible cause of treatment-resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors is the growth of stem cells in a hypoxic microenvironment built inside the tumor tissue by angiogenesis inhibition. In this study, we examined the possible suppression of stem cell and cancer stem cell (CSC) expansion by hypoxic cytotoxin, TX-402. TX-402, an analogue of tirapazamine, has been developed as a hypoxia selective prodrug with inhibitory effects of HIF-1 and angiogenesis. We considered TX-402 as a possible molecular-target drug candidate for ovarian cancer due to its inhibition of CSC expansion. In this study, we found that the expressions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α were increased under hypoxia in serous ovarian cancer cell lines. The expressions of HIF-1α and HIF-2α induced under hypoxia were repressed by TX-402 in a dose-dependent manner. Next, we investigated the effects of hypoxia on the expression levels of stem cell factors, Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 and Lin28, and showed that their expressions were induced by hypoxia. It was also observed that the expressions of putative ovarian cancer stem cell markers, CD133 and CD44 were induced under hypoxia. Furthermore, TX-402 was found to dose-dependently inhibit the expressions of CSC markers and stem cell factors. Oct4 expression was repressed by HIF-2α silencing, but not by HIF-1α silencing, indicating that TX-402 may repress the expression of Oct4 by inhibiting HIF-2α. We constructed CaOV3 spheroids as a 3-dimensional hypoxia model, in which the internal hypoxic region contained CSC-like cells expressing Oct4. The internal hypoxic region, which contained Oct4 expressing cells, disappeared following TX-402 treatment. In conclusion, hypoxia promoted the expansion of CSCs expressing CD133 and CD44 accompanied by an increase of stem cell factors. Its inhibition of hypoxia-induced CSC expansion makes TX-402 promising agent usable in combination for ovarian cancer therapy.

Regulation by heat shock protein 22 (HSPB8) of transforming growth factor-α-induced ovary cancer cell migration.

Accumulating evidence suggests that heat shock proteins (HSPs) are implicated in progression of cancer. HSP22 (HSPB8), a small HSP, is recognized to be ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. However, the expression and the role of HSP22 in ovarian cancer remain to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of HSP22 in transforming growth factor (TGF)-α-induced migration of ovarian cancer cells. The expression of HSP22 was detected in a serous ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV3.ip1. The migration was reduced by down-regulation of HSP22 expression. The TGF-α-induced migration was reduced by SB203580 (a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor), SP600125 (a SAPK/JNK inhibitor) and Y27632 (a Rho-kinase inhibitor). However, down-regulation of HSP22 had little effect on the TGF-α-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, SAPK/JNK and MYPT, a target protein of Rho-kinase. The HSP22 expression was further analyzed in 20 resected specimens of human ovarian serous carcinoma. The expression of HSP22 was detected in all the twenty tissues (8.24-109.22 pg/mg protein), and the cases with highly expression of HSP22 showed a tendency to acquire the progressive ability. Our results strongly suggest that HSP22 acts as a positive regulator in TGF-α-induced migration of ovarian cancer cells, subsequently directing ovarian cancer toward progression.