High performance of the DNA methylation-based WID-qEC test for detecting uterine cancers independent of sampling modalities.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most prevalent gynaecological cancer in high-income countries and its incidence is continuing to rise sharply. Simple and objective tools to reliably detect women with EC are urgently needed. We recently developed and validated the DNA methylation (DNAme)-based women's cancer risk identification-quantitative polymerase chain reaction test for endometrial cancer (WID-qEC) test that could address this need. Here, we demonstrate that the stability of the WID-qEC test remains consistent regardless of: (i) the cervicovaginal collection device and sample media used (Cervex brush and PreservCyt or FLOQSwab and eNAT), (ii) the collector of the specimen (gynaecologist- or patient-based), and (iii) the precise sampling site (cervical, cervicovaginal and vaginal). Furthermore, we demonstrate sample stability in eNAT medium for 7 days at room temperature, greatly facilitating the implementation of the test into diagnostic laboratory workflows. When applying FLOQSwabs (Copan) in combination with the eNAT (Copan) sample collection media, the sensitivity and specificity of the WID-qEC test to detect uterine (i.e., endometrial and cervical) cancers in gynaecologist-taken samples was 92.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 75.0%-98.8%) and 98.6% (95% CI = 91.7%-99.9%), respectively, whilst the sensitivity and specificity in patient collected self-samples was 75.0% (95% CI = 47.4%-91.7%) and 100.0% (95% CI = 93.9%-100.0%), respectively. Taken together these data confirm the robustness and clinical potential of the WID-qEC test.

Outcomes of minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate outcomes of laparoscopic retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy for stage 1b3-3b cervical cancer. METHODS: Pathology databases searched for all para-aortic lymphadenectomy cases 2005-2016. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse baseline characteristics, cox models for treatment affect after accounting for variables, and Kaplan Meier curves for survival (STATA v15). RESULTS: 191 patients had 1b3-3b cervical cancer of which 110 patients had Para-aortic lymphadenectomy. 8 (7.3%) patients stage 1b3, 82 (74.6%) stage 2b, and 20 (18.1%) stage 3b cervical cancer. Mean lymph node count 11.7 (SD7.6). The intra-operative and post-operative 30 day complication rates were 8.8% (CI: 4.3%, 15.7%) and 5.3% (CI: 1.9%, 11.2%) respectively.Para-aortic nodes were apparently positive on CT/MRI in 5/110 (5%) cases. Cancer was found in 10 (8.9%, CI: 4.3%, 15.7%) cases on histology, all received extended field radiotherapy. Only 2 were identified on pre-operative CT/MRI imaging. 3 of 10 suspected node-positive cases on CT/MRI had negative histology. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy led to alteration in staging and radiotherapy management in 8 (8%, CI: 3.7%, 14.6%) patients. Mean overall survival 42.81 months (SD = 31.79 months). Survival was significantly higher for women undergoing PAN (50.57 (SD 30.7) months) compared to those who didn't (31.27 (SD 32.5) months). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy is an acceptable procedure which can guide treatment in women with locally advanced cervical cancer.

We evaluated outcomes for patients with stage 1b3-3b cervical cancer that had lymph nodes removed prior to planning their chemoradiotherapy. There were 3 groups ­ patients that had their lymph nodes removed, those that did not and those that had their procedure abandoned so didn't have their lymph nodes removed. We looked at the lymph nodes down the microscope to see if they contained cancer and compared this to their pre-operative imaging. 8 patients had a change to their staging and treatment because they were found to have cancer in the lymph nodes. We found that the keyhole procedure to remove lymph nodes is an acceptable procedure which can guide treatment in women with locally advanced cervical cancer.