Religious and spiritual beliefs of gynecologic oncologists may influence medical decision making.

BACKGROUND: Religious (R) and spiritual (S) beliefs often affect patients' health care decisions, particularly with regard to care at the end of life. Furthermore, patients desire more R/S involvement by the medical community; however, physicians typically do not incorporate R/S assessment into medical interviews with patients. The effects of physicians' R/S beliefs on willingness to participate in controversial clinical practices such as medical abortions and physician-assisted suicide has been evaluated, but how a physician's R/S beliefs may affect other medical decision-making is unclear. METHODS: Using SurveyMonkey, an online survey tool, we surveyed 1972 members of the International Gynecologic Oncologists Society and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists to determine the R/S characteristics of gynecologic oncologists and whether their R/S beliefs affected their clinical practice. Demographics, religiosity, and spirituality data were collected. Physicians were also asked to evaluate 5 complex case scenarios. RESULTS: : Two hundred seventy-three (14%) physicians responded. Sixty percent "agreed" or "somewhat agreed" that their R/S beliefs were a source of personal comfort. Forty-five percent reported that their R/S beliefs ("sometimes," "frequently," or "always") play a role in the medical options they offered patients, but only 34% "frequently" or "always" take a R/S history from patients. Interestingly, 90% reported that they consider patients' R/S beliefs when discussing end-of-life issues. Responses to case scenarios largely differed by years of experience, although age and R/S beliefs also had influence. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that gynecologic oncologists' R/S beliefs may affect patient care but that most physicians fail to take an R/S history from their patients. More work needs to be done to evaluate possible barriers that prevent physicians from taking a spiritual history and engaging in discussions over these matters with patients.

A phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin in women with advanced or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Systemic therapy for advanced uterine carcinosarcoma (CS) has been disappointing. The most widely studied regimen is ifosfamide and cisplatinum. Moderate success has been documented using paclitaxel in ovarian CS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate carboplatin/paclitaxel in advanced and recurrent uterine CS. METHODS: A single-arm, prospective, phase II trial opened in October 2001. Primary end points were time to progression (TTP) and response rate (RR). Quality-of-life data were obtained. Patients treated adjuvantly received 6 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel every 21 days. Patients with disease at study entry were treated until response, progression, or toxicity. RESULTS: Of 23 patients enrolled, 9 received adjuvant treatment, 13 had documented disease, 1 was inevaluable. Eight of 13 patients with measurable disease had a complete or partial response (62% RR). Overall, median TTP was 9.5 months. In the adjuvant group, median TTP was 15 months. With measurable disease, median TTP was 7.9 months. Median overall survival was 21.1 months. There was no difference in survival between patients with or without measurable disease. For patients having prior radiation, median TTP with recurrence in the radiated field was 13.3 months, and 14.5 months if outside the field (P = 0.71). Two patients (9%) had treatment-limiting toxicity. Quality-of-life scores improved from baseline over time. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin and paclitaxel have improved tolerability and RR (62%) compared with previous reports of ifosfamide/cisplatin or ifosfamide/paclitaxel in treating uterine CS. This regimen seems promising and should be considered in combined therapies with targeted agents.

Social factors affecting treatment of cervical cancer: ethical issues and policy implications.

Health care in the United States has become a privilege rather than a right. Patients who have the greatest need are the ones most likely to be denied this privilege. Despite recent advances in disease detection and treatment, many patients do not receive even the bare minimum of care. The high complexity of the health care system in the setting of patients with low levels of health literacy significantly affects the ability to seek and receive treatment in a timely fashion. In addition, lack of insurance, transportation, and social support further complicate access to care. To truly provide a standard of care to all patients, regardless of resources, our health care system must evolve to address the needs of the population. In this paper, we report a tragic case where social factors affected the outcome of a single mother with advanced cervical cancer.

Care of the pregnant patient with cancer.

An estimated 1 in 1,000 pregnancies is complicated by cancer, and the incidence of cancer during pregnancy is expected to increase as women delay childbirth until their later years. A diagnosis of cancer and the cancer treatment process can be particularly difficult for the pregnant patient, and are challenging for the physician and nurse. This article provides an overview of cancer treatment during pregnancy, discusses current practice guidelines and the oncology nursing role in caring for this unique patient population, and highlights resources for clinicians and patients.

Phase II trial of irinotecan in patients with metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer or peritoneal cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan in patients with metastatic platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with measurable disease were enrolled in our study at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Twenty-five of these patients were treated with irinotecan at a dose of 300 mg/m2 intravenously for 90 minutes every 3 weeks; the remaining six patients were treated with 250 mg/m2 because their age was greater than 65 years. Median age was 57 years (range, 38 to 74 years). The majority (84%) had a Zubrod performance status of 0. All patients were evaluated for irinotecan toxicity, and 29 (94%) were evaluable for response. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 17.2%. One patient (3%) had a complete response, four (14%) had partial responses, 14 (48%) had stable disease, and 10 had (35%) disease progression. Median progression-free survival was 2.8 months (range, 1.1 to 16 months), median duration of response was 1.4 months (range, 0.7 to 10.1 months); median survival from primary diagnosis was 24.3 months (range, 6.5 to 85.7 months); and median survival from initiation of irinotecan was 10.1 months (range, 2.3 to 34 months). Major toxicities included fatigue (16 patients), neutropenia (11 patients), diarrhea (nine patients), nausea (10 patients), and anorexia (seven patients). Eleven patients required dose reductions because of these toxicities. No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Irinotecan has moderate efficacy and substantial toxicity in patients with metastatic platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer.

A pilot study of cisplatin, ifosfamide and mesna in the treatment of malignant mixed mesodermal tumors of the ovary.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin and ifosfamide in the treatment of patients with malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (MMMT) of the ovary. METHODS: Ten patients with histologically confirmed primary MMMT of the ovary diagnosed between 1993 and 2001 were enrolled in the study. Treatment consisted of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1, followed by ifosfamide 2.0 g/m2 over 24 h on days 1, 2 and 3. Mesna, 400 mg/m2, was given IV immediately prior to and 4 and 8 h after the start of each ifosfamide infusion. Chemotherapy was repeated on a 28-day cycle if blood counts permitted. Standard response criteria were used. Nine patients were evaluable for response. RESULTS: Eight of the nine patients responded to therapy, with 7 complete responses (78%) and 1 partial response. Seven of the eight responders (87.5%) eventually recurred. The median progression-free survival was 10 months (range 0-94.4 months). The median overall survival was 17.1 months (range 8-125.5 months). One patient remained free of disease 94.4 months after diagnosis, and one patient remained alive with recurrence 125.5 months following diagnosis. There were 13 grade 3 toxicities and 4 grade 4 toxicities. Four patients had grade 4 and three had grade 3 neutropenia, all of which required dose reductions. CONCLUSION: The combination of cisplatin and ifosfamide/mesna demonstrated activity against MMMT of the ovary. Response durations were short, however, and the regimen was associated with significant toxicity. Novel agents with activity against MMMT of the ovary and acceptable toxicity are needed.

A phase I study of Adp53 (INGN 201; ADVEXIN) for patients with platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: Adenoviral p53 (Adp53) is a replication-deficient adenovirus containing human p53 cDNA. This phase I study was designed as a toxicity study of multiple dosing of Adp53 administered by intraperitoneal (IP) delivery to patients with ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eligibility criteria included patients with platinum- and paclitaxel-resistant metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer; a Zubrod performance status of 0, 1, or 2; and adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function. Patients underwent laparoscopy, washings, biopsies, and placement of an IP catheter within 10 days of Adp53 administration. Adp53 was given daily for 5 days every 3 weeks at one of the following four dose levels: 3 x 10(10), 3 x 10(11), 1 x 10(12), or 3 x 10(12) viral particles (vp). RESULTS: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the trial. Fifteen (88%) patients are evaluable for toxicity. The mean age of the study group was 51 years (range 32-67). All but one patient received two or more chemotherapy regimens before study entry. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were observed. Grade 3 toxicities included fatigue (six patients), fever (two patients), chills (one patient), abdominal pain (three patients), nausea (two patients), and sinus congestion (one patient). One patient had Grade 3 edema and headache. There were no hematologic toxicities. Eleven patients (65%) are evaluable for response. Two of 17 patients (12%) had a mixed response. Four patients (24%) had stable disease for up to four courses. Five patients (29%) had progressive disease after one to two courses. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple dosing of IP Adp53 was well tolerated in this group of heavily pretreated patients; however, the dosing schedule and the amount cannot be concluded from this study. With a negative randomized trial of ovarian cancer in front-line treatment that included an adenovirus p53 plus chemotherapy, we feel that further refinement of gene therapy is required before additional trials are undertaken. OVERVIEW SUMMARY: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies. It also tends to recur and progress within the abdominal cavity. Because of this, regional intraperitoneal therapy for ovarian cancer is attractive. Mutation and/or deletion of the p53 gene are common in advanced ovarian cancer. In this study, we have tested the safety and practicality of using an adenovirus-mediated delivery of the p53 gene to patients with chemo-refractory ovarian cancer via an intraperitoneal catheter. Fifteen patients were treated. Common toxicities were abdominal pain, fever, and chills. Several patients also had catheter infections. One patient had prolonged decrease in CA125 and stable disease. The best mechanism of delivery of gene therapy for patients is unclear, however, no severe toxicities were found using an adenovirus-mediated p53 gene in this group heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.