POTENTIAL LIFE PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR MESENCHYMAL TUMOR RESEMBLING UTERINE LEIOMYOSARCOMA.

Benign uterine leiomyoma (U.LMA) and malignant uterine leiomyosarcoma (U.LMS), both uterine mesenchymal tumors, are distinguished by the number of cells exhibiting mitotic activity. However, uterine mesenchymal tumors contain tumor cells with various cell morphologies; therefore, making a diagnosis, including differentiating between benign and malignant tumors, is difficult. For example, cotyledonoid dissecting leiomyoma (CDL) or uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs) are a group of uterine mesenchymal tumors for which a differential diagnosis is challenging. To date, a standardized classification system for uterine mesenchymal tumors has not yet been established. Furthermore, definitive preoperative imaging techniques or hematological examinations for the potential inclusion of CDL or STUMP in the differential diagnosis have not been defined. Several clinical studies have reported that there is no correlation between biomarker expression and mitotic rate or tumor recurrence. The immunohistochemical biomarkers reported so far cannot effectively help determine the malignant potential of CDL or STUMPs in patients who wish to become pregnant in the future. The establishment of gene expression profiles or detection of pathogenic variants by using next-generation molecular techniques can facilitate disease prediction, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. We examined the oncological properties of STUMP in adults using molecular pathological techniques on tissue excised from patients with uterine mesenchymal tumor. In a clinical study conducted by our medical team, the results of gene expression profiling indicated factors that may be associated with malignancy of uterine mesenchymal tumors. We herein describe the problems in diagnosing uterine mesenchymal tumors along with the results of the latest clinical studies. It is expected that the establishment of a diagnostic method targeting the characteristics of mesenchymal tumor cells will lead to the treatment of malignant tumors with a low risk of recurrence and metastasis.

EFFECT OF RBD MUTATIONS IN SPIKE GLYCOPROTEIN OF SARS-COV-2 ON NEUTRALIZING IGG AFFINITY.

Certain mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2 are known to spread widely among humans, including the receptor binding domain (RBD) mutant, Y453F, from farmed minks, and the RBD mutant, N501Y, a mutation common to three major SARS-CoV-2 subvariants (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.1.248) and omicron type SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.16 subvariants. We investigated the characteristics of the RBD mutants, Y453F and N501Y, using three-dimensional structural analysis. We also investigated the effect of Y453F, N501Y or the mutants of RBD of omicron type SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.16 subvariants on neutralizing antibodies in serum derived from individuals including children (aged 5-11 years) inoculated with mRNA based COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2: Pfizer/BioNTech) or COVID-19-positive patients or children (aged 5-11 years) after vaccination with BNT162b2. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 subspecies with the RBD mutations Y453F or N501Y partially escaped detection by 4 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and 21 neutralizing antibodies in serums derived from COVID-19-positive patients. The significantly low antibody titer of children against Omicron type SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1.1 subvariant and XBB.1.16 subvariant in Japan. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 subspecies that causes serious symptoms in humans may spread globally. In particular, since the antibody titer against the omicron type is low in children (aged 5-11 years) who have been vaccinated with conventional vaccines, therefore it is important for children to receive vaccines specific for the omicron type.

Paternal height has an impact on birth weight of their offspring in a Japanese population: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This study examines the relationship between paternal height or body mass index (BMI) and birth weight of their offspring in a Japanese general population. The sample included 33,448 pregnant Japanese women and used fixed data, including maternal, paternal and infant characteristics, from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study. Relationships between paternal height or BMI and infant birth weight [i.e., small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA)] were examined using a multinomial logistic regression model. Since fetal programming may be a sex-specific process, male and female infants were analyzed separately. Multivariate analysis showed that the higher the paternal height, the higher the odds of LGA and the lower the odds of SGA in both male and female infants. The effects of paternal BMI on the odds of both SGA and LGA in male infants were similar to those of paternal height; however, paternal height had a stronger impact than BMI on the odds of male LGA. In addition, paternal BMI showed no association with the odds of SGA and only a weak association with the odds of LGA in female infants. This cohort study showed that paternal height was associated with birth weight of their offspring and had stronger effects than paternal BMI, suggesting that the impact of paternal height on infant birth weight could be explained by genetic factors. The sex-dependent effect of paternal BMI on infant birth weight may be due to epigenetic effects.

Transferrin facilitates the formation of DNA double-strand breaks via transferrin receptor 1: the possible involvement of transferrin in carcinogenesis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Fallopian tubal epithelium is a candidate for the origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Transferrin-containing follicular fluid and/or retrograde menstrual blood are possible risk factors for carcinogenesis. Accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks (DNA-DSBs) in the fallopian tubal epithelium is considered to play an important role in the development of cancer. However, the mechanisms by which DNA-DSBs accumulate have not yet been fully elucidated. The hydroxyl radical, which is produced in a Fenton reaction catalyzed by an iron ion, serves as a potent DNA-DSB-inducing molecule, raising the potential of an iron ion transporter of transferrin in the formation of DNA-DSBs. We studied the potential involvement of transferrin in DNA damage and the development of ovarian cancer. Treatment with transferrin facilitated the formation of histone 2AX phosphorylated at Serine 139 (γH2AX), which is known as a DNA-DSB marker, in human fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells and A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Knockdown of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), but not transferrin receptor 2, suppressed the transferrin uptake and consequent formation of γH2AX. As hydroxyl radicals in reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in DNA-DSBs, the formation of ROS was determined. Treatment with TfR1-specific small interference RNAs significantly diminished transferrin-induced formation of ROS. Moreover, TfR1-dependent uptake of transferrin was revealed to augment the formation of DNA-DSBs in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, which served as a substrate for the Fenton reaction. An ex vivo study with murine fallopian tubes further demonstrated that transferrin treatment introduced DNA-DSBs in the fallopian tubal epithelium. Collectively, these data suggested that the transferrin-TfR1 axis accounts for the induction of DNA-DSBs that potentially lead to DNA damage/genome instability. These findings also suggested that exposure to transferrin initiates and promotes the development of ovarian cancer by aiding the accumulation of DNA-DSBs in the fallopian tubal epithelium.

Ceramide limits phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase C2ß-controlled cell motility in ovarian cancer: potential of ceramide as a metastasis-suppressor lipid.

Targeting cell motility, which is required for dissemination and metastasis, has therapeutic potential for ovarian cancer metastasis, and regulatory mechanisms of cell motility need to be uncovered for developing novel therapeutics. Invasive ovarian cancer cells spontaneously formed protrusions, such as lamellipodia, which are required for generating locomotive force in cell motility. Short interfering RNA screening identified class II phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase C2ß (PI3KC2ß) as the predominant isoform of PI3K involved in lamellipodia formation of ovarian cancer cells. The bioactive sphingolipid ceramide has emerged as an antitumorigenic lipid, and treatment with short-chain C6-ceramide decreased the number of ovarian cancer cells with PI3KC2ß-driven lamellipodia. Pharmacological analysis demonstrated that long-chain ceramide regenerated from C6-ceramide through the salvage/recycling pathway, at least in part, mediated the action of C6-ceramide. Mechanistically, ceramide was revealed to interact with the PIK-catalytic domain of PI3KC2ß and affect its compartmentalization, thereby suppressing PI3KC2ß activation and its driven cell motility. Ceramide treatment also suppressed cell motility promoted by epithelial growth factor, which is a prometastatic factor. To examine the role of ceramide in ovarian cancer metastasis, ceramide liposomes were employed and confirmed to suppress cell motility in vitro. Ceramide liposomes had an inhibitory effect on peritoneal metastasis in a murine xenograft model of human ovarian cancer. Metastasis of PI3KC2ß knocked-down cells was insensitive to treatment with ceramide liposomes, suggesting specific involvement of ceramide interaction with PI3KC2ß in metastasis suppression. Our study identified ceramide as a bioactive lipid that limits PI3KC2ß-governed cell motility, and ceramide is proposed to serve as a metastasis-suppressor lipid in ovarian cancer. These findings could be translated into developing ceramide-based therapy for metastatic diseases.

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes between women with gestational diabetes and overt diabetes first diagnosed in pregnancy: a retrospective multi-institutional study in Japan.

AIMS: To determine differences in pregnancy outcomes including diabetic complications, maternal and perinatal complications between gestational diabetes mellitus and overt diabetes in pregnancy in Japan. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective study compared pregnancy outcomes between gestational diabetes mellitus and overt diabetes in pregnancy. We examined pregnant women who met the former criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus and received dietary intervention with self-monitoring of blood glucose with or without insulin. Overt diabetes in pregnancy was defined as ≥2 abnormal values on 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) and 2-h postprandial glucose ≥200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), or glycated hemoglobin levels ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol). RESULTS: Data were collected on 1267 women with gestational diabetes and 348 with overt diabetes in pregnancy. Pregestational body mass index was higher (26.2 ± 6.1 vs. 24.9 ± 5.7 kg, P<0.05) and gestational age at delivery was earlier (37.8 ± 2.5 weeks vs. 38.1 ± 2.1 weeks, P<0.05) in overt diabetes than in gestational diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin (6.8 ± 1.1% [51 mmol/mol] vs. 5.8 ± 0.5% [40 mmol/mol], P<0.05) and glucose on 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and prevalence of retinopathy (1.2% vs. 0%, P<0.05) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (10.1% vs. 6.1%, P<0.05) were higher in overt diabetes than in gestational diabetes. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with pregestational body mass index, gestational weight gain, chronic hypertension, and nulliparity but not with 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. CONCLUSIONS: Overt diabetes in pregnancy is significantly associated with maternal complications such as retinopathy and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Phase III randomised controlled trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery vs radical surgery alone for stages IB2, IIA2, and IIB cervical cancer: a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 0102).

BACKGROUND: A phase III trial was conducted to determine whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before radical surgery (RS) improves overall survival. METHODS: Patients with stage IB2, IIA2, or IIB squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were randomly assigned to receive either BOMP (bleomycin 7 mg days 1-5, vincristine 0.7 mg m(-2) day 5, mitomycin 7 mg m(-2) day 5, cisplatin 14 mg m(-2) days 1-5, every 3 weeks for 2 to 4 cycles) plus RS (NACT group) or RS alone (RS group). Patients with pathological high-risk factors received postoperative radiotherapy (RT). The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were randomly assigned to treatment. This study was prematurely terminated at the first planned interim analysis because overall survival in the NACT group was inferior to that in the RS group. Patients who received postoperative RT were significantly lower in the NACT group (58%) than in the RS group (80%; P=0.015). The 5-year overall survival was 70.0% in the NACT group and 74.4% in the RS group (P=0.85). CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with BOMP regimen before RS did not improve overall survival, but reduced the number of patients who received postoperative RT.

Efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy in locally advanced non-squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a retrospective multicenter study of Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit.

OBJECTIVE: Radical hysterectomy (RH) is a standard treatment for locally advanced non-squamous cell carcinoma (N-SCC) of the uterine cervix, but there have been no reports on whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical hysterectomy could improve the outcome of patients with this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study enrolled 77 patients with Stage IB2 to IIB N-SCC of the uterine cervix. Of these, 27 patients were treated with NAC prior to radical hysterectomy (NAC group) and 50 with RH alone (RH group). The two-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Clinical parameters such as clinical stage, histological type, and postoperative treatment were also examined between the groups. RESULTS: While the two-year RFS rates were 81.5% and 70.0% in NAC and RH groups, respectively (p = 0.27) and the median PFS was 51 months and 35 months in NAC and RH groups, respectively (p = 0.35), the median OS was 58 months and 48 months in NAC and RH groups, respectively, which was significant (p = 0.0014). The median OS of patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma in NAC group was significantly higher than that in RH group: 58 months versus 37 months (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: NAC prior to RH may offer the prognostic advantage of patients with locally advanced N-SCC of the uterine cervix, especially mucinous adenocarcinoma.

PP083. Clinic and out-of-clinic blood pressure changes during pregnancy by parity: Boshi study.

INTRODUCTION: Nulliparity is believed to be one of the risk factors for hypertension during pregnancy. However, the relationship between parity and out-of-clinic blood pressure during pregnancy is still unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinic blood pressure and blood pressure measured at home during pregnancy among nulliparous and multiparous women. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study. We examined blood pressure measured in the clinic and at home among 530 normotensive pregnant women who received antenatal care at a maternity hospital in Japan. Clinic blood pressures were obtained by duplicate measurements at each antenatal care visit. The participants were also required to measure their own blood pressures every morning at home while they were pregnant. A linear mixed model was used for analysis of the blood pressure course throughout pregnancy [1]. The SAS package (version 9.2) was used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 315 nulliparous and 215 multiparous women were entered into this study (mean ages 30.1±4.6years and 33.0±4.1years, respectively). Clinic blood pressure during pregnancy among nulliparous women was significantly higher than that among multiparous women (P=0.02/P<0.0001 for systolic/diastolic blood pressure), whereas there were no significant differences in blood pressure measured at home during pregnancy between them (P=0.42/P=0.22 for systolic/diastolic blood pressure). CONCLUSION: Out-of-clinic blood pressure levels during pregnancy have been shown not to differ between nulliparous and multiparous women, while clinic blood pressure during pregnancy among nulliparous women is higher than that among multiparous women.

The course of pregnancy and childbirth in three mothers with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

BACKGROUND: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an autosomal recessive skin disease caused by mutations in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1), resulting in detachment of the entire epidermis due to loss or hypoplasticity of the anchoring fibrils that normally secure the basement membrane to the underlying dermis. Trauma-induced blistering is often complicated by chronic erosions and scarring. From that perspective, pregnancy in RDEB might be considered an indication for elective caesarean section in a bid to minimize perineal blistering. To date, only four cases of pregnancy and delivery in patients with RDEB have been reported. CASES: We report three more women, each with RDEB-generalized other (RDEB-GO), all of whom had successful vaginal deliveries without major cutaneous or mucosal complications. One woman also had a second child, by vaginal delivery, indicating a lack of vaginal stenosis after the first birth. CONCLUSIONS: These cases show that RDEB-GO is not an absolute primary indication for elective caesarean section and that, perhaps surprisingly, genital/perineal blistering and scarring are not inevitable consequences of childbirth. Moreover, breastfeeding is also feasible in women with RDEB-GO.

Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, ameliorates memory disturbance and abnormal social interaction with anti-aggregation effect of cerebral amyloid ß proteins in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice.

The deposition of amyloid ß protein (Aß) is a consistent pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. Therefore, inhibition of Aß aggregation in the brain is an attractive therapeutic and preventive strategy in the development of disease-modifying drugs for AD. An in vitro study demonstrated that yokukansan (YKS), a traditional Japanese medicine, inhibited Aß aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. An in vivo study demonstrated that YKS and Uncaria hook (UH), a constituent of YKS, prevented the accumulation of cerebral Aß. YKS also improved the memory disturbance and abnormal social interaction such as increased aggressive behavior and decreased social behavior in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice. These results suggest that YKS is likely to be a potent and novel therapeutic agent to prevent and/or treat AD, and that this may be attributed to UH.

Randomized phase II study comparing docetaxel plus cisplatin, docetaxel plus carboplatin, and paclitaxel plus carboplatin in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma: a Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study (JGOG2041).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of treatment with taxane plus platinum in combination therapies for advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with measurable disease derived from histologically confirmed stage III/IV or recurrent endometrial carcinoma were randomly assigned to receive docetaxel plus cisplatin (DP), docetaxel plus carboplatin (DC), or paclitaxel plus carboplatin (TC) every 3 weeks until disease progression or adverse events prohibited further therapy. Among these regimens, the study evaluated the tumor response rate as the primary end point as well as toxicity. RESULTS: Ninety patients were enrolled. Of them, 88 were eligible and consequently 29, 29, and 30 patients were randomly assigned to DP, DC, and TC, respectively. Tumor response rates were 51.7%, 48.3%, and 60.0% in DP, DC, and TC, respectively (P = 0.65). The following toxic effects were observed: grade 3/4 neutropenia in 83.3%, 90.0%, and 76.6%; febrile neutropenia in 10.0%, 6.7%, and 3.3%; grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia in 6.7%, 10.0%, and 10.0%; grade 3/4 diarrhea in 13.3%, 3.3%, and 0%, respectively; and grade 3 neurotoxicity in 10.0% of TC. These toxicity profiles were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The taxane plus platinum combination therapies could be candidates in further phase III trials for endometrial carcinoma.

Vesicouterine ligament contains abundant autonomic nerve ganglion cells: the distribution in histology concerning nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy.

The aim of this study is to describe the histologic architecture of the tissues corresponding to the surgically developed connective tissue bundle commonly referred to as the posterior leaf of the vesico-uterine ligament (VUL), and to examine distribution of ganglion cells. Serial macroscopic slices, each 15-20 mm in thickness, were made from eight specimens (obtained from six female elderly cadavers). In these macroslices, the location of the deep uterine vein was used to identify the deep leaf of the VUL. The specimens were trimmed and semi-serial histologic sections in thickness were prepared at 1 mm intervals. Vesical veins and the associated nerve elements were enclosed by fascia and formed a common pedicle. The base of the pedicle contained the deep uterine vein trunk. The fascia encircling the pedicle varied in thickness and connective intensity between specimens. This vesical neurovascular bundle contained abundant ganglion cells. On average, 48.0% of the ganglion cells along the vesical tributaries of the deep uterine vein were located on the medial or vaginal side of the veins, 19.2% were located between veins, 13.0% on the lateral side of the veins, and 19.8% on the dorsal side. The interindividual variability was greatest on the dorsal side of vesical veins and ranged 11-202 cells. We conclude that in order to achieve maximal preservation of the ganglion cells during the surgical dissection of the posterior leaf of the VUL, care must be taken when the medial or vesical aspect of the ligament is separated. The standard nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy should be modified to reflect differences in the distribution of ganglion cells and in connective intensity between ganglions and veins.

Low response rate of second-line chemotherapy for recurrent or refractory clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a retrospective Japan Clear Cell Carcinoma Study.

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the ovary has been recognized to show resistance to anticancer agents in the first-line chemotherapy. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of second-line chemotherapy in a retrospective study. A total of 75 patients diagnosed with CCC and treated between 1992 and 2002 in collaborating hospitals were reviewed. Criteria for the patients' enrollment were 1) diagnosis of pure-type CCC at the initial operation, 2) treatment after one systemic postoperative chemotherapy, 3) measurable recurrent or refractory tumor, 4) at least two cycles of second-line chemotherapy and assessable for the response, and 5) adequate clinical information. Regimens of first-line chemotherapy were conventional platinum-based therapy in 33 cases, paclitaxel plus platinum in 24 cases, irinotecan plus platinum in 9 cases, and irinotecan plus mitomycin C in 7 cases. Treatment-free periods were more than 6 months in 24 cases (group A) and less than 6 months in 51 cases (group B). In group A, response was observed in two cases (8%): one with conventional platinum therapy and another with irinotecan plus platinum. In group B, three cases (6%) responded: two with platinum plus etoposide and one case with irinotecan plus platinum. Median overall survival was 16 months in group A and 7 months in group B (P = 0.04). These findings suggest recurrent or resistant CCC is extremely chemoresistant, and there is only small benefit of long treatment-free period in CCC patients. Another strategy including molecular-targeting therapy is warranted for the treatment of recurrent or refractory CCC.

Vaginal tumors with histologic and immunocytochemical feature of gastrointestinal stromal tumor: two cases and review of the literature.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Although positive immunohistochemistry for c-kit protein (CD117) and CD34 is critical in establishing diagnosis, the clinicopathologic features of CD117-positive mesenchymal tumors without obvious connection to the GI tract are not well documented. We describe the clinicopathologic features of two cases of extra-GIST. Case 1 was a 42-year-old woman who presented with a submucosal tumor located in the posterior vaginal wall. Case 2 was a 66-year-old woman who presented with a mass that bulged from the right side of the middle vaginal wall. Both tumors were excised locally. The results of microscopic examination and immunohistochemistry for both cases indicated the diagnosis of GIST. Case 2, in addition, showed oncogenic mutation in KIT exon 11. Case 1 is healthy without evidence of recurrence 4 years after surgery. Case 2 started imatinib therapy after resection of a recurrent mass. Gynecologists as well as diagnostic pathologists should be aware of GIST manifesting as a vaginal mass. Recognition of microscopic patterns and characteristic immunohistochemical phenotype, plus genetic study, is mandatory for establishing the correct diagnosis of GIST.

Inguinal endometriosis attaching to the round ligament.

We report a case of endometriosis in the right inguinal region, attached to the right round ligament in a 28-year-old woman. At the age of 20, laparoscopic left ovarian cystectomy and pelvic adhesiolysis for endometriosis was carried out. She noticed a right tender groin mass 7 months previously, and the tumour size fluctuated with the menstrual cycle. A poorly circumscribed elastic hard mass, measuring 3 cm in diameter, was palpated in her right inguinal region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm mass in the right inguinal canal and a 5.4 cm x 6.8 cm mass was seen in the left ovary. The mass enlarged during menstruation. The groin mass was removed, in addition to carrying out laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. At operation, the groin mass was found to be in continuity with the round ligament of extraperitoneal portion. Histological diagnosis of endometriosis was made in both ovarian and inguinal tumours. After surgery, the pain disappeared completely. Worth mentioning is that MRI clearly showed the change of tumour size depending on the menstrual cycle, which aided in arriving at the correct diagnosis of endometriosis in an unusual location.

Genetic variation in ABCB1 influences paclitaxel pharmacokinetics in Japanese patients with ovarian cancer.

Paclitaxel, an antineoplastic agent used for the treatment of ovarian cancer, is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and CYP2C8 and is excreted from cells by ATP-binding cassette (ABCB1) (multi-drug resistance [MDR1], P-glycoprotein). Expression of these proteins is regulated by pregnane X receptor (PXR). Although there are common genetic polymorphisms in the genes encoding these proteins, their effect on the clinical efficacy of paclitaxel is unclear. We therefore examined the relationship of the paclitaxel pharmacokinetics in 13 patients with ovarian cancer to polymorphisms in CYP2C8, CYP3A5, ABCB1, and PXR. We found high interindividual variability in the plasma concentrations of two metabolites, 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel and p-3'-hydroxypaclitaxel. All the patients were genotyped as CYP2C8*1/*1. Neither the CYP3A5 A6986G (CYP3A5*3) nor the PXR C-25385T alleles were associated with altered plasma concentrations of paclitaxel and its metabolites. ABCB1 T-129C, T1236C, and G2677(A,T), however, was associated with lower area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of paclitaxel. We also observed a significant correlation between the AUC (r=-0.721) or the total clearance of paclitaxel (CL(tot)) (r= 0.673) and the ABCB1 mutant allele dosage in each patient. Taken together, our findings suggest that interindividual variability in paclitaxel pharmacokinetics could be predicted by ABCB1 genotyping.

Paget's disease of the vulva: clinicopathologic study of type 1 cases treated at a single institution.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics of primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva. Between 1986 and 2005, 22 patients with primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva (type 1) were treated at Tohoku University Hospital. Medical records were reviewed for pathologic diagnosis, patient age, associated neoplasms, type(s) of eczema, symptom duration, treatment, surgical procedures, recurrence, and length of follow-up. Patient age ranged from 51 to 85 years (median 71.5 years). Median duration of symptoms was 24 months (range 2-60 months). Type 1a (intraepithelial) Paget's disease accounted for 18 patients, with 3 type 1b (invasive) cases and 1 type 1c (intraepithelial disease with underlying adenocarcinoma) case. Mean length of follow-up was 53.7 months, and median follow-up was 49 months (range 6-199 months). Only two patients had an associated internal malignancy: T-cell leukemia and breast cancer. Mapping biopsy was performed in 14 of the 18 type 1a cases. All patients were free of disease at the surgical margins and are alive without recurrence. The four patients with type 1b or 1c disease had lymph node metastases. Two has died of disease, and two are alive with no recurrence. The rate of secondary malignancy seems to be low in primary cutaneous Paget's disease of the vulva. Mapping biopsy with careful examination of characteristic skin surface may be useful for surgery of type 1a cases. Inguinal lymphadenectomy is recommended in cases with question of invasion or known underlying adenocarcinoma.

Clinical outcome and risk factors for recurrence in borderline ovarian tumours.

We investigated the long-term prognosis of borderline ovarian tumours and determined risk factors for recurrence. One hundred and twenty-one borderline ovarian tumours treated between 1994 and 2003 at the participating institutions in the Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit were retrospectively investigated for clinical stage, histopathological subtype, surgical technique, postoperative chemotherapy, the presence or absence of recurrence, and prognosis. The median follow-up period was 57 months (1-126 months). One hundred and nine cases (90.6%) were at clinical stage I. The histopathological subtypes consisted of 91 cases of mucinous tumour (75.2%), 27 cases of serous tumour (22.3%), and three cases of endometrioid tumour. Conservative surgery was used in 53 cases (43.8%), radical surgery in 68 cases (56.2%), a staging laparotomy in 43 cases (35.5%), and postoperative adjuvant therapy in 30 cases (24.8%). Recurrence was found in eight cases, but no tumour-related deaths were reported. Although no significant difference in disease-free survival rate was seen between different clinical stages, the difference in disease-free survival rate between serous and non-serous (mucinous and endometrioid) types was significant (P<0.05). The 10-year disease-free survival rate was 89.1% for the radical surgery group and 57.4% for the conservative surgery group -- this difference was significant (P<0.05). In the conservative surgery group, cystectomy and serous tumour were independent risk factors for recurrence. Although recurrence was observed, the long-term prognosis of borderline ovarian tumour was favourable, without tumour-related deaths. Considering the favourable prognosis, conservative surgery can be chosen as far as the patient has a non-serous tumour and receive adnexectomy. However, in cases of serous type and/or receiving cystectomy special care should be given as relative risk rates of recurrence elevate by 2-4-folds.