The role of 15-lipoxygenase-1 expression and its potential role in the pathogenesis of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinomas.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To investigate the presence of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) expression and its potential role in the pathogenesis of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors investigated the presence of 15-LOX-1 expression in samples from patients diagnosed with normal endometrium (n = 12), endometrial hyperplasia (n = 12), and endometrial cancer (n = 12). The immunohistochemical stainings were scored by three independent pathologists. A Western blot of 15- LOX-1 determined the presence of protein expression in normal endometrium. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the data's distribution pattern. For pairwise comparisons of the combined scores between groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. RESULTS: Based on the combined scores for 15-LOX-1 expression, strong immunochemistry staining was observed in samples diagnosed with normal endometrium. There was a significant difference in 15-LOX-1 expression between normal endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma (p = 0.03). Comparing tissues from normal endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia, there was a decline in the expression from normal endometrium to endometrial hyperplasia. However, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present results show that a decrease of 15-LOX-1 expression in the endometrial tumorigenesis process, starting from normal endometrium to hyperplasia and endometrial cancer, might be a trigger. Further studies are required to determine its potential use as a marker in a larger randomized multicenter study.

Comparison of risk of malignancy indices; RMI 1-4 in borderline ovarian tumor.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic values of the risk of malignancy index (RMI)/1-4 in patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). METHODS: The study consisted of 50 patients with BOT diagnosed and treated between 2005-2010 and 50 patients with benign adnexal massses between 2009-2010 as a control comparison group in the retropsective study. Preoperative serum CA125, U score, tumor size (S), and menopausal status were recorded. The RMI 1-3 was calculated according to the formula; UxMxCA125 and RMI4 formulation was; UxMxCA125xS. S equaled 1 for tumor size <7 cm and was 2 when size a 7 cm. The RMI 1-4 indices were calculated for all patients together with the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy (DA). The performances of RMI indices were evaluated by McNemar's test and determined the best score cutoff value by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The mean age, median value of CA125, ultrasound score, menopausal status, median values of RMI 1-4 of BOTs were statistically higher than benign adnexal masses. The sensitivity of RMI 1-4 was 26, 36, 62, and 60% at cutoff 200 level, respectively. The areas under curve of RMI 1-4 were found to be 0.676, 0.665, 0.668 and 0.734, respectively. DA of RMI 1-4 was found to be 56, 59, 50, and 71, respectively. When RMI 1-4 indices were compared with each other RMI 4 was the best RMI for BOTs. CONCLUSION: RMI 4 was the best predictive RMI for preoperative discrimination of BOT at a cutoff level of 200.

Comparison of tumor markers and clinicopathological features in serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess tumor markers and clinicopathological findings of patients with serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) features. METHODS: The study consisted of 50 patients that were diagnosed with and treated for BOT between 2005-2010 in three centers. CA125, CA19-9, and CA125+CA19-9 levels and clinicopathological features were compared in serous and mucinous histotypes. In serous and mucinous BOTs, correlations between tumor markers and demographics such as age, menopausal status, parity, clinical findings (stage, relapse, adjuvant chemotherapy, cytology, lymph node involvement and tumoral morphology (cystic-solid content, papilla, septation) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between serous and mucinous tumors in the clinicopathological features such as stage, tumor markers, age, menopausal status, or cytology. In serous BOTs we found a significant relation between elevated CA125+ CA19-9, CA19-9 and recurrence (p < 0.05). Also there was a significant relation between elevated CA125+ CA19-9, CA19-9 and cytology positivity (p < 0.05). We found a significant relation in serous BOTs between elevated CA125+CA19-9, adjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node metastases (p < 0.05). Also In mucinous BOTs with papilla formation we found a significant relation between elevated CA125 and CA125+ CA19-9 (p < 0.05). There was significant relation between cytology positivity and elevated CA19-9 in mucinous BOTs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum tumor markers of serous and mucinous BOTs were different in relation to their clinicopathological features. This may reflect differences of serous and mucinous BOTs.

A sarcomatous-type peritoneal malign mixed mullerian tumor implant in association with ovarian adenocarcinoma: a case report.

A rare case of a patient with a histopathological diagnosis of a sarcomatous-type peritoneal malign mixed müllerian tumor implant in association with ovarian adenocarcinoma is reported. A 52-year-old patient was referred to our clinic for an adnexal mass. At pelvic examination, an irregular, fixed, approximately 7-8 cm in size mass was detected in the right adnexal area. At transvaginal ultrasonographic examination, it was observed that there was an 80 x 70 mm sized, irregularly contoured, semisolid mass with hyperechogenous areas inside originating from the ovary in the right adnexal area. At laboratory examination tumor marker CA-125 was 280.4 U/ml (< 35), CA-15-3 was 146.5 U/ml (< 25), whereas other markers were within normal range. The patient was operated on for a right adnexal mass. A staging laparatomy procedure was applied. Postoperative histopathological diagnosis was reported as malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary, with the ovarian component as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the metastatic foci over serosal surfaces as a sarcomatous component. Postoperatively six courses of adjuvant and consolidation chemotherapy were administered to the patient. Further studies are needed to set a consensus about evaluation of treatment and prognosis for this kind of pathology.

A breast cancer patient with pelvic and gastric malignancy after adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer.

As is known, tamoxifen therapy is related to endometrial proliferation, hyperplasia, polyp formation, invasive carcinoma and uterine sarcoma. In this study, we present a 75-year-old woman who had five children. Gastric tumor, endometrial carcinoma and cervical adenocarcinoma in situ were detected after treatment with tamoxifen for breast cancer. It seems that being aware of the undesirable affects of tamoxifen treatment during the chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy period is very important.

Sexual dysfunction assessment and hormonal correlations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

In this controlled study, we aimed to evaluate the sexual dysfunction of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to healthy controls. We enrolled 64 sexually active women in our study. The PCOS group consisted of 32 women who met the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria, and the control group was composed of 32 age-matched, healthy females. In addition to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, the hormonal and biochemical parameters were also studied. All patients were invited to fill out the female sexual function index (FSFI) and Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaires. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the PCOS group was similar to controls (25% vs 19%; P=0.54). No significant difference was found according to each domain score of FSFI. Significant negative correlations were found between the total FSFI scores of the PCOS group and the total (r=-0.278) and free testosterone (r=-0.493) levels. Although depressive scores of PCOS patients were higher, they did not show greater impaired sexual functions than age-matched controls according to their FSFI scores. Considering the multifactorial state of female sexual dysfunction, further studies are needed to clarify the impact of PCOS upon sexuality.

The efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block in patients undergoing hysterectomy.

The study objective of this prospective, double-blind randomised controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and bupivacaine infiltration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the wound in patients undergoing hysterectomy. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups: a control group (n = 18) and TAP block group (n = 18) received bilateral TAP blocks with saline and bupivacaine respectively, and an infiltration group (n = 19) received skin and subcutaneous wound tissue infiltration with bupivacaine at the end of surgery. After surgery patients received patient-controlled intravenous tramadol and were assessed for pain and tramadol consumption at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours. Both the TAP and infiltration groups had lower movement and rest pain scores than the control group, with lower scores in the TAP group than the infiltration group at 6 and 24 hours. Total tramadol consumption was significantly lower in the TAP group than in the other groups at all time points. We concluded that ultrasound-guided TAP block reduced rest and movement pain after total abdominal hysterectomy and was more effective than superficial wound infiltration for postoperative pain management.

CA19-9 may have clinical significance in mature cystic teratomas of the ovary.

The objective of this study was to evaluate size, bilaterality, histopathologic origin, and the serum levels of some tumor markers in patients with mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) of the ovary. Retrospective study of 80 patients operated at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Turkey, between the years 1998 and 2003 was performed. The mean age was 33.1 +/- 11.3 years (median 34; range 15-69). The mean tumor diameter was 7.2 +/- 4.5 cm (median 5; range 3-20). The mean serum CA19-9 level was 101.2 +/- 179.7 IU/mL (range 1-841, normal value < 37), the mean serum CA125 level was 32.0 +/- 37.8 U/mL (range 2.2-205, normal value < 35), the mean carcino-embryogenic antigen (CEA) level was 1.46 +/- 1.20 ng/mL (range 0.2-4.8, normal value 3.4), and the mean serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 2.7 +/- 3.0 ng/mL (range 0.1-10.5, normal value <8.1). The elevated rate of CA19-9, CA125, CEA, and AFP was 38.8% (31/80), 25% (18/72), 9.1% (4/44), and 8.7% (4/46), respectively. The bilaterality rate was 27.5% (22/80). Patients with an elevated serum CA19-9 level showed significantly higher bilaterality rate (51.6% versus 12.2%, P < 0.05) than the patients with low levels. Likelihood ratio for bilaterality was 2.8 for CA19-9 and 4.6 for CA125. Bilateral teratomas showed a significantly higher rate of ectodermal component than the unilateral ones (100% versus 74.3%, P < 0.05). Ovarian MCTs were diagnosed especially during the reproductive period. CA19-9 may be the only important marker in the diagnosis of MCTs. Elevated levels of CA19-9 and CA125 may be an indicator of bilaterality. Since levels of CA19-9 and CA125 may be elevated in both benign and malignant conditions, interpretation of these findings must be made in light of the clinical condition of the patient.