Team-Based Learning Module for Undergraduate Medical Education: a Module Focused on the Human Papilloma Virus to Increase Willingness to Vaccinate.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination rates lag behind other vaccines, primarily because of weak provider recommendations, and are associated with nearly 30,000 new cancer diagnoses a year. Educating medical students about HPV using active, team-centered learning may increase assimilation of information and may increase vaccination rates. A team-based learning (TBL) module focused on HPV for first-year medical students about HPV will better increase knowledge and likeliness to vaccinate than traditional education methods. Baseline HPV knowledge in medical students across Texas was assessed by surveying all 4-year undergraduate medical schools. Students at one medical school then participated in a week-long TBL focused on basic and clinical concepts relating to HPV, and then were re-surveyed upon completion of the course module. At baseline assessment, first-year student at the intervention site performed at the same level as first-year medical students across the state of Texas on knowledge and satisfaction with their HPV-related medical school education. After the TBL implementation, students performed significantly better than similar-year students and equal to graduating seniors, on knowledge of HPV- and HPV-related cancers, and report significantly higher satisfaction with education measures. Students at the intervention site were significantly more likely to recommend the HPV vaccination in future practice. Short-term knowledge and willingness to recommend vaccination are improved with a targeted HPV TBL early in medical education, which may provide a basis of knowledge that could translate into improved vaccination rates.

Improving Rates of Early Entry Prenatal Care in an Underserved Population.

Introduction Early prenatal care can improve pregnancy outcomes, reduce complications, and ensure a healthier pregnancy. Unfortunately, many pregnant women do not seek early care. This research provides a framework for improving prenatal care in a low income community-based obstetrics clinic. Methods A multi-disciplinary quality improvement initiative was implemented at a large federally qualified health clinic in Houston, Texas to improve the rate of early entry into prenatal care by identifying barriers through patient surveys, focus groups, stakeholder feedback, and improving processes to reduce these barriers. Results A significant increase in early prenatal care was achieved by redesigning operational and clinical processes to improve access to care, expand patient education and outreach, increase resources, extend hours of operation, and increase presumptive insurance eligibility. Three months post implementation, an increase of 44.5% (p < 0.001) occurred in patients who had a prenatal visit in the first trimester. Patients with early prenatal care had better obstetrical and neonatal outcomes; however, the results were not statistically significant likely due to the small sample size. Discussion This quality improvement project provides various strategies and resources for other community-based clinics to consider when seeking improvement in their rates of early prenatal care.

Genetic analysis of a morphologically heterogeneous ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.

AIMS: Low-grade ovarian endometrioid carcinomas may be associated with high-grade components. Whether the latter are clonally related to and originate from the low-grade endometrioid carcinoma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to use massively parallel sequencing to characterize the genomic landscape and clonal relatedness of an ovarian endometrioid carcinoma containing low-grade and high-grade components. METHODS AND RESULTS: DNA samples extracted from each tumour component (low-grade endometrioid, high-grade anaplastic and high-grade squamous) and matched normal tissue were subjected to targeted massively parallel sequencing with the 410-gene Memorial Sloan Kettering-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT) sequencing assay. Somatic single nucleotide variants, small insertions and deletions, and copy number alterations were detected with state-of-the-art bioinformatics algorithms, and validated with orthogonal methods. The endometrioid carcinoma and the associated high-grade components shared copy number alterations and four clonal mutations, including SMARCA4 mutations, which resulted in loss of BRG1 protein expression. Subclonal mutations and mutations restricted to single components were also identified, such as distinct TP53 mutations restricted to each histological component. CONCLUSIONS: Histologically distinct components of ovarian endometrioid carcinomas may show intratumour genetic heterogeneity but be clonally related, harbouring a complex clonal composition. In the present case, SMARCA4 mutations were probably early events, whereas TP53 somatic mutations were acquired later in evolution.

Bladder cancer incidence and mortality in patients treated with radiation for uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of radiation therapy (RT) administered for uterine cancer (UtC) on bladder cancer (BC) incidence, tumour characteristics at presentation, and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, records of 56 681 patients diagnosed with UtC as their first primary malignancy during 1980-2005 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) database. Follow-up for incident BC ended on 31 December 2008. Occurrences of BC diagnoses and BC deaths in patients with UtC managed with or without RT were summarised with counts and person-time incidence rates (counts divided by person-years of observation). Age adjustment of rates was performed by direct standardisation. Incident BC cases were described in terms of histological types, grades and stages. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 15 years, BC was diagnosed in 146 (0.93%) of 15 726 patients with UtC managed with RT, and in 197 (0.48%) of 40 955 patients with UtC managed without RT, with an age-adjusted rate ratio of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.5). Fatal BC occurred in 39 (0.25%) and 36 (0.09%) of patients with UtC managed with vs without RT, respectively, with an age-adjusted rate ratio of 2.9 (95% CI 1.8-4.6). Incident BC cases diagnosed in patients with UtC managed with vs without RT had similar distributions of histological types, grades, and stages. CONCLUSIONS: Use of RT for UtC is associated with increased BC incidence and mortality later in life. Heightened awareness should help identify women with new voiding symptoms or haematuria, all of which should be fully evaluated.

The prion-like protein Doppel: A soluble biomarker steering ovarian cancer's peritoneal to circulatory dissemination.

Detecting ovarian cancer (OC) early using existing biomarkers, e.g., cancer antigen 125 (CA125), is challenging due to its ubiquitous expression in many tissues. Doppel, a prion-like protein, expresses in male reproductive organ but absent in female reproductive systems and healthy tissues, but plays an important role in neoangiogenesis. Here, we have shown two platforms, soluble Doppel in sera/ascites and Doppel expressed circulating tumor cells ( Dpl+ CTC) in the whole blood, to detect subsets of epithelial OC (EOC). Increased level of Doppel in the sera of OC patients, in three different cohorts, confirm Doppel as OC specific biomarker. Serum Doppel level distinguishes EOC subtypes and early stages HGSOCs from non-cancerous conditions with high sensitivity and specificity. Stratifying the EOCs based on Doppel level, we categorized them into Doppel-high (Dpl hi ) and Doppel-low (Dpl low ) groups. Using ascites-derived organoids and single cell sequencing of whole ascites of Dpl hi and Dpl low patients, we identify that Doppel induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment, respectively. Doppel levels in the sera/ascites correlate with the changes of Dpl+ CTC number in whole blood, highlighting the association of Doppel-induced EMT with CTC dissemination in circulation. Thus, Doppel-based detection of EOC subtypes could be a promising platform as clinical biomarker and link Doppel-axis with OC dissemination.

Current Role of Robotic Hysterectomy.

Background: While robotic surgery for gynecologic indications received U.S. government approval in 2005, and has been rapidly and widely adopted, it is currently unclear how often this approach to hysterectomy is utilized. Objective: The aim of this research was to assess length of stay (LOS), mortality, indications, and current use of robotic hysterectomy, compared to other types of hysterectomy. Methods: A retrospective study of hysterectomies performed in New York State (NYS) in 2011 was performed. Data, including indication for surgery, age, procedure, LOS, and discharge status were obtained from the NYS Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Outcome Measures: LOS and mortality rate, were calculated according to institution, procedure, and indication for surgery. Results: For 22073 hysterectomies performed in NYS, the mean LOS was 2.9 days, and there were 29 (0.13%) deaths. The mean LOS for abdominal (12774 cases, 3.9 days) hysterectomies was longer than for laparoscopic (3927 cases, 1.6 days), robotic (2814 cases, 1.6 days), or vaginal (2558 cases, 1.7 days) hysterectomies (p<0.05). The adjusted mortality rates for abdominal (0.20%), laparoscopic (0.03%), robotic (0.07%), and vaginal (0.04%) hysterectomies were not significantly different. Overall, robotic surgery was performed in 29% of hospitals, by 11% of physicians and in 13% of cases. A robotic approach was utilized in 35% of patients with uterine cancer, 13% with endometriosis, 11% with excessive bleeding, 8% with leiomyomata, and 8% with pelvic relaxation. Conclusions: Despite the advantages in reduced LOS for robotic and other minimally invasive types of hysterectomies, the abdominal route is still predominant in most institutions. (J GYNECOL SURG XX:1).

Diet-microbiome interactions in cancer treatment: Opportunities and challenges for precision nutrition in cancer.

Dietary patterns contribute to cancer risk. Separately, microbial factors influence the development of several cancers. However, the interaction of diet and the microbiome and their joint contribution to cancer treatment response needs more research. The microbiome significantly impacts drug metabolism, immune activation, and response to immunotherapy. One of the critical factors affecting the microbiome structure and function is diet. Data demonstrate that the diet and microbiome composition affects the immune response. Moreover, malnutrition is a significant confounder to cancer therapy response. There is little understanding of the interaction of malnutrition with the microbiome in the context of cancer. This review aims to address the current knowledge of dietary intake patterns and malnutrition among cancer patients and the impact on treatment outcomes. Second, this review will provide evidence linking the microbiome to cancer treatment response and provide evidence of the potentially strong effect that diet could have on this interaction. This review will formulate critical questions that will need further research to understand the diet-microbiome relationship in cancer treatment response and directions for future research to guide us to precision nutrition therapy to improve cancer outcomes.

Inhibition of the c-fms proto-oncogene autocrine loop and tumor phenotype in glucocorticoid stimulated human breast carcinoma cells.

The c-fms proto-oncogene encoded CSF-1 receptor and its ligand represent a feedback loop, which in a paracrine manner, is well known to promote spread of breast cancers. The role of the autocrine feedback loop in promotion of breast tumor behavior, in particular in vitro, is less well understood. The physiologic stimulation of c-fms expression by glucocorticoids (GCs) in vitro and in vivo magnifies the tumor promoting effect seen in these cells from activated c-fms signaling by CSF-1. Targeted molecular therapy against c-fms could therefore abrogate both complementary feedback loops. Using breast cancer cells endogenously co-expressing receptor and ligand, we used complementary approaches to inhibit c-fms expression and function within this autocrine pathway in the context of GC stimulation. Silencing RNA (shRNA), antisense oligonucleotide therapy (AON), and inhibition of c-fms signaling, were all used to quantitate inhibition of GC-stimulated adhesion, motility, and invasion of human breast cancer cells in vitro. shRNA to c-fms downregulated GC-stimulated c-fms mRNA by fourfold over controls, correlating with over twofold reduction in cellular invasiveness. AON therapy was also able to inhibit GC stimulation of c-fms mRNA, and resulted in threefold less invasiveness and 1.5 to 2-fold reductions in adhesion and motility. Finally, the small-molecule c-fms inhibitor Ki20227 was able to decrease in a dose-response manner, breast cancer cell invasion by up to fourfold. Inhibition of this receptor/ligand pair may have clinical utility in inhibition of the autocrine as well as the known paracrine interactions in breast cancer, thus further supporting use of targeted therapies in this disease.

Evaluating the significance of location of lymph node metastasis and extranodal disease in women with stage IIIC endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic significance of location of lymph node metastasis and extranodal disease for women with stage IIIC endometrial cancer. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1988 and 2005. Statistical analysis used Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 2559 women were identified; 1453 stage IIIC1, and with 906 stage IIIC2 tumors. Compared to stage IIIC1; more stage IIIC2 patients demonstrated high-risk factors such as grade III disease (p<0.001), unfavorable histologic types (p=0.01), concurrent disease at other extrauterine sites (p<0.001), and greater than two positive lymph nodes (p<0.001). While the 5-year disease specific survival was comparable (p>0.05) among node positive patients found to have positive peritoneal cytology (44.0%), adnexal/serosal metastasis (42.9%), and vaginal/parametrial involvement (41.8%); it differed individually in all three categories from those with nodal metastasis alone (67.0%, p<0.001). Among women with extranodal disease, the location of nodal metastasis had no effect on survival (HR=0.92; 95% CI, 0.74-1.14). For women with node only stage IIIC tumors, those patients with positive para-aortic nodes were more likely to die from their tumors (HR=1.40; 95% CI, 1.12-1.75). CONCLUSION(S): Location of lymph node metastasis is prognostic in patients with nodal disease alone, and not in those with extranodal disease. Extranodal disease is associated with a poor prognosis and should be regarded in conjunction with location of lymph node metastasis for risk-stratification in stage IIIC endometrial cancer.

Intra-operative detection of nodal metastasis in early stage cervical cancer: a survey of the practice patterns of SGO members.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the practice patterns of members of Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) in different clinical situations involving the intra-operative detection of nodal metastasis in early stage cervical cancer. METHODS: A study questionnaire was mailed to the current members of SGO (n=874). Data were collected using an internet survey database. Frequency distributions were determined, and non parametric tests were performed. RESULTS: Thirty percent SGO members responded (n=274). Only 38.6% routinely performed an intra-operative frozen section evaluation of the lymph nodes. Of these; most (79%) did not abort the radical hysterectomy (RH) for an isolated microscopically positive pelvic lymph node. The likelihood of aborting RH for microscopic nodal involvement increased however with number of positive pelvic lymph nodes (21% with 1, 40% with 2-3, and 61% with >3 positive pelvic lymph nodes), involvement of para-aortic lymph nodes (61%), or bilaterally positive lymph nodes (54%). Similarly, a large number did not complete the RH due to gross involvement of pelvic (45%) or para-aortic lymph node/s (69%). Most (90%) completed the lymphadenectomy before aborting RH. When completing RH, the majority tailored its extent to perform a less radical resection. Variables significantly associated with the likelihood of completing RH in different clinical situations included: location of current practice (West), practice type (private), years in practice (>15 years), and number of cases seen per year (>10/month). CONCLUSION: Practice patterns of SGO members are considerably diverse, which is reflective of the conflicting evidence available in the literature. Well designed studies are required to determine the best overall approach.

Stage III uterine carcinosarcoma: 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Staging System and Prognostic Determinants.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To determine the significance of positive peritoneal cytology and pelvic versus para-aortic lymph node involvement in uterine carcinosarcoma. (2) To evaluate the impact of isolated retroperitoneal lymph node involvement (IIIC-N) versus retroperitoneal lymph node involvement plus other evidence of extrauterine disease spread (IIIC-N+) on survival in patients with stage IIIC uterine carcinosarcoma. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1988 and 2005. Statistical analysis used χ, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 690 women were identified. When comparing overall survival between patients with disease spread to uterine serosa and/or adnexa and those with positive peritoneal cytology, there was no significant difference (25.4% vs 15.5%, P = 0.2). However, although the 5-year overall survival was comparable between patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes and those with positive para-aortic lymph nodes (22.1% vs 25.4%, P = 1.0), it was significantly worse in stage IIIC-N(+) compared to stage IIIC-N patients (15.0% vs 33.4%, P < 0.001). Only patient's age (P < 0.001), race (P = 0.03), stage (P < 0.03), and lymphadenectomy (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of survival after adjusting for other contributing factors. In addition, the results of unadjusted analysis concerning the survival difference between different stage groups were confirmed on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Positive peritoneal cytology is associated with poor prognosis in uterine carcinosarcoma, comparable to current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIA classification of disease. Although there does not seem to be a significant survival difference between patients with positive pelvic versus those with para-aortic lymph nodes, the prognosis seems to be much worse in patients with stage IIIC uterine carcinosarcoma with other evidence of extrauterine disease spread, suggesting the need for more aggressive therapy.

Stage IIA1 versus stage IIA2 cervical cancer: does the new staging criteria predict survival?

OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the correlation of 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system with survival in patients with stage IIA cervical cancer, (2) to elucidate the treatment patterns in stage IIA1 and stage IIA2 cervical cancer, and (3) to investigate whether radical hysterectomy or radiation influenced overall survival. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database between 1988 and 2005. Statistical analysis used χ test, Kaplan-Meier method, Cox regression, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 560 women, 271 (48.4%) had stage IIA1, and 289 (51.6%) had stage IIA2 cervical cancer. Stage IIA2 patients were younger than stage IIA1 patients (mean age, 49 years vs 54 years; P = 0.01). Stage IIA1, compared with stage IIA2, differed significantly regarding the administration of primary radiation (47.2% vs 64.7%, P < 0.001) and adjuvant radiation (60.5% vs 77.5%, P = 0.006). The following variables were significantly associated with the performance of radical hysterectomy: patient age, 65 years or younger, tumor size, ≤ 2 cm or lesser, high tumor grade, and nonsquamous tumor histology. The incidence of adjuvant radiation after radical hysterectomy was high (48% [tumor size, ≤ 2 cm] to 86% [tumor size, >6 cm]). The 5-year overall survival was not significantly different between stages IIA1 and IIA2 (65.8% vs 59.5%, P = 0.2). Only patient age (P = 0.01), tumor size (P = 0.02), and lymph node status (P = 0.002) were independent predictors of survival. When controlled for other contributing factors, there was no significant difference in survival between patients treated by radical hysterectomy and primary radiation. CONCLUSIONS: The 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging criteria is not an independent predictor of survival in stage IIA cervical cancer. Given the equivalent efficacy of radical hysterectomy and radiation, attention should be paid to the high risk of adjuvant radiation in these patients.

Brain metastases in epithelial ovarian and primary peritoneal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Central nervous system metastases are believed to be becoming more clinically evident as long-term survival for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) has improved. Our objective was to report our experience with managing brain metastatic disease (BMD) in patients with EOC and PPC. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients with EOC and PPC diagnosed with BMD from 1983 to 2007 at our institution. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were identified. Patients with multiple brain lesions (n = 16) had a shorter median time to diagnosis of BMD than patients with single lesions (n = 8; 22.5 vs 39 months). Radiation therapy was included in the treatment of BMD for 19 patients (78%). Fourteen patients received whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) only (survival, 6 months [range, 1-51 months]). Three patients received a combination of gamma knife radiosurgery and WBRT (survival, 20 months [range, 17-67 months]), and 1 patient received gamma knife radiosurgery alone (survival, 10 months). Four patients underwent craniotomy with 3 receiving postoperative WBRT (survival, 8.5 months [range, 2-97 months]). Two patients elected for palliative care only. The median survival from the diagnosis of BMD was 8.5 months (range, 1-97 months) with a 42% 1-year survival and 16% 2-year survival. Patients with single lesions had a significantly longer survival than patients with multiple lesions (17 months [range, 3-97 months] vs 6 months [range, 3-67 months], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our report provides the largest single-institution experience of brain metastasis from EOC and PPC in patients receiving predominantly platinum and paclitaxel therapy. Patients with BMD from EOC and PPC have a poor prognosis overall; however, prolonged survival is possible in a small subset of patients.

The effect of monthly resident reflection on achieving rotation goals.

BACKGROUND: Reflection is a learning tool increasingly being used in medical education. It has not been well studied as a method of communicating resident rotation goals and objectives. PURPOSE: The purpose was to study the effect of monthly resident reflection on achieving curriculum goals. METHODS: During the first half of the 2005-06 academic year, obstetrics/gynecology residents at a community hospital received curriculum goals in a traditional written manner. During the second 6 months, the same trainees underwent 1-hr monthly structured reflection sessions on the rotation goals and objectives. RESULTS: Sixteen residents were studied. Compared to control, residents reported the rotation goals as better defined during reflection months. More trainees rated reflection as more valuable than the didactic time it replaced. All 16 residents documented more cumulative procedures in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education operative log Web site during reflection months for each of the three major categories; there was a mean increased number of procedures logged in Obstetrics (23.1 +/- 14.0, p < .001), Gynecology (18.3 +/- 10.9, p < .001), and Primary Care (21.1 +/- 23.5, p = .003). Overall, there was a mean of 62.6 +/- 32.1 (p < .001) more procedures entered during the reflection period, which translated to an 18% increase. CONCLUSIONS: Structured monthly reflection may lead to a higher success of achieving rotation goals.

Cervical cancer complicating pelvic organ prolapse, and use of a pessary to restore anatomy for optimal radiation: A case report.

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide and the third most common gynecologic cancer in the USA. Improved screening methods such as liquid-based cytology accompanied by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) co-testing have contributed to a declining incidence of cervical cancer. There are approximately 13,000 new cases per year in the United States, accounting for 4200 deaths (Siegel et al., 2011). Pelvic organ prolapse increases with age, obesity and parity. In the absence of bothersome urinary, gastrointestinal or pressure symptoms, patients may choose conservative management options. The index patient was a 72 year old woman with a known history of pelvic organ prolapse who had been managed by her primary physician for 7 years until she developed new-onset vaginal bleeding. One month following worsening prolapse and increased vaginal bleeding she presented to the emergency department and was evaluated. On physical examination the cervix appeared as an 8 cm exophytic fungating mass extruding from the vagina and bled easily from areas of apparent necrosis. Multiple biopsies confirmed an invasive squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent the insertion of a Gelhorn pessary and perineorrhaphy to reduce her procidentia, cystocele and enterocele. Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and radiation therapy in the form of brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy were then administered with curative intent. Cervical cancer complicating a uterine procidentia in an elderly patient is a rare occurrence in the United States and requires a multidisciplinary approach involving a urogynecologist, a gynecologic oncologist and a radiation oncologist. Nonetheless, in carefully selected patients, the outcome can be successful.

Human Papillomavirus: From Basic Science to Clinical Management for Preclinical Medical Students.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with 30,000 cancer diagnoses a year, but the HPV vaccination is administered less frequently than other vaccinations. Future providers are a potential target for improving rates, and this flipped classroom module was developed to educate future vaccinators on HPV virology, vaccination, and clinical management. Methods: Designed as a clinical correlation for a basic science curriculum on introductory virology and immunology, this weeklong module consisted of a 1-hour lecture and case presentation, assigned articles, and a 90-minute wrap-up session including individual and group quizzes over the assigned material, a group clinical application exercise, and a 20-minute lecture on the case and real-world applications. A pre-/posttest survey was done on general knowledge of HPV, satisfaction with education, and willingness to recommend vaccination for HPV. Results: This module was designed for first-year students, 491 of whom have performed well in it. Pre-/posttest surveys of 243 students indicated that they significantly improved their knowledge of HPV (from 66.3% premodule to 86.3% postmodule, p <.001) and their satisfaction with medical education on vaccination-related topics, as well as increasing their willingness to recommend vaccination (from 58% premodule to 100% postmodule, p <.001). Discussion: This module is an effective and satisfactory way to teach first-year medical students about HPV and HPV vaccination and improves reported willingness to recommend vaccination. With limited resources available to effectively teach HPV vaccination to preclinical medical students, this module fills a gap.

A multi-institutional effort for temporary training of residents displaced by disaster: lessons from Katrina.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to describe a comprehensive, collaborative temporary residency training curriculum after disaster. STUDY DESIGN: The Texas Southeast Alliance was created in response to the Katrina Disaster by regional obstetric/gynecology programs. Principles were devised to guide development of a temporary training curriculum. Learning opportunities were identified and pooled. Affected program directors were contacted who expressed interest in the curriculum which had been approved by institutional officials and appropriate regulatory bodies. RESULTS: In total, 41 different training opportunities were made available to the Tulane residents. Twenty-four residents completed 92 rotations in total. Residents met weekly with their program director. Free psychiatric consultative services were provided through resident counseling services. Housing was facilitated wherever possible. CONCLUSION: Consolidation of resources by the Texas Southeast Alliance provided temporary training experiences for Tulane obstetric and gynecology residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Effective training can be maintained after disaster by coordinating institutional efforts and establishing governing principles.

Correlation of tumor phenotype with c-fms proto-oncogene expression in an in vivo intraperitoneal model for experimental human breast cancer metastasis.

Although proto-oncogene expression has been shown to correlate with clinical outcome in breast carcinoma, an experimental model has not been proposed to study this phenomenon in vivo. In addition, the ability to modulate this proto-oncogene in vivo to correlate with phenotypic behavior has not been determined. Utilizing an intraperitoneal model for metastatic spread with BT20 human breast carcinoma cells, clonally expanded cells expressing five fold higher c-fms protein were compared with parent BT20 cells as well as an underexpressing clone using intrasplenic injection following left flank cut-down in female nude and Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Athymic BALB/c nude and SCID animals were observed for clinical evidence of tumorigenicity with necropsy performed at either 50 or 80 days unless compromised earlier. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of the harvested tumors was performed to correlate c-fms expression from its original in vitro culture to the in vivo model. At day 50, differences in primary tumor take and spread to the pelvis were already evident favoring the c-fms over-expression group with IHC of these tumors revealing significantly higher intensity of staining for c-fms, (mean H score of 205 vs. 43 in the over-expression and parent groups, respectively). At day 80, tumor take and spread was comparable; however, tumor size in the over-expression group was significantly larger than the parent and under-expressing group in both the BALB/c and SCID experiments. Modulation of c-fms proto-oncogene expression was also achieved using the anti-glucocorticoid, RU-486, via oral administration to SCID mice with subsequent correlation to IHC staining. This model thus provides tumors of significant size and organ diversity which retain their phenotype early in tumorigenesis allowing an early endpoint to assess efficacy of novel treatments.

Synchronous Presentation of Cavernous Sinus Metastasis and Cervical Cancer: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Uterine cervical cancers customarily spread by local extension to the adjacent viscera or through lymphatic embolization to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Distant hematogenous spread particularly to the brain is an uncommon and late event which heralds a poor prognosis. We report a case of uterine squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with unusual simultaneous presentation of cavernous sinus metastasis and multiple brain metastases while reviewing the current literature on this clinical entity.