The impact of lymphadenectomy on the survival outcomes of ovarian clear cell carcinoma: A retrospective study of the SEER database and Chinese registry.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a rare pathological type of ovarian cancer with a poor prognosis, and lymphadenectomy is controversial in patients with OCCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of lymphadenectomy on the prognosis of patients with OCCC. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we collected data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and institutional registries in China. The SEER cohort included 1777 women diagnosed with OCCC between 2010 and 2019, while the Chinese cohort included 199 women diagnosed between April 2004 and April 2021. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were studied using Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis. We also employed propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust for baseline imbalances between the lymphadenectomy group and the no-lymphadenectomy group. RESULTS: Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that lymphadenectomy was not associated with better overall survival (OS) in either early (hazard ratio [HR] 0.84[0.50-1.43], p = 0.528) or advanced (HR 0.78[0.50-1.21], p = 0.270) patients in the SEER cohort after PSM. Additionally, in the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, lymphadenectomy did not significantly improve OS in both early (p = 0.28) and advanced (p = 0.49) patients in the SEER cohort after PSM. Similarly, in the Chinese cohort, lymphadenectomy had no significant effect on OS (early p = 0.22; advanced p = 0.61) or RFS (early p = 0.18; advanced p = 0.83) in both early and advanced patients. CONCLUSION: In completely homogeneous groups, lymphadenectomy in women diagnosed with OCCC had no effect on either recurrence-free survival or overall survival compared to patients without lymphadenectomy.

The impact of lymphadenectomy on ovarian clear cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) shares treatment strategies with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Due to OCCC's rarity, there's a lack of prospective studies on its surgery, resulting in heterogeneous and limited existing data. This study aims to clarify the prognostic significance of lymphadenectomy in OCCC patients. METHODS: We systematically searched Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar until July 2023 for studies investigating lymphadenectomy's effects on OCCC patients. We calculated pooled hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). This study is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021270460). RESULTS: Among 444 screened articles, seven studies (2883 women) met inclusion criteria. Our analysis revealed that lymphadenectomy significantly improved disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.60-0.95, P = 0.02) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.34-0.99, P = 0.05). However, it did not significantly affect overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.80, 95%CI = 0.60-1.06, P = 0.12) or progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.64-1.42, P = 0.79). Notably, some earlier studies reported no survival benefit, warranting cautious interpretation. CONCLUSION: Lymphadenectomy does not significantly enhance OS and PFS for OCCC but does improve DFS and DSS. Tailoring treatment to individual patient profiles is imperative for optimal outcomes. Precise preoperative or intraoperative lymph node metastasis detection is essential for identifying candidates benefiting from lymphadenectomy. Collaborative international efforts and an OCCC database are pivotal for refining future treatment strategies.

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma with uterine intramural recurrence: Case report of ovarian clear cell carcinoma with fertility sparing treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma has a poor prognosis in comparison with other pathological types of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. It also has relative resistance to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with a great risk of recurrence. CASE REPORT: We report a case of recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma status after left salpingo-oophorectomy (fertility-sparing debulking operation) and six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel (175 mg/m2)/carboplatin (AUC 6)). However, two years after diagnosis, elevated CA-125 accompanied by an intrapelvic mass was noted. Uterine intramural recurrence was found during the second laparotomy. She was treated with right salpingo-oophorectomy and abdominal hysterectomy combined with systemic chemotherapy administration (paclitaxel (175 mg/m2)/carboplatin (AUC 6)) and maintenance therapy (bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg)). There was no other recurrence until one and a half years postoperatively, and the patient was tumor free with regular follow-up. CONCLUSION: In young patients with stage I ovarian clear cell carcinoma, fertility-sparing surgery was considered. Most patients will suffer from tumor recurrence, and also intrauterine recurrence rarely happen.

A preoperative nomogram incorporating CT to predict the probability of ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical, laboratory, and radiological variables from preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for their ability to distinguish ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) from non-OCCC and to develop a nomogram to preoperatively predict the probability of OCCC. METHODS: This IRB-approved, retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent surgery for an ovarian tumor from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2016 and CECT of the abdomen and pelvis ≤90 days before primary debulking surgery. Using a standardized form, two experienced oncologic radiologists independently analyzed imaging features and provided a subjective 5-point impression of the probability of the histological diagnosis. Nomogram models incorporating clinical, laboratory, and radiological features were created to predict histological diagnosis of OCCC over non-OCCC. RESULTS: The final analysis included 533 patients with surgically confirmed OCCC (n = 61) and non-OCCC (n = 472); history of endometriosis was more often found in patients with OCCC (20% versus 3.6%; p < 0.001), while CA-125 was significantly higher in patients with non-OCCC (351 ng/mL versus 70 ng/mL; p < 0.001). A nomogram model incorporating clinical (age, history of endometriosis and adenomyosis), laboratory (CA-125) and imaging findings (peritoneal implant distribution, morphology, laterality, and diameter of ovarian lesion and of the largest solid component) had an AUC of 0.9 (95% CI: 0.847, 0.949), which was comparable to the AUCs of the experienced radiologists' subjective impressions [0.8 (95% CI: 0.822, 0.891) and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.865, 0.936)]. CONCLUSIONS: A presurgical nomogram model incorporating readily accessible clinical, laboratory, and CECT variables was a powerful predictor of OCCC, a subtype often requiring a distinctive treatment approach.

Hyalinising clear cell carcinoma of the lung: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Hyalinising clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) of the lung is a rare tumor, with only 12 reported cases. To improve the differential diagnosis, the aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics, immunophenotype, and molecular characteristics of HCCC of the lung and relate these to prognosis. METHODS: Sections of HCCC of the lung were collected from a patient for pathological observation, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization; the clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics were compared with those reported in the literature. RESULTS: The tumor had a well-demarcated border nodule with a maximal diameter of 2.5 cm. Microscopic findings showed either clear or eosinophilic cytoplasm in the tumor cells. Growth was predominantly in the sheets, nests, and trabeculae in a background of hyalinised, fibrotic stroma, and mucus degeneration. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor cells expressed cytokeratin 7, P63, P40, CK5/6, Pan Cytokeratin (PCK), and epithelial membrane antigen, whereas they were negative for thyroid transcription factor-1, napsin A, CD10, vimentin, and smooth muscle actin. The Ki67 proliferation index was 5%. The tumor was positive for both period acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue-PAS, with a small amount of mucus staining positive for PAS-diastase. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 rearrangement and Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1-activating transcription factor 1 fusion. CONCLUSIONS: HCCC is a low-grade carcinoma with excellent prognosis. Tumour necrosis may be a potential risk factor for recurrence and metastasis. Our review of reported cases suggests that regional lymph node dissection combined with lobectomy is a safer treatment than only lobectomy for HCCC of the lung.

Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the rectovaginal septum: A rare case report.

RATIONALE: Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the rectovaginal septum is a very rare event. PATIENT CONCERNS: We reported a case of a 55-year-old woman diagnosed with a lump in the vaginal rectal septum after undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 2017, who was admitted to our department due to vaginal bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis indicated the vaginal rectal space cystic and solid mass about 110 mm × 100 mm × 140 mm in size. DIAGNOSIS: The pathological diagnosis of postoperative was clear cell adenocarcinoma. INTERVENTIONS: Abdominal laparotomy showed a solid block of the vaginal rectal septum. Surgery was performed to reduce the tumor. OUTCOMES: This patient received 8 courses of combined chemotherapy courses after surgery for the residual lesion and achieved a complete response. LESSONS: Due to the rare observation of the growth pattern, the cell morphology and immune phenotype are not specific, and clinical and pathological diagnosis is difficult. Introducing the diagnosis and treatment of this case and reviewing the literature provide a relevant reference for clinicians identification and diagnosis and treatment of this rare case.

Survival outcomes and the prognostic significance of clinicopathological features in patients with endometrial clear cell carcinoma: a 35-year single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the oncological outcomes and the impact of clinicopathological factors on endometrial clear cell carcinoma (ECCC) outcomes. METHODS: Medical records of patients with primary ECCC treated at our center between 1985 and December 2020 were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the endpoints. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used. RESULTS: In total, 156 patients were included, of whom 59% and 41% had early- and advanced-stage ECCC, respectively. The median age of onset was 61 years, and 80.8% of the patients were postmenopausal. Ninety-two (59%) and 64 (41%) patients had pure ECCC and mixed endometrial carcinoma with clear cell carcinoma (CCC) components, respectively. Mixed pathological components, elevated cancer antigen 125 levels, positive lymphovascular space invasion, deep myometrial invasion, and malignant peritoneal washing cytology (PWC) were more frequently observed in the advanced stage. Thirty-nine patients (25%) experienced relapse and 32 patients (20.5%) died. The 5-year PFS and OS rates for the entire cohort were 72.6% and 79%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced-stage disease and positive PWC significantly decreased PFS, while advanced-stage disease and older age (> 61 years) significantly decreased OS. CONCLUSIONS: ECCC is a rare and aggressive type II endometrial carcinoma that is common in older women and patients with advanced-stage disease. Positive PWC was associated with decreased PFS, although its presence did not influence the stage. Positive PWC, and advanced stage and older age were independent negative prognostic factors.

Mixed high-grade serous and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from rectal endometriosis 11 years after hysterectomy.

The malignant gastrointestinal endometriosis transformation is represented by endometriosis-associated intestinal tumors. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma and clear cell adenocarcinoma are most common among the endometrial cancers of all organs. Only four cases of mixed serous carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have been reported, and all these cases originated from the uterus. A 59-year-old woman with a month's history of bloody stools was admitted. She was stable until the hematochezia occurred but is 11 years post-hysterectomy. A circumferential type-3 advanced upper rectum tumor was seen on colonoscopy. Adenocarcinoma was revealed from the forceps biopsies of the type-3 tumor component. Computed tomography showed narrowed lumen with a thickened rectum wall, a continuing mass, and a component on the anorectal side. Swollen lymph nodes were observed around the rectum, but no distant metastatic lymph nodes or organs were found. To treat the lesion, rectal surgical resection with D3 lymph node dissection was performed. Histological examination revealed combined high-grade serous and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Tumor was contiguous to the endometrium in the sub-serosa. Endometriosis was determined to be the origin of both carcinomas. Therefore, endometriosis-associated intestinal tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis when rectal tumors with cystic structures are found post-hysterectomy.

Surgery of abdominal wall endometriosis associated with clear-cell carcinoma: Case report and review.

Abdominal wall is a rare location for endometriosis, with a reported incidence of parietal endometriosis of approximately 0.03 to 0.4%. It most often occurs in the aftermath of a caesarean section and is associated with pelvic endometriosis in only 5 to 15% of cases. Rare cases of malignant transformation have been described, mainly in the form of clear-cell tumours. We report the case of a 52-year-old patient with a history of endometriosis who presented with a retractile parietal mass at the level of her caesarean scar. Histological analysis confirmed a clear-cell adenocarcinoma (CCC). Few cases of endometriosis - associated CCC are described in the literature. A review of the literature suggests radical surgical treatment combined with adjuvant radio-chemotherapy. However, the prognosis is poor. The aim of this case report is to suggest the diagnosis of malignant transformation in the presence of a rapidly evolving parietal mass in the context of endometriosis and a history of caesarean section.

Stage I Clear Cell and Serous Uterine Carcinoma: What Is the Right Adjuvant Therapy?

This single-center study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the survival outcomes of patients with FIGO stage I clear cell and serous uterine carcinoma according to the type of adjuvant treatment received. The data were collected between 2003 and 2020 and only patients with stage I clear cell or serous uterine carcinoma treated with primary surgery were included. These were classified into three groups: No treatment or brachytherapy only (G1), radiotherapy +/- brachytherapy (G2), chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy +/- brachytherapy (G3). In total, we included 52 patients: 18 patients in G1, 16 in G2, and 18 in G3. Patients in the G3 group presented with poorer prognostic factors: 83.3% had serous histology, 27.8% LVSI, and 27.8% were FIGO stage IB. Patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy showed an improved 5-year overall survival (OS) (p = 0.02) and a trend towards an enhanced 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.056). In contrast, OS (p = 0.97) and PFS (p = 0.84) in the chemotherapy group with poorer prognostic factors, were similar with increased toxicity (83.3%). Radiotherapy is associated with improved 5-year OS and tends to improve 5-year PFS in women with stage I clear cell and serous uterine carcinoma. Additional chemotherapy should be cautiously considered in serous carcinoma cases presenting poor histological prognostic factors.

Primary Pulmonary Hyalinizing Clear Cell Carcinoma: Case Series With Review of Literature.

Background: Hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas of tracheobronchial origin are very rare salivary gland type tumors accounting for less than 1% of lung tumors with only 13 cases reported to date. Their radiological features, morphological spectrum, and molecular features are not well described. Aim: To perform a clinicopathological analysis of primary pulmonary hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas. Method: A retrospective search of primary pulmonary hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas was conducted from authors' institutions and the clinicopathological features including details of molecular testing were analyzed. Results: Five primary pulmonary hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas were identified. The mean patient age at diagnosis was 48.2 years (range: 33-64 years). Three patients were women. All patients were nonsmokers and 3 were symptomatic; 2 were detected incidentally during health screening. The tumors were located in the main lobar bronchi ranging from 1.3 to 4.9 cm in maximum dimension. Microscopy showed cords and nests of at least, focally clear tumor cells. Mucin cysts lacking goblet cells were seen. All tumors were uniformly positive for p40, p63, AE1/AE3, keratin 7, and epithelial membrane antigen but negative for TTF1, KIT, neuroendocrine markers, and other myoepithelial markers. All cases showed Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) gene rearrangement. Perineural invasion and lymph node metastases were detected in patient 5. Two patients with available follow-up data were recurrence-free until 4 years (patient 1) and 9 months (patient 5) after resection. Conclusion: The present series adds to the scant available literature on primary pulmonary hyalinizing clear cell carcinomas highlighting the characteristic histomorphology, immunoprofiles, and benign outcomes of these rare tumors.

Patients with stage IA ovarian clear cell carcinoma do not require chemotherapy following surgery.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is an infrequent histological subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The present study aimed to investigate whether chemotherapy is indispensable for patients with stage IA OCCC. METHODS: Data were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database between 2004 and 2015. All subjects were diagnosed with stage IA OCCC, according to their postoperative pathological reports. In the present study, 1038 patients were retrospectively investigated, among whom 692 patients received chemotherapy. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to prevent selection bias. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the correlation between variables and 5-year overall survival. RESULTS: An equal number of patients (n = 346) who did or did not undergo chemotherapy after PSM were further enrolled in the study. The results showed that the mortality of OCCC increased for the patients aged ≥50 years. In addition, older age was associated with lower 5-year overall survival (p < 0.05). However, chemotherapy did not extend the 5-year overall survival (p = 0.524) of patients with stage IA OCCC, according to the multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy did not affect the overall survival of patients with stage IA OCCC following surgery.

Radical trachelectomy and adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy to preserve fertility in pediatric cervical adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: This case report describes the use of a trachelectomy and adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy for pediatric clear cell adenocarcinoma as definitive fertility-sparing treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A previously healthy 8-year-old female presented with abdominal cramping and heavy vaginal bleeding. Diagnostic imaging revealed a 3.5 cm circumscribed cervical mass, with subsequent biopsy revealing clear cell adenocarcinoma. Fertility preserving treatment was requested. RESULTS: The patient underwent a radical trachelectomy, with final pathology demonstrating a close radial margin. Due to close margin, adjuvant radiotherapy with a vaginal cylinder was delivered to a total dose of 18 Gray in three fractions prescribed to a depth of 5 mm from the vaginal surface using iridium-192. With 2 years of follow-up, the patient continues to do well with no evidence of recurrence or late toxicity from treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a rare occurrence that lacks clinical trials to guide effective treatment. Adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy following trachelectomy in a pediatric patient with clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix is feasible and well-tolerated.

Sonographic features differentiating early-stage ovarian clear cell carcinoma from endometrioma with atypical features.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is the most common endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer. Ovarian endometriosis may present with atypical or malignant sonographic features and interfere with clinical judgment about whether definitive surgical intervention is required. OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics of endometrioma with atypical features and OCCC. METHODS: This study enrolled patients with pathologic diagnoses of either endometrioma or OCCC. For patients with endometrioma, only those with atypical features, defined as the presence of at least one of the following sonographic characteristics: cyst diameter of 10 ± 1 cm, multi-cystic lesions, any solid component or papillary structure, and blood flow of any degree, were included. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients had endometriomas with atypical features, while 57 patients had OCCC. Patients with endometriomas were younger (39.33 ± 7.04 years vs. 53.11 ± 9.28 years, P < 0.01), had smaller cysts (7.81 ± 2.81 cm vs. 12.68 ± 4.60 cm, P < 0.01), and had smaller solid components (0.93 ± 1.74 cm vs. 4.82 ± 3.53 cm, P < 0.01). In contrast, OCCCs were associated with loss of ground-glass echogenicity (6.3% vs 68.4%, P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, advanced age (> 47.5 years), large cysts (> 11.55 cm), large solid components (size > 1.37 cm), and loss of ground-glass echogenicity were independent factors suggestive of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Advanced age, larger cyst sizes, larger solid component sizes, and loss of ground-glass echogenicity are major factors differentiating endometriomas from malignancies. For women in menopausal transition who have finished childbearing who present with endometrioma with atypical features, removal of the adnexa intact could be considered.

Treatment for clear cell carcinoma of the abdominal wall at a tertiary cancer center.

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the abdominal wall is a rare and agressive disease. We aim to elucidate the clinical and prognostic characteristics of this disease. Medical records of ten patients diagnosed with CCC of the abdominal wall at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were reviewed. We illustrate the clinical characteristics, treatment modality, and development of local recurrence or distant metastasis, as well as the survival outcome. The median (range) age of patients was 47 (39-61) years old. All patients had a history of cesarean section and abdominal wall endometriosis. All patients had primary surgery before referred to our center. Seven patients had only tumor resection, while two patients had lymph node metastasis at primary diagnosis. Four patients underwent supplementary surgery, and all postoperative pathology were negative. Genetic analyses had also been performed. The median (range) follow-up time was 20 (12-59) months. Local recurrence and lymph node metastasis were the most common recurrence types. The median (95% confidence interval) PFS was 11 (8.08-13.92) months. In summary, primary surgery should consider wide tumor resection and lymph node dissection. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be recommended for potential benefits. More cases are still needed to elucidate the clinical management of this disease.

The worsening impact of programmed cell death ligand 1 in ovarian clear cell carcinomas.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical significance of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with CCC who underwent primary surgery at our hospital between 1984 and 2014 were enrolled in this study. PD-L1 and mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression in tumor cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including cluster of differentiation (CD) 8, CD4, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), and BAF250a, were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The association between PD-L1 expression, clinicopathological features, prognosis, and expression of several proteins was investigated. RESULTS: Of the 125 patients with CCC, 17 had negative PD-L1 and 108 had positive PD-L1. Patients with positive PD-L1 expression showed a lower response to chemotherapy (p = 0.01). In addition, patients with positive PD-L1 showed worse progression-free survival (PFS, p = 0.01) and overall survival (OS, p = 0.01) than that in patients with negative PD-L1 expression. Multivariate analyses for PFS and OS showed that PD-L1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 7.81, p < 0.01) and OS (HR 12.90, p < 0.01). PD-L1 expression was not associated with the expression of several TILs or proteins. CONCLUSION: The expression of PD-L1 was related to a lower response to chemotherapy and worse prognosis in CCC. These results may be useful for the development of new treatments.

Vesical clear cell adenocarcinoma of Müllerian origin treated conservatively with partial cystectomy.

A 71-year-old woman presented with an intravesical bladder mass found to be a clear cell adenocarcinoma of Müllerian origin with positive PAX-8 staining after transurethral resection. Partial cystectomy along with total hysterectomy were performed, and final pathology revealed no residual tumour and extensive endometriosis. She declined adjuvant therapy and was dispositioned to surveillance.