Does Aspirin Use Reduce the Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is an aggressive malignancy and the leading cause of death among gynecologic cancers. Researchers have evaluated prophylactic medications that potentially avert the manifestation of ovarian cancer, but currently, there are no reliable screening measures for this disease. Nevertheless, the largest study involving aspirin use and ovarian cancer reported a substantive risk reduction from enduring aspirin use. Since there are countervailing data to impugn the potential benefits of aspirin use in staving off ovarian cancer, further research should scrutinize the use of this medication as a prophylactic intervention, especially in women who are at higher risk for developing the disease.

Medical marijuana in the treatment of cancer-associated symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Previous cancer studies have indicated that medical marijuana addresses a significant unmet need, namely chronic pain treatment and conferring oncology supportive care. However, the clinical research evaluating medical marijuana is preliminary and requires further consideration. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a PubMed search primarily comprising retrospective and prospective studies, systematic reviews, and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from approximately 2020-2023. The search included specific terms that incorporated medical marijuana, cancer treatment, cancer-related symptoms, pain management, and side effects. DATA SUMMARY: A total of 40 studies were included in the review, many of which were either of acceptable or good quality. Select investigations indicated that medical marijuana was associated with decreased overall pain levels and improvements in nausea and vomiting. Alternatively, the results from RCTs have found that the benefits from a placebo were equivalent to medical marijuana in both the treatment of cancer-related pain and providing an opioid-sparing effect. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the potential cancer-related benefits derived from medical marijuana, the study design and results for many of the investigations on which the evidence is based, were neither uniform nor conducted via RCTs; hence, the efficacy and appropriateness of medical marijuana in treating cancer-related conditions remain indeterminate.

Current analysis of the survival implications for minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of early-stage cervix cancer.

Early-stage cervical cancer (ESCC) is managed with radical hysterectomy, a procedure that can be performed either via open surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS), the latter of which is accomplished via traditional laparoscopy or robotic-assisted surgery. Previously, MIS was routinely incorporated into the management of ESCC due to the approach's reduced operative morbidity and truncated hospital stay duration, but more recent clinical evidence has since impugned the efficacy of MIS because of the reportedly inferior disease-free survival and overall survival outcomes compared to open surgery. However, additional studies have documented equivalent outcomes among the various surgical modalities, suggesting further exploration of clinical factors as we endeavor to conclusively determine the standard of care for patients diagnosed with ESCC.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the relatively high cure rates in early-stage breast cancer, advanced and metastatic breast cancer cases are associated with more inauspicious patient outcomes. Fortunately, with the advent of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors (e.g. palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) with endocrine therapy, survival in advanced and metastatic breast cancer has appreciably improved. In the current review, we discuss these distinctions and the concomitant implications associated with the individual CDK4/6 inhibitors. DATA SOURCES: We conducted an extensive PubMed search comprising several review articles on the topic of advanced or metastatic breast cancer treatment, with specific terms that included CDK4/6 inhibitors, treatment, and breast cancer. DATA SUMMARY: Palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib have exhibited superior progression-free survival differences compared to endocrine therapy alone. However, there are differences among the various CDK4/6 inhibitors with regard to overall survival, tolerability and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Ribociclib may be indicated for pre/perimenopausal patients, whereas abemaciclib is potentially recommended to address endocrine-resistant or visceral disease. Alternatively, palbociclib is associated with lower discontinuation rates than abemaciclib and unlike ribociclib, QTc prolongation is not observed with palbociclib.

Prolonged endocrine therapy in the management of hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer: What is the appropriate duration?

AIM: The clinical benefits associated with 5 years of endocrine therapy in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) have been well-substantiated. However, numerous studies have reported on the results of extended (i.e., >5 years) endocrine therapy to further effectuate a clinical benefit, with varying outcomes. Hence, the purpose of this study is to review these prolonged investigations and endeavor to clarify their corresponding treatment implications. METHODS: We reviewed the study findings from several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, which incorporated clinical outcomes from pre-and postmenopausal, hormone receptor-positive, ESBC patients. RESULTS: Hormone receptor-positive, ESBC patients treated with 5 years of endocrine therapy, who are node-negative with tumors <2 cm, will unlikely benefit from five additional years of treatment. Conversely, in women with larger tumors and node-positive disease, 7-8 total years of endocrine therapy may be indicated. Ultimately, clinicians should also consider the attendant side effects from endocrine therapy, namely bone fractures, namely cardiovascular symptoms, and vasomotor symptoms, when considering the appropriate treatment regimen. CONCLUSIONS: While increased duration of endocrine therapy may selectively accord significant clinical benefits, prior to determining the patient's treatment interval, physicians should also assess the cumulative side effects from endocrine therapy when endeavoring to maintain treatment compliance and bolster quality of life.

A phase II, open-label, non-randomized, prospective study assessing paclitaxel, carboplatin and metformin in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a paclitaxel, carboplatin and metformin regimen in the first-line treatment of advanced-stage ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinoma. METHODS: Eligible subjects underwent surgery and 6 cycles of neoadjuvant or adjuvant dose-dense intravenous paclitaxel (80 mg/m²), carboplatin (area under the curve 5 or 6 on Day 1), and oral metformin (850 mg daily). Study participants who completed their primary therapy and attained a clinically defined complete or partial response (PR) were treated with a planned 12 cycles of paclitaxel (135 mg/m² every 21 days) and metformin (850 mg twice daily) maintenance therapy. RESULTS: Thirty subjects received a median of 6 cycles (range, 5-6) of primary induction chemotherapy and were eligible for response evaluation; twenty-three patients exhibited a complete response, while 3 study patients obtained a PR (an overall response rate of 86.7%). Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity included neutropenia (43.3%), thrombocytopenia (10%) and anemia (36.7%). There was no incidence of grade 3-4 neuropathy although 15 patients (50%) developed grade ≤2 neurotoxicity. Additionally, we observed grade ≤2 diarrhea in 20 (66.7%) subjects. The median progression-free survival was 21 months (range, 3-52) and overall median survival was 35 months (range, 15-61). The subjects also received an aggregate 103 cycles (median, 12; range, 6-12) of maintenance chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin and metformin is associated with moderate efficacy and a reasonable toxicity profile.

Hormone Therapy and Risk of Breast Cancer: Where Are We Now?

Several studies have examined the clinical benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, because long-term use of HRT has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of breast cancer, some women remain skeptical when considering this therapy to address their vasomotor symptoms. Hence, physicians and nurses should actively engage in constructive discourse with their patients regarding HRT while specifically reviewing the potential risks of its extended use as well as provide the available medical alternatives the patients could potentially use.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for the Treatment of Breast and Cervical Cancers.

Background: Robotic-assisted surgery facilitates the performance of numerous, complex procedures, namely conferring precision, flexibility, and control that is otherwise unavailable with conventional laparoscopy; and compared to open surgery, robotic-assisted surgery is ostensibly associated with fewer complications, reduced intraoperative complications, and shorter hospital stay duration. Nevertheless, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Food and Drug Administration have criticized the pervasive acceptance of robotic-assisted surgery, given the absence of randomized clinical trial data compared to traditional laparoscopy and open procedures, not to mention the increased surgical cost. Conclusions: While the research data continue to be borne out, surgeons should exercise considerable discretion in selecting the surgical approach from which their patients would derive the greatest clinical benefit.

Talc powder and ovarian cancer: what is the evidence?

Talc is a desiccant that has been historically used as baby powder by numerous women to enhance their feminine hygiene. Talc has been identified in proximity to asbestos; accordingly, retrospective and case-control studies have implicated the role of talc use in the development of ovarian cancer, whereas prospective evaluations have not documented concordant findings. Moreover, the positive associations derived from case-control studies have been remote and the putative causal factors remain inconclusive. Consequently, one should be circumspect regarding the assertion that genital talc powder application induces ovarian cancer development.

A retrospective study comparing the efficacy of dose-dense chemotherapy, intraperitoneal chemotherapy and dose-dense chemotherapy with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP) and dose-dense (DD) chemotherapy have been employed with varying success in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma. Despite the clinical benefits associated with these specific forms of chemotherapy administration, they have not been comparatively analyzed, vis-à-vis their efficacy. STUDY DESIGN: Advanced stage ovarian cancer patients who were treated with platinum/taxane chemotherapy via a DD regimen (n = 100), IP approach (n = 81) or a DD regimen in conjunction with HIPEC (n = 64) were retrospectively evaluated. The clinical variables of interest were patient age, body mass index, surgery and pathology data, chemotherapy regimen, inclusion of maintenance therapy, and progression free/overall survival. RESULTS: Progression free survival (PFS) was significantly more pronounced in the HIPEC (34.9 months) and IP (34.0 months) patients, compared to the DD group (27.6 months) (P = 0.005). A cox-proportional hazards regression model indicated that there was a decreased risk of disease progression accorded to the patients who were treated with IP chemo or HIPEC and DD chemotherapy (HR, 0.43; 95 % CI: 0.21-0.88; P = 0.022) and the subjects who underwent optimal cytoreductive surgery (HR, 2.42; 95 % CI: 1.22-4.80; P = 0.011). Positive BRCA status (HR, 0.434; 95 % CI: 1.59-3.44; P = 0.001) and number of chemotherapy regimens (HR, 1.36; 95 % CI: 1.159-1.61; P = 0.001) were significantly correlated with improved OS although we did not discern a survival benefit associated with any of the chemotherapy treatments (P = 0.136). CONCLUSION: We observed PFS advantages conferred to the ovarian cancer patients treated with HIPEC and IP chemotherapy compared to DD chemotherapy. However, an overall survival advantage related to the chemotherapy regimens was not borne out, possibly due to the retrospective nature of the study or differing time periods wherein the specific patient cohorts underwent treatment.

The incidence of occult malignancy following uterine morcellation: A ten-year single institution experience retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially reported on the parlous incidence (0.28%) of occult malignancy identified following uterine power morcellation, investigations thereafter documented their particular experience with this surgical procedure. Nevertheless, the precise risk of identifying a sarcoma following uterine morcellation remains indeterminate, primarily due to varying study patient risk factors, diagnostic criteria and operative approach. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated subjects who underwent an endoscopic hysterectomy and uterine power morcellation for the treatment of a presumptive, benign indication from January 2006 until December 2015. The primary outcome was the incidence of an occult malignancy. Secondarily, we were interested in characterizing the patients' specific clinical (age, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI)) risk factors within the context of a confirmed malignant or pre-malignant pathology. RESULTS: We identified 281 patients who underwent endoscopic surgery that incorporated uterine morcellation. During the study period, one subject was ultimately diagnosed with a uterine leiomyosarcoma; the overall incidence of occult malignancy was 0.36%. There were also 3 cases of uterine premalignant disease on final pathology (2 patients had complex hyperplasia with or without atypia and 1 subject was diagnosed with a smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (an incidence of 1.1%)). We were unable to establish any relationship between patient age, uterine weight, menopausal status or BMI and the incidence of a malignant or pre-malignant pathology (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rate of occult malignancy in the present investigation was similar to previously documented studies and that which has been reported by the FDA. Additional study of methods in which to enhance preoperative work-up and mitigate the surgical risk for tumor cell dissemination is warranted.

The safety and feasibility of minimally invasive sentinel lymph node staging using indocyanine green in the management of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to report on the feasibility of laparoscopic sentinel lymph node (SLN) staging using indocyanine green (ICG) in the management of endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively evaluated the charts of presumed, clinical stage I endometrial cancer patients who underwent robotic-assisted surgery that incorporated mapping with ICG and SLN dissection from January 2016 until February 2017. Patient demographics, operative characteristics (e.g., complications, lymph node counts) and pathology data were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 87 patients who were included in the study. A total of 370 lymph nodes were removed, of which 245 were SLNs; unilateral and bilateral mapping of the SLNs was achieved in 84 (96.5%) and 71 (81.6%) of subjects, respectively. There were 10 (11.5%) patients who had metastatic disease identified within 22 (5.9%) of the total (n = 370) lymph nodes extracted, 19 (7.7%) of which were sentinel lymph nodes. We did not observe any intraoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The results from our study suggest that minimally invasive SLN staging using ICG is a feasible procedure that is potentially effective at detecting metastases, which may ultimately attenuate the incidence of surgical morbidity.

Successful management of persistent lower extremity lymphedema with suction-assisted lipectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Lower-extremity lymphedema is a significant complication attributed to gynecologic cancer surgery, potentially effectuating severe edema and discernible pain. CASE REPORT: We report on a patient who developed persistent, lower-extremity lymphedema following her treatment for cervix cancer. Despite repeated efforts to manage the lymphedema with conventional measures, the patient's condition had not markedly improved. Thereafter, she underwent a suction-assisted lipectomy that effectively resolved her symptoms. CONCLUSION: Since lymphedema often remains disabling and incurable following traditional therapy, suction-assisted lipectomy should be considered as an alternative when endeavoring to optimally manage this complication.

A Prospective, Observational Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Abdominal Compression in Reducing Laparoscopic-Induced Shoulder Pain.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative shoulder pain is a condition associated with laparoscopic surgery and presumably attributed to residual carbon dioxide (CO2) in the abdomen. The intent of the current prospective, observational study was to assess the efficacy of abdominal compression in mitigating this painful complication. METHODS: We recruited 30 patients who were treated with laparoscopic surgery for the management of gynecologic disease. All study participants underwent abdominal compression to evacuate the CO2 associated with their pneumoperitoneum. Postoperatively, the subjects' pain intensity was measured via the visual analogue scale at 12, 24, and 48 hours. RESULTS: The patients' mean postoperative visual analogue scale pain scores were the highest during the initial 12 hours (1.93), and thereafter, steadily declined at 24 hours (0.73) and 48 hours (0.70) ( P = .045). Furthermore, toxicity was reasonable, with only 20% of subjects who reported grade ≤2 nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSION: Abdominal compression is a relatively safe procedure that appears to sufficently evacuate residual CO2, thereby reducing the severity of laparoscopic surgery induced shoulder pain.

Lower-extremity lymphedema following management for endometrial and cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the alleged benefits conferred by a lymphadenectomy in the management of gynecologic malignancies, there are concerns regarding the development of postoperative lower-extremity lymphedema. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of lymphedema and associated risk factors in accordance with surgical staging during the management of endometrial and cervical cancer. METHOD: We conducted a 5-year review of all endometrial and cervical cancer patients who underwent a lymphadenectomy. The subjects' demographics, medical co-morbidities, diagnosis, surgical treatment, inclusion of adjuvant radiotherapy and incidence of lower-extremity lymphedema were noted. RESULTS: We identified 165 (135 endometrial cancer and 30 cervical cancer) subjects. Positive pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were present in 21 (12.7%) and 10 patients (6.1%), respectively. In the entire population, 6 (3.6% incidence) subjects developed post-operative lymphedema. Supplementary analyses revealed that a BMI >35 kg/m(2) and possessing numerous (≥3) co-morbidities significantly correlated with the manifestation of lower-extremity lymphedema. CONCLUSION: In the current investigation, we observed a reasonably low, overall incidence of postoperative lower-extremity lymphedema. Nevertheless, when evaluating the potential for lymphedema in patients for whom a lymphadenectomy is indicated, specific risk factors should be considered in an effort to attenuate the development of this morbid condition.

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Comparing the Impact of Aprepitant and Fosaprepitant on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Treated for Gynecologic Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the response rates and daily living activities of patients with newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer treated with fosaprepitant or aprepitant in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible participants were randomized to either intravenous fosaprepitant (150 mg, day 1) or oral aprepitant (125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2-3) before undergoing weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/2)(2) and monthly carboplatin (AUC 6)-based chemotherapy. In addition, standard premedications (eg, ranitidine, dexamethasone, and diphenhydramine) were administered intravenously on day 1. Response evaluation and impact on daily life were measured throughout the acute phase (0-24 hours), delayed period (days 2-4), and overall phase (0-120 hours) of the patients' initial chemotherapy cycle via the Functional Living Index-Emesis. RESULTS: In the current investigation, 20 gynecologic cancer subjects were treated with either fosaprepitant (n = 10) or aprepitant (n = 10) before their first chemotherapy cycle. We observed 7 overall complete responses (70%, no emetic episodes or rescue medications) in the aprepitant group and 6 (60%) in the fosaprepitant cohort (P = 0.660). In addition, both treatment groups reported similarly, favorable rates of daily living activities throughout the acute (P = 0.626) and delayed (P = 0.648) phases of cycle 1 chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from the current analysis suggest that intravenous fosaprepitant and oral aprepitant confer beneficial antiemetic prevention. Moreover, the 2 medications theoretically afford a favorable impact on daily living, thereby potentially facilitating the completion of a patient's clinically prescribed chemotherapy regimen.

Survival rate comparisons amongst cervical cancer patients treated with an open, robotic-assisted or laparoscopic radical hysterectomy: A five year experience.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the 5-year survival outcomes of cervical cancer patients who underwent an, open radical hysterectomy (ORH), robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy (RRH) or laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) for the treatment of their disease. METHOD: We conducted a review of all cervical cancer patients who were managed with an ORH, RRH or LRH. RESULT: Forty-nine patients were treated with LRH, 58 were managed via RRH and 39 patients underwent an ORH. The LRH (1.78 h) patients had a significantly shorter operative duration than the RRH (2.88 h) and ORH (2.39 h) subjects (p < 0.001). Blood loss was the highest in the ORH (475 cc) group (RRH = 207 cc and LRH = 312 cc) (P < 0.001). Moreover, the ORH (5.04 days) patients had a significantly longer hospital stay than the LRH (2.95 days) and RRH (2.50 day) subjects (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a progression free survival (PFS) rate of 84.6% for the ORH group, 89.8% for the LRH group and 89.7% for the RRH patients (P = 0.271) at 60 months; overall survival was 92.3% for the ORH group, 95.9% for the LRH group and 96.6% for the RRH patients (P = 0.80). CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that, irrespective of operative approach, patients who underwent a radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer attained similar 5-year disease free and overall survival outcomes.

Prolonged remission of recurrent cervical carcinoma following paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy with paclitaxel maintenance chemotherapy.

Cervical cancer recurs in ~30% of cases, for which a favorable prognosis is often unattainable. We describe a cervical cancer patient who developed metastatic disease ~5 years after her initial diagnosis. She was subsequently treated with six cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m) and carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 5 chemotherapy every 21 days, and paclitaxel (135 mg/m) maintenance therapy every 21 days; the patient has remained in clinical remission after more than 5 years of follow-up. Chemotherapy has not historically been effective in managing recurrent, persistent, or metastatic cervical cancer. However, our case study involving paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy with maintenance chemotherapy represents one of the longest documented remission rates in association with the management of recurrent cervical cancer.