A survey of carboplatin desensitization therapy in Japan: A multicenter retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to chemotherapy are serious adverse events associated with cancer drug therapy and can occur with any antitumor drug. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of carboplatin desensitization therapy in Japan and established a method for treating carboplatin HSRs. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with gynecological (ovarian, endometrial, or cervical) cancers who underwent carboplatin desensitization therapy between 2016 and 2020 at the Gynecologic Cancer Study Group of Japan Clinical Oncology Group were included. The carboplatin desensitization therapy at each institution and the implementation cases were registered in an online case report form. RESULTS: This retrospective study enrolled 136 patients (ovarian, 108; endometrial, 17; and cervical cancer, 11). Pre-existing allergies were present in 37 (27.2%) patients, and 32 (23.5%) patients exhibited prodromal symptoms during treatment before HSR onset. Erythema was the most common symptom at HSR onset, affecting 93 (68.4%) patients, followed by itching in 72 (52.9%) patients and decreased oxygen saturation in 43 (31.6%) patients. Loss of consciousness occurred in three (2.2%) patients. The most common timing of HSR onset was during the first recurrence treatment (47%). The mean total carboplatin dose until HSR onset was 7331 (2620-18,282) mg, and the mean number of doses was 14 (4-63). Desensitization treatment was completed in 75% of cases, and breakthrough HSRs occurred in 25% (34/136). No deaths occurred in the study cohort. The risk factors for HSRs were not identified. CONCLUSION: Although carboplatin desensitization therapy has high success rates in Japan, erythema and pruritus are important HSRs to consider.

A single-institution retrospective exploratory analysis on the effectiveness and safety of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for advanced endometrial cancer: insights from ProMisE molecular classification system.

BACKGROUND: The Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer has identified four risk groups for the prognosis of endometrial cancer. Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab was recently approved as a second-line treatment for unresectable endometrial cancer, but reports in clinical practice are lacking. The relationship between the efficacy of lenvatinib/pembrolizumab and Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer classification is unclear. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective study included patients who underwent lenvatinib/pembrolizumab therapy at Iwate Medical University Hospital between January 2022 and March 2023. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from patients before treatment were collected and classified into the mismatch repair-deficient, p53 abnormal and no specific molecular profile subtypes using immunohistochemistry. The response rate, progression-free survival and adverse events were evaluated using electronic medical records. The study was approved by the hospital's ethics committee (approval number: MH2022-093). RESULTS: This study enrolled 20 patients, who underwent a median follow-up of 17.8 months (95% confidence interval: 16.6-18.9). The best overall response rate was 60.0% (36.1-80.9), and the median progression-free survival was 11.6 months (2.9-20.3). The median progression-free survival in the p53 abnormal group (n = 9) was 3.4 months (3.0-3.8); however, progression-free survival did not reach the median (P < 0.001) in the mismatch repair-deficient/no specific molecular profile group (n = 11). Symptomatic immune-related adverse events (except hypothyroidism) occurred in 4/20 (25.0%) patients, and partial responses were observed in all cases. No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: The p53abn group in the Proactive Molecular Risk Classifier for Endometrial Cancer classification has a poor prognosis even after treatment with lenvatinib/pembrolizumab.

A Phase II Study of S-1 plus Oxaliplatin for Patients with Recurrent Non-Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix (Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit: TGCU206 Study).

Recurrent non-squamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC) of the uterine cervix is resistant to treatment and has a poor prognosis. The efficacy and safety of S-1/oxaliplatin (SOX) therapy in patients with recurrent non-SCC was examined in a phase II study. Fifteen patients were enrolled between August 2013 and March 2023. S-1 was administered orally at a daily dose of 80-120 mg for 14 days, and oxaliplatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 100 mg/m2 on day 1. Each treatment cycle lasted 21 days. The anti-tumor effects, adverse events, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were investigated. The median patient age was 54 (41-74) years. The anti-tumor effect was rated as a partial response in five patients, stable disease in four, and progressive disease in 6. The overall response rate was 33% and the disease control rate was 60%. Regarding hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or more severity, leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in 26.6-40.0%. None of the patients discontinued the treatment because of adverse events. The median PFS and OS were 6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2-11 months) and 22 months (95% CI: 11-23 months), respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred. These results suggest that SOX therapy is useful for the treatment of recurrent non-SCC with promising anti-tumor effects and minimal adverse events.

Phase II study of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and bevacizumab for first recurrent and refractory ovarian clear cell carcinoma Kansai Clinical Oncology Group-G1601.

Patients with advanced ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) have a poor prognosis in the absence of an effective standard treatment. Combination therapy with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and bevacizumab (GPBev) is promising for ovarian CCC. Thus, we conducted a multi-institutional, phase II trial in Japan to examine the efficacy and safety of GPBev for CCC. This is the first study on the use of GPBev for CCC. Eighteen patients (median age, 56.5 years) with pathologically confirmed first recurrent or refractory CCC and having evaluable regions, as assessed using RECIST, were recruited between January 2017 and May 2019. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m 2 ), cisplatin (40 mg/m 2 ), and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) were administered intravenously on days 1 and 15, every 28 days, for 6-10 cycles, until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints included disease control rate (DCR) and adverse events (AEs). Fifteen patients (83.3%) completed 6-10 cycles of treatment; three patients (two with AEs and one with progressive disease) did not. The ORR was 61.1% [complete response (CR) 3 and partial response (PR) 8] and DCR was 88.9% (CR 3, PR 8, and stable disease 5). Grade 3 and 4 hematological AEs were observed in 16.7 and 5.6% of the patients, respectively. Nonhematological AEs of grades 3 and 4 were observed in 27.8 and 5.6% of the patients, respectively. GPBev is a promising therapy for CCC owing to the high ORR and acceptable toxicity for the first recurrence and refractory CCC.

Efficacy and Safety of Platinum-based Chemotherapy With Bevacizumab Followed by Bevacizumab Maintenance for Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer During PARP Inhibitor Therapy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In recent years, the usefulness of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors as subsequent maintenance therapy with poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors has been reported. However, it has been reported shown that platinum-based chemotherapy has a low response rate and short progression-free survival for recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer during treatment with PARP inhibitor therapy. This retrospective study evaluated platinum-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab (BEV) followed by BEV maintenance in these recurrent patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Efficacy and safety were evaluated in 23 patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer diagnosed with platinum-sensitive recurrence during PARP inhibitor treatment (administered from April 2019 to December 2022). Platinum-based chemotherapy included either paclitaxel with carboplatin, paclitaxel with cisplatin, docetaxel with carboplatin, or doxorubicin with carboplatin. BEV was administered in combination with any of these chemotherapies agents. Chemotherapy was administered for 6 cycles and BEV was administered up to 21 cycles. RESULTS: The median numbers of cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and BEV administration were 6 and 8, respectively. Complete response was observed in four patients (17.4%), partial response in 15 (65.2%), stable disease in two (8.7%), and progressive disease in two (8.7%). Objective response and disease control rates were 82.6% and 91.3%, respectively. Grade 3 or higher hematological toxicity occurred in 8 patients, with leukopenia, neutropenia in 14, anemia in 5, and thrombocytopenia in 4. On the other hand, non-hematological toxicities included hypertension in three patients, proteinuria in two, constipation in one, and carboplatin hypersensitivity in four. Only one patient discontinued chemotherapy due to an adverse event of proteinuria. No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Platinum-based chemotherapy with BEV followed by BEV maintenance for platinum-sensitive recurrence during PARP inhibitor treatment was shown to be efficacious and safe. This combination should be further evaluated in larger randomized clinical trials.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between first-line chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer (Tohoku gynecologic cancer unit: TGCU-RS001 study).

BACKGROUND: Outcomes with and without bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy in Japanese-only ovarian cancer patients have not been reported. In this study, we report a retrospective study conducted at the Tohoku Gynecologic Cancer Unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 453 patients with stage III/IV ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer who received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups: bevacizumab (168 patients) and without bevacizumab (285 patients). The primary endpoint was the rate of platinum-resistant recurrence and the secondary endpoints were the antitumor response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events. RESULTS: The objective response rates for patients with measurable diseases treated with and without bevacizumab were 84.5% and 73.0%, respectively (P = 0.0066). Platinum-resistant recurrence in the groups treated with and without bevacizumab was noted in 31 (18.4%) and 111 (38.6%) patients, respectively (P < 0.0001). The median progression-free survival for the bevacizumab and without bevacizumab groups was 23 and 15 months, respectively (P = 0.0002), and the median overall survival was not reached and 49 months, respectively (P = 0.0005). Hypertension of grade 3 or higher was observed in 21 patients (12.5%) in the bevacizumab group (P < 0.001), and proteinuria was observed in 18 patients (10.7%) and 1 patient (0.3%) in the bevacizumab and without bevacizumab groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Intestinal perforation was observed in only one patient (0.6%) in the bevacizumab group. CONCLUSION: Combination and maintenance with bevacizumab in primary chemotherapy for advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer was effective in reducing platinum-resistant recurrence rates and prolonging progression-free and overall survival.

Efficacy and Safety of Platinum Rechallenge in Patients With Platinum-resistant Ovarian, Fallopian Tube or Primary Peritoneal Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ovarian cancer diagnosed with platinum-resistant recurrence has very poor prognosis and single-agent chemotherapy with no cross-resistance to prior chemotherapy is recommended for its treatment. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of platinum rechallenge therapy for once diagnosed with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who had a platinum-free interval (PFI) of at least 6 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 49 patients who received platinum rechallenge therapy for ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who were once diagnosed with platinum-resistant recurrence between January 2010 and March 2021 and evaluated the efficacy and safety of this treatment. In addition, patient background factors were identified, and independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were investigated. RESULTS: A complete response was noted in 7 cases, partial response in 21, stable disease in 9, and progressive disease in 10. The response and disease control rates were 55% and 76%, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 8.5 months and 35.8 months, respectively. The independent prognostic factor was PFI for OS, and there was no independent prognostic factor for PFS. Seven patients discontinued chemotherapy owing to serious adverse events, including one patient with treatment-related death. CONCLUSION: Platinum rechallenge therapy for patients with platinum-resistant recurrence did not cause previously unreported adverse events, and the adverse events were manageable. In addition, high response and disease control rates were observed, as well as long-term OS. Platinum rechallenge therapy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer may be a viable treatment option.

Incorporation of an Asymmetric Mo-Fe-S Cluster as an Artificial Cofactor into Nitrogenase.

Nitrogenase employs a sophisticated electron transfer system and a Mo-Fe-S-C cofactor, designated the M-cluster [(cit)MoFe7 S9 C]), to reduce atmospheric N2 to bioaccessible NH3 . Previously, we have shown that the cofactor-free form of nitrogenase can be repurposed as a protein scaffold for the incorporation of a synthetic Fe-S cluster [Fe6 S9 (SEt)2 ]4- . Here, we demonstrate the utility of an asymmetric Mo-Fe-S cluster [Cp*MoFe5 S9 (SH)]3- as an alternative artificial cofactor upon incorporation into the cofactor-free nitrogenase scaffold. The resultant semi-artificial enzyme catalytically reduces C2 H2 to C2 H4 , and CN- into short-chain hydrocarbons, yet it is clearly distinct in activity from its [Fe6 S9 (SEt)2 ]4- -reconstituted counterpart, pointing to the possibility to employ molecular design and cluster synthesis strategies to further develop semi-artificial or artificial systems with desired catalytic activities.

Paclitaxel-carboplatin and bevacizumab combination with maintenance bevacizumab therapy for metastatic, recurrent, and persistent uterine cervical cancer: An open-label multicenter phase II trial (JGOG1079).

OBJECTIVE: This multicenter, open-label, phase II study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel-carboplatin, bevacizumab, and bevacizumab-based maintenance therapy for metastatic, recurrent, and persistent uterine cervical cancer. METHODS: Patients with measurable diseases that were not adapted to regional therapies, such as surgery or radiotherapy, and were systematic chemotherapy-naïve were eligible. The participants received paclitaxel (175 mg/m2), carboplatin (AUC 5), and bevacizumab (15 mg/m2) every three weeks until disease progression or unacceptable adverse events occurred. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), safety, and time to treatment failure. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were analyzed using our protocol. The median paclitaxel- carboplatin therapy duration was six cycles; 40% of patients received bevacizumab maintenance therapy. The median PFS was 11.3 months. The median OS was not reached; the median time to treatment failure was 5.9 months. The ORR was 79.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 63.8-88.4]; 16 patients (23.2%) showed complete response (CR) and 39 patients (56.5%) showed partial response (PR). The median PFS was 14.3 months (95% CI 7.3-17 months) for the 25 patients who received maintenance therapy and 7.4 months (95% CI 6.1-11 months) for nonrecipients (p = 0.0449). Gastrointestinal perforation/fistulas occurred in four patients (5.6%), all of whom had a history of radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel-carboplatin and bevacizumab therapy is an acceptable and tolerable treatment for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Endometrial Cancer (ACE) trial: A randomized phase II study for advanced endometrial carcinoma.

This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of three postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for endometrial cancer. Endometrioid cancer patients with intermediate-risk stage I and II or high-risk stage III and IV disease were randomly assigned to receive six cycles of either paclitaxel-epirubicin-carboplatin (TEC), paclitaxel-anthracycline (doxorubicin)-carboplatin (TAC), or dose-dense paclitaxel-carboplatin (ddTC). The primary end-point was the completion rate (CRate) of six cycles of treatment. The secondary end-points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). One hundred and one patients were treated as follows: 33 received TEC, 33 TAC, and 35 ddTC. The CRates for TEC, TAC, and ddTC were 94%, 64%, and 69%, respectively (P = .005). The TEC CRate was significantly higher than for the other two groups. However, the PFS and OS outcomes were not statistically different between the three groups. The 2-year survival rates were 94%, 97%, and 97% for TEC, TAC, and ddTC, respectively. When compared to the current standard treatments for endometrial cancer, TEC is a promising candidate for a phase III trial based on its significantly superior CRate and equivalent PFS and OS. This study is registered with UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000008911).

Efficacy and safety of standard of care with/without bevacizumab for platinum-resistant ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal cancer previously treated with bevacizumab: The Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study JGOG3023.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of further bevacizumab therapy in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer whose disease had progressed after bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. In this multicenter, open-label, phase II trial (JGOG3023), patients were randomized 1:1 to a single-agent chemotherapy alone (either pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [40 or 50 mg/m2 administered intravenously], topotecan [1.25 mg/m2 intravenously], paclitaxel [80 mg/m2 intravenously], or gemcitabine [1000 mg/m2 intravenously]) or single-agent chemotherapy + bevacizumab (15 mg/m2 intravenously). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) according to RECIST version 1.1. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and response rate according to Gynecological Cancer Intergroup cancer antigen 125 criteria. In total, 103 patients were allocated to chemotherapy (n = 51) or chemotherapy + bevacizumab (n = 52). Median investigator-assessed PFS was 3.1 and 4.0 mo in each group, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.90, P = .0082). Median OS was 11.3 and 15.3 mo in each group, respectively (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.38-1.17, P = .1556). Respective ORRs were 13.7% and 25.0% (P = .0599) and response rates were 16.7% and 21.4% (P = .8273). The incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs was 42.0% in the chemotherapy group and 54.9% in the chemotherapy + bevacizumab group; AEs were well tolerated, with only 2 and 12 events leading to discontinuation of therapy, respectively. Bevacizumab was effective beyond progressive disease and AEs were manageable. The observed improvement in PFS requires further verification.

Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Refractory Ovarian Cancers: Clear Cell and Mucinous Carcinomas.

Ovarian cancer has the worst prognosis among gynecological cancers. In particular, clear cell and mucinous carcinomas are less sensitive to chemotherapy. The establishment of new therapies is necessary to improve the treatment outcomes for these carcinomas. In previous clinical studies, chemotherapy with cytotoxic anticancer drugs has failed to demonstrate better treatment outcomes than paclitaxel + carboplatin therapy. In recent years, attention has been focused on treatment with molecular target drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors that target newly identified biomarkers. The issues that need to be addressed include the most appropriate combination of therapies, identifying patients who may benefit from each therapy, and how results should be incorporated into the standard of care for ovarian clear cell and mucinous carcinomas. In this article, we have reviewed the most promising therapies for ovarian clear cell and mucinous carcinomas, which are regarded as intractable, with an emphasis on therapies currently being investigated in clinical studies.

Expectations and Challenges of First-Line Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

The incidence of ovarian cancer, which has had a poor prognosis, is increasing annually. Currently, the prognosis is expected to improve with the use of molecular-targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors as maintenance therapies after the first-line chemotherapy. The GOG218 and ICON7 studies reported the usefulness of bevacizumab and the SOLO-1 and PRIMA (A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study of Niraparib Maintenance Treatment in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer Following Response on Front-Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy) studies have reported the usefulness of olaparib and niraparib, respectively. The ATHENA study investigating the usefulness of rucaparib is currently ongoing. Although clinical studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors are lagging in the field of gynecology, many clinical studies using programmed death cell-1 (PD-1) and PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies are currently ongoing. Some biomarkers have been identified for molecular-targeted drugs, but none have been identified for immune checkpoint inhibitors, which is a challenge that should be addressed in the future.

Comparison of Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for FIGO2018 Stage IIIC1 Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: In October 2018, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised its classification of advanced stages of cervical cancer. The main points of the classification are as follows: stage IIIC is newly established; pelvic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC1; and para-aortic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC2. Currently, in Japan, radical hysterectomy is performed in advanced stages IA2 to IIB of FIGO2014, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended for patients with positive lymph nodes. However, the efficacy of CCRT is not always satisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and postoperative CCRT in stage IIIC1 patients. Materials and Methods: Of the 40 patients who had undergone a radical hysterectomy at Iwate Medical University between January 2011 and December 2016 and were pathologically diagnosed as having positive pelvic lymph nodes, 21 patients in the adjuvant CT group and 19 patients in the postoperative CCRT group were compared. Results: The 5 year survival rates were 77.9% in the CT group and 74.7% in the CCRT group, with no significant difference. There was no significant difference in overall survival or progression-free survival between the two groups. There was no significant difference between CT and CCRT in postoperative adjuvant therapy in the new classification IIIC1 stage. Conclusions: The results of the prospective Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) 1082 study are pending, but the present results suggest that CT may be a treatment option in rural areas where radiotherapy facilities are limited.

Genome-wide analysis of microRNA to evaluate prognostic markers in isolated cancer glands and surrounding stroma in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

The molecular mechanisms responsible for the progression of ovarian cancer remain incompletely understood. By targeting multiple cancer-related genes, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as key regulators of cancer development and progression. In addition, the microenvironment, which constitutes cancer glands and the surrounding stromal tissue at the invasive front, has an important role in cancer progression. Using array-based analysis of 14 cases (cohort 1), the aim of the present study was to evaluate global miRNA expression in cancerous glands and surrounding stromal tissues (isolated using a crypt isolation method), in order to identify potential prognostic markers of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was also used to verify the results in cohort 1 (14 cases) and in 16 additional HGSC cases (cohort 2; verification cohort). Firstly, miRNA expression levels were compared between HGSC and normal samples among both the isolated cancer gland and stromal tissue samples. Secondly, miRNA expression was compared between HGSC cases with recurrence and those without recurrence among the isolated cancer gland and stromal tissue samples. The results revealed six and seven miRNAs identified in both of the aforementioned comparisons in isolated cancer glands and surrounding stromal tissue, respectively. Furthermore, downregulation of miRNA-214-3p in isolated cancer glands and downregulation of miRNA-320c in the corresponding stromal tissue were associated with a decrease in disease-free survival (without recurrence) in cohort 2. These findings indicated that specific miRNAs expressed in cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells of HGSC may be potential biomarkers predicting patient prognosis.

Immunotherapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer Using Checkpoint Inhibitors: Future Directions.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated marked clinical effects worldwide, and "cancer immunotherapy" has been recognized as a feasible option for cancer treatment. Significant treatment responses have already been attained for malignant melanoma and lung cancer, ahead of gynecologic cancer. In cervical cancer, however, results are only available from phase II trials, not from phase III trials. Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor and is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Since the introduction of angiogenesis inhibitors, treatment for recurrent and advanced cervical cancers has improved in the past five years, but median overall survival is 16.8 months for advanced cervical cancer, and all-stage five-year overall survival rate is 68%, indicating that treatment effects remain inadequate. For this reason, the development of new therapeutic approaches is imperative. We describe herein the KEYNOTE-158 and CheckMate 358 clinical trials, which were conducted for cervical cancer, and discuss future directions, including potential combinations with concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), as noted for other types of cancer.

A New Therapeutic Strategy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer-Bevacizumab beyond Progressive Disease.

Treatment beyond progressive disease (PD) is a concept that even after drugs become ineffective, their continued use is more beneficial for patients than their discontinuation. In recent years, a concept of bevacizumab beyond PD (BBP) has attracted attention in the treatment of various cancers, and the usefulness of this concept has been evaluated. BBP has been proven to prolong overall survival (OS) in recurrent colorectal cancer and progression-free survival (PFS) in recurrent breast and lung cancers. With regard to the treatment of ovarian cancer, the MITO16/MaNGO-OV2B study (the Multicenter Phase III Randomized Study with Second Line Chemotherapy Plus or Minus Bevacizumab in Patients with Platinum Sensitive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Recurrence After a Bevacizumab/Chemotherapy First Line) was conducted in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrence and the JGOG3023 study (the Open-Label, Randomized, Phase II Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Standard of Care with or Without Bevacizumab in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Patients Previously Treated with Bevacizumab for Front-Line or Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer) was conducted in patients with platinum-resistant recurrence. The MITO16/MaNGO-OV2B study, reported in the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, showed that BBP achieved prolonged PFS. In the JGOG3023 study, enrollment of patients was completed in December 2018, and the follow-up period has been initiated. Proving the effectiveness of BBP in the treatment of ovarian cancer may provide a new therapeutic strategy and contribute to improved treatment outcomes in patients with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options.

Immunotherapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplastic disease that is the fourth most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide. Since the introduction of angiogenesis inhibitors, treatments for recurrent and advanced cervical cancers have improved significantly in the past five years. However, the median overall survival in advanced cervical cancer is 16.8 months, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 68% for all stages, indicating that the effects of the treatment are still unsatisfactory. The development of a new treatment method is therefore imperative. Recently, in the clinical oncology field, remarkable progress has been made in immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is already established as standard therapy in some fields and in some types of cancers, and its clinical role in all areas, including the gynecology field, will change further based on the outcomes of currently ongoing clinical trials. This manuscript summarizes the results from previous clinical trials in cervical cancer and describes the ongoing clinical trials, as well as future directions.

Safe administration of bevacizumab combination chemotherapy for the patients with recurrent cervical cancer after pelvic radiotherapy: Two case reports.

In Japan, bevacizumab has not been proven either effective or safe for the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer. The present study reported two cases in which bevacizumab combination chemotherapy was safely administered for recurrent cervical cancer following pelvic radiotherapy. Case 1 was a 62-year-old woman with stage IIIB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who had received whole pelvic external beam radiotherapy (WPEBRT) at a dose of 50.4 Gy and high dose rate intra-cavitary brachytherapy at a dose of 24 Gy to the pelvis one year earlier. For recurrent cervical cancer, chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin and bevacizumab was administered for six cycles. Case 2 was a 52-year-old woman with stage IIB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who had received WPEBRT at a dose of 50.4 Gy to the pelvis 11 years earlier. For lymph node and liver metastases, chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and bevacizumab was administered for six cycles. Although grade 2 proteinuria was observed in one of these patients, there were no intestinal perforation, fistula, hypertension, proteinuria or thrombosis events, which are the characteristic adverse reactions associated with bevacizumab. Hematotoxicity was also manageable. Regarding the antitumor effect, case 1 demonstrated a complete response, whereas case 2 resulted in stable disease.

Protein expression patterns in cancer-associated fibroblasts and cells undergoing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancers.

Recent studies have shown that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contribute to invasive and metastatic abilities of ovarian cancer (OC) cells. In the present study, we attempted to identify the role of CAF- and EMT-related proteins in OCs, including serous carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma using an immunohistochemical approach. The following CAF-related markers were used: CD10, podoplanin, fibroblast activating protein (FAP), platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRα), PDGFRß, S100A4 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In addition, the following EMT-related markers were investigated: Slug, TWIST1 and ZEB1We performed hierarchical cluster analysis to group the samples according to their scoring. Subgroup 1 was characterized by high expression of CD10, podoplanin, α-SMA, Slug and ZEB1, whereas subgroup 2 was closely associated with high expression of podoplanin, PDGFRα, PDGFRß, α-SMA, and Slug. In addition, marked expression of CD10 was observed in subgroup 3. High expression of α-SMA was a distinctive feature in subgroup 4, and expression of podoplanin and α-SMA characterized subgroup 5. Each subgroup was correlated with a histological type. The fact that different histological types were associated with different subgroups suggests the presence of distinct and heterogeneous subpopulations of CAFs in OC.