Sexual orientation of women does not affect outcome of fertility treatment with donated sperm.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there a difference in fertility between heterosexual women and lesbians undergoing sperm donation? SUMMARY ANSWER: Women undergoing treatment with donated sperm are equally fertile regardless of sexual orientation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Lesbians have an increased prevalence of smoking, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases and, possibly, polycystic ovary syndrome, all factors known to affect fertility. Previous studies on sperm donation inseminations (D-IUI) show conflicting results regarding pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a national study of 171 lesbians and 124 heterosexual women undergoing sperm donation both as D-IUI (lesbian n = 438, heterosexual n = 298) and as embryo transfers (ET) after IVF with donated sperm (lesbians n = 225, heterosexuals n = 230) during 2005-2010. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All clinics in Sweden offering sperm donation recruited patients. Differences in patients' medical history, treatment results and number of treatments to live birth were analyzed using independent samples t-test, Pearson's χ(2) test or Fisher's exact probability test. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: 71.8% of heterosexuals and 69.0% of lesbians had a child after treatment. The mean number of treatments was 4.2 for heterosexual women and 3.9 for lesbians. The total live birth rate, regardless of treatment type, was 19.7% for heterosexuals and 19.5% for lesbians. For D-IUI, the live birth rate was 12.8% for heterosexuals and 16.0% for lesbians and the live birth rate for all IVF embryo transfers (fresh and thawed cycles) was 28.7% for heterosexuals and 26.2% for lesbians. There were no differences in live birth rate between the groups for each of the different types of insemination stimulations (natural cycle; clomiphene citrate; FSH; clomiphene citrate and FSH combined). Nor was there a difference in live birth rate between the groups for either fresh or thawed embryo transfer. There was no difference between the proportions of women in either group or the number of treatments needed to achieve a live birth. Heterosexuals had a higher prevalence of smokers (9.2%), uterine polyps (7.2%) or previous children (11.3%) than lesbians (smokers 2.8%, P = 0.03; polyps 1.8%, P = 0.03; child 2.5%, P = 0.003). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study is limited to women living in stable relationships undergoing treatment with donated sperm in a clinical setting and may not apply to single women or those undergoing home inseminations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: These results may influence healthcare policy decisions as well as increase the quality of clinical care and medical knowledge of healthcare professionals. The data also have important implications for individuals regarding screening, infertility diagnostic procedures and treatment types offered to heterosexuals and lesbians seeking pregnancy through sperm donation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): Funding was granted by the Stiftelsen Familjeplaneringsfonden i Uppsala; the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare; and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

The Bethesda system and evaluation of abnormal pap smears.

The Bethesda Pap Smear system and its 1991 revisions aim to simplify Papanicolaou (Pap) smear reporting and make it more reproducible. It redefines the Pap smear request as a medical consultation. The pathologist consultant is required not only to provide the smear reading but also its clinical recommendation. The Bethesda system insists on a detailed Pap smear report assessing specimen adequacy and types of epithelial changes. Squamous cell abnormalities are grouped according to their biologic potential. Both cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade I (CIN I) (mild dysplasia) and human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions are grouped together as low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL), while moderate and severe dysplasia (CIN II and III) belong to the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL) category. Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGCUS) need further qualification as to whether they favor either a reactive or neoplastic process. Guidelines for management of abnormal Pap smears are discussed in detail.

Chemotherapy of advanced and recurrent cervical carcinoma.

Chemotherapy is used primarily to treat advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. There are three major applications: primary therapy, as a radiation sensitizer, and neoadjuvant therapy. Primary chemotherapy is employed in advanced and disseminated cervical carcinoma (Stage VB). The four best single drugs with moderate activity against cervical cancer are: cisplatin, ifosfamide, dibromodulcitol (mitolactol), and Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Cisplatin and ifosfamide appear to be the best combination therapy: they provide an objective response rate of 33%. However, because the overall survival was not significantly improved with combination therapy, single-agent therapy with one of the above active drugs is acceptable. For stages IIB, III and IVA, the primary therapy is still radiation. Concomitant chemotherapy with hydroxyurea or a combination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been shown to enhance radiation response in several randomized trials. Hydroxyurea is the preferred radiation sensitizer because it offers less toxicity, ease of administration, and equivalent results. Chemotherapy in neoadjuvant setting produces promising results. Various cisplatin combinations of mitomycin C, 5-FU, vincristine, and bleomycin have been employed to shrink locally advanced cervical cancer and permit safe, radical excision. Early results with these combinations in small trials are encouraging but further studies are needed to fully evaluate their potential.

Randomized study of the blood-aqueous barrier reaction after phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction.

PURPOSE: To compare the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) breakdown after endocapsular phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). METHODS: Forty-two patients (64-82 years) enrolled for cataract surgery were randomly assigned to phacoemulsification (group I) or ECCE (group II). Patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, small pupils, glaucoma, uveitis, dark brown irides, diabetes, treatment with eye drops or anti-inflammatory drugs were excluded. In group I the patients were operated with continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), phacoemulsification and implantation of a poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) intraocular lens (IOL) through a 5.2 mm self-sealing incision. In group II linear capsulotomy, nucleus expression and PMMA IOL implantation through a large incision (10-11 mm) were performed. The incision was sutured. Before surgery and three days and three months after surgery postoperative inflammation and BAB reaction were measured by laser flare photometry and anterior chamber fluorophotometry after intravenous administration of fluorescein. The BAB diffusion coefficient was calculated. Laser flare photometry was performed also after one and two years. RESULTS: According to fluorophotometry, ECCE induced significantly more postoperative BAB breakdown than did phacoemulsification at three days (p=0.00016) and three months (p=0.00829). Laser flare photometry showed more inflammation in the ECCE group than in the phacoemulsification group at three days postoperatively (p=0.00005). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that cataract surgery performed with a small, self-sealing incision, CCC and phacoemulsification induces a reduced surgical trauma with less BAB breakdown compared to ECCE using a large sutured incision, linear capsulotomy and nucleus expression.

Intraocular lens thickness and ocular growth in newborn rabbits.

PURPOSE: To examine ocular growth in newborn rabbits with a thick or a thin silicone intraocular lens implanted. METHODS: Bilateral lensectomy was performed in twelve 23-day-old rabbits. All eyes were implanted with a silicone intraocular lens (IOL) with polypropylene haptics (Allergan Medical Optics SI 26 NB). In each rabbit, one eye was selected at random and a +12 diopter IOL with a centre thickness of 1.10 mm was implanted in the capsular bag. In the other eye a +24 diopter IOL with a centre thickness of 1.83 mm was implanted. Axial length, corneal diameter, corneal thickness and intraocular pressure were measured in all eyes preoperatively, and then 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery. The wet mass of the after-cataract was measured 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Both the axial length and the corneal diameter were significantly increased in eyes implanted with the thicker silicone IOL. No significant difference in corneal thickness or intraocular pressure was found between the eyes. No correlation was found between the IOL-thickness and the wet mass of the after-cataract. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that in the young rabbit eye the thickness of an implanted IOL influences eye growth.

Ocular growth in newborn rabbit eyes implanted with a poly(methyl methacrylate) or silicone intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To examine eye growth in lensectomized infant rabbits implanted with a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or a silicone intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: S:t Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: Two groups of 3-week-old rabbits were used. In Group 1 (n = 13), lensectomy was performed in both eyes. In one randomly selected eye, a +30 diopter (D) heparin-surface-modified (HSM) PMMA IOL was implanted in the capsular bag; the other eye was left aphakic. In Group 2 (n = 10), a +21 D HSM PMMA IOL was implanted in one randomly selected eye and a +21 D silicone IOL was implanted in the other. Axial length, corneal diameter, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured in all eye preoperatively and 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery. The wet mass of the after-cataract was measured 3 months after surgery. The ciliary body with the ciliary processes and the peripheral retina were examined histologically after formalin fixation. The two IOL types were compressed to 7.0 MM, corresponding to the diameter of the 3-week-old rabbit lens. RESULTS: In Group 1, the axial length was significantly decreased in the eye with an HSM PMMA IOL compared with the fellow aphakic eye (P < .01, two-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]). No significant difference in corneal diameter, corneal thickness, or IOP was found between the eyes. The wet mass of the dissected after-cataract was significantly less in the eye implanted with an IOL. Two animals had an elevated IOP with secondary glaucoma in their aphakic eye and were excluded from the study. In Group 2, axial length in eyes with the HSM PMMA IOL was less than in the eyes with the silicone IOL (P < .25, two-way ANOVA). No difference in corneal diameter, corneal thickness, or IOP was found. The amount of after-cataract was not altered. Histologically, the eyes with the HSM PMMA IOL showed retinal degeneration, neovascularization of the ciliary body accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cells, and tumid ciliary processes. The eyes with the silicone IOL showed only minor changes. The aphakic eyes presented even less histological change. The compression test demonstrated that three time the compression force was needed to squeeze the HSM PMMA lens than the silicone IOL. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that in the young rabbit eye, implanting a regular size HSM PMMA IOL destroys intraocular tissues and reduces eye growth significantly. Replacing the PMMA IOL with a silicone IOL improves the ocular growth.

After-cataract and ocular growth in newborn rabbit eyes implanted with a capsule tension ring.

PURPOSE: To examine after-cataract and eye growth in lensectomized newborn rabbits implanted with capsule tension rings of different sizes. SETTING: S:t Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: Two groups of 24-day-old rabbits were used. In Group 1 (n = 9), lensectomy was performed in both eyes. In one randomly selected eye, an open poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) capsule tension ring with a 7.0 mm diameter and 0.13 mm thickness was implanted in the capsular bag. The other eye was left aphakic. In Group 2 (n = 10), an open PMMA capsule tension ring with a 10.0 mm diameter and 0.13 mm thickness was implanted in one randomly selected eye, and the other eye was left aphakic. Axial length, corneal diameter, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured in all eyes preoperatively and 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery. The wet mass of the after-cataract was measured at 3 months. Three Group 1 eyes and four Group 2 eyes developed secondary glaucoma and were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Axial growth did not differ significantly between the eyes implanted with the 7.0 mm ring and the aphakic eyes (mean difference 0.01 mm; F3;15 = 0.02; P > .25). Corneal diameter also did not differ (two-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]). Axial length growth was less in the eyes implanted with the 10.0 mm ring than in the aphakic eyes (mean difference 1.05 mm; F3;15 = 2.06; P < .25). The average decrease in corneal diameter growth was 1.0 mm in the implanted eyes. Growth in the eyes with the 10.0 mm ring was significantly less than in the eyes with the 7.0 mm ring (P = .05, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). Corneal thickness and IOP did not differ significantly between eyes (F3;15 = 0.6; P > .25; two-way ANOVA). Amount of after-cataract did not differ significantly between the aphakic eyes and the eyes implanted with the 7.0 mm ring. It was significantly less in the eyes with the 10.0 mm ring than in those with the 7.0 mm ring (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) and in the aphakic eyes (P < .025, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). CONCLUSION: In the young rabbit eye, a 10.0 mm capsule ring reduced the eye growth compared with both the aphakic eye and the eye implanted with a 7.0 mm ring. The 10.0 mm ring also inhibited the production of after-cataract compared with the production in the aphakic eye and the eye implanted with the 7.0 mm ring.

Adjuvant radiotherapy in early stage ovarian carcinoma.

In a series of 228 women diagnosed with malignant ovarian tumors during the years 1980-87 radiotherapy was added as postoperative adjuvant therapy. Twenty-three cases with epithelial borderline carcinomas and 18 cases with nonepithelial tumors were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 187 cases of invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma in FIGO stage I-II was a complete, consecutive, and total geographic series. After primary staging surgery lower abdomino-pelvic or whole abdominal radiotherapy was administered. The dose to the upper part of the abdomen was 20 Gy (fraction dose 1.0 Gy) and to the lower part and the pelvis 40 Gy (fraction dose 1.7 Gy). The patients were followed up for at least 10 years. During the follow-up 75 tumors (40%) recurred and were then treated with cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. Abdomino-pelvic (18%) and abdomino-pelvic-distant metastases (11%) were most frequent. Mean time to recurrence was 26 months. The 5-year overall survival of the complete series was 57% and the cancer-specific survival 66%. FIGO stage and tumor grade were the only independent and significant prognostic factors in a Cox multivariate analysis. Only cases in FIGO stage IA and grade 1 could be classified as low-risk cases with 5-year survival of 87%. All other cases showed a significantly worse prognosis and should be classified as intermediate or high-risk cases. Early radiation reactions were frequent (80%) but of little clinical significance. In 21 cases (11%) late radiation reactions were recorded. In 8 cases (4%) the reactions were regarded as severe and required surgical intervention or disabled the patient significantly. The results compare well with others reported in the literature.

Ocular axial length in children with unilateral congenital cataract.

Ocular axial length and thickness were measured in 12 children (age 4 to 418 days, median 103 days) with unilateral congenital cataract who were referred to St. Erik's Eye Hospital during 1991-1994. The measurements were performed in both eyes with A-scan ultrasonography before cataract extraction. In 4 children measurement of the axial length was repeated 1 to 4 months after the unilateral cataract extraction. All eyes with congenital cataract were shorter than the normal fellow eye. The individual axial length differences showed a mean value +/- SEM of 1.03 +/- 0.16 mm. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In the 4 children where measurement of the axial length was repeated, the difference between the eyes after unilateral cataract extraction had become greater than before. In addition, the thickness of the cataractous lens was 0.63 +/- 0.17 mm (mean +/- SEM) less than the non-operated clear lens. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In conclusion, in children with unilateral congenital cataract the affected eye has a shorter axial length and a thinner lens.

Eye growth in the aphakic newborn rabbit.

PURPOSE: To examine growth in unilaterally lensectomized newborn rabbits. SETTING: S:t Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: Unilateral lensectomy was performed in 18 randomly selected 23-day-old rabbits. Corneal incision was performed in 2 other rabbits, and the aqueous humor was replaced with balanced salt solution in one eye. Axial length, corneal diameter, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), and refraction were measured in all eyes preoperatively and 1, 2, and 3 months postoperatively. The wet mass of the after-cataract was measured 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The growth of the aphakic eye, as indicated by axial length and corneal diameter, was significantly less than that of the control eye in 14 rabbits. No significant difference in IOP or corneal thickness was found between the lensectomy and control eyes. Four animals had elevated IOP with secondary glaucoma and were excluded from the study. No difference in eye growth was found between the two eyes when no lensectomy was performed. Refraction in the unoperated eye showed a myopic shift. After lensectomy, the operated eye became hyperopic with a myopic shift 3 months after surgery. No correlation was found between eye growth and the wet mass of the after-cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that removal of the rabbit crystalline lens at an early age reduces eye growth.

After-cataract formation in newborn rabbits implanted with intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: Comparison of the after-cataract formation in newborn rabbits implanted with a heparin-surface-modified (HSM) intraocular lens (IOL), a silicone IOL, or no IOL. METHODS: Two groups of 3-week-old rabbits were used. In Group 1 (n = 11), lensectomy was performed in both eyes. One eye was selected at random and an HSM IOL was implanted in the capsular bag; the other eye was left aphakic. In Group 2 (n = 13), lensectomy was performed in both eyes. An HSM IOL was implanted in one eye, a silicone IOL in the other. The wet mass of the dissected after-cataract was determined 3 months after surgery in both groups. RESULTS: In Group 1, the wet mass of the dissected after-cataract was 17.0 +/- 6.5 mg (mean +/- SEM) in eyes implanted with an HSM IOL and 159.7 +/- 17.0 mg in aphakic eyes. This difference was statistically significant (P < .01). In Group 2, the wet mass of the dissected after-cataract was 18.3 +/- 4.3 mg in eyes implanted with an HSM IOL and 25.7 +/- 5.2 mg in eyes implanted with a silicone IOL. No statistically significant difference was found. CONCLUSIONS: In young rabbits, implantation of an IOL in the capsular bag following lensectomy reduced cell proliferation.

Advanced and recurrent carcinoma of the ovary treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cytosine arabinoside.

Twenty-six patients with advanced or recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma, FIGO Stages III and IV, were treated with combination chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cytosine arabinoside (CARA). In 17 cases, CARA was initiated following failure to single-agent chemotherapy, in all cases, melphalan. Nine patients with advanced cancer received CARA as their primary chemotherapy after maximum cytoreductive surgery. The overall response rate was 27%; however, in patients without prior chemotherapy the response rate was 44%. There were 6 complete responders, 1 partial responder, 13 patients with stable disease, and 6 who failed to respond to therapy. Four of six complete responders had remission durations greater than 10 months. The median progression free interval (PFI) of patients with residual tumor diameters less than 2 cm was significantly longer (P less than or equal to 0.04) than the PFI of patients with greater initial tumor burden. The median PFI of complete responders was significantly longer (P = 0.007) than PFI of patients with less than complete response. Previously untreated patients had longer median PFI than those who had failed previous chemotherapy (P = 0.07). The major dose-limiting toxicity of CARA was thrombocytopenia. Other myelosuppression was moderate and no cardiotoxicity was encountered.

Combination chemotherapy of the epipodophyllotoxin derivatives, teniposide and etoposide. A pharmacodynamic rationale?

Previous studies in vitro on the influence of extracellular protein binding of Teniposide (VM26) and Etoposide (VP16-213) on subsequent cellular uptake by experimental murine tumor cells [Cancer Res 38:2549 (1978); Drug Metab Rev 8:119 (1978)] suggested that a timed-sequential combination of VM26 and VP16-213 may increase the bioavailability of VP16-213. This was studied clinically in six cancer patients with ascites (five ovarian, one rectal) whereby VM26 (20 mg/m2) was given i.p. 2 h prior to VP16-213 (100 mg/m2; i.p.) In some patients, this regimen was administered i.v. The i.v. regimen was found to be more toxic (myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting) than i.p. regimen at same doses of drugs. Several patients remained stable to disease during 1-2 courses of therapy (3 weeks per course), one patient had partial remission, and has been stable in her disease for more than 4 months. In two patients, plasma and ascites fluid was analyzed for VP16-213 and VM26 by a new reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography method. Both VM26 and VP16-213 could be eluted isocratically (28% v/v acetonitrile in water) from a c18 column with retention times of 6.6 and 13.3 min, respectively. Subsequent pharmacokinetic analysis of one patient suggests that protein binding displacement of VP16-213 in plasma and perhaps ascites fluid increased the pharmacokinetic volume of distribution (28 l) and reduced the elimination half-life (12 h). The data suggests that VP16-213 is distributed more widely in the body and is represented by a single compartment pharmacokinetic model. Analysis of VM26 in ascites and plasma suggests that the so-called "deep pharmacokinetic compartment" represents ascites equivalent space and that the plasma concentration represents VM26 as free and protein-bound drug in kinetic distinguishable compartments. Determinants of drug action are potentially composed of a multiplicity of physiological, biochemical, and other factors. The potential for manipulating the pharmacodynamic properties of drugs to achieve greater therapeutic potential needs further study.

Cervical carcinoma antigens in the diagnosis of human squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

The use of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) in the diagnosis of human squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining of second cervical scrapes and touch preparations of normal and carcinomatous tissue. Rabbit antisera, prepared against human cervical squamous cell carcinoma homogenates and absorbed with normal human cervix and plasma, were used to stain 103 second cervical scrapes by indirect immunofluorescence. Of these specimens, 59 were positive by immunofluorescence, whereas the remaining 44 were negative. Compared with conventional cytologic diagnosis, positive immunofluorescence was detected in 100% (49/49) of the second scrapes from patients with cervical dysplasia or carcinoma (for a false-negative rate of zero). Of the second cervical scrapes from 57 patients negative by cytology, 13 were positive by immunofluorescence (for a false-positive rate of 22.8%). Indirect immunofluorescence tests on tumor touch preparations also revealed cervical TAA in other types of gynecologic tumors.

Treatment of advanced cervical cancer by combination of bleomycin and mitomycin-C.

A combination of bleomycin and mitomycin-C, reported as extraordinarily effective in a previous clinical trial, was used to treat 20 patients with advanced cervical cancer. Seven partial remissions (35%) and one complete remission (5%) were observed. Six of the partial remissions were of short duration (less than four months); the only patient with complete remission was still alive without evidence of disease ten months after initiation of chemotherapy. Nonresponders had a mean survival time of 6.6 months and responders 8.0 months. The treatment results confirm some efficacy of the drug regimen, although in our hands it did not live up to the high expectations raised by others.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology in gynecologic oncology. I. Diagnostic accuracy.

A prospective study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in gynecology. A total of 77 aspirations were performed on 74 patients. In 34 instances the purpose was to rule out or confirm a diagnosis of primary disease, and in 43 cases the procedure was used for suspected metastatic disease or disease recurrent after surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Excellent correlation was noted between the cytologic and subsequent histopathologic diagnoses of 58 aspirations from patients who also underwent surgical biopsy. Two specimens were false negatives as the result of sampling errors. The applicability of FNA cytology in the field of gynecolotic oncology is discussed.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in gynecologic oncology. II. Morphologic aspects.

This study was based on the evaluation of 140 fine-needle spirations from gynecologic lesion. Cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions and cellular changes due to irradiation and chemotherapy are presented. For accurate evaluation of fine-needle aspiration specimens from the pelvis, the exact location of the sampling must be known, clinical data must be available, and the patholgist must have an intimate knowledge of anatomy, histology and pathology of benign and malignant lesions in this area. Fine-needle aspiration cytology provided a high degree of accuracy in the diagnosis of gynecologic lesions.

Tumor-bound immunoglobulin in human gynecologic cancers.

By the use of immunofluorescence techniques, immunoglobulin of the IgG class was consistently found in touch preparations and in frozen sections of squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix (both keratinizing and nonkeratinizing) and in an adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, an adenocarcinoma of the cervix, a mixed mesodermal-uterine tumor, and a uterine adenocarcinoma metastasized to the ovaries. Trace amountsof IgM were found in 1 squamous cell carcinoma and in 1 adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Except for 1 tumor specimen consisting primarily of infiltrating lymphocytes that stained positive for human IgG, IgM, IgA, and C3, the tumors were consistently negative for IgA and C3. Specimens made from normal cervical tissue were uniformly negative for all immunoglobulins and complement. Positive staining for human IgG could be eliminated by incubation of the tumor preparations with unconjugated goat antihuman IgG before the preparations were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated goat antihuman IgG. Attempts to elute the tumor-bound IgG with glycine-HCl buffer (pH 2.2) were most successful with the use of unfixed tissue, although the positive staining for IgG could not be entirely eliminated. The elution effects of the low-pH buffer on tissue fixed over 2 hours in 10% Formalin were minimal.