Molecular classification of ovarian high-grade serous/endometrioid carcinomas through multi-omics analysis: JGOG3025-TR2 study.

BACKGROUND: Considerable interobserver variability exists in diagnosis of ovarian high-grade endometrioid carcinoma (HGEC) and high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) due to histopathological similarities. While homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) correlates with drug sensitivity in HGSC, the molecular features of HGEC are unclear. METHODS: Fresh-frozen samples from 15 ovarian HGECs and 274 ovarian HGSCs in the JGOG-TR2 cohort were submitted to targeted DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, DNA methylation array, and SNP array. We additionally analyzed 555 ovarian HGSCs from TCGA-OV and 287 endometrial high-grade carcinomas from TCGA-UCEC. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering using copy number signatures identified four distinct tumor groups (C1, C2, C3 and C4). C1 (n = 41) showed CCNE1 amplification and poor survival. C2 (n = 160) and C3 (n = 59) showed high BRCA1/2 alteration frequency with low and moderate ploidy, respectively. C4 (n = 22) was characterized by favorable outcome, higher HGEC proportion, no BRCA1/2 alteration or CCNE1 amplification, and low levels of HRD score, ploidy, intra-tumoral heterogeneity, cell proliferation rate, and WT1 gene expression. Notably, C4 exhibited a normal endometrium-like DNA methylation profile, thus, defined as "HGEC-type" tumors, which were also identified in TCGA-OV and TCGA-UCEC. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian "HGEC-type" tumors present a non-HRD status, favorable prognosis, and endometrial differentiation, possibly constituting a subset of clinically diagnosed HGSCs.

Serial cytoreductive surgery and survival outcomes in recurrent adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the role of cytoreductive surgery in patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Despite a multitude of treatment modalities in the recurrent setting, the optimal management strategy is not known. Cytoreductive surgery offers an attractive option for disease confined to the abdomen/pelvis. However, few studies have evaluated the role of surgery compared with systemic therapy alone following the first recurrence and subsequent disease progressions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the impact of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary cytoreductive surgery on survival outcomes in recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. STUDY DESIGN: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study evaluating patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary enrolled in the MD Anderson Rare Gynecologic Malignancy Registry from 1970 to 2022. Study inclusion criteria consisted of histology-proven recurrent disease, at least 1 documented recurrence, and treatment/treatment planning at the MD Anderson Cancer Center or Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. The primary exposure was cytoreductive surgery, and the outcomes of interest were progression-free survival and overall survival. Survival analyses were restricted to eligible patients with resectable disease without medical barriers to surgery at each progression episode. Demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Progression-free survival (after first, second, and third progression) and overall survival were estimated with methods of Kaplan and Meier, and were modeled via Cox proportional hazards regression. Multivariable analyses were performed for progression-free survival after first progression and overall survival. RESULTS: Among the 369 patients with adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary in the registry, 149 patients met the study inclusion criteria. Secondary cytoreductive surgery was associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival on univariable (hazard ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.81, P=.01) and multivariable analyses (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.92; P=.03). Those who underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery had a significantly improved median overall survival compared with those who did not undergo cytoreductive surgery (181.92 vs 61.56 months, respectively; P=.002). Overall survival benefit remained statistically significant on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.67; P=.004). Tertiary cytoreductive surgery was similarly associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.70; P=.001). Despite a similar trend, quaternary cytoreductive surgery was not associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-1.26; P=.27). CONCLUSION: Among those with resectable disease and no medical contraindications to surgery, cytoreductive surgery may have a beneficial impact on progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the ovary: a review of 63 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of ovarian neuroendocrine neoplasms from a curated registry. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients in our registry with confirmed ovarian neuroendocrine neoplasms. We excluded patients with small cell carcinoma not otherwise specified, small cell hypercalcemic type, and those with neuroendocrine 'features' or 'differentiation.' Clinicopathological characteristics were described in two separate groups: patients with carcinoid tumors and patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas. Progression-free and overall survival were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimator in these two groups, and multivariable analysis was done to identify predictors of survival for neuroendocrine carcinomas only. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients met inclusion criteria, 13 (21%) with carcinoid tumors and 50 (79%) with neuroendocrine carcinomas. In the carcinoid tumor group, one patient (8%) was misdiagnosed. Two patients (15%) had a recurrence and the 5-year overall survival rate was 80% (95% CI 45% to 100%), with a lower bound of the median survival of 4.8 years (95% CI). In the neuroendocrine carcinoma group, 23 patients (46%) were misdiagnosed, 16 of whom (69%) received therapy with the presumption of a non-neuroendocrine carcinoma diagnosis. Thirty patients (60%) had a recurrence, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 24% (10%, 38%), with a median survival of 1.6 years (1.3, 3.3). Patients with carcinomas stage III or IV had an increased risk of progression/recurrence (HR=5.6; 95% CI 1.9 to 17.0) and death (HR=8.1; 95% CI 2.2 to 29.7) compared with those with stage I or II. Pure histology was associated with an increased risk of progression/recurrence (HR=2.3; 95% CI 1.0 to 5.2) compared with admixed histology. CONCLUSION: Most patients had neuroendocrine carcinomas, which were associated with a higher recurrence rate and worse survival than carcinoid tumors. A high proportion of patients in both groups were initially misdiagnosed, and a new association with endometrial hyperplasia was observed. Neuroendocrine admixed histology is associated with a higher risk of progression.

Combination therapy with topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab improves progression-free survival in patients with recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer: a Neuroendocrine Cervical Tumor Registry (NeCTuR) study.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer has a very poor prognosis and limited active treatment options. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the 3-drug regimen of topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab in women with recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Neuroendocrine Cervical Tumor Registry (NeCTuR), which include data abstracted directly from medical records of women diagnosed with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix from English- and Spanish-speaking countries. The study compared women with recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer who received the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen as first- or second-line therapy for recurrence and women with recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer who received chemotherapy but not the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen. Patients continued chemotherapy until disease progression or the development of unacceptable toxic effects. Progression-free survival from the start of therapy for recurrence to the next recurrence or death, overall survival from the first recurrence, and response rates were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 62 patients who received the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen as first- or second-line therapy for recurrence and 56 patients who received chemotherapy but not the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen for recurrence. The median progression-free survival rates were 8.7 months in the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group and 3.7 months in the non-topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group, with a hazard ratio for disease progression of 0.27 (95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.48; P<.0001). In the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group, 15% of patients had stable disease, 39% of patients had a partial response, and 18% of patients had a complete response. Compared with patients in the non-topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group, significantly more patients in the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group remained on treatment at 6 months (31% vs 67%, respectively; P=.0004) and 1 year (9% vs 24%, respectively; P=.02). The median overall survival rates were 16.8 months in the topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group and 14.0 months in the non-topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab regimen group, with a hazard ratio for death of 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.37). CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with topotecan, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab was an active regimen in women with recurrent high-grade neuroendocrine cervical cancer and improved progression-free survival while decreasing the hazard ratio for disease progression.

Clinical outcomes of leuprolide acetate in the treatment of recurrent ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of recurrent ovarian granulosa cell tumors is not known. Preclinical studies and small case series have suggested direct antitumor activity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in the treatment of this disease, but little is known about the efficacy and safety of this approach. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe patterns of use and clinical outcomes of leuprolide acetate in a cohort of patients with recurrent granulosa cell tumors. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the Rare Gynecologic Malignancy Registry at a large cancer referral center and affiliated county hospital. Patients meeting inclusion criteria had a diagnosis of recurrent granulosa cell tumor and received either leuprolide acetate or traditional chemotherapy as cancer treatment. Outcomes were separately examined for leuprolide acetate used as adjuvant treatment, maintenance therapy, and the treatment of gross disease. Demographic and clinical data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Progression-free survival was calculated from the initiation of treatment to the date of disease progression or death, and compared between groups with the log-rank test. The 6-month clinical benefit rate was defined as the percentage of patients without disease progression 6 months after starting therapy. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients received a total of 78 leuprolide acetate-containing therapy courses, owing to 16 instances of retreatment. Of these 78 courses, 57 (73%) were for treatment of gross disease, 10 (13%) were adjuvant to tumor reductive surgery, and 11 (14%) were for maintenance therapy. Patients had received a median of 2 (interquartile range, 1-3) systemic therapy regimens before their first leuprolide acetate treatment. Tumor reductive surgery (100% [62/62]) and platinum-based chemotherapy (81% [50/62]) were common before first leuprolide acetate exposure. The median duration of leuprolide acetate therapy was 9.6 months (interquartile range, 4.8-16.5). Nearly half of the therapy courses were single-agent leuprolide acetate (49% [38/78]). Combination regimens most often included an aromatase inhibitor (23% [18/78]). Disease progression was the most common cause of discontinuation (77% [60/78]); only 1 patient (1%) discontinued leuprolide acetate because of adverse events. In the treatment of gross disease, the 6-month clinical benefit rate for first use of leuprolide acetate was 66% (95% confidence interval, 54-82). Median progression-free survival was not statistically different compared with that which followed chemotherapy (10.3 months [95% confidence interval, 8.0-16.0] vs 8.0 months [95% confidence interval, 5.0-15.3]; P=.3). CONCLUSION: In a large cohort of patients with recurrent granulosa cell tumors, the 6-month clinical benefit rate of first-time leuprolide acetate treatment of gross disease was 66% and progression-free survival was comparable to patients treated with chemotherapy. Leuprolide acetate regimens were heterogeneous, but significant toxicity was rare. These results support leuprolide acetate as safe and effective for the treatment of relapsed adult granulosa cell tumors in the second line and beyond.

Integrated multi-omic analysis of low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma collected from short and long-term survivors.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a rare disease that occurs more frequently in younger women than those with high-grade disease. The current treatment is suboptimal and a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this disease is required. In this study, we compared the proteogenomic analyses of LGSOCs from short- and long-term survivors (defined as < 40 and > 60 months, respectively). Our goal was to identify novel mutations, proteins, and mRNA transcripts that are dysregulated in LGSOC, particularly in short-term survivors. METHODS: Initially, targeted sequencing of 409 cancer-related genes was performed on 22 LGSOC and 6 serous borderline ovarian tumor samples. Subsequently, whole-genome sequencing analysis was performed on 14 LGSOC samples (7 long-term survivors and 7 short-term survivors) with matched normal tissue samples. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative proteomics, and phosphoproteomic analyses were also performed. RESULTS: We identified single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) (range: 5688-14,833 per sample), insertion and deletion variants (indels) (range: 880-1065), and regions with copy number variants (CNVs) (range: 62-335) among the 14 LGSOC samples. Among all SNVs and indels, 2637 mutation sites were found in the exonic regions. The allele frequencies of the detected variants were low (median12%). The identified recurrent nonsynonymous missense mutations included KRAS, NRAS, EIF1AX, UBR5, and DNM3 mutations. Mutations in DNM3 and UBR5 have not previously been reported in LGSOC. For the two samples, somatic DNM3 nonsynonymous missense mutations in the exonic region were validated using Sanger sequencing. The third sample contained two missense mutations in the intronic region of DNM3, leading to a frameshift mutation detected in RNA transcripts in the RNA-seq data. Among the 14 LGSOC samples, 7754 proteins and 9733 phosphosites were detected by global proteomic analysis. Some of these proteins and signaling pathways, such as BST1, TBXAS1, MPEG1, HBA1, and phosphorylated ASAP1, are potential therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to use whole-genome sequencing to detect somatic mutations in LGSOCs with matched normal tissues. We detected and validated novel mutations in DNM3, which were present in 3 of the 14 samples analyzed. Additionally, we identified novel indels, regions with CNVs, dysregulated mRNA, dysregulated proteins, and phosphosites that are more prevalent in short-term survivors. This integrated proteogenomic analysis can guide research into the pathogenesis and treatment of LGSOC.

Prevalence of predictive biomarkers in a large cohort of molecularly defined adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of predictive biomarkers associated with FDA-approved therapies in molecularly defined adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors (aGCTs). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study of tumor profiles using the inclusion criteria of molecularly defined (FOXL2 c.C402G positive) aGCTs previously sequenced at Foundation Medicine, Inc. The dataset included coding variants for up to 406 genes, microsatellite instability, tumor mutational burden, and genomic loss of heterozygosity (gLOH). PD-L1 expression was determined using the tumor proportion score, as measured using the DAKO 22C3 immunohistochemistry assay. RESULTS: 423 tumor profiles met inclusion criteria. The median age at the time of sample submission was 57 years (interquartile range 48-65). The mean tumor mutational burden was 1.8 mutations per megabase (range 0-8.8). No tumors exhibited microsatellite instability, and none were gLOH-High (≥16%). Sixty-seven tumors had PD-L1 expression measurement, and 94% were negative. Potentially actionable variants including MTAP deletion (12/173, 5.8%) and activating PIK3CA mutations (23/423, 5.4%) were identified. TP53-mutated aGCT had a higher tumor mutational burden (mean 2.4 mut/Mb, 95% CI 1.7-3.0 mut/Mb vs mean 1.7 mut/Mb, 95% CI 1.5-1.9 mut/Mb; P = .02) and higher gLOH score (mean 4.4%, 95% CI 2.7-6.1% vs mean 1.4%, 95% CI 1.2-1.6%; P = .002) than TP53 non-mutated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: No women with molecularly defined aGCT in this large cohort would be eligible for FDA-approved pembrolizumab based on either microsatellite instability or high tumor mutational burden. TP53 mutation identified a subset of this tumor type with distinct molecular features. The development of precision treatment options remains a critical unmet need for this rare disease.

Longitudinal patient-reported outcomes and restrictive opioid prescribing after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine post-discharge patient-reported symptoms before and after implementation of restrictive opioid prescribing among women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. METHODS: We compared clinical outcomes and symptom burden among a cohort of 389 women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at a single institution before and after implementation of a restrictive opioid prescribing quality improvement initiative in July 2018. Post-discharge symptom burdens were collected up to 42 days after discharge using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory and analyzed using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS: The majority of women included in this study were white non-smokers and the median age was 55 (range 23-83). Most women underwent hysterectomy (64%), had surgery for malignancy (71%), and were discharged from the hospital on the day of surgery (65%). Women in the restrictive opioid prescribing group had a median reduction in morphine equivalent dose prescribed at discharge of 83%, corresponding to a median reduction in 25 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone per person. There was no difference between opioid prescribing groups in either the rate of refill requests (P=1) or hospital re-admission (P=1) up to 30 days after discharge. After adjustment for co-variates, there was no statistically significant difference in post-discharge symptom burden including patient-reported pain (P=0.08), sleep (P=0.30), walking interference (P=0.64), activity interference (P=0.12), or affective interference (P=0.67). There was a trend toward less reported constiptation in the restrictive opioid prescribing group that did not reach statistical significance (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that restrictive post-operative opioid prescribing was not associated with differences in longitudinal symptom burden among women undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. These results provide the most comprehensive picture to date of post-operative symptom recovery under different opioid prescribing approaches, lending additional support for existing recommendations to reduce opioid prescribing following gynecologic surgery.

Patient characteristics and opioid use prior to discharge after open gynecologic surgery in an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and demographic characteristics associated with the absence of opioid usage on the day before discharge among patients undergoing open gynecologic surgery within an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program. METHODS: This was a single institution retrospective cohort study including all patients who underwent elective open gynecologic surgery as part of an ERAS program between November 1, 2014 and September 30, 2018 and who were discharged between post-operative day 2 and 7. Patients were excluded if they reported pre-existing chronic opioid use or underwent total pelvic exenteration. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the absence of opioid usage on the day before discharge, after adjustment for relevant covariates. RESULTS: A total of 971 were included with a median length of stay of 3 days, and of these 526 (54.2%) used opioids on day before discharge and 445 (45.8%) did not. Absence of opioid use on the day before discharge was associated with age (P < .001), race (P = .04), Charlson Co-morbidity Index (P < .001), marital status (P = .004), and smoking status (P = .002) by univariate analysis. In a multivariable model, older age (adjusted OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.06; P < .001), current smoker status (adjusted OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.20-0.81; P = .01), and white or Caucasian race (adjusted OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.38-0.91; P = .02) were significantly associated with the absence of opioid use on the day prior to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of patients undergoing open gynecologic surgery within an established ERAS program did not consume any opioids on day before discharge. Safe, evidence-based reductions in post-operative opioid prescribing may be feasible for a subset of gynecologic surgery patients.

Neuropilins are positive regulators of Hedgehog signal transduction.

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is essential for vertebrate embryogenesis, and excessive Hh target gene activation can cause cancer in humans. Here we show that Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) and Nrp2, transmembrane proteins with roles in axon guidance and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, are important positive regulators of Hh signal transduction. Nrps are expressed at times and locations of active Hh signal transduction during mouse development. Using cell lines lacking key Hh pathway components, we show that Nrps mediate Hh transduction between activated Smoothened (Smo) protein and the negative regulator Suppressor of Fused (SuFu). Nrp1 transcription is induced by Hh signaling, and Nrp1 overexpression increases maximal Hh target gene activation, indicating the existence of a positive feedback circuit. The regulation of Hh signal transduction by Nrps is conserved between mammals and bony fish, as we show that morpholinos targeting the Nrp zebrafish ortholog nrp1a produce a specific and highly penetrant Hh pathway loss-of-function phenotype. These findings enhance our knowledge of Hh pathway regulation and provide evidence for a conserved nexus between Nrps and this important developmental signaling system.

Experience and psychological impact of anal cancer screening in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus-related anal cancer rates are increasing and are particularly high in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM/MSM), especially HIV-positive individuals. Although screening programs for high-risk populations have been advocated, concerns about possible adverse psychological consequences exist. This study aimed to investigate GBM/MSM's experience, understanding and emotional response to screening techniques for anal cancer to determine how best to minimise psychological distress in future programs. METHODS: In-depth qualitative face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 GBM/MSM participating in the "Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer" in Sydney, Australia, between June 2013 and June 2014. Nonrandom, purposive sampling was used to ensure heterogeneity with respect to HIV status and screening test results. Framework analysis method was used to organise the data and identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Knowledge about anal cancer, human papillomavirus and the link between them was limited. Abnormal screening results affected participants' sense of well-being and were associated with anxiety and concern about developing anal cancer. HIV-negative men receiving abnormal results showed higher levels of distress compared to their HIV-positive counterparts. Consultations with general practitioners about abnormal results had an important role in increasing participants' understanding and in moderating their anxiety. CONCLUSION: Anal cancer screening should be accompanied by health education around anal cancer, its aetiology and the meaning of associated test results. Simple and effective communication strategies should be encouraged. Collaboration with general practitioners could assist the process of education and reporting test results.

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma in HIV-infected adults.

Anal cancer is one of the most common non-AIDS-defining malignancies in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy. Its precursor lesion, anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), is highly prevalent in HIV-infected populations. More than 90% of anal squamous cell cancers are attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV). While the biology of HPV-related intraepithelial neoplasia is consistent across lower anogenital sites, the natural history of AIN is not well established and cannot be assumed to be identical to that of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Screening strategies to prevent anal cancer should be developed based on robust natural history data in HIV-infected and uninfected populations. Likewise, treatments need to be tested in randomized clinical trials, and reserved for those at significant risk of progression to cancer. This review covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunology of HPV infection, AIN and anal cancer, and summarizes the current diagnosis, screening and treatment strategies in HIV-infected adults.

Clinical and Genomic Landscape of RAS Mutations in Gynecologic Cancers.

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe RAS mutations in gynecologic cancers as they relate to clinicopathologic and genomic features, survival, and therapeutic implications. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Gynecologic cancers with available somatic molecular profiling data at our institution between February 2010 and August 2022 were included and grouped by RAS mutation status. Overall survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariable analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Of 3,328 gynecologic cancers, 523 (15.7%) showed any RAS mutation. Patients with RAS-mutated tumors were younger (57 vs. 60 years nonmutated), had a higher prevalence of endometriosis (27.3% vs. 16.9%), and lower grades (grade 1/2, 43.2% vs. 8.1%, all P < 0.0001). The highest prevalence of KRAS mutation was in mesonephric-like endometrial (100%, n = 9/9), mesonephric-like ovarian (83.3%, n = 5/6), mucinous ovarian (60.4%), and low-grade serous ovarian (44.4%) cancers. After adjustment for age, cancer type, and grade, RAS mutation was associated with worse overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.3; P = 0.001]. Specific mutations were in KRAS (13.5%), NRAS (2.0%), and HRAS (0.51%), most commonly KRAS G12D (28.4%) and G12V (26.1%). Common co-mutations were PIK3CA (30.9%), PTEN (28.8%), ARID1A (28.0%), and TP53 (27.9%), of which 64.7% were actionable. RAS + MAPK pathway-targeted therapies were administered to 62 patients with RAS-mutated cancers. While overall survival was significantly higher with therapy [8.4 years [(95% confidence interval (CI), 5.5-12.0) vs. 5.5 years (95% CI, 4.6-6.6); HR = 0.67; P = 0.031], this effect did not persist in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: RAS mutations in gynecologic cancers have a distinct histopathologic distribution and may impact overall survival. PIK3CA, PTEN, and ARID1A are potentially actionable co-alterations. RAS pathway-targeted therapy should be considered.

Indian-born patients attending a sexual health clinic in Australia have differing characteristics to their Australian-born counterparts.

We report a retrospective cross-sectional study from Western Sydney that assessed the sexual health characteristics of Indian-born patients attending sexual health services compared with Australian-born controls. The sexual health needs of Indian-born patients differed significantly from controls with those born in India reporting more sexual dysfunction and controls having more sexually transmitted infections (STI). These issues should be considered when delivering services to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Prevalence of oral HPV in the adult sample population in Sydney.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas are increasing in incidence. Risk factors include sexual behaviour, high-risk oral HPV infection and poor oral hygiene. We aimed to provide initial information on the prevalence and assess the feasibility of testing in dental settings. METHODS: Patients ≥18 years old attending dental clinics in Sydney, Australia, were recruited, oral hygiene assessed, and 10 mL saline oral rinses obtained. Rinses were tested for HBG and HPV by PCR. Participants completed demographic and behavioural questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age was 48 years, of whom 131 (43.6%) were male. HPV genotypes, one each of 16, 66, 51, 35 and 58 in five participants, and 18 and 52 in one participant, were detected in six samples (2.0%), all men. Oral sex was reported by 89 (67.9%) male participants. One participant (4.3%) of the 23 with poor OH had at least one HPV genotype detected. DISCUSSION: With dental patients willing to provide rinse samples and disclose potentially sensitive information, we found the hrHPV prevalence of 2%. Given large proportions of the general population attending dental clinics regularly, dentists may be ideally placed to screen for oropharyngeal carcinoma and contribute to the currently limited knowledge of oral HPV prevalence in Australian adults. © 2022 Australian Dental Association.

RB1 alteration and poor prognosis in women with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a NeCTuR study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the gene alteration status in high-grade neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (NECC) specimens and to explore the potential association of unique gene alterations with survival. METHODS: Results from tumor-based molecular testing on specimens from women with high-grade NECC in the Neuroendocrine Cervical Tumor Registry were reviewed and analyzed. Tumor specimens could be from primary or metastatic sites and obtained at initial diagnosis, during treatment, or at recurrence. RESULTS: Molecular testing results were available for 109 women with high-grade NECC. The genes most frequently mutated were PIK3CA (mutated in 18.5% of patients), TP53 (17.4%), and MYC (14.5%). Other targetable alterations identified were alterations in KIT (7.3%), KRAS (7.3%), and PTEN (7.3%). Women with tumors having an RB1 alteration (6.4%) had a median overall survival (OS) of 13 months, compared to 26 months for women with tumors that did not have an RB1 alteration (p=0.003). None of the other genes evaluated were shown to be associated with OS. CONCLUSION: Although no individual alteration was found in a majority of tumor specimens from patients with high-grade NECC, a large proportion of women with this disease will have at least one targetable alteration. Treatments based on these gene alterations may offer additional targeted therapies for women with recurrent disease, who currently have very limited therapeutic options. Patients with tumors that harbor RB1 alterations have decreased OS.

Comparative Tumor Microenvironment Analysis of Primary and Recurrent Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors.

Adult-type granulosa cell tumors (aGCT) are rare ovarian sex cord tumors with few effective treatments for recurrent disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME) of primary and recurrent aGCTs and to identify correlates of disease recurrence. Total RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on 24 pathologically confirmed, cryopreserved aGCT samples, including 8 primary and 16 recurrent tumors. After read alignment and quality-control filtering, DESeq2 was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) between primary and recurrent tumors. Functional enrichment pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis was performed using "clusterProfiler" and "GSVA" R packages. TME composition was investigated through the analysis and integration of multiple published RNA-seq deconvolution algorithms. TME analysis results were externally validated using data from independent previously published RNA-seq datasets. A total of 31 DEGs were identified between primary and recurrent aGCTs. These included genes with known function in hormone signaling such as LHCGR and INSL3 (more abundant in primary tumors) and CYP19A1 (more abundant in recurrent tumors). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that primarily immune-related and hormone-regulated gene sets expression was increased in recurrent tumors. Integrative TME analysis demonstrated statistically significant depletion of cancer-associated fibroblasts in recurrent tumors. This finding was confirmed in multiple independent datasets. IMPLICATIONS: Recurrent aGCTs exhibit alterations in hormone pathway gene expression as well as decreased infiltration of cancer-associated fibroblasts, suggesting dual roles for hormonal signaling and TME remodeling underpinning disease relapse.