Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome: a uterine fibroid associated with polycythaemia.

Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome (MES) is a rare form of secondary erythrocytosis seen with myomas. Here, we present a case of a postmenopausal, nulliparous woman in her 50s incidentally found to have asymptomatic erythrocytosis on routine laboratory work. She was found to have an 18.

The impact of expanding gynecologic oncology care to ovarian cancer patients in small cities and rural communities.

Objective: Patients with ovarian cancer from smaller cities and rural communities face unique challenges in accessing comprehensive care. This study compares management strategies, outcomes, and access to care for patients in a small city and surrounding rural communities before and after establishing a full-time gynecologic oncology (GO) office.

Methods: A local tumor registry was used to identify patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer before and after a full-time GO office was established.

Surgery and Platinum/Etoposide-Based Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor.

Objective: Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is a rare variant of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia that develops from chorionic-type intermediate trophoblast, simulates carcinoma, presents years after a pregnancy event, is associated with low or normal human chorionic gonadotropin levels, and is relatively resistant to chemotherapy. Our aim was to identify the role of surgery in combination with platinum/etoposide-based chemotherapy in the management of both localized and metastatic ETT.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of women with ETT treated at a gestational trophoblastic disease center from 2010 to 2016.

Actinomycin D for methotrexate-failed low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Objective: To determine outcomes and factors associated with failure of 5-day actinomycin D for treatment of methotrexate-failed low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Study Design: We reviewed the records of 358 patients treated with methotrexate 0.4 mg/kg (max 25 mg) IV push q.

Treatment of nonmetastatic and metastatic low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: factors associated with resistance to single-agent methotrexate chemotherapy.

Objective: To determine factors associated with resistance to methotrexate treatment of low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Methods: We reviewed the records of 358 patients with low-risk GTN (FIGO stage I and stages II-III, score<7) treated initially with methotrexate 0.4 mg/kg (max 25mg) IV push daily × 5 days every 14 days between 1979 and 2009.

Cardiac metastasis from poorly differentiated carcinoma of the cervix: a case report.

Background: Disease metastatic to the heart from cervical carcinoma is rare and associated with a poor prognosis. Multimodality treatment has been shown to provide palliative benefit.

Case: A woman presented with stage Ib2 cervical cancer metastatic to the tricuspid valve.

The combination of monthly carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel is highly active for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the response rate and toxicity of a regimen comprised of monthly carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer treated between 2001 and 2006 at a single institution with carboplatin AUC 5 (day 1), and paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) (days 1, 8, 15) of a 28-day cycle. Primary endpoints were response rate, progression-free survival and overall survival.

Synuclein-gamma (SNCG) may be a novel prognostic biomarker in uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

Objectives: SNCG in breast cancer is a marker for advanced and aggressive disease thereby correlating with a poor prognosis in patients. We set out to determine if SNCG expression in UPSC correlates with aggressive cellular properties, poor prognosis, and chemoresistance, and if silencing SNCG can reverse these attributes in vitro.

Methods: A focused, real time PCR array was performed comparing a papillary serous (SPEC2) and an endometrioid (Ishikawa) endometrial cancer cell line.

The impact of robotics on practice management of endometrial cancer: transitioning from traditional surgery.

Background: Evaluation of the impact of a new robotic surgery programme on perioperative outcomes for endometrial cancer

Methods: A prospective database of all patients undergoing staging for endometrial cancer during July 2007-July 2008 was collected and analysed. Demographic data and perioperative outcomes were compared between cases performed via laparotomy, laparoscopy and robotics.

Results: Sixty-five patients underwent staging during the time of data collection (LAP-26, LSC-7, ROB-32).

Robotic surgery in gynecologic oncology: impact on fellowship training.

Objectives: To report the impact of a new robotic surgery program on the surgical training of gynecologic oncology fellows over a 12 month period of time.

Methods: A robotic surgery program was introduced into the gynecologic oncology fellowship program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in June 2007. A database of patients undergoing surgical management of endometrial and cervical cancer between July 2007 and July 2008 was collected and analyzed.

FIGO stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma: prognostic factors and outcomes.

Objectives: Investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics, nodal distribution, and postoperative treatment of patients with FIGO stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma and determine patterns of recurrence and survival.

Methods: A retrospective review of 85 patients who underwent surgical staging with lymph node dissection at a single institution between 1979 and 2005 was performed. Data collected from patient charts included demographics, treatment, recurrence and survival.

A comparison of robot-assisted and traditional radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.

A robotics surgery program was introduced into the division of gynecologic oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in June 2007. A prospective database of all patients undergoing a type III radical hysterectomy for stage IB1 cervical cancer between July 2007 and June 2008 was collected and analyzed. Demographic data and perioperative outcomes were analyzed between a traditional and robot-assisted approach.

Progestins activate the AKT pathway in leiomyoma cells and promote survival.

Context: Progesterone has been associated with promoting growth of uterine leiomyomas. The mechanisms involved remain unclear.

Objective: In this study we investigated the activation of the AKT pathway and its downstream effectors, glycogen synthase kinase-3b and Forkhead box O (FOXO)-1 by progesterone as a mechanism of proliferation and survival of leiomyoma cells.

Absence of progesterone receptors in a failed case of fertility-sparing treatment in early endometrial cancer: a case report.

Background: Fertility-sparing treatment may be offered as an alternative to standard surgical management of early-stage, well-differentiated endometrial cancer in young women. Immunostaining for progesterone receptor (PR) status is not currently part of the standard workup before treatment recommendations are made.

Case: We describe a 29-year-old woman who used oral contraceptive pills on a long-term basis in whom early-stage, well-differentiated endometrial cancer was diagnosed.

Results of treatment of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia referred to the Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center after failure of treatment elsewhere (1979-2006).

Objective: To review treatment results of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) whose care was transferred to the Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center after failure of treatment elsewhere from 1979-2006.

Study Design: Twenty-seven (6.6%) of 408 patients with GTN treated at the Brewer Center from 1979-2006 had received unsuccessful treatment at other institutions prior to transfer to our center.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: treatment outcomes.

Objective: To report the results of treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) at the John I. Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center over the past 28 years, compare the outcomes to those from the first 16 years, and analyze factors affecting response to treatment and survival.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 408 patients with GTN (excluding placental-site tumors) treated at the Brewer Center from 1979 to 2006.

Chemosensitization of endometrial cancer cells through AKT inhibition involves FOXO1.

Objective: Endometrial cancer is the most common type of gynecologic cancer in the United States. In this study, we propose that inhibition of the AKT pathway sensitizes cells to chemotherapeutic agents by increasing FOXO1 expression.

Methods: Ishikawa and RL95 cells were treated with the AKT inhibitor (API-59CJ-OMe) alone and in combination with carboplatin or paclitaxel.

The regulation and function of the forkhead transcription factor, Forkhead box O1, is dependent on the progesterone receptor in endometrial carcinoma.

In many type I endometrial cancers, the PTEN gene is inactivated, which ultimately leads to constitutively active Akt and the inhibition of Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), a member of the FOXO subfamily of Forkhead/winged helix family of transcription factors. The expression, regulation, and function of FOXO1 in endometrial cancer were investigated in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis of 49 endometrial tumor tissues revealed a decrease of FOXO1 expression in 95.

Hormonal contraception and false-positive cervical cytology: is there an association?

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if use of hormonal contraception influences the false-positive rate of cervical cytology when compared with loop electrosurgical excision procedure or cervical biopsy specimens.

Materials And Methods: We performed a case-control analysis of 328 women referred for colposcopy after an abnormal Pap test. Patients were divided into cases (true-positive cytology results) and controls (false-positive cytology results).

Colouterine fistulas in elderly women: a report of 2 cases.

Background: Colouterine fistula is a rare complication of diverticulitis. We report 2 cases of colouterine fistula in elderly women presenting with fever and pyuria and managed with an aggressive workup and surgical treatment.

Cases: Two elderly women presented with persistent pyuria, abdominal pain and fever without a vaginal discharge.

Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum: a pathological analysis and review of the literature.

Background: Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) of the peritoneum is a rare subtype of peritoneal epithelioid mesothelioma which typically has low malignant potential. It most commonly occurs in young women lacking a history of asbestos exposure. Only 38 female patients with peritoneal WPDM have been reported in the literature, and no uniform treatment recommendation has been established.

Placental site trophoblastic tumor: a review of 7 cases and their implications for prognosis and treatment.

Objective: To review cases of placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) for prognostic factors and treatment implications.

Study Design: Between 1982 and 2003, 7 cases of PSTT were treated at the Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center. Pathology and operative reports, patient records and laboratory results were reviewed.