Problems Experienced by Ovarian Cancer Survivors During Treatment.

Objective: To identify problems at different treatment points (early treatment, mid-treatment, early posttreatment, and late posttreatment) among women with ovarian cancer.

Design: Longitudinal and cross-sectional study design.

Setting: An academic and community clinical cancer center in the Southeastern United States.

Treating Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer With Concurrent Chemoradiation Without Brachytherapy in Low-resource Countries.

Objective: To summarize the literature on options of management of patients treated for locally advanced cervical cancers with a specific focus on resource-constrained settings where brachytherapy is not available.

Materials And Methods: A Medline search was performed to summarize studies about treatment approaches including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, primary surgery for bulky cervical cancer, and chemoradiation followed by surgery. Summaries are by treatment approaches that are relevant to resource-constrained settings.

NRG Oncology/RTOG 0921: A phase 2 study of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin and bevacizumab followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with endometrial cancer.

Background: The current study was conducted to assess acute and late adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS), pelvic failure, regional failure, distant failure, and disease-free survival in a prospective phase 2 clinical trial of bevacizumab and pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with chemotherapy in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer.

Methods: Patients underwent a hysterectomy and lymph node removal, and had ≥1 of the following high-risk factors: grade 3 carcinoma with >50% myometrial invasion, grade 2 or 3 disease with any cervical stromal invasion, or known extrauterine extension confined to the pelvis. Treatment included pelvic IMRT and concurrent cisplatin on days 1 and 29 of radiation and bevacizumab (at a dose of 5 mg/kg on days 1, 15, and 29 of radiation) followed by adjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel for 4 cycles.

Hematologic toxicity in RTOG 0418: a phase 2 study of postoperative IMRT for gynecologic cancer.

Purpose: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), compared with conventional 4-field treatment, can reduce the volume of bone marrow irradiated. Pelvic bone marrow sparing has produced a clinically significant reduction in hematologic toxicity (HT). This analysis investigated HT in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0418, a prospective study to test the feasibility of delivering postoperative IMRT for cervical and endometrial cancer in a multiinstitutional setting.

COX-2 expression and survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy and celecoxib: a quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of RTOG C0128.

Purpose: This study aimed to measure expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and CD34 in pretreatment tumor biopsies from patients on the RTOG C0128 phase II study, and to correlate expression of these biomarkers, using quantitative immunohistochemistry, with clinical outcome parameters.

Methods And Materials: Pretreatment biopsies were placed into tissue microarrays. COX-2 and CD34 expression were measured using automated quantitative immunohistochemistry (AQUA®).

A phase II study of intensity modulated radiation therapy to the pelvis for postoperative patients with endometrial carcinoma: radiation therapy oncology group trial 0418.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility of pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with endometrial cancer in a multi-institutional setting and to determine whether this treatment is associated with fewer short-term bowel adverse events than standard radiation therapy.

Methods: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated with pelvic radiation therapy alone were eligible. Guidelines for target definition and delineation, dose prescription, and dose-volume constraints for the targets and critical normal structures were detailed in the study protocol and a web-based atlas.

The quality of cervical cancer brachytherapy implantation and the impact on local recurrence and disease-free survival in radiation therapy oncology group prospective trials 0116 and 0128.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to determine the impact of brachytherapy implant quality on outcome among cervical cancer patients treated on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group prospective trials 0116 and 0128.

Methods: All enrolled patients received concurrent chemoradiation followed by brachytherapy. Individual brachytherapy parameters, including the symmetry of ovoids in relation to the tandem, displacement of ovoids in relation to the cervical os, tandem bisecting the ovoids, tandem in the midpelvis, and appropriateness of packing, were scored for each implant.

Phase II study of cisplatin plus cetuximab in advanced, recurrent, and previously treated cancers of the cervix and evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor immunohistochemical expression: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cetuximab (C225), an antibody that inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity, with cisplatin and to explore associations between EGFR protein expression with patient demographics or clinical outcome.

Methods: Women with advanced, persistent, or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix were eligible. The women received cisplatin at 30mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 with a loading dose of cetuximab at 400mg/m(2) followed by 250mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 in a 21day cycle.

A phase II evaluation of weekly gemcitabine and docetaxel for second-line treatment of recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus: a gynecologic oncology group study.

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate antitumor activity and toxicity of weekly docetaxel and gemcitabine as second-line chemotherapy for patients with recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma.

Methods: Patients with recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus who had failed one regimen of chemotherapy, had a Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) performance status of 0-2 and had measurable disease were included. Treatment consisted of gemcitabine 600 mg/m(2) and docetaxel 35 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle until disease progression or intolerable adverse effects.

Phase II evaluation of paclitaxel and carboplatin in the treatment of carcinosarcoma of the uterus: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Purpose: Platinum and taxane compounds have demonstrated activity in uterine carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumor). Ifosfamide plus paclitaxel is the regimen with established superiority based on a randomized phase III trial conducted through the Gynecologic Oncology Group. However, the toxicity, multiday schedule, and limited activity of this regimen support further development of novel regimens.

Cancer-related tasks involving employment: opportunities for clinical assistance.

Many cancer survivors experience unmet psychosocial needs related to their jobs, and women often fare worse than men in this regard. However, little research exists on ways to assist patients with cancer in preventing or managing common job problems. We conducted focus groups and a survey among 73 women who were employed at the time of presentation of a gynecologic cancer.

Comparison of focus groups on cancer and employment conducted face to face or by telephone.

Findings from telephone focus groups have not been compared previously to findings from face-to-face focus groups. We conducted four telephone focus groups and five face-to-face focus groups in which a single moderator used the same open-ended questions and discussion facilitation techniques. This comparison was part of a larger study to gain a better understanding of employment experiences after diagnosis of gynecologic cancer.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer: first report of the HYPER-O registry.

Introduction: An analysis of experience of surgical and gynecologic oncologists in the United States with the use of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: An Internet-based registry (HYPER-O) collected data from collaborating institutions. Eligibility included women with EOC treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Symptom control in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: measuring the benefit of palliative chemotherapy in women with platinum refractory/resistant ovarian cancer.

Most women with advanced ovarian cancer will relapse and subsequently develop platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. The benefit of treatment is currently based on objective response rates, which are a crude measure of benefit. It would be clinically meaningful if we were better able to measure the benefit of palliative therapy and, in particular, ascertain whether cancer-related symptoms improve with treatment and how this impacts on quality of life.

Employment and quality of survivorship among women with cancer: domains not captured by quality of life instruments.

Background: Many quality of life instruments assess the amount of paid work in combination with role function at home in the same items and do not specifically assess social support in the workplace. The goal of this study was to obtain women's views on the relationship between employment and health-related quality of life.

Methods: A focus group and questionnaire study was conducted among 73 women with gynecologic cancer who were employed at diagnosis and 25 people who provided them with psychosocial support.

Restorative yoga for women with ovarian or breast cancer: findings from a pilot study.

Yoga has demonstrated benefit in healthy individuals and those with various health conditions. There are, however, few systematic studies to support the development of yoga interventions for cancer patients. Restorative yoga (RY) is a gentle type of yoga that has been described as "active relaxation.

Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy using carboplatin: a phase I analysis in ovarian carcinoma.

Objective: Cyclic platinum-based intraperitoneal chemotherapy has proven to be effective after optimal surgical cytoreduction in ovarian carcinoma. Hyperthermia is directly cytotoxic and enhances chemotherapy tumoricidal effects. This study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of carboplatin used intraoperatively as intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC), the effect on postoperative systemic chemotherapy administration, and the potential for repeat IPHC at second look surgery.

Efficacy and patterns of failure for locally advanced cancer of the cervix treated with celebrex (celecoxib) and chemoradiotherapy in RTOG 0128.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and patterns of initial failure for oral celecoxib, intravenous cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil and concurrent pelvic radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cancer of the cervix.

Methods And Materials: Patients were treated with concurrent 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy and brachytherapy. Celecoxib was prescribed at a dose of 400 mg twice daily for 1 year beginning on the first day of radiotherapy.

Characterization and experimental transmission of an oncogenic papillomavirus in female macaques.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women worldwide, yet few suitable animal models currently exist for study of this disease. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer in women are caused by specific types of genital human papillomavirus (HPV). In this study, we investigated naturally occurring genital PVs in female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) without breeding contact for at least 3.

Music or guided imagery for women undergoing colposcopy: a randomized controlled study of effects on anxiety, perceived pain, and patient satisfaction.

Objective: It was hypothesized that music or guided imagery versus usual care would result in less anxiety and perceived pain for colposcopy patients.

Materials And Methods: Patients were randomized to music, guided imagery, or usual care after completing a baseline questionnaire. All patients completed a postprocedure questionnaire.

A Phase II study of acute toxicity for Celebrex (celecoxib) and chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: primary endpoint analysis of RTOG 0128.

Purpose: To determine treatment-related acute toxicity rates in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated by oral celecoxib, i.v. cisplatin and 5-FU, and concurrent pelvic radiation therapy.

Cyclooxygenase inhibition and hyperthermia for the potentiation of the cytotoxic response in ovarian cancer cells.

Objectives: The progression of chemotherapy-resistant cancer confers poor prognosis and decreases overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Adjuvants to traditional chemotherapy regimens have become attractive modalities for the clinical treatment of refractory or resistant ovarian cancer. We evaluated whether the addition of NSAID to hyperthermic chemotherapy would increase cytotoxicity in cisplatin- and taxane-treated ovarian cancer cells.