Identification and stratification of placenta percreta with gynecologic oncologist management.

Objective: Gynecologic oncologist involvement in the surgical team of patients with placenta percreta has shown improved patient outcomes. Yet, stratification of cases is dependent on identification of placenta percreta by ultrasonography which has a poor detection rate. To allow patients to receive optimal team management by pre-operative stratification our objective was to identify the pre-operative characteristics of patients with previously underdiagnosed placenta percreta.

Risk factors for intensive care unit admission after cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum.

Objective: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a complex disorder of uterine wall disruption with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly at time of delivery. Both physician and physical hospital resource allocation/utilization remains a challenge in PAS cases including intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The primary objective of the present study was to identify preoperative risk factors for ICU admission and create an ICU admission prediction model for patient counseling and resource utilization decision making in an evidence-based manner.

Association between Antenatal Vaginal Bleeding and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Placenta Accreta Spectrum.

: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are placental conditions associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. While antenatal vaginal bleeding in the setting of PAS is common, the implications of this on overall outcomes remain unknown. Our primary objective was to identify the implications of antenatal vaginal bleeding in the setting of suspected PAS on both maternal and fetal outcomes.

Normal Risk Ovarian Screening Study: 21-Year Update.

Purpose: The Normal Risk Ovarian Screening Study (NROSS) tested a two-stage screening strategy in postmenopausal women at conventional hereditary risk where significantly rising cancer antigen (CA)-125 prompted transvaginal sonography (TVS) and abnormal TVS prompted surgery to detect ovarian cancer.

Methods: A total of 7,856 healthy postmenopausal women were screened annually for a total of 50,596 woman-years in a single-arm study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00539162).

Risk factors of massive blood transfusion (MTP) in cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum.

Background: Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) represents a particularly morbid condition for which blood transfusion is the leading cause. Delivery by cesarean hysterectomy is recommended for the management of PAS. Massive Transfusion Protocols (MTP) in obstetrics vary in definition and implementation.

Implementation and outcomes of a uterine artery embolization and tranexamic acid protocol for placenta accreta spectrum.

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum disorders are a continuum of placental pathologies with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Morbidity is related to the overall degree of placental adherence, and thus patients with placenta increta or percreta represent a high-risk category of patients. Hemorrhage and transfusion of blood products represent 90% of placenta accreta spectrum morbidity.

Importance of the gynecologic oncologist in management of cesarean hysterectomy for Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS).

Objective: Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) is an invasive placental disorder characterized by significant maternal and fetal morbidity. Utilization of multidisciplinary teams has been shown to optimize patient outcomes. Our objective was to assess the impact of cesarean hysterectomy performed by gynecologic oncologists versus Ob/Gyn specialists in maternal morbidity.

Immediate Repair of a Complete Uterine Transection After Motor Vehicle Collision.

Background: Traumatic separation of the cervix from the uterine corpus is rare. We describe a case in which this injury was identified and surgically repaired at initial presentation to preserve fertility.

Case: An 18-year-old woman presented with a pelvic crush injury after a motor vehicle accident.

Pulmonary arterial venous malformations as primary manifestation of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

•A unique initial presentation of GTN as pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.•Metastatic GTN presenting as multiple visceral AVMs in the brain, liver, and lungs.•Management of metastatic GTN with brain metastases with induction chemotherapy.

Rapid tumor vaccine using Toll-like receptor-activated ovarian cancer ascites monocytes.

Background: Novel therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer (OC) are needed as the survival rate remains dismally low. Although dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines are effective in eliciting therapeutic responses, their complex and costly manufacturing process hampers their full clinical utility outside specialized clinics. Here, we describe a novel approach of generating a rapid and effective cancer vaccine using ascites-derived monocytes for treating OC.

Open-label Clinical Trial of Niraparib Combined With Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Importance: Poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor and anti-programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor monotherapy have shown limited clinical activity in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Objective: To evaluate the clinical activity (primary) and safety (secondary) of combination treatment with niraparib and pembrolizumab in patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study enrolled 55 eligible patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC irrespective of BRCA mutation status or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression at 34 US sites.

Perceptions of weight management counseling among gynecologic cancer survivors: opportunities for enhancing survivorship care.

Purpose: Oncology practice guidelines recommend incorporating weight management efforts throughout survivorship care; however, some oncologists raise concerns about implementing weight management counseling without damaging patient-provider relationships. This study explores cancer survivors' receptivity to weight management counseling and examines whether views of counseling effectiveness are associated with individual characteristics including health-related perceptions or psychological distress.

Methods: Patients presenting to a NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center gynecologic oncology ambulatory clinic were asked to complete a survey assessing health and weight history, health perceptions, psychological distress, provider preferences, and weight management counseling perceptions.

Less radical surgery for early-stage cervical cancer: Can conization specimens help identify patients at low risk for parametrial involvement?

Objective: Radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer is associated with increased morbidity over an extrafascial hysterectomy. The goal of this study was to determine incidence of and risk factors for parametrial involvement (PI) based on conization specimen (CS) and to potentially identify candidates for less radical surgery.

Methods: Patients with FIGO IA2-IIA cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (RH) from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively identified.

Robotic Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer in Obese Patients With Comorbidities: Evaluating Postoperative Complications.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine (1) if there is a relationship between increasing body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications in patients undergoing robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer and (2) if there are additional patient characteristics, specifically preoperative comorbidities, which increase the risk of postoperative complication

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on women who underwent a robotic staging surgery for endometrial cancer from 2006 to 2012. Basic demographics and preoperative and postoperative complications were extracted from the medical records. Obesity was divided into 4 categories, and complication rates were compared across these subgroups.

Targeting constitutively-activated STAT3 in hypoxic ovarian cancer, using a novel STAT3 inhibitor.

Tumor hypoxia, a feature of many solid tumors including ovarian cancer, is associated with resistance to therapies. We previously demonstrated that hypoxic exposure results in increased expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3). We hypothesized the activation of STAT3 could lead to chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer cells in hypoxic conditions.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node dissection compared to complete lymphadenectomy in the management of early-stage vulvar cancer: A cost-utility analysis.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an acceptable method of evaluating groin lymph nodes in women with vulvar cancer. The purpose of this study is to assess the cost and effectiveness of SLNB compared to universal inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (LND) for vulvar cancer.

Methods: A modified Markov decision model was generated to compare two surgical approaches for newly diagnosed, early-stage vulvar cancer: (1) radical vulvectomy+LND and (2) radical vulvectomy+SLNB.

Bilateral groin reconstruction with a single anterolateral thigh perforator flap as an alternative to traditional myocutaneous flaps.

•We describe bilateral groin reconstruction with a single anterolateral thigh flap.•Anatomy and surgical technique of the anterolateral thigh flap are discussed.

Hereditary cancer syndromes with high risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer: surgical options for personalized care.

Cancer genomics has increased our recognition of specific hereditary cancer mutations. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome and Lynch syndrome are two such entities in which women carrying specific mutations may be at high risk for developing breast, ovarian, and/or endometrial cancers. Risk reducing surgery such as prophylactic mastectomy, oophorectomy, and/or hysterectomy may allow women to decrease these risks after completing childbearing.

Aberrantly activated pSTAT3-Ser727 in human endometrial cancer is suppressed by HO-3867, a novel STAT3 inhibitor.

Objective: Constitutive activation of STAT3 is a hallmark of various human cancers, however an increased pSTAT3 expression in high grade human endometrial cancer has not been reported. In the present study, we examine the expression of STAT family of proteins in endometrial cancer cell lines and the efficacy of HO-3867, a novel STAT3 inhibitor designed in our lab.

Methods: Expression of STAT family proteins was evaluated via Western blot.

Is bariatric surgery an option for women with gynecologic cancer? Examining weight loss counseling practices and training among gynecologic oncology providers.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate gynecologic oncology provider (GOP) practices regarding weight loss (WL) counseling, and to assess their willingness to initiate weight loss interventions, specifically bariatric surgery (WLS).

Methods: Members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology were invited to complete an online survey of 49 items assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to WL counseling.

Results: A total of 454 participants initiated the survey, yielding a response rate of 30%.

Training the next generation of robotic surgeons using guided mentorship: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: To evaluate the effect of expert guided mentorship on technical score and time for a set of robotic training drills.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting: Academic institution.

Alternatives to commonly used pelvic reconstruction procedures in gynecologic oncology.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to discuss alternatives to commonly used methods of soft tissue reconstruction in patients with gynecologic malignancies, and in particular alternatives to skin grafts, local skin flaps, and rectus abdominis/gracilis flaps.

Methods: A review of the literature was performed on soft tissue reconstruction in patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Results: Soft tissue reconstruction is often necessary to achieve successful wound healing, minimize complications, and to restore anatomic form and function.

Options for repair of rectus abdominis myocutaneous perineal/vaginal flap prolapse: A case series.

•The VRAM flap is commonly used for perineal and vaginal reconstruction at the time of pelvic exenteration.•Prolapse of the VRAM flap may be under reported.•We have shown successful repair of VRAM flap prolapse via an obliterative technique and sacral suspension.

HO-3867, a safe STAT3 inhibitor, is selectively cytotoxic to ovarian cancer.

STAT3 is well corroborated preclinically as a cancer therapeutic target, but tractable translational strategies for its blockade by small molecule inhibitors have remained elusive. In this study, we report the development of a novel class of bifunctional STAT3 inhibitors, based on conjugation of a diarylidenyl-piperidone (DAP) backbone to an N-hydroxypyrroline (-NOH) group, which exhibits minimal toxicity against normal cells and good oral bioavailability. Molecular modeling studies of this class suggested direct interaction with the STAT3 DNA binding domain.

Safe and targeted anticancer therapy for ovarian cancer using a novel class of curcumin analogs.

A diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer is the beginning of a long and arduous journey for a patient. Worldwide, approximately half of the individuals undergoing therapy for advanced cancer will succumb to the disease, or consequences of treatment. Well-known and widely-used chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin are toxic to both cancer and non-cancerous cells, and have debilitating side effects Therefore, development of new targeted anticancer therapies that can selectively kill cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues is essential to develop more effective therapies.