Results of a phase I/IIa trial of SV-BR-1-GM inoculation with low-dose cyclophosphamide and interferon alpha (Bria-IMT) in metastatic breast cancer.

This Phase I/IIa open-label, single-arm clinical trial addressing advanced, refractory, metastatic breast cancer was conducted at six medical centers in the United States. We repeated inoculations with irradiated SV-BR-1-GM, a breast cancer cell line with antigen-presenting activity engineered to release granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with pre-dose low-dose cyclophosphamide and post-dose local interferon alpha. Twenty-six patients were enrolled; 23 (88.

Utility of cell-based vaccines as cancer therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cell-based therapeutic cancer vaccines use autologous patient-derived tumor cells, allogeneic cancer cell lines or autologous antigen presenting cells to mimic the natural immune process and stimulate an adaptive immune response against tumor antigens. The primary objective of this study is to perform a systematic literature review with an embedded meta-analysis of all published Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of cell-based cancer vaccines in human subjects. The secondary objective of this study is to review trials demonstrating biological activity of cell-based cancer vaccines that could uncover additional hypotheses, which could be used in the design of future studies.

Fertility-sparing treatment in cervical cancer: Abdominal trachelectomy.

In the last two decades, great strides have been made to treat cancer while sparing fertility for young women. This is at least partly in response to changing demographics, including delayed childbearing and fewer historically traditional couples. The trachelectomy has become emblematic in this endeavor.

Phase II trial of SM-88, a cancer metabolism based therapy, in non-metastatic biochemical recurrent prostate cancer.

Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for high-risk biochemically-recurrent, non-metastatic prostate cancer (BRPC) but is not curative and associated with toxicity. Racemetyrosine (SM-88) is an amino-acid analogue used with methoxsalen, phenytoin, and sirolimus (MPS) to enhance SM-88 activity. Method A phase 1b/2, open-label trial in BRPC and rising PSA.

The rising relative and absolute incidence of uterine cancer in specific populations.

Objective: To assess the contemporary incidence of cancers using American Samoa as a learning set for insights into similar populations.

Methods: A retrospective observational analysis of de-identified data held in public-access databases (2004-2014) and data on uterine cancer from a hospital, both in American Samoa (2015-2016).

Results: There were 341 new cases of cancer in 2004-2014 (111 per 100 000 women/year), including breast (20.

A first-in-human study of the novel metabolism-based anti-cancer agent SM-88 in subjects with advanced metastatic cancer.

Purpose SM-88 (D,L-alpha-metyrosine; racemetyrosine) is a novel anti-cancer agent, used with melanin, phenytoin, and sirolimus (SMK Therapy). This pilot first-in-human study characterized the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SMK Therapy in subjects with advanced metastatic cancer. Methods All subjects (n = 30) received SMK Therapy for an initial 6 week Cycle (5 days on, 2 off per week) and continued if well tolerated.

Gynecological cancers: an alternative approach to healing.

Grief and hope are two conflicting emotions that a patient recently diagnosed with cancer has to master. The real challenge for gynecologic oncologists is how to reach out. Conventional wisdom states that offering patients focus and belief when combating cancer in their lives allows them to embrace hope with greater confidence, which minimizes their grief.

Novel Approach to Outpatient Endometrial Biopsy to Detect Endometrial Cancer.

Objective: To evaluate a new device for obtaining endometrial biopsies which combines global endometrial disruption using a brush with a built-in suction process.

Study Design: Endometrial biopsies were collected, using the GDP-Tao device, from fresh uteri hysterectomy specimens after completion of surgery. Results were compared to final hysterectomy pathology.

Psychological Issues Associated With Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility and Attitudes of Patients Toward Uterine Transplantation.

Context: Uterine transplantation (UTx).

Objective: To explore patients' knowledge of and attitudes toward UTx before and after a short educational intervention via a video and question and answer (Q&A) session.

Design: Large, in-depth survey investigating patients' motivations, aims, and beliefs on UTx.

Survey of perceptions of health care professionals in the United Kingdom toward uterine transplant.

Context: Currently, the only 2 options that women with absolute uterine factor infertility have for managing their infertility are surragocy or adoption. These women may also benefit from a possible future third option: uterine transplant.

Objective: To investigate the opinions and views of UK health care professionals toward uterine transplant and rank issues related to uterine transplant by importance in order to make uterine transplant transparent and understandable to colleagues.

Achieving an early pregnancy following allogeneic uterine transplantation in a rabbit model.

Objective: Uterine transplantation (UTx) has been proposed as a treatment option for women diagnosed with absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI). The goal of UTx remains achieving pregnancy and live birth of a healthy neonate following allogeneic UTx. Our aim was to assess whether fertility was possible following allogeneic uterine transplantation (UTx), when the recipient had demonstrated long-term survival and had been administered immunosuppression.

Achieving uterine auto-transplantation in a sheep model using iliac vessel anastomosis: a short-term viability study.

Objective: To investigate, develop and evaluate anatomical, surgical and anastomotic aspects necessary for a successful uterine transplant in a large-animal model.

Design: Sheep model; longitudinal study involving five ewes.

Setting: Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.

Trachelectomy during pregnancy: what has experience taught us?

The treatment of early stage cervical malignancy in a pregnant patient remains a challenge. We report the successful application of a vaginal radical trachelectomy (VRT) during pregnancy to treat a patient diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer and subsequently review the published work. A 22-year-old female diagnosed at the gestational age of 17 weeks with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB1 squamous cell cervical carcinoma was treated with VRT at 19(+5) weeks.

Uterine allotransplantation in a rabbit model using aorto-caval anastomosis: a long-term viability study.

Objective: Uterine transplantation (UTx) has been proposed as a treatment option for women diagnosed with absolute uterine factor infertility. Allogeneic UTx has been attempted in a number of animal models, but achieving an adequate blood supply for the transplanted uterus still presents the biggest challenge. Microvascular re-anastomosis was unsuccessful in a number of animal models.

Pregnancy after laparoscopic bilateral partial ovarian decortication for stage IC borderline ovarian tumour.

Background: Fertility preservation techniques are a growing area of research as more women in the reproductive age group develop gynaecologic cancers. We report here a novel technique of fertility preservation used in the treatment of a patient with borderline ovarian tumour.

Case: A 29-year-old woman with stage I borderline ovarian tumour was referred to our tertiary level hospital.

In vitro chemoresponse analysis of cervical cancer patient specimens.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to report the results of in vitro chemoresponse analysis of primary, metastatic, and recurrent human cervical cancers.

Methods: There were 557 tumor specimens submitted for testing from August 2006 to June 2010. Single agents tested were cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, epirubicin, fluorouracil, 4-hydroxy ifosfamide (active metabolite of ifosfamide), SN-38 (active metabolite of irinotecan), topotecan, and vinorelbine.

Test of long-term uterine survival after allogeneic transplantation in rabbits.

Aim: To see if: (i) a large vessel aortocaval vascular patch technique may bring about long-term graft survival after allogeneic uterine transplantation (UTn) in a rabbit model; and (ii) fertility can be achieved following natural mating post-allogeneic UTn.

Methods: Allogeneic uterine cross transplantations were performed in New Zealand white rabbits using an aortocaval macrovascular patch harvested as part of the uterine allograft. Five rabbit recipients received a uterine graft from five unrelated donor rabbits.

Promise of uterine transplant--myth or a reality?

The scientific basis of uterus transplantation has been developing in parallel to other organ transplants throughout the modern period of transplant medicine. Immunosuppression and surgical techniques have been adequate for at least a decade; ethics and society have been less clearly developed. To many observers, it is still unclear if the endeavor is an overall positive or negative.

Use of abdominal radical trachelectomy to treat cervical cancer greater than 2 cm in diameter.

Objective: Invasive cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers, with 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Fertility preservation has become an important component of the overall quality of life of many cancer survivors. Expert opinion has suggested that fertility-sparing surgery should be limited to those patients diagnosed with cervical cancer less than 2 cm in diameter.