Outcome and clinical management of 275 patients with advanced ovarian cancer International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology II to IV inside the European Ovarian Cancer Translational Research Consortium-OVCAD.

Introduction: The Sixth Framework Program European Union project OVCAD, "Ovarian Cancer-Diagnosis of a Silent Killer," aimed to investigate new predictors for early detection of minimal residual disease in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Here we present the main pathologic, surgical, and chemotherapy characteristics of the OVCAD patient cohort.

Methods: Between February 2005 and December 2008, 5 European gynecologic cancer centers (WP2 group) enrolled prospective 275 consecutive patients with EOC into this translational study.

The "Leuven" paclitaxel/carboplatin weekly regimen in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the "Leuven" weekly paclitaxel/carboplatinum (TC) regimen in recurrent ovarian cancer in a retrospective study.

Methods: Eighteen courses of paclitaxel (60mg/m(2)) and carboplatinum (AUC 2.7) were administered weekly.

Plasma concentrations of the vitamin E-binding protein afamin are associated with overall and progression-free survival and platinum sensitivity in serous ovarian cancer--a study by the OVCAD consortium.

Objective: Comparative proteomics identified the plasma protein afamin as potential biomarker for ovarian cancer (OC). Significantly decreased afamin plasma concentrations in pre-therapeutic OC patients reconstituted to control values after successful tumor surgery. This study evaluates the association of afamin with survival and response to therapy in serous OC patients within the OVCAD consortium project.

Proteomic biomarkers predicting lymph node involvement in serum of cervical cancer patients. Limitations of SELDI-TOF MS.

Background: Lymph node status is not part of the staging system for cervical cancer, but provides important information for prognosis and treatment. We investigated whether lymph node status can be predicted with proteomic profiling.

Material & Methods: Serum samples of 60 cervical cancer patients (FIGO I/II) were obtained before primary treatment.

Genomic aberrations relate early and advanced stage ovarian cancer.

Background: Because of the distinct clinical presentation of early and advanced stage ovarian cancer, we aim to clarify whether these disease entities are solely separated by time of diagnosis or whether they arise from distinct molecular events.

Methods: Sixteen early and sixteen advanced stage ovarian carcinomas, matched for histological subtype and differentiation grade, were included. Genomic aberrations were compared for each early and advanced stage ovarian cancer by array comparative genomic hybridization.

Validating the impact of a molecular subtype in ovarian cancer on outcomes: a study of the OVCAD Consortium.

Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are diagnosed at advanced stage and have a poor prognosis. However, a small proportion of these patients will survive, whereas others will die very quickly. Clinicopathological factors do not allow precise identification of these subgroups.

Evaluation of paclitaxel/carboplatin in a dose dense or weekly regimen in 66 patients with recurrent or primary metastatic cervical cancer.

Background And Aims: To evaluate paclitaxel/carboplatin in a dose dense (TCdd) and weekly (TCw) regimen in recurrent or primary metastatic cervical cancer.

Methods: Six courses of paclitaxel (90 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (area under the curve (AUC) 4) were administered on d1, d8 q3 wks in TCdd. Eighteen courses of paclitaxel (60 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (AUC 2.

Prognostic value of residual tumor size in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer FIGO stages IIA-IV: analysis of the OVCAD data.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of residual tumor size after cytoreductive surgery in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter study, 226 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IIA-IV) were included. Patients were treated with cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

Subjective assessment by ultrasound is superior to the risk of malignancy index (RMI) or the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) in discriminating benign from malignant adnexal masses.

Purpose: The combination of two tumour markers, CA125 and HE4, in the risk of ovarian malignancy assay (ROMA) has been shown to be successful in classifying patients into those who have a high or low risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. In the present study, the diagnostic accuracy of ROMA was assessed and compared to the diagnostic accuracy of the two most widely used ultrasound methods, namely the risk of malignancy index (RMI) and subjective assessment by ultrasound.

Methods: From August, 2005 to March, 2009, 432 women with a pelvic mass who were scheduled to have surgery were enrolled in a single-centre prospective cohort study.

Proteomic analysis of laser microdissected ovarian cancer tissue with SELDI-TOF MS.

The evolution of ovarian cancer will highly depend on platinum sensitivity or resistance. In an attempt to better understand this mechanism of resistance, we combined laser microdissection (LMD) of ovarian tumor cells with mass spectrometric techniques. To obtain disease-specific markers we isolated ovarian tumor cells with LMD without contamination of surrounding cells.

Gynecologic oncology training systems in Europe: a report from the European network of young gynaecological oncologists.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to highlight some of the differences in training systems and opportunities for training in gynecologic oncology across Europe and to draw attention to steps that can be taken to improve training prospects and experiences of European trainees in gynecologic oncology.

Methods: The European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives from 34 countries were asked to review and summarize the training system in their countries of origin and fulfill a mini-questionnaire evaluating different aspects of training. We report analysis of outcomes of the mini-questionnaire and subsequent discussion at the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention meeting in Istanbul (April 2010).

The utility of proteomics in gynecologic cancers.

Purpose Of Review: For more than a decade, proteomic techniques have been used to unravel the nature and function of human proteins. In 2002 it came to the attention of clinicians that this technique could be used to discover new biomarkers. However, the first reports were hampered by technical and methodological flaws.

Comparison of diaphragmatic surgery at primary or interval debulking in advanced ovarian carcinoma: an analysis of 163 patients.

Unlabelled: AIMS OF THE STUDY AND METHODS: Survival, complications and recurrences after diaphragmatic surgery at primary or interval debulking surgery were compared. One hundred and sixty three consecutive patients with stage III/IV ovarian cancer underwent diaphragmatic surgery between September 1993 and December 2007. Primary debulking was performed in group 1 (89) patients and interval debulking was performed in group 2 (74) patients.

The impact of enzastaurin (LY317615.HCl) on CA125 biosynthesis and shedding in ovarian cancer cells.

Background: In this study the modulatory effect of the proteinase kinase C beta (PKC beta) selective inhibitor enzastaurin on CA125 expression and shedding in ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3 cells) was investigated. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS: OVCAR-3 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with increasing concentrations of carboplatin (2-1000 microM), paclitaxel (0.2-100 nM) or enzastaurin (1-100 microM) single agent.

Does paclitaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy in a dose-dense regimen enhance survival of BRCA-related ovarian cancer patients?

In a group of 6 BRCA-related ovarian cancer patients presenting with clinical relapse, paclitaxel-carboplatin (TC) in a dose-dense regimen was administered to evaluate the response and tolerability compared with those of the sporadic group and of the patients using a regimen administered every 3 weeks. All patients were carboplatin sensitive at the time of first relapse: 4 patients showed intermediate sensitivity (6-12 months), and 2 patients were truly carboplatin sensitive (>12 months) at first relapse and first administration of a TC dose-dense regimen. A total of 14 dose-dense regimens were administered in a median 5th line (range, 2nd-10th line).

Application of proteomics in ovarian cancer: which sample should be used?

Objective: In the last decade several studies have been published using proteomics to unravel molecular pathways and to find biomarkers which can be used for diagnosis and/or prognostication in ovarian cancer. This review gives an overview of proteomic studies performed in ovarian cancer focusing on the nature of samples that have been used.

Methods: Recent literature regarding the role of proteomic studies in ovarian cancer has been reviewed.

The use of laser microdissection and SELDI-TOF MS in ovarian cancer tissue to identify protein profiles.

Background: There is a strong need for prognostic biomarkers in ovarian cancer patients due to the heterogeneous responses on current treatment modalities.

Materials And Methods: This study investigates the feasibility of combining laser microdissection (LMD) and surface enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) in ovarian cancer tissue to obtain protein profiles.

Results: Ideal conditions for preparing a protein lysate were determined and subsequently analysed on SELDI-TOF MS.

Robotic retroperitoneal lower para-aortic lymphadenectomy in cervical carcinoma: first report on the technique used in 5 patients.

Objective: Retroperitoneal para-aortic laparoscopic lymphadenectomy is a technically challenging operation. The robotic Da Vinci system might be valuable in this operation due to a steady three-dimensional visualization, instrumentation with articulating tips, and an adaptive downscaling of the surgeons movements (without tremor). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on robotic retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic cancer.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: the con view.

Objectives: In this paper we wish to present the reasons why i.p. chemotherapy cannot be accepted as standard of care for first-line systemic treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Chemotherapy for recurrent cervical cancer.

Objective: To give an overview of chemotherapy schemes used in recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods: A pubmed search was performed using chemotherapy and recurrent cervical cancer including articles until April 2007.

Results: Most recent articles and articles of interest are discussed.

Management of borderline ovarian neoplasms.

Over the last decades, the management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) has changed from radical surgery to more conservative therapy as a result of the need for fertility-sparing surgery and the increasing use of laparoscopy. The question is whether this is good clinical practice from an oncologic point of view. Here, recent literature regarding management of borderline ovarian neoplasms is reviewed, and oncologic concerns are discussed with emphasis on the mode of surgery and the possibility of fertility-sparing surgery and its consequences.

The "Leuven" dose-dense paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the "Leuven" dose-dense regimen in recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods: Six courses of paclitaxel (90 mg/m(2)) and carboplatinum (AUC 4) on d1 and d8 every 3 weeks were administered. Response rates were determined using RECIST and Gynaecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) CA 125 criteria.

Predictive models for long term survival after premature rupture of membranes.

Premature rupture of the membranes complicates 30 to 40% of the preterm deliveries. The purpose of this study is to assess the outcome of preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM) before 26 weeks of gestation and to develop a predictive model for survival. We apply four statistical methods in order to construct a predictive model: Cox's proportional hazards model, logistic regression, least squares - support vector machines and generalized estimating equations.

The management of borderline tumours of the ovary.

Purpose Of Review: The treatment of borderline ovarian tumours has been similar to that for their invasive counterparts for a long time. However, in view of the good prognosis for borderline ovarian tumours, their occurrence in a younger age group and the development of less invasive techniques, the question can be asked as to whether a more conservative treatment is warranted.

Recent Findings: Recent articles discuss the mode of surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy), the possibility of fertility-sparing surgery, the need for restaging procedures and adjuvant therapy.

Obstetric and perinatal outcome of 1655 ICSI and 3974 IVF singleton and 1102 ICSI and 2901 IVF twin births: a comparative analysis.

A total of 3974 IVF and 1655 ICSI singleton births and 2901 IVF and 1102 ICSI twin births were evaluated. Pregnancies after both fresh and frozen transfers were included. IVF and ICSI singleton pregnancies were very similar for most obstetric and perinatal variables.