Localized delivery of chemotherapy to the cervix for radiosensitization.

Objective: Chemoradiation is the mainstay of therapy for advanced cervical cancer, with the most effective treatment regimens involving combinations of radiosensitizing agents. However, administration of radiosensitizing chemotherapeutics concurrently with pelvic radiation is not without side effects. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of localized drug delivery as a means of improving drug targeting of radiosensitizing chemotherapeutics to the cervix while limiting systemic toxicities.

Ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and carboplatin, a novel triplet regimen for advanced, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix: a phase II trial.

Objectives: (1) To determine the response rate of advanced, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix to ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and carboplatin chemotherapy; (2) to determine the progression free interval and survival rate in patients treated with this regimen; (3) to describe the toxicities associated with this regimen; and (4) to evaluate the quality of life of patients while on treatment.

Methods: Eligible patients had histologically proven stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy was given on day 1 of a 28-day cycle: mesna (600 mg/m(2)) prior to ifosfamide (2 g/m(2)), paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)), carboplatin (AUC 5).

Estrone sulfatase activity in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Introduction: We sought to identify whether the sulfatase pathway was present in ovarian cancer specimens and then to determine whether a clinical correlation existed between sulfatase activity and survival.

Materials And Methods: Enzymatic activity was assessed in advanced ovarian cancer specimens via thin layer chromatography and standardized against total protein. All enzyme activities are reported in pmol/mg protein/30 min.

Steroid-converting enzymes in human ovarian carcinomas.

Anti-estrogen therapies for treating ovarian carcinoma have had mixed outcomes suggesting some tumors may be estrogen-dependent. We assayed the activity levels of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD/3-KSR) and estrone sulfatase in a series of ovarian epithelial carcinomas. 17beta-HSD activity ratios with estradiol (E(2)) and testosterone (T), and inhibition by isoform-specific inhibitors were used to estimate the contributions of 17beta-HSD isoforms.

Surgical site infections and supplemental perioperative oxygen in colorectal surgery patients: a systematic review.

Background: Four randomized trials have evaluated the impact of supplemental perioperative oxygen on the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), with mixed results. The objectives of this meta-analysis were: (1) To evaluate further the effect of supplemental perioperative oxygen on SSIs after colorectal surgery; and (2) to generate a strategy for future studies to determine definitively the value of this intervention.

Methods: We conducted a MEDLINE search to identify randomized trials of supplemental perioperative oxygen with a primary endpoint of SSI.

Bevacizumab plus cyclophosphamide in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods: Patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were treated with intravenous bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every other week plus oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg daily until disease progression or undue toxicity. Adverse events were graded according to the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria.

Proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma vs. malignant rhabdoid tumor of the vulva: a case report, review of the literature, and an argument for consolidation.

Background: Vulvar sarcomas, which comprise less than 2% of vulvar malignancies, are a heterogeneous group of tumors. Sub-categorization of these tumors makes treatment strategies difficult to evaluate. "Proximal" type epithelioid sarcoma (PES) and malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) describe a rare subset of vulvar malignancies which share histologic features and an aggressive clinical course.

Multimodal therapy improves survival in patients with CNS metastasis from uterine cancer: a retrospective analysis and literature review.

Objective: Brain metastasis from uterine cancer is a rare event. Consequently, the optimal management strategy is not defined. We reviewed our institution's experience with brain metastasis from endometrial cancer along with the extant medical literature to develop management recommendations.

Positron emission tomography and leiomyomas: clinicopathologic analysis of 3 cases of PET scan-positive leiomyomas and literature review.

Introduction: Studies have suggested that PET scans can differentiate between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Our experience, however, shows that PET scan-positive smooth muscle tumors are not necessarily malignant.

Case Reports: Three patients with cancer underwent PET imaging.

Adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder presenting as locally advanced endometrial carcinoma. Case report and review of the literature.

Background: Carcinoma of the urinary bladder that occurs after urinary diversion is a rare entity. We report a case of an adenocarcinoma arising in a defunctionalized bladder that presented as locally advanced endometrial carcinoma.

Case: A 77-year-old presented with postmenopausal bleeding and mucous vaginal discharge.

The potential nephrotoxic effects of intensity modulated radiotherapy delivered to the para-aortic area of women with gynecologic malignancies: preliminary results.

Objective: To assess kidney function via creatinine clearance before and after radiotherapy in gynecologic cancer patients treated to the para-aortic (PA) area via Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: Twenty-three patients underwent IMRT to the para-aortic area, were followed for at least 5 months, and had the necessary laboratory data to calculate creatinine clearance. Various patient-related factors and radiotherapy-treatment related factors were analyzed to determine their association with changes in CrCl.

The effect of the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of prostaglandin E2 by cultured human decidual cells.

Objective: We hypothesized that interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) diminish production of PGE2 by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultured human decidual cells.

Study Design: Decidual cells from six women undergoing elective cesarean delivery without labor at term were cultured to confluence and incubated with LPS (10 ng/mL) with and without IL-4 and IL-10 (10 ng/mL) and the supernatant assayed for PGE2.

Results: PGE2 concentration in non-treated cells (NT) was 16,693+/-8991 pg/mL and in cells incubated with IL-4 alone was 13,490+/-5729 pg/mL, not statistically different from that of the NT cells.