Three Cases of Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Lesions (STILs).

Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, serous tubal intraepithelial lesions (STILs), and the p53 signature are considered to be related to precursor lesions of high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs). However, the clinical significance and prognostic implications of these lesion types are currently unknown. We diagnosed three patients with STILs according to the morphological evaluation criteria and combined this with p53 and Ki-67 immunostaining.

Association of Serum HB-EGF Value and Response to Chemotherapy in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

Background/aim: Many anticancer agents including molecularly-targeted drugs have been developed for ovarian cancer. However, the prognosis of recurrent ovarian cancer remains extremely poor. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is reported as a rational target for ovarian cancer therapy.

Serum Heparin-binding Epidermal Growth Factor-like Growth Factor (HB-EGF) as a Biomarker for Primary Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy among gynaecological cancers. Although many anticancer agents have been developed for the treatment of ovarian cancer, it continues to have an extremely poor prognosis. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like grown factor (HB-EGF) has been reported to be a rational therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA-135a-3p as a promising biomarker and nucleic acid therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Recently, several molecularly targeted anticancer agents have been developed for ovarian cancer; however, its prognosis remains extremely poor. The development of molecularly targeted therapy, as well as companion diagnostics, is required to improve outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer.

BK-UM in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer or peritoneal cancer: a first-in-human phase-I study.

Background: BK-UM (CRM197) is a mutant form of diphtheria toxin and a specific inhibitor of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF). We assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics, recommended dose, and efficacy of BK-UM in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (OC) or peritoneal cancer (PC), and measured HB-EGF levels in serum and abdominal fluid after BK-UM administration.

Methods: Eleven patients with advanced or recurrent OC or PC were enrolled and treated with BK-UM via the intraperitoneal route.

Separation efficiency of a microfluidic sperm sorter to minimize sperm DNA damage.

Objective: To evaluate whether microfluidic sperm sorters (MFSSs) allow effective recovery of sorted motile sperm without DNA damage compared with the centrifugation and swim-up procedure.

Design: Experimental laboratory study. All participants completed questionnaires regarding previous and/or current diseases, surgery, reproductive experiences, lifestyle factors, and date of the preceding ejaculation.

Proposal of a new parameter for diagnosing a low-lying placenta in the third trimester: The distance between the external os and placental edge.

Objective: To validate a new parameter of the distance between the external os (EO) and placental edge (PE) to diagnose a low-lying placenta in the third trimester.

Materials And Methods: The study participants included 94 uncomplicated singleton pregnant women with cephalic presentation. These women were cared for in our hospital in 1998-2011, with a posterior low-lying placenta, which was diagnosed as the distance between the internal os (IO) and a PE of 0-3.

Clinical significance of cell-free and concentrated ascites re-infusion therapy for advanced and recurrent gynecological cancer.

Background: The management of malignant ascites is critical for the treatment of patients with advanced gynecological cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical significance of cell-free and concentrated ascites re-infusion therapy (CART).

Patients And Methods: Adverse events, alterations in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, serum albumin, body weight and abdominal circumference, and overall survival were examined in 22 patients with advanced gynecological cancer which were treated with CART.

Assessment of HB-EGF levels in peritoneal fluid and serum of ovarian cancer patients using ELISA.

Background: Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a rational target for ovarian cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to examine HB-EGF levels in the peritoneal fluid and serum of ovarian cancer (OVCA) patients.

Patients And Methods: Samples were collected from six healthy women, 21 OVCA patients, and 21 ovarian cyst patients.

Uterine inversion due to a leiomyoma on postpartum day 41: a case report.

Uterine leiomyomas are common tumors in women of reproductive age and are frequently detected during pregnancy. The major complications during pregnancy include abortion, preterm delivery, abruptio placentae, intrauterine growth retardation, dystocia, and postpartum hemorrhage. Little attention is given to uterine leiomyomas postpartum compared to leiomyomas prior to childbirth.

Metronomic doxifluridine chemotherapy combined with the anti-angiogenic agent TNP-470 inhibits the growth of human uterine carcinosarcoma xenografts.

Uterine carcinosarcoma is a highly aggressive gynecological neoplasm that responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Metronomic chemotherapy is accepted as a new approach for cancer treatment, and its underlying mechanism seems to involve the suppression of angiogenesis. However, the efficacy of metronomic and anti-angiogenic therapies against uterine carcinosarcoma is unknown.

Involvement of anticentromere antibody in interference with oocyte meiosis and embryo cleavage.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of anticentromere antibody (ACA) among types of antinuclear antibody (ANA) in the properties of oocytes retrieved from infertile women. The rate of metaphase II oocytes or embryo cleavage was significantly decreased in patients with positive ACA compared with patients with negative ACA, suggesting that ACA is an essential marker for flawed oocytes in infertile women with any type of ANA.

Change in cervical length in cases resulting in threatened preterm labor.

Purpose: To determine the predisposing changes in cervical length (CL) and the critical range of CL in which significant uterine contractions emerge resulting in threatened preterm labor (TPL).

Methods: Sixty-eight uncomplicated singleton pregnancies where the CL was <25 mm before 31 weeks were divided into cases with TPL (n = 23) or without (n = 45). CL and uterine contractions were monitored sequentially starting between 16 and 20 weeks.

HB-EGF inhibition in combination with various anticancer agents enhances its antitumor effects in gastric cancer.

Advanced gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Although many anticancer agents exist for the treatment of GC, its prognosis remains extremely poor. Therefore, further development of targeted therapies is required for patients with GC.

Apoptosis as a possible candidate mechanism for removal of tamoxifen-related endometrial cells with KRAS mutations.

Background: Endometrial cell KRAS mutations are frequent in tamoxifen (TAM)-treated breast cancer patients. We previously demonstrated that most KRAS mutations disappeared after TAM cessation, suggesting the existence of a removal mechanism for endometrial cells with KRAS mutation. Here, the role of apoptosis in this mechanism was investigated.

Emerging strategies for ErbB ligand-based targeted therapy for cancer.

ErbB receptors are crucial for development and evolution and have been intensely pursued as targets for cancer therapeutics. Inhibiting the signaling activity of individual receptors in this family has advanced human cancer treatment. However, actual curative effects of the existing anti-ErbB therapeutics are still insufficient.

Efficacy of ligand-based targeting for the EGF system in cancer.

Although drugs inhibiting ErbB receptors such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 have been developed as anticancer agents targeting the EGF family, they are not effective for all types of cancer and instead target only certain types. We propose the following four main reasons for these observations: (i) although seven EGFR ligands exist, effective inhibition of specific EGFR ligands may occur because their expression levels differ in different malignancies; (ii) suppressing EGFR ligands inhibits aggregation of EGFR and other ErbB receptors and activation of ERK and Akt signals; (iii) EGFR ligands may have various combinations for signal transduction through the EGFR pathway and other receptor signals; and (iv) the intracellular C-terminals of EGFR ligands move into the nucleus and strongly regulate cell proliferation. In this review, we describe important implications for targeted cancer therapy against EGFR ligands and describe the current situation in the development of ligand-based therapies for cancer.

[Ureteral endometriosis in estrogen-treated postmenopausal woman].

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to gross hematuria. Cystoscopy and contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed a solid tumor at the right terminal ureter. She underwent transurethral resection of the right ureteral tumor.

Monitoring of endometrial K-ras mutation in tamoxifen-treated patients with breast cancer.

Introduction: A high incidence of endometrial K-ras mutations has been reported in tamoxifen (TAM)-treated patients with breast cancer. We examined the changes in the frequency of the endometrial K-ras mutations after the cessation of TAM treatment.

Methods: DNA was extracted from fresh cytological or polypectomy samples of the endometrium in 28 patients who had undergone TAM treatment of breast cancer.

The efficacy of preoperative hormonal therapy before laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of preoperative hormonal therapy before laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas. We identified differences in follicle loss and surgical difficulties with or without preoperative hormonal therapy.

Methods: Ninety-six patients with ovarian endometrioma underwent a laparoscopic cystectomy.

A normal uterus communicating with a double cervix and the vagina: a müllerian anomaly without any present classification.

Objective: To report a rare uterine anomaly consisting of a normal uterus, a double cervix, and a double vagina.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Amphiregulin is much more abundantly expressed than transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor in human follicular fluid obtained from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Objective: To identify the most important epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligand in the LH or hCG signal pathway in human ovary.

Design: A retrospective clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary university hospital.

Changes in lipid metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women using hormone therapy evaluated by capillary isotachophoresis: a pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the changes in lipid metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women during continuous combined hormone therapy (HT) in detail by using capillary isotachophoresis (cITP).

Design: Twenty-three postmenopausal Japanese women with climacteric symptoms were recruited. Blood samples were collected from all participants before HT and after 3 and 6 months of HT, and changes in total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apoB, and lipoprotein(a) were assessed.

Relaxin-induced angiogenesis in ovary contributes to follicle development.

CD31-positive blood vessels increased in human ovarian cortical tissues cultured with relaxin than in tissues cultured without relaxin. The number of vWF-positive vessels counted in rat ovaries after relaxin injection (40.5 +/- 4.