Assessment of variation in immunosuppressive pathway genes reveals TGFBR2 to be associated with risk of clear cell ovarian cancer.

Background: Regulatory T (Treg) cells, a subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes, are mediators of immunosuppression in cancer, and, thus, variants in genes encoding Treg cell immune molecules could be associated with ovarian cancer.

Methods: In a population of 15,596 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cases and 23,236 controls, we measured genetic associations of 1,351 SNPs in Treg cell pathway genes with odds of ovarian cancer and tested pathway and gene-level associations, overall and by histotype, for the 25 genes, using the admixture likelihood (AML) method. The most significant single SNP associations were tested for correlation with expression levels in 44 ovarian cancer patients.

Oral Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Characteristics Affect Survival in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Cohort Study.

Objectives: Prognostic risk factors influencing survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) include tumor stage, grade, histologic subtype, debulking, and platinum status. Little is known about the impact of hormonal milieu and reproductive factors before cancer diagnosis on clinical outcome. We sought to evaluate whether oral contraceptive (OC) use carries any prognostic significance on overall survival (OS) in patients with EOC.

Cytokine profiling of ascites at primary surgery identifies an interaction of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in predicting reduced progression-free survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objectives: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) typically presents with advanced disease. Even with optimal debulking and response to adjuvant chemotherapy, the majority of patients will have disease relapse. We evaluated cytokine and chemokine profiles in ascites at primary surgery as biomarkers for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced EOC.

Phyllodes tumor of the breast metastasizing to the vulva.

Phyllodes tumors of the breast are rare breast tumors that resemble fibroadenoma. They are composed of two types of tissues: stromal and glandular tissues. Unlike fibroadenoma, they are commonly found in the third decade of life and they tend to grow more rapidly.

Targeting myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment enhances vaccine efficacy in murine epithelial ovarian cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is typically diagnosed at advanced stages, and is associated with a high relapse rate. Patients in remission are ideal candidates for immunotherapy aimed at cure or prolonging disease-free periods. However, immunosuppressive pathways in the tumor microenvironment are obstacles to durable anti-tumor immunity.

Aspirin and Acetaminophen Use and the Risk of Cervical Cancer.

Objective: In this study, we investigated whether regular use of aspirin or acetaminophen was associated with risk of cervical cancer in women treated at an American cancer hospital.

Methods: This case-control study included 328 patients with cervical cancer and 1,312 controls matched on age and decade enrolled. Controls were women suspected of having but not ultimately diagnosed with a neoplasm.

Oxaliplatin is a safe alternative option for patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers after hypersensitivity reaction to Carboplatin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the tolerability and efficacy of oxaliplatin in patients with recurrent gynecologic malignancies after carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions in comparison with conventionally used cisplatin.

Methods: Forty-six patients were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy from 2006 to 2011 and developed hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin. Oxaliplatin was administered to 27 patients; 19 patients received cisplatin.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells modulate immune responses independently of NADPH oxidase in the ovarian tumor microenvironment in mice.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase generates superoxide anion and downstream reactive oxidant intermediates in response to infectious threat, and is a critical mediator of antimicrobial host defense and inflammatory responses. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that are recruited by cancer cells, accumulate locally and systemically in advanced cancer, and can abrogate anti-tumor immunity. Prior studies have implicated the phagocyte NADPH oxidase as being an important component promoting MDSC accumulation and immunosuppression in cancer.

MicroRNAs and Recent Insights into Pediatric Ovarian Cancers.

Ovarian cancer is the most common pediatric gynecologic malignancy. When diagnosed in children, ovarian cancers present unique challenges that differ dramatically from those faced by adults. Here, we review the spectrum of ovarian cancers found in young women and girls and discuss the biology of these diseases.

A small-molecule inhibitor targeting the mitotic spindle checkpoint impairs the growth of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Purpose: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is a poorly understood cancer with few effective treatments. This study explores the molecular events involved in ULMS with the goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Experimental Design: Genome-wide transcriptional profiling, Western blotting, and real-time PCR were used to compare specimens of myometrium, leiomyoma, and leiomyosarcoma.

Pheochromocytoma and Von Hippel-Lindau in pregnancy.

Pheochromocytoma is an infrequent but well-acknowledged primary cause of malignant hypertension in pregnancy. Although the majority of pheochromocytomas are sporadic, those that present as bilateral or multifocal tumors may be a manifestation of a rare cancer susceptibility syndrome, such as Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). Gravidae with unrecognized pheochromocytoma are at risk for recurrent paroxysmal hypertensive crises with ensuant maternal and fetal risks.

Balloon tamponade of hemorrhage after uterine curettage for gestational trophoblastic disease.

Background: Uterine bleeding frequently complicates gestational trophoblastic disease, particularly after uterine evacuation. Hysterectomy and other procedures used to control this bleeding incur significant risk and can limit fertility.

Case: We present a case of massive hemorrhage complicating uterine curettage performed for metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease.