Diagnosis and management of hepatic ectopic pregnancy.

Background: We present a case in which an adnexal mass caused symptoms that eventually lead to the identification of a primary hepatic pregnancy.

Case: A young woman presented with abdominal pain, a positive hCG test result, an empty uterus, and a pelvic mass. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a cystic adnexal mass.

Outcomes of Stage I/II vulvar cancer patients after negative superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Objectives: To investigate the patterns of recurrence associated with superficial inguinal lymphadenectomy (SupIL) and vulvectomy for patients with Stage I/II vulvar cancer.

Methods: A retrospective chart review identified patients from 1990-2001 with Stage I/II vulvar cancer that underwent SupIL and vulvectomy. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method with Fisher Exact and Chi-square tests for comparisons between groups.

Retrospective analysis of weekly topotecan as salvage therapy in relapsed ovarian cancer.

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of weekly topotecan in heavily pretreated patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Data were collected by retrospective review of patient records. Eligible patients had received > or =2 prior regimens for ovarian cancer before treatment with weekly topotecan.

Inter-patient variation in efficacy of five oncolytic adenovirus candidates for ovarian cancer therapy.

Background: Gene therapy offers a new strategy for cancer treatment. Adenoviruses represent the most widely used gene therapy vector and feature an excellent safety record. Conditionally replicative adenoviruses (CRAds) effect solid tumor penetration and tumor selective oncolysis and consequently offer potential efficacy for metastatic disease treatment.

The impact of aborted radical hysterectomy in patients with cervical carcinoma.

Objective: To determine the impact of an aborted radical hysterectomy on morbidity and overall survival in patients undergoing surgical treatment for early stage cervical carcinoma.

Methods: Following IRB approval, a computerized database identified 304 women treated with radical surgery for early stage cervical carcinoma from 1994 to 2000 of which 23 (8%) had an aborted radical hysterectomy.

Results: Of the 23 patients, 17 patients had a IB(1) lesion, 4 patients had a IB(2) lesion, and 2 patients had a IIA lesion.

Novel therapies for recurrent ovarian cancer management.

The search for novel therapies has resulted in a number of biologic agents that target cellular processes and molecules involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. These drugs include cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, protease inhibitors and gene replacement systems. Many of these have been evaluated in Phase I/II trials and are currently being investigated in Phase III trials.

The role of radical parametrectomy in the treatment of occult cervical carcinoma after extrafascial hysterectomy.

Objectives: To assess the morbidity and efficacy of radical parametrectomy (RP) performed following extrafascial hysterectomy in patients with occult cervical carcinoma.

Methods: An IRB approved retrospective chart review identified 23 patients that underwent RP with pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy and upper vaginectomy. Data were collected on demographics, tumor stage, grade, histology, indication for hysterectomy, surgical findings, complications, recurrence, and survival.

Expression of sperm protein 17 (Sp17) in ovarian cancer.

Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is an antigenic protein highly expressed in spermatozoa. Sp17 expression was demonstrated recently in multiple myeloma, suggesting that it may be a novel cancer-testis antigen. Expression of Sp17 mRNA and protein was examined in human ovarian tumors.

The secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) promoter for ovarian cancer gene therapy.

Background: Adenoviruses allow efficient transduction of dividing and non-dividing cells and their safety for the treatment of cancer has been established in clinical trials. However, one disadvantage is their promiscuous tropism. In this regard, tissue-specific promoters (TSPs) could be useful for directing transgene expression to target tissues and for reducing adverse effects in non-target tissues.

Gene transfer to ovarian cancer versus normal tissues with fiber-modified adenoviruses.

Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) displays unparalleled gene transfer efficacy to cells with high coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) expression. Unfortunately, cells isolated from clinical human cancers, both ovarian and other types, express highly variable and often low levels of CAR. Fortunately, native Ad5 tropism can be modified to circumvent CAR deficiency and to enhance infectivity.