Utility of vaginal vault cytology in the local recurrence of cervical cancer.

Background: In Japan, 8000 women were newly diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018. The healthcare insurance policy in Japan allows physicians to utilize vaginal volt cytology tests and serum biomarker measurement at every visit and imaging analysis at an adequate interval with screening for recurrence after initial treatment. However, the major surveillance guidelines published in the United States and European countries recommend focusing on pelvic examinations and symptom reviews to avoid unnecessary tests.

Reassessment of intensive surveillance practices adopted for endometrial cancer survivors.

Background: In Japan, 17,000 women are newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2018. The healthcare insurance policy in Japan provides more intensive patient surveillance compared with the United States and European countries. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze data, including surveillance methods, recurrence sites, salvage therapy, and survival period after recurrence, to consider the benefits of surveillance for patients with endometrial cancer.

Long-term protective immunity induced by an adjuvant-containing live-attenuated AIDS virus.

The use of an adjuvant in vaccination is thought to be effective for enhancing immune responses to various pathogens. We genetically constructed a live attenuated simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) to express the adjuvant molecule Ag85B (SHIV-Ag85B). SHIV-Ag85B could not be detected 4 weeks after injection in cynomolgus macaques, and strong SHIV-specific T cell responses were induced in these macaques.

Treatment-related leukemia after taxane and platinum therapy in gynecological cancer patients (Gynecologic Oncology Trial and Investigation Consortium 011).

Aim: To clarify incidence and clinical features of treatment-related leukemia (TRL) due to taxane/platinum therapy in gynecological cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of gynecological cancer patients who were diagnosed at facilities participating in the Gynecologic Oncology Trial and Investigation Consortium and started only taxane/platinum therapy as chemotherapy between 2002 and 2006.

Results: The site of the primary lesion was the ovary in 124, endometrium in 37, and uterine cervix in 4.

Nadir CA-125 serum levels during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and no residual tumor at interval debulking surgery predict prognosis in advanced stage ovarian cancer.

Background: Recent phase III randomized trials have suggested that neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS) is a treatment option for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. This study aimed to use CA-125 and computed tomography (CT) scanning to generate a simple and clinically applicable model of predicting complete cytoreduction by interval debulking surgery (IDS) and the overall survival in patients who receive taxane/platinum-based chemotherapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods: Patients with stage IIIc or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent taxane/platinum-based NACT followed by IDS in Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Takasaki General Medical Center, and Gunma University from April 2009 to March 2015 were included.