Iron Chelation Therapy Elicits Innate Immune Control of Metastatic Ovarian Cancer.

Iron accumulation in tumors contributes to disease progression and chemoresistance. Although targeting this process can influence various hallmarks of cancer, the immunomodulatory effects of iron chelation in the tumor microenvironment are unknown. Here, we report that treatment with deferiprone, an FDA-approved iron chelator, unleashes innate immune responses that restrain ovarian cancer.

Attitudes and beliefs regarding complementary and alternative medicine in a diverse gynecologic oncology patient population.

Objectives: To measure prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a diverse gynecologic oncology patient population and evaluate how attitudes and beliefs regarding CAM relate to demographic factors.

Methods: A validated Attitudes and Beliefs about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ABCAM) survey was distributed to patients with gynecologic malignancy. Results were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon ranks sum and Kruskal-Wallace tests for non-normally distributed variables.

Adoption of minimally invasive surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with metastatic uterine cancer.

Objective: Utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced stage uterine cancer is increasing. We analyzed the use and outcomes of open versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for women with stage IV uterine cancer who received NACT and underwent IDS.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was used to identify women with stage IV uterine cancer diagnosed from 2010 to 2017 and treated with NACT.

Financial toxicity, mental health, and gynecologic cancer treatment: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic among low-income women in New York City.

Background: New York City (NYC) emerged as an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, and marginalized populations were affected at disproportionate rates. The authors sought to determine the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment, anxiety, and financial distress among low-income patients with gynecologic cancer during the peak of the NYC pandemic.

Methods: Medicaid-insured women who were receiving gynecologic oncology care at 2 affiliated centers were contacted by telephone interviews between March 15 and April 15, 2020.

Combination uterine artery embolization and hysteroscopic resection for a symptomatic uterine leiomyoma: A collaborative single-session approach for better patient care.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic uterine fibroids is accompanied by transcervical fibroid expulsion in 3-15% of cases. It can be a source of significant patient distress, may require reintervention for removal, and is the most common reason for hospital readmission following UAE. Conversely, the success of hysteroscopic resection decreases with increasing fibroid size while the risk of complications increases.

Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality of Patients With COVID-19 Who Undergo Urgent and Emergent Surgical Procedures.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 who undergo urgent and emergent surgery.

Summary Background Data: Although COVID-19 infection is usually associated with mild disease, it can lead to severe respiratory complications. Little is known about the perioperative outcomes of patients with COVID-19.

Coronavirus Spectrum Infections (COVID-19, MERS, SARS) in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly around the world to become a global pandemic. There is limited data on the impact of COVID-19 among patients with cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was performed to determine outcomes of adult patients with cancer affected by coronavirus infections, specifically SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Genetic Testing at a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Center.

Background: Prior studies suggest that referral to genetic counseling and completion of genetic testing vary by race/ethnicity; however, the data are limited.

Objective: We sought to evaluate patterns of genetic testing and clinical outcomes across race/ethnicity at a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer center.

Design: The medical records for all patients undergoing genetic assessment at a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer center were reviewed and stratified by self-reported race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Asian).

Is hysterectomy necessary for the treatment of preinvasive stratified mucin producing intraepithelial lesions of the cervix?

Objectives: Stratified mucin producing intraepithelial lesion (SMILE) is an uncommon premalignant cervical intraepithelial lesion, characterized by histopathologic features resembling those observed in high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix. Its hybrid morphology poses a pathologic challenge with no specific management guidelines. The goal of this study was to review the natural history of SMILE and treatment based outcomes.

Prevalence of nonfounder BRCA1/2 mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish patients presenting for genetic testing at a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer center.

Background: Genetic assessment in Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) patients often is limited to BRCA1/2 founder mutation testing. With access to time-efficient and cost-efficient multigene panel testing, some advocate expanding genetic testing in this population. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, rates of nonfounder BRCA1/2 mutations and mutations in cancer-associated genes other than BRCA1/2 among AJ are not known.

Cauda equina syndrome secondary to leptomeningeal metastases from recurrent primary peritoneal carcinoma.

The patient is a 42-year-old woman with metastatic primary peritoneal carcinoma and known brain metastases, who subsequently developed cauda equina syndrome after presenting with ataxia, lower extremity weakness, and bowel and bladder incontinence secondary to leptomeningeal metastasis after treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical debulking, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Metastases to the central nervous system (CNS) and leptomeninges are rare events in epithelial ovarian and primary peritoneal carcinomas as these tumours do not have a predilection for the CNS. Cauda equina syndrome is often characterised by gait disturbances, bowel and bladder dysfunction, saddle anaesthesia, and lower extremity muscle weakness.

Ruptured clear cell carcinoma of the ovary presenting as acute abdomen.

Background: Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women. Clear cell ovarian carcinoma is a rare histologic subtype accounting for 5-10% of all epithelial ovarian cancers and is often associated with endometriosis. Patients generally present with vague abdominal and pelvic complaints.

Slug promotes survival during metastasis through suppression of Puma-mediated apoptosis.

Tumor cells must overcome apoptosis to survive throughout metastatic dissemination and distal organ colonization. Here, we show in the Polyoma Middle T mammary tumor model that N-cadherin (Cdh2) expression causes Slug (Snai2) upregulation, which in turn promotes carcinoma cell survival. Slug was dramatically upregulated in metastases relative to primary tumors.

Contribution of CXCL12 secretion to invasion of breast cancer cells.

Introduction: Neu (HER2/ErbB2) is overexpressed in 25% to 30% of human breast cancer, correlating with a poor prognosis. Researchers in previous studies who used the mouse mammary tumor virus Neu-transgenic mouse model (MMTV-Neu) demonstrated that the Neu-YB line had increased production of CXCL12 and increased metastasis, whereas the Neu-YD line had decreased metastasis. In this study, we examined the role of increased production of CXCL12 in tumor cell invasion and malignancy.

Tumor-stroma: In vivo assays and intravital imaging to study cell migration and metastasis.

The development of metastatic disease is often correlated with poor patient outcome in a variety of different cancers. The metastatic cascade is a complex, multistep process that involves the growth of the primary tumor and angiogenesis, invasion into the local environment, intravasation into the vasculature, tumor cell survival in the circulation, extravasation from the vasculature and sustained growth at secondary organ sites to form metastases. Although in vitro assays of single cell types can provide information regarding cell autonomous mechanisms contributing to metastasis, the in vivo microenvironment entails a network of interactions between cells which is also important.