[Risk factors and clinical characteristic patients with vulvar cancer].

Introduction: Vulvar cancer is very rare, accounting for about 3-5% female tract malignancies. Venereal diseases and cigarette smoking have been associated with vulvar cancer. Recently p53 gene mutation and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections have been considered etiologic factors.

Design: The main aim of this study was the clinical analysis of patients with vulvar cancer treated in II Gynaecology Department of Medical University in Wroclaw.

Material And Methods: We analyzed 25 women with vulvar cancer treated in our center. We focused on: choise of treatment, postoperative complications, p53 gene mutation, survival and recurrence of the disease. p53 gene mutations were detected using immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal Novocastra antibody (DO1).

Results: The youngest patient was 49 years old and the oldest 79 (median 70), 5 patients were younger than 60 (24%). 72% patients had overweight and 24% obese. The most often histopathological type was keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. In 68% of cases vulvar cancer was detected in II, III or IVa stage according to FIGO classifications. In 24 patients we detected p53 gene mutation. 4 patients died because of cancer recurrence, 1 because of from radiotherapy complications.

Conclusions: Obesity coexists with vulvar cancer. p53 gene mutation can be etiologic factor in vulvar cancer development. Metastases in inguinal nodes are an important prognostic factor in vulvar cancer.