Mizue Teramoto

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and E-cadherin in human ovarian cancer: association with ascites fluid accumulation and peritoneal dissemination in mouse ascites model.

Ascites formation and peritoneal dissemination are critical problems in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as angiogenic growth factor, is a potent mediator of peritoneal fluid accumulation and angiogenesis of tumors. E‐Cadherin is an adhesion molecule that is important for cell‐to‐cell interaction. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of ascites formation and peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer, we examined the expression of VEGF and E‐cadherin in different ovarian cancer cell lines and utilized nude mice to compare the biological characteristics of ovarian cancer cells. Three human ovarian cancer cell lines (AMOC‐2, HNOA and HTBOA) were used in this study. Expression of genes was analyzed by northern blotting and RT‐PCR methods. AMOC‐2 expressed E‐cadherin, but not VEGF. HNOA expressed VEGF without E‐cadherin expression. HTBOA expressed both VEGF and E‐cadherin. Each human ovarian cancer model revealed a specific feature. The AMOC‐2 mouse had a single large peritoneal tumor without ascites or remarkable peritoneal dissemination. HTBOA and HNOA mice had bloody ascites and marked peritoneal dissemination. Introduction of VEGF antisense into HTBOA cells could inhibit the ascites formation. It is suggested that VEGF is important for the ascites formation via the increased vascular permeability effect. The deregulation of E‐cadherin expression might be involved in the peritoneal dissemination. These molecules are important for the formation of specific features of advanced ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer cell lines that had different gene expression patterns produced nude mouse human ovarian cancer models with different characteristics.

A case of ovarian actinomycosis

Background: Pelvic actinomycosis is uncommon and often presents as a complication of an intrauterine device (IUD). A diagnosis of actinomycosis can be made from the finding of sulfur granules within inflammatory exudate on histologic examination after surgery. However, it may be possible to diagnose actinomycosis before surgery by finding Actinomyces-like organisms on Papanicolaou smears. Case: A 41-year-old woman had been diagnosed as having a pelvic abscess, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. She had been an IUD user for 6 years. Actinomyces-like organisms were detected in her previous Papanicolaou cervical smears. If the patient had been treated when the Actinomyces-like organisms were detected by Papanicolaou smears, the serious ovarian actinomycosis might have been avoided. Conclusion: We suggest that routine cervical examinations are important for women who are IUD users.

Palonosetron in combination with 1‐day versus 3‐day dexamethasone for prevention of nausea and vomiting following paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with gynecologic cancers: A randomized, multicenter, phase‐II trial

Chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can affect a patients quality of life, leading to poor compliance with further treatments. Previous studies have provided minimal data about carboplatin‐based regimens. Female sex is a known risk factor for CINV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate palonosetron plus single‐dose dexamethasone (DEX) for preventing CINV caused by carboplatin plus paclitaxel combination therapy (TC regimen) in patients with gynecologic cancers.

Rare case of occult testosterone-producing ovarian tumor that was diagnosed by selective venous hormone sampling

A 32 year old woman was referred because of secondary amenorrhea, hirsutism, and voice deepening.

Efficacy of liquid-based genetic diagnosis of endometrial cancer

Although liquid‐based cytology (LBC) has increased the sensitivity of cytological diagnosis of endometrial cancer (EC) compared with conventional smear cytology, the sensitivity of LBC for the detection of EC is between 70% and 96% and remains unsatisfactory. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of LBC with liquid‐based genetic diagnosis (LBGDx) by amplicon sequencing of five genes including PTEN, PIK3CA, CTNNB1, KRAS, and TP53 in 48 LBC subjects who underwent endometrial screening. Consequently, LBC classified 15 samples as “positive or suspicious for malignancy” and the 15 were later confirmed as EC. However, LBC failed to identify five cases who were diagnosed as EC by additional transvaginal ultrasound and endometrial curettage, indicating that the sensitivity of cytology alone was 75% (15/20). LBGDx identified 11 pathogenic PTEN variants in 10 subjects, six PIK3CA variants in nine, three CTNNB1 variants in five, two KRAS variants in four, and three TP53 variants in three. Collectively, at least one pathogenic variant was identified in 19 subjects, which included 17 EC (15 endometrioid carcinoma and 2 endometrial carcinosarcomas), and one cervical adenocarcinoma. However, LBGDx did not identify any pathogenic mutations in three of the 20 EC, indicating that the sensitivity of LBGDx alone was 85% (17/20). Although five EC were negative for malignancy by LBC and three were negative for pathogenic mutations by LBGDx, the combination of LBC and LBGDx would successfully diagnose all 20 EC. These data suggested that LBGDx is a useful strategy to improve the sensitivity of screening of EC by LBC.