Search

Objective: To assess telomerase activity associated with the development and extension of epithelial ovarian cancer and to investigate the relationship between p53 gene status and telomerase activity., Methods: A total of 53 samples (41 epithelial ovarian cancers, five borderline epithelial tumors, four benign adenomas, and three surface epithelia) were examined for telomerase activity by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Mutations in the p53 gene were determined by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis., Results: Telomerase activity was detected in 33 of 41 epithelial ovarian cancers and in three of five borderline malignancies but was not detectable in either benign tumors or normal surface epithelium. The mean (+/-standard deviation [SD]) intensity of telomerase activity in cancers was significantly higher than that in borderline malignancies (10.6+/-8.2 versus 3.6 4+/-1.3). The positivity of telomerase activity did not correlate with any clinical findings, but the intensity (+/-SD) of telomerase activity was significantly higher in tumors with lymph node involvement (12.2+/-8.3 versus 3.8+/-1.1). Mutations of the p53 gene were observed in 44% of ovarian cancers; p53 gene status did not relate to telomerase activity. Multivariate analysis showed that the intensity of telomerase activity was not an independent factor for prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer., Conclusion: Telomerase activity may be associated with development and extension of epithelial ovarian cancer. more...

Objective: To compare three platinum compounds for their antitumor effects on cervical cancer after systemic and intra-arterial infusion., Methods: Adult female rabbits with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix received infusions of 1.7 mg/kg cisplatin, 10 mg/kg carboplatin, or 6 mg/kg cis-diammine (glycolato)platinum (254-S) via the internal iliac artery or ear vein. Platinum concentrations in the tumor and tumor size were measured after internal iliac arterial or intravenous (i.v.) infusion with these platinum compounds., Results: The platinum concentration in the tumor after intra-arterial infusion was significantly higher than that after i.v. infusion for cisplatin. However, the tumor concentrations of platinum for carboplatin and 254-S did not differ between the infusion methods. The platinum concentration 20 minutes after i.v. infusion was significantly higher for 254-S than for cisplatin or carboplatin. The platinum concentration 7 days after intra-arterial infusion was significantly higher with cisplatin than with carboplatin or 254-S. Tumor size 7 days after intra-arterial infusion was significantly smaller than that after i.v. infusion for cisplatin (1.85 +/- 0.54 versus 5.60 +/- 2.60 cm2; P < .05). Tumor size was significantly smaller with 254-S than with cisplatin or carboplatin using the i.v. infusion method (2.40 +/- 0.21 cm2 for 254-S, 5.60 +/- 2.60 cm2 for cisplatin, and 5.13 +/- 1.59 cm2 for carboplatin, P < .05., Conclusions: Intra-arterial infusion seems to be a suitable route of administration for cisplatin, whereas i.v. infusion appears to have an advantage for 254-S in the treatment of cervical cancer. more...

Objective: To compare three platinum compounds, and study the pharmacokinetics of these compounds after systemic and intra-arterial infusion., Methods: Adult female rabbits received infusions of 1.7 mg/kg cisplatin, 10 mg/kg carboplatin, or 6 mg/kg cisdiammine(glycolato)platinum (254-S) via the internal iliac artery or jugular vein. The doses were equitoxic. Platinum tissue concentration in uterus and platinum serum levels were measured after internal iliac arterial or intravenous (i.v.) infusion with these platinum compounds., Results: Platinum uterine concentration after intra-arterial infusion was significantly higher than that after i.v. infusion for each drug (P < .05). The ratios of platinum uterine concentration after intra-arterial infusion to those after i.v. infusion were 2.24 for cisplatin, 1.83 for carboplatin, and 1.67 for 254-S measured 20 minutes after drug administration. The area under the curve of filtrated platinum (micrograms/mL.hours) was significantly lower for cisplatin compared with carboplatin and 254-S in both infusion methods (1.5 for cisplatin, 32.1 for carboplatin, and 16.0 for 254-S after i.v. administration, and 0.8, 30.9, and 15.2 after intra-arterial administration, respectively)., Conclusion: Cisplatin produced the highest ratio of uterine to serum concentration of platinum after intra-arterial infusion. more...

Objective: To evaluate the use of transvaginal ultrasonography for diagnosing invasion of the bladder by cervical cancer., Methods: Twenty-one women with stages Ib-IIIb cervical cancer underwent radical hysterectomy or staging laparotomy. All had computed tomography (CT) scans and cystoscopic examinations, and five also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During transvaginal ultrasonography, a transvaginal transducer was inserted into the anterior fornix of the vagina and the bladder wall was studied in the sagittal plane. The moveability of the bladder wall was assessed by the ability of the bladder to slide along the uterine cervix when the probe was pushed up against the bladder from the anterior fornix. Moveability was considered to indicate an intact bladder wall., Results: The accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography was superior to that of the other methods for detecting bladder-wall invasion by cervical cancer. The accuracy was 95% for transvaginal ultrasonography, 76% for CT, 86% for cystoscopy, and 80% for MRI., Conclusion: Transvaginal ultrasonographic examination is useful for detecting invasion of the bladder wall by cervical cancer. more...

Objective: To determine whether cell kinetics in cervical cancer differ by patient age., Methods: We analyzed specimens from 118 women who had been treated for cervical squamous cell carcinoma. In a preliminary study, labeling indices were determined in 16 patients using bromodeoxyuridine in vitro. Adjacent portions of the same specimens were analyzed by flow cytometry. Proliferation indices were calculated and compared with labeling indices for 12 diploid tumors. For the remaining 102 tumors, paraffin-embedded specimens were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine DNA ploidy and proliferation index. Using these findings, we examined the relationship between tumor cell kinetics and age., Results: There was a significant correlation between the labeling index and age (r = 0.86, P < .001) and a weak but statistically significant correlation between the proliferation index and the labeling index (r = 0.58, P < .05). The proportion of aneuploid tumors increased with age. The cutoff point of highest statistical significance was 65 years (P = .025). The proliferation index showed an age-dependent shift, and the cutoff point of highest statistical significance was also 65 years. Aneuploid tumors were more common in elderly patients aged 65 or more years. Proliferation indices were also significantly larger in the elderly patients (P < .005). Although stage III tumors were more common in the elderly, stage was not related to ploidy pattern or to proliferation index., Conclusion: Tumor cell kinetics of cervical squamous cell carcinomas differ between elderly and younger women. more...

Cardiac anatomy and rhythm were evaluated in a fetus at 39 weeks' gestation in a pregnant woman referred because of severe fetal bradycardia with a persistent fetal heart rate of 50-60 beats per minute. M-mode echocardiograms revealed supraventricular bradyarrhythmia. Umbilical cord blood analysis did not, however, reveal fetal hypoxia. Diagnostic methods of fetal bradyarrhythmia are discussed, and the importance of differentiating bradyarrhythmia from bradycardia due to fetal hypoxia is emphasized. more...