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Diagnosis of lymph node metastases in pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is important for staging and treatment. Standard practice is to submit visible or palpable lymph nodes for histology. We assessed the added value of embedding all residual fatty tissue.Patients (n = 85) who underwent PLND for cervical (n = 50) or bladder cancer (n = 35) between 2017 and 2019 were included. Study approval was obtained (MEC-2022-0156, 18.03.2022, retrospectively registered).The median lymph node yield with conventional pathological dissection was 21 nodes (Interquartile range (IQR) 18–28). This led to discovery of positive lymph nodes in 17 (20%) patients. Extended pathological assessment found 7 (IQR 3-12) additional nodes, but did not result in identification of more node metastases.Histopathological analysis of residual fatty tissue harvested at PLND resulted in an increased lymph node yield, but not in the detection of additional lymph node metastases.

Objective: In the Netherlands a nationwide guideline was introduced in 2016, which recommended routine Lynch syndrome screening (LSS) for all women with endometrial cancer (EC)

Introduction/Background* High cancer risks, as applicable to BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variant (PV) carriers, can induce significant cancer concerns. We examined the degree of cancer worry and the course of this worry among BRCA1/2-PV carriers opting for surgery to prevent ovarian cancer, and identified factors associated with high cancer worry. Methodology Cancer worry was evaluated as part of the multicentre, prospective TUBA-study (NCT02321228) in which BRCA1/2-PV carriers choose between the standard risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy or a novel strategy, risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy. The Cancer Worry Scale was obtained before and three and twelve months after surgery. Cancer worry patterns were analysed using latent class growth analysis and factors associated with cancer worry were identified with regression analysis. Result(s)* Of all 577 BRCA1/2-PV carriers, 320 (55.5%) had high (≥14) cancer worry pre-surgery and 70.2% had higher cancer worry pre-surgery than post-surgery. Based on the course of cancer worry, BRCA1/2-PV carriers could be classified into three groups: persistently low cancer worry (56.4%), persistently high cancer worry (6.3%), and fluctuating cancer worry that mainly declined over time (37.3%). Factors associated with persistently high cancer concerns were: age below 35 (BRCA1) or 40 (BRCA2) years, unemployment, previous breast cancer diagnosis, lower education and more recent diagnosis with the BRCA-PV. Conclusion* High cancer worry is common among BRCA1/2-PV carriers and mainly declines after risk-reducing surgery. However, cancer worry remains high in 6% of the women and they should be identified and offered support. It should be realized that in this group, surgery does not reduce cancer concerns.

Introduction/Background Introduction: GROINSS-V II investigated whether radiotherapy is a safe alternative for inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) in vulvar cancer patients with a metastatic sentinel node (SN). Methodology Methods: In GROINSS-V II, a prospective multicentre phase II trial, patients were included with early-stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva (diameter Results From December 2005 until October 2016, 1552 eligible patients were registered. SN-metastasis occurred in 324/1552 (21%) patients. After 54 months of inclusion the stopping-rule for SN-positive patients was activated; interim analysis showed an increased risk for groin recurrence in case of SN-metastasis >2 mm and/or extranodal extension (ENE). After amendment of the protocol only patients with SN-micrometastasis ≤2 mm received radiotherapy, while those with SN metastasis >2 mm underwent IFL (with radiotherapy if >1 metastasis or ENE). Final analysis after ≥2 years of follow-up revealed six isolated groin recurrences in 157 patients with a SN-micrometastasis (3.8%). Four could not be considered radiotherapy failures: two developed recurrence in the contralateral (SN-negative) groin, two refused radiotherapy. Twenty-eight patients did not get radiotherapy (2 recurrences;7.1%). Among 129 patients who received radiotherapy to the groin(s) only two isolated groin recurrences were diagnosed (1.6%: 95%CI:0–3.8%). The combination of radiotherapy with SN was associated with minimal toxicity: 5/118(4.2%) grade 3 toxicity, no grade 4 or 5 toxicity. In 38/1222 SN-negative patients (3.1%: 95%CI:2.1–4.1%) isolated groin recurrences were diagnosed with clear protocol violations in 6 patients: incomplete treatment of the groin (n=3); primary tumor >4cm (n=1); not all SNs visualized on the lymphoscintigram removed (n=2). After exclusion of these protocol violations an isolated groin recurrence rate of 2.6% (95%CI:1.7–3.5%) was observed. Conclusion Radiotherapy to the groins is a safe alternative for IFL in patients with SN metastasis ≤2 mm, with minimal toxicity. We further established the safety of omitting IFL in patients with SCC of the vulva 2 mm, radiotherapy with a total dose of 50Gy was no safe alternative for IFL; dose escalation and/or chemoradiation should be investigated in these patients. Disclosure Funded by Dutch Cancer Society.

Introduction/Background Local recurrences of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) are reported in up to 40% of patients. Knowledge of the risk of inguinofemoral lymph node metastases in local recurrences is necessary to optimally counsel patients with respect to treatment of the groins, and to explore alternative treatment regimens. The aim of our study is to determine the incidence and prognostic factors of lymph node metastases in women with a first local recurrence of VSCC. Methodology A nation-wide multicenter retrospective study was performed, including all patients with a first local recurrence of VSCC after primary surgical treatment with curative intent between 2000–2015. Interim analysis was conducted on the results of four out of eight participating gynecologic oncology centers (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam; University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen and Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen). Results We retrieved 292 patients with a macro-invasive local recurrence of VSCC. The median follow-up after local recurrence was 61 months (range 2–208). The median interval time between the primary VSCC and the first local recurrence was 27 months (range 1–201) with a median age of 74 years (range 28–99). Positive inguinofemoral lymph nodes were present in 15.8% of the patients with a local recurrent VSCC. Significant differences for tumor size (median 25 mm vs 14 mm, p Conclusion Our study demonstrates an incidence rate of 15.8% of inguinofemoral lymph node metastases in women with a first local recurrence of VSCC. A larger tumor size and depth of invasion were significant prognostic factors for the presence of positive lymph nodes at the time of recurrent disease. More research is needed to accurately identify patients at high risk for lymph node metastases, in order to individualize treatment and follow-up. Disclosure Nothing to disclose

Introduction/Background The Dutch diagnostic guideline for women with a first episode of postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) was updated in 2015, and aims at detecting (pre)malignancies and uterine polyps (figure 1). The main aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to the guideline. Secondly, if recurrent bleeding and detection of (pre)malignancies in the first year of follow up relates to guideline-adherence or violation. Methodology We performed a multicentre, prospective cohort study in four hospitals in The Netherlands including women undergoing an aspiration endometrial biopsy for a first episode of PMB after providing written informed consent. Women with a benign or insufficient sample were assigned to the diagnostic workup group (DWG) when the workup was according to the guideline. If not, women were assigned to the protocol violation group (PVG). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS24. Central study approval was obtained at the ErasmusMC, (MEC 2015-740), the study was registered on www.trialregister.nl (NL7608). Results From 01.2016 till 02.2019 we enrolled 341 women, of which 78% had an increased or not measurable endometrial thickness and a benign or insufficient endometrial sample. The guideline was subsequently followed in 52%, revealing a (pre)malignancy in 6% of these women. In the DWG, 8.7% experienced recurrent bleeding within the first year, not attributable to a (pre)malignancy (figure 2). In the PVG, recurrent bleeding occurred in 15.6% (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.29–1.21), with detection of a (pre)malignancy in three cases (RR 0.27; CI 95% 0.02–4.88) (table 1). Conclusion In women with a first episode of postmenopausal bleeding, an increased or not measurable endometrial thickness, and a benign or insufficient endometrial sample the guideline was followed in 52%. In women with guideline violation more recurrent bleeding and (pre)malignancies were seen in the first year of follow-up, although significance was not reached. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Introduction/Background For treatment of GTN patients at old age; there is an ongoing debate about performing upfront hysterectomy to reduce tumor bulk or starting chemotherapy. Methodology A retrospective analysis of data from 5 referral centers from 5 countries (Egypt, Canada, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia) during last 5 years. Medical records of 119 women with GTN were retrieved, reviewed and analyzed. Demographic criteria and outcome of different treatment strategies were evaluated. Results Mean age was 45.46 years, and median hCG was 1390.5 m.IU/ml. Low-risk GTN represented 81.5% of cases while 18.5% were in high-risk group. Most of the patients were in FIGO stage I (76.2%). Metastases were diagnosed in 28 cases (23.5%), lungs were commonest site. The commonest histopathological type was invasive mole (38.1%). Of 80 patients with low risk non metastatic GTN, 32 women were treated with single chemotherapy. Eighteen of them (56.2%) showed complete response while relapse was reported in one case. In 34 cases a hysterectomy was performed. In four; a wait and see policy was adopted while instant chemotherapy followed in 30, mainly single MTX for 1-12 courses. Only one case 1/34 (3%) failed to respond. Of 14 patients with low risk metastatic GTN, 8 women were treated with single chemotherapy while in 6 patients a hysterectomy was performed and MTX was started immediately in all. Complete response occurred only in 7/14 (50%). Two high risk patients died before treatment could start due to presence of distant metastases. Eleven cases had underwent hysterectomy and chemotherapy as first line; 7/11 showed complete response. Four women used EMA/CO combination chemotherapy alone; two of them (50%) had incomplete response and needed 2nd line EMA/EP combination. Conclusion Upfront hysterectomy for treatment low-risk non-metastatic disease and combination chemotherapy for high-risk disease were associated with better prognosis. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Introduction/Background Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) consists of three subtypes; HPV-related, HPV-negative TP53 wildtype and HPV-negative mutated TP53 (HPVposVSCC, HPVnegVSCC/p53wt, and HPVnegVSCC/p53abn, respectively) which are all treated by mutilating radical surgery and/or (chemo)radiotherapy. Despite the fact that the immune system plays a key role in cancer, the knowledge on its effect in VSCC is limited at best. A study, elucidating the clinical impact of tumor-immunity in VSCC was, therefore, performed with the aim to foster the development of immunotherapeutic approaches. Methodology Sixty-five patients with early-stage VSCC were categorized based on HPV and p53 status. Archived tissues were analyzed for expression of CD3, CD8, FoxP3, PD-1, and pan-keratin in randomly selected areas using immunofluorescence. Additional phenotyping of T cells was performed ex-vivo on VSCC and blood samples by flow cytometry. Healthy vulvar tissue and blood served as controls. Results T-cell infiltration of VSCC was highly variable between patients, ranging from completely absent to very high numbers, and differed per VSCC subtype. Approximately 80% of the HPVposVSCC showed high T-cell infiltration, followed by 60% of the HPVnegVSCC/p53wt, and 40% of the HPVnegVSCC/p53abn. Importantly, high T-cell infiltration was associated with longer recurrence-free period and overall survival, irrespective of the HPV and p53 status. In-depth analysis of tumor-infiltrating T cells with flow cytometry confirmed the tumor-specific presence of activated effector memory T cells in VSCC and revealed that most of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed PD-1. Conclusion This study is the first to show a strong correlation between T-cell infiltration and clinical outcome. Our data suggest the application of two immunotherapeutic strategies depending on immune phenotype. The high expression of PD-1 in T-cell infiltrated tumors alludes to anti-PD1 blockade, whereas VSCC tumors with low numbers of intratumoral T cells should be stimulated with inflammatory reagents to stimulate local immune responses. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Introduction/Background To examine the accuracy of the diagnosis endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) in an office endometrium sample (OES). Methodology Consecutive patients aged ≥40 years with any indication for OES by aspiration curettage (OES-A) or outpatient hysteroscopy (OES-H) were asked for written consent. Pathology was assessed according to the EIN system and the WHO94 classification. The pathology of any further, more extensive, specimen obtained within 12 months of OES, was regarded as the final pathological diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS24. Central study approval was obtained at the ErasmusMC, (MEC 2015-740), the study was registered on www.trialregister.nl (NL7608). Results From 01-2016 to 02-2019, 343 patients were included, as summarized in table 1. OES-A was the first sampling for 340 patients. Of these, 43 samples were non-diagnostic (12,4%). Benign, EIN or malignancy was the diagnosis in 258 (76,1%), 6 (1,8%) and 33 (9,7%) cases respectively (figure 1). Final pathological diagnosis showed 290 benign cases (85,5%), 3 of EIN (0,9%) and 46 malignancies (13,6%). The accuracy of diagnosing EIN in an OES-A was 85,5%, with sensitivity of 46,2% and specificity of 100%. Subsequently, 66 OES-H samples were obtained, the accuracy of diagnosing EIN in an OES-H was 91,3%. The incidence of EIN in any OES was 2,5%. In eight out of ten patients a malignancy was ultimately diagnosed. Analyses of the EIN cases show that, despite not all five EIN histopathological criteria were met, the diagnosis EIN was set. Conclusion EIN was diagnosed in specimen obtained through OES, although the diagnosis EIN was made despite not all histological criteria were being met. The EIN and WHO94 systems showed a considerable overlap. Given the low incidence of EIN, our study cohort will be extended to further define the place of the EIN system in an office sampling setting. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Introduction/Background Since 2016 routine Lynch syndrome screening (LSS) among women with endometrial cancer Objective Evaluate the implementation of the Dutch guideline to screen women with endometrial carcinoma under the age of 70 years for Lynch syndrome. Methodology From the pathology database women diagnosed with EC Results In 184 out of the 205 tumours (90%) LSS was performed (table 1). Either on the endometrial biopsy 24%, the hysterectomy (70%), or on both (6%). In 42 cases (22%) MMR protein expression was lost, in 25 cases due to hypermethylation of the MLH1 promotor. LS susceptibility was discussed with 11 of the 17 patients at risk of LS (65%), all were referred for genetic counselling. Three of them declined; eight underwent germline testing for LS after counselling. In one no germline mutation was detected, two were diagnosed with a PMS2 mutation, and five with a MSH6 mutation. Conclusion The implementation of the guideline regarding LSS has been successful, though referral for genetic counselling should be improved. Gynaecologist ought to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of knowing mutational status, and may require training in discussing this with their patients. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Introduction: BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are at increased risk of developing breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC). However, for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers previously affected with OC, primary BC (PBC) and contralateral BC (CBC) risks might be lowered due to OC treatment, but data hereon are limited. Accurate BC risk estimates are essential for counseling and optimal decision making on BC surveillance and risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) after diagnosis of BRCA1/2-associated OC. Methods: From the national HEBON cohort study, we selected female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers born from 1940 and at risk of PBC (n=2019; 1194 BRCA1, 825 BRCA2) or at risk of CBC (n=1276; 839 BRCA1, 437 BRCA2). Eligibility criteria for the PBC risk analyses included no history of PBC and both breasts in situ at DNA testing. For the CBC risk analyses, CBC before DNA testing was not allowed and the contralateral breast had to be unaffected at DNA testing. To estimate the association between OC and BC risk, we used the Fine and Gray regression model, with OC as a time-dependent variable and death as competing risk event. The observation started at the age of DNA testing, age 35, or – for the CBC risk analyses – age at PBC diagnosis, whichever came last. Censoring events were RRM, study closing date (i.e. 2014-12-31), and – for the CBC risk analyses – ipsilateral BC recurrence. All analyses were performed separately for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Results: For the PBC analyses, we selected 236 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with OC and 1783 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers without OC (median age at start study 53 and 41 years, respectively). During a mean follow-up (FU) of 5.2 years, 15 (6%) OC patients developed PBC after OC, while PBC was diagnosed in 262 (15%) women without OC. OC diagnosis was associated with a lower PBC risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14–0.53) but not in BRCA2 mutation carriers (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.34–2.27). The cumulative PBC incidence at age 70 in BRCA1 mutation carriers was 25% for OC patients and 66% for women without OC, and in BRCA2 mutation carriers 49% for OC patients and 53% for women without OC. For the CBC analyses, we selected 99 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers affected with PBC and OC, and 1177 BRCA1/2-associated PBC patients without OC (median age at start study 54 and 46 years, respectively). During a mean FU of 3.5 years, 8 (8%) PBC/OC patients developed CBC after OC, while CBC was diagnosed in 131 (11%) PBC patients without OC. In BRCA1 mutation carriers, OC diagnosis was non-significantly associated with a lower CBC risk (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.19–1.03). For BRCA2 mutation carriers the HR was 1.65 (95% CI, 0.34–8.04). The cumulative CBC incidence at age 70 in BRCA1 mutation carriers was 40% for OC patients and 68% for patients without OC; for BRCA2 mutation carriers the number of CBCs was too small to obtain meaningful estimates. Conclusion:­ For BRCA1 mutation carriers affected with OC the risk of developing subsequent BC is lower than for BRCA1 mutation carriers without OC. Our data suggest that the current BC prevention strategies should be reconsidered for OC patients carrying a BRCA1 mutation, possibly including less intensive BC surveillance, and RRM being indicated only for a subgroup of OC patients. Citation Format: Heemskerk-Gerritsen BAM, Hooning MJ, van Doorn HC, Collée MJ, Koppert LB, Jager A, van den Ouweland AMW, Netherlands H, Seynaeve C, Kriege M. Risk of primary and contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers previously affected with ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-07-04.

Purpose Although vaginal dilator use after combined pelvic radiation therapy and brachytherapy (RT/BT) is recommended to prevent vaginal shortening and stenosis, women fail to use them and experience sexual problems. A nurse-led sexual rehabilitation intervention targeting sexual recovery and vaginal dilatation was developed. Its feasibility was investigated during a prospective, longitudinal, observational pilot study. Methods Four oncology nurses were specifically trained to conduct the intervention. Gynecologic cancer patients treated with RT/BT were assessed using (i) questionnaires on frequency of dilator use (monthly), sexual functioning, and sexual distress (at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months) and psychological and relational distress (at 1, 6, and 12 months); (ii) semi-structured interviews (between 6 and 12 months); and (iii) consultation recordings (a random selection of 21 % of all consults). Results Twenty participants were 26–71 years old (mean = 40). Eight participants discontinued participation after 3 to 9 months. At 6 months after RT, 14 out of 16 (88 %), and at 12 months 9 out of 12 (75 %), participants dilated regularly, either by having sexual intercourse or by using dilators. Sexual functioning improved between 1 and 6 months after RT, with further improvement at 12 months. Most participants reported that the intervention was helpful and the nurses reported having sufficient expertise and counseling skills. Conclusions According to the pilot results, the intervention was feasible and promising for sexual rehabilitation and regular dilator use after RT. Its (cost-)effectiveness will be investigated in a randomized controlled trial. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3453-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective. In 2008 GROINSS-V-I, the largest validation trial on the sentinel node (SN) procedure in vulvar cancer, showed that application of the SN-procedure in patients with early-stage vulvar cancer is safe. The current study aimed to evaluate long-term follow-up of these patients regarding recurrences and survival. Methods. From2000 until 2006 GROINSS-V-I included 377 patientswith unifocal squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (T1

Objective. To describe clinical characteristics of Lynch syndrome associated ovarian cancer and the efficacy of surveillance in the early detection of these ovarian cancers.Methods. All Lynch syndrome associated ovarian cancer cases identified in either the Dutch Lynch syndrome registry (DLSR) between 1987 and 2016, and/or the cohort at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) between 1993 and 2016 were included. Clinical data on age at diagnosis, mutation type, histological type, FIGO stage, treatment, follow-up and gynecological surveillance were collected.Results. A total of 46/798 (6%) women in the DLSR and 7/80 (9%) in the UMCG cohort were identified as LS associated ovarian cancer patients. The median age at ovarian cancer diagnosis was 46.0 years (range 20-75 years). The most frequently reported histological type was endometrioid adenocarcinoma (40%; n = 21) and serous carcinoma (36%; n = 19). Most tumors (87%; n = 46) were detected at an early stage (FIGO I/II). Forty-one of 53 (77%) patients were diagnosed with ovarian cancer before LS was diagnosed. In the other 12/53 (23%) women, ovarian cancer developed after starting annual gynecological surveillance for LS; three ovarian cancers were screen-detected in asymptomatic women. Overall survival was 83%.Conclusion. Ovarian cancer in women with LS has a wide age-range of onset, is usually diagnosed at an early stage with predominantly endometrioid type histology and a good overall survival. The early stage at diagnosis could not be attributed to annual gynecological surveillance. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc.

5503 Background: Conflicting evidence on the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery compared to concomitant chemoradiation in Stage IB2-IIB cervical carcinoma led to this multinational multicenter trial. As the trial is approaching completion of its follow-up, preliminary results are presented. Methods: Between May 2002 and June 2014 a total of 620 patients with FIGO stage Ib2-IIb were randomized between neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (NACTS, arm 1, N=311) with standard concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT, arm 2, N=309) . In arm 1, radical hysterectomy was required within 6 weeks after completion of cisplatin-based chemotherapy with a cumulative minimum of 225mg/m2, in arm 2, radiation consisted of 45-50 Gy plus boost concurrent with weekly cisplatin chemotherapy (40 mg/m2 per week). Primary endpoint was 5-yrs overall survival (OS). Results: Median follow-up time was 8.2 years ( 95% CI = 7.8 yrs – 8.6 yrs)) and similar between both arms. A total of 191 deaths (31%) occurred. Age, stage and histological cell type were balanced in both arms. Protocol treatment was completed in 459 (74%) patients (71% for NACTS; 82% for CCRT). In arm 1 238 (76%) patients underwent surgery. Main reasons for not having surgery as per protocol, were toxicity (25/74, 34%), progressive disease (18/74, 24%) and insufficient response to NACT (12/74, 16%). Additional radiotherapy was given to 113 patients (36.3%) in arm 1; additional surgery performed in 9 patients (2.9%) in arm 2. Short term severe adverse events (≥G3) occurred more frequently in arm 1 than in arm 2 (35% vs 21%, p < 0.001). The 5 year OS was 72% in arm 1 and 76% in arm 2 (not statistically significant, difference = 4.0% (95%CI: -4% - 12%); HR 0.87, 95%CI: 0.65-0.15, p=0.332). Conclusions: These preliminary results revealed no difference in 5-year OS between NACTS and CCRT, indicating that quality of life and long term toxicity are important to decide optimal treatment. The final results will be available by April 2019, including long-term toxicity and treatment effect across prognostic factors. Clinical trial information: NCT00039338.

Weekly paclitaxel/cisplatin is effective in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). To reduce toxicity, paclitaxel/cisplatin was replaced by paclitaxel/carboplatin.Patients with progressive EOC after prior 3-weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin were treated with six cycles weekly paclitaxel 90 mg/m(2) and carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 4 mg/ml/min, followed by six cycles 3-weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin. End-points were progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), response rate (RR) and toxicity.Median progression free interval after last platinum was 9 (0-81) months in 108 patients; 43 were platinum-resistant, of whom 13 started weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin6 months after progression. During 633 weekly cycles grade 3/4 toxicity included; thrombocytopenia 8%, neutropenia 30%, febrile neutropenia 0.5%. Non-haematologic toxicity was low. Treatment was delayed in 16%, and dose reduced in 2% of cycles. RR was 58% for platinum-resistant and 76% for platinum-sensitive patients, median PFS were 8 (range 1-21) and 13 (1-46) months, median OS 15 (1-69) and 26 (4-93) months, respectively. The 13 platinum-resistant patients with a platinum-therapy free interval6 months had a significant shorter PFS (4 versus 10 months, p=0.035) and OS (9 versus 15 months, p=0.002).Six cycles weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin followed by six 3-weekly cycles is well-tolerated and highly active in platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patients.

The risk of recurrent postmenopausal bleeding in women whose endometrial thickness after a first episode was 4 mm or less could have major implications for management. If the recurrence rate is low, follow-up by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) would suffice. In contrast, a high recurrence rate (or the diagnosis of malignancy at follow-up) would call for immediate endometrial sampling. The investigators, from 7 university-affiliated teaching hospitals in The Netherlands, practiced expectant management for consecutive patients not on hormone replacement therapy who presented with a first episode of postmenopausal bleeding and were found to have a thin endometrium. Of 607 women with a first episode of postmenopausal bleeding, 249 had an endometrial thickness of 4 mm or less. During a median follow-up of approximately 3.25 years, 25 of these 249 women (10%) had recurrent bleeding. The median interval before bleeding recurred was 49 weeks. Two patients with recurrent bleeding proved to have endometrial carcinoma and another had malignant melanoma. Recurrent bleeding appeared not to correlate with age, time since menopause, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, or anticoagulant therapy. Whether or not endometrial sampling was carried out in the office at initial presentation did not influence the findings. There was, however, a significant difference in recurrent bleeding between patients who underwent hysteroscopy and/or dilatation and curettage at initial workup (5/21) and those who did not (20/208). The hazard rate ratio was 2.8, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.05 to 7.5. These findings endorse the use of TVU as an initial measure in women with postmenopausal bleeding. It is, however, vital that patients who are managed expectantly be reevaluated and have endometrial sampling should bleeding recur.

Objective.To determine whether structured assessment of outpatient endometrial biopsies decreases the number of inconclusive samples.Design.Retrospective cohort study.Setting.Single hospital pathology laboratory.Population.Endometrial biopsy samples of 66 women with postmenopausal bleeding, collected during the usual diagnostic work-up and assessed as insufficient for a reliable histological diagnosis.Methods.Endometrial biopsy samples were requested from the pathology laboratories. The retrieved samples were systematically reassessed by a single pathologist specialized in gynecology.Main Outcome Measure.Disagreement between initial assessment and conclusion after structured reassessment.Results.We retrieved 36 of 66 endometrial biopsy samples from six different pathology laboratories. Structured reassessment of the retrieved samples by a single pathologist specialized in gynecology did not change the conclusion in 35 of the 36 samples. The remaining sample contained a large amount of endometrial tissue and the diagnosis at reassessment was endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. All other samples contained insufficient material for a reliable diagnosis.Conclusion.A structured reassessment of endometrial biopsies samples, which were classified as inconclusive due to insufficient material, did not change the conclusion. Although it might be helpful for pathologists to have diagnostic criteria for adequacy and/or inadequacy of an endometrial biopsy sample, the gain in efficiency is likely to be small.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the efficiency of the current diagnostic work up following postmenopausal bleeding could be improved by diagnostic strategies that take into account characteristics of the women in addition to the currently recommended transvaginal measurement of endometrial thickness to determine for subsequent histological assessment. Design Multicenter, prospective cohort study. Setting A university hospital and seven teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. Sample Consecutive women not using hormone replacement therapy, presenting with postmenopausal bleeding. Methods Five hundred and forty women underwent transvaginal sonography, and in case of endometrial thickness (double layer) above 4 mm, subsequent endometrial sampling was performed. Presence of carcinoma was ruled out by the absence of abnormalities in histological specimen or by an uneventful follow up of at least 6 months. Main outcome measures Probability of endometrial carcinoma was estimated by multivariable logistic regression models. For each diagnostic strategy, we calculated diagnostic accuracy (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]), negative predictive value (NPV) and the number of diagnostic procedures. Results A strategy with transvaginal sonography alone with a fixed threshold incorrectly classified 0.7% of the women as nonmalignant (NPV: 99.3% [98.5–100%]), with 97% sensitivity and 56% specificity. A strategy integrating characteristics of the women with transvaginal sonography could result in less false reassurances (NPV: 99.6% [99.2–100%]), with only marginal decrease in diagnostic procedures, or a minor increase in false reassurances (NPV: 99.0% [98.3–100%]), with a substantial reduction (15–20%) in the procedures. AUCs associated with these strategies could improve from 0.76 (0.73–0.79) for transvaginal sonography alone to 0.90 (0.87–0.93) for the integrated strategy. Conclusion Taking into account the characteristics of the women could increase the efficiency of the diagnostic work up for postmenopausal bleeding.

The objective is to assess among women with postmenopausal bleeding the relationship of age and time since menopause on one hand and the presence of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia on the other hand. In a multicenter prospective cohort study, 614 women presenting with postmenopausal bleeding were included. Women underwent transvaginal sonography and, in cases where the endometrial thickness was >4 mm, endometrial sampling. Splines were used to assess the association between each of the continuous variables and (pre)malignancy of the endometrium. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. The average age for women without (pre)malignancy was 61.7 years (SD 9.8). As malignant and premalignant cases were found to have similar age, these subgroups were merged in the analyses. Age was an independent predictor of (pre)malignancy. In women younger than 55 years, the odds ratio was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1–3.3) for each year under 55 years of age and 1.03 (95% CI: 1.00–1.06) for each year over 55 years of age. The risk of (pre)malignancy of the endometrium was 4.9% in women less than 3 years postmenopausal versus 19.7% in women more than 20 years postmenopausal. However, in a multivariate analysis only age contributed to the prediction of risk. This study demonstrates that, in postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding, the risk of (pre)malignancy of the endometrium is low in women under 50 years of age, increases considerably until 55 years of age, and rises only modestly with further advancing age. Future studies should explore whether these findings can be incorporated in the diagnostic work-up of women with postmenopausal bleeding.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported a breast cancer (BC) risk reduction of approximately 50% after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, but may have been subject to several types of bias. The purpose of this nationwide cohort study was to assess potential bias in the estimated BC risk reduction after RRSO. METHODS: We selected BRCA1/2 mutation carriers from an ongoing nationwide cohort study on Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer in the Netherlands (HEBON). First, we replicated the analytical methods as previously applied in four major studies on BC risk after RRSO. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios and conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios. Secondly, we analyzed the data in a revised design in order to further minimize bias using an extended Cox model with RRSO as a time-dependent variable to calculate the hazard ratio. The most important differences between our approach and those of previous studies were the requirement of no history of cancer at the date of DNA diagnosis and the inclusion of person-time preceding RRSO. RESULTS: Applying the four previously described analytical methods and the data of 551 to 934 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a median follow-up of 2.7 to 4.6 years, the odds ratio was 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35 to 1.08), and the hazard ratios were 0.36 (95% CI = 0.25 to 0.53), 0.62 (95% CI = 0.39 to 0.99), and 0.49 (95% CI = 0.33 to 0.71), being similar to earlier findings. For the revised analysis, we included 822 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. After a median follow-up period of 3.2 years, we obtained a hazard ratio of 1.09 (95% CI = 0.67 to 1.77). CONCLUSION: In previous studies, BC risk reduction after RRSO in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers may have been overestimated because of bias. Using a design that maximally eliminated bias, we found no evidence for a protective effect.

The goal of this study was to determine diagnostic accuracy of preoperative transvaginal sonography (TVS) to assess myometrial infiltration in patients with endometrial cancer and to determine the possibility of preoperatively selecting low-stage endometrial cancer patients at high risk of lymph node metastases. The depth of myometrial infiltration of endometrial cancer was assessed using TVS before or after curettage. Infiltration was classified as superficial if less than half of the myometrium was involved, otherwise it was classified as deep infiltration. Results were compared with the histology results of the definitive specimens. Patients were classified as high risk when they satisfied two of the following three criteria: 60 years of age or older; deep myometrial infiltration; and poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumor. A total of 93 patients from 11 clinics were analyzed. The mean age was 66.1 years (SD +/- 11.4). The sonography and histology findings were in agreement in 69 of 93 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), of "deep infiltration" by preoperative TVS were 79% (95% CI 0.65-0.93), 72% (95% CI 0.61-0.83), 61% (95% CI 0.46-0.75), and 86% (95% CI 0.76-0.96), respectively. Combining tumor grade and myometrial infiltration in the hysterectomy specimen and age, 30 of 81 patients were classified as high-risk patients. Sensitivity and PPV, specificity, and NPV for preoperative diagnosis of high risk were 80% (95% CI 0.65-0.94) and 88% (95% CI 0.79-0.97), respectively. Preoperative assessment of myometrial tumor infiltration using just TVS is only moderately reliable in endometrial cancer patients. If the results of TVS, however, are combined with the patient's age and the degree of tumor differentiation in curettings, it is possible to preoperatively select endometrial cancer patients with a high risk of pelvic lymph node metastases with sufficient reliability.

Aim—To investigate the correlation between immunohistochemical and biochemical steroid receptor analyses by measurement of oestrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptor status in ovarian neoplasia. Methods—Tissue samples were obtained from 27 ovarian neoplasms, including two borderline tumours. Immunohistochemical staining of the tissue slides was scored semiquantitatively, incorporating the intensity and percentage of positive staining (histoscore). Tumours with a histoscore of 10 or more were considered steroid receptor positive. The epithelial and stromal fractions of the tumours were analysed separately. To study the uniformity of receptor expression throughout a tumour, up to four samples were analysed. Results—Immunohistochemical histoscores of the oestrogen receptor in the epithelial fractions were significantly correlated with the biochemical oestrogen receptor values (r = 0.408). Androgen receptor status in the epithelial fraction was correlated with that in the stromal fraction (r = 0.741), while androgen receptor histoscores in the epithelial fraction correlated with the biochemical assay values (r = 0.463). On biochemical analysis, 17 of the 27 ovarian tumours were oestrogen receptor positive and seven were progesterone receptor positive. On immunohistochemical analysis, eight tumours were oestrogen receptor positive and two were progesterone receptor positive. Biochemical analysis showed that 14 of the 26 tumours were slightly androgen receptor positive (10–50 fmol/mg protein), while all the others were negative. On immunohistochemical analysis, seven of the 26 tumours were androgen receptor positive. When two or more specimens from one tumour were analysed, marked differences in steroid status were found, especially in progesterone receptor and androgen receptor expression. Some parts of a tumour were steroid receptor positive, while other parts were negative owing to heterogeneity of expression. Conclusions—Immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis of steroid receptors in ovarian tumours correlated weakly or not at all. Heterogeneity of expression within a tumour and the presence of progesterone and androgen receptors in the stromal fraction partly accounted for this observation. Biochemical and immunohistochemical androgen receptor status was much lower than in previous reports. Key Words: steroid receptors • ovarian neoplasia • immunohistochemical analysis • biochemical analysis

Objectives To measure progress against endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) in the Netherlands by analyzing trends in incidence, survival and mortality simultaneously. Study design Descriptive study of incidence, survival and mortality rates of women with EEC in the Netherlands. Rates were age-standardized to the European standard population. Population-based data were extracted from the nationwide Dutch Cancer Registry (NCR) between 1989 and 2009. Mortality data since 1989 came from Statistics Netherlands. European age standardized incidence rates were calculated according to age, histology and stage. Five year relative survival estimates were calculated in four periods. Optimal progress against cancer is defined as decreasing incidence and/or improving survival accompanied by declining mortality. Results 80% of the 32,332 patients newly diagnosed with a corpus uteri malignancy had an EEC. The incidence of EEC rose significantly from 11/100,000 to 15/100,000, being most pronounced in women with FIGO stage IB and in the group with grade 1&2 tumours (P

Post molar GTN was reported to occur in 7.5-20% of patients following evacuation of complete hydatidiform moles and in 2.5-7.5% following evacuation of partial moles. The role of uterine re-curettage in post molar GTN is not clear.Study of the correlation of pre-evacuation and week- one level of hCG, and uterine re-curettage to the number of chemotherapy courses in treatment of post molar GTN.This retrospective study included 29 cases of post molar GTN through reviewing their medical records.There were 25 cases (86.21) of low risk, and 4 cases of high risk score (13.79%). The 3 year survival was 96.6%. There were non-significant correlation of age, parity, pre-evacuation level and hCG in week-1 to number of chemotherapy courses, while uterine re-curettage was significantly correlated to number of chemotherapy courses (p = 0.04).Uterine re-curettage was significantly correlated to less number of chemotherapy courses in patients with post molar GTN (p = 0.04). Pre-evacuation and week-1 hCG were not correlated to number of chemotherapy cycles. A large prospective randomized trial to clarify the beneficial effect of uterine re-curettage is recommended.

This paper covers an overview of the literature on the management of advanced endometrial cancer, concentrating on patients with histopathologic endometrioid type of tumors. The different treatment modalities are described and management recommendations are proposed.The standard surgical procedure includes an extrafacial total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, collection of peritoneal washings for cytology, and exploration of the intraabdominal contents. In cases of extensive disease in the abdomen, an optimal surgical cytoreduction is associated with improved survival. Further treatment with radiotherapy may be indicated based on the pathological staging information to improve loco-regional control. Primary radiotherapy is indicated in cases where surgery is contraindicated. Systemic treatment can either be hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Progesterons are the cornerstone of hormone therapy. Prognostic factors for response are the presence of high levels of progesterone and estrogen receptors and low grade histology. Paclitaxel is the most active single agent drug. The combination therapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin is adopted as first choice in patients with endometrial cancer because of the efficacy and low toxicity, although not proven in a randomized trial.The literature on the management of patients with advanced endometrial cancer is discussed in detail. Each stage of advanced disease is presented separately, and management recommendations are proposed, and alternative approaches are given.Ongoing clinical trials are described, and the focuses of ongoing research are mentioned.

The introduction of paclitaxel/platinum combination chemotherapy and (interval) debulking surgery has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. Yet, many patients die of drug-resistant disease. Second-line chemotherapy may result in prolonged secondary remissions with alleviation of symptoms and improvement of quality of life. The response to second-line chemotherapy is strongly related to platinum sensitivity. More than 60% of platinum-sensitive patients respond to a re-challenge with platinum-containing chemotherapy. In platinum-resistant patients, on the contrary, the response rate to a re-challenge with 3-weekly platinum or any nonplatinum chemotherapy is less than 20%. The response to dose-dense weekly platinum-based regimens ranged from 48% to 64% in platinum-resistant patients. Moreover, the majority of the patients responded within 8 weeks after the start of the treatment. The progression-free survival ranged from a median of 5 months in a study using cisplatin/etoposide, to 11 months in a study with paclitaxel/carboplatin. The median survival was 11-15 months. The outpatient weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen, with paclitaxel at a dose of 90 mg/m(2) and carboplatin at area under the curve 4, seems similarly effective and is better tolerated. Dose-dense weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for platinum-sensitive, as well as platinum-resistant tumors. Responses to therapy are observed within 8 weeks in the majority of the patients. Whether a weekly regimen indeed is more effective than 3-weekly paclitaxel/carboplatin needs to be answered in a randomized study.

Background In advanced stage primary vulvar cancer, treatment is tailored to individual patient needs. Combined treatment modalities have been developed, using chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Objectives To determine whether the combined treatment strategy using concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy followed by surgery is effective and safe in vulvar cancer patients with advanced primary disease. Main outcomes of interest were: types of surgical intervention following chemoradiation and survival, recurrence and complication rates. Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Review Group Specialised Register. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CANCERLIT, other databases and reference lists of articles. The latest search was conducted on 12 March 2005. Selection criteria Studies of curative treatment of patients with advanced, primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were included. Treatment included concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, followed by surgery. Data collection and analysis Twenty-eight abstracts and papers were selected either by the search strategy or by checking the cross references. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were not available. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. (Eifel 1995; Landoni 1996; Montana 2000; Moore 1998; Scheistroen 1993). Two authors (HCvD, MV-L) independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. Adverse effects information was collected from the trials. Main results Chemotherapy was given uniformly within each of the five selected studies. However, four different chemoradiation schedules were applied. Radiotherapy dose fractionation techniques, fields and target definitions varied. Skin toxicity was observed in nearly all patients. Wound breakdown, infection, lymphedema, lymphorrhea and lymphoceles were also common. Operability was achieved in 63 to 92% of cases in the four studies using 5FU and CDDP or 5FU and MMC. In contrast, only 20% of the patients who received Bleomycin were operable after chemoradiation. After a follow up of 5 to 125 months, 26 to 63% of participants were alive and well. A total of 27 to 85% of participants died due to treatment related causes or disease. The five studies included in this review show that preoperative chemoradiotherapy reduces tumour size and improves operability. However, complications of treatment are considerable and information on the effects of quality of life (QOL) is not available. Furthermore, treatment results of the respective studies diverge considerably. Authors' conclusions Patients with inoperable primary tumours or lymph nodes benefit from chemoradiation if an operation can be performed. In patients with large tumours that can only be treated with anterior and/or posterior exenteration complications of neoadjuvant therapy might outweigh complications of exenterative surgery. With the current knowledge neoadjuvant therapy is not justified in patients with tumours that can be adequately treated with radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin node dissection alone.

Evaluation of the success of delayed interval delivery in multiple pregnancies.Retrospective analyses of all multiple pregnancies with the birth of one child at a gestational age of 16-31 weeks (n=80). Three groups were defined: group I, unsuccessful attempt to temporize delivery, group II, interval between the first child and the other child or children 3 hours or more, with delivery of the remaining children before 28 weeks and group III, prolongation of pregnancy beyond 28 weeks.In 15 multiple pregnancies (ten sets of twins, five sets of triplets), the aim was to postpone the delivery of the second (and third) child. The mean gestational age at admittance was 25 weeks. Delay of the delivery of the second child was achieved in ten cases, five in group II and five in group III. In groups II and III, the mean interval of delivery was 12 days; the gestational age at the delivery of the remaining children in these ten patients was 27 5/7 weeks. No relation could be found between the reason for admittance and the interval in delivery between the first and the other children. The only severe maternal complication was blood loss exceeding 2 liters. In the neonatal outcome of first and second children (with a gestational age of 28 weeks or more) no striking differences were observed.Delayed delivery in multiple pregnancies after the birth of the first child is only successful in a minority of patients and should be considered prior to the birth of the first child.

e16504 Background: Pts with rCC in PIA might benefit from cDDP plus HT. Lap inhibits the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2. Overexpression of EGFR and HER2 is often seen in pts with CC and might be involved in chemotherapy resistance. Besides, preclinical data suggest a synergistic effect of combining cDDP and Lap. Therefore, this phase I dose-escalation study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Lap added to fixed doses of cDDP and HT. Methods: Pts with rCC in PIA, adequate organ function and ECOG performance status 0-1 were scheduled for 6 weekly administrations of 70 mg/m2cDDP plus locoregional HT. Daily Lap was added on days 1-56, starting at a dose-level of 1000 mg. The MTD was defined as the highest dose where ≤1/6 pts experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Safety, pharmacodynamics (PhD) and response were assessed. Results: Eight pts were treated. The first 4 pts (2 each at dose 1000 mg and 750 mg) experienced DLT. Of the 4 pts treated at dose level -2 (500 mg), only 1 pt was able to complete the treatment as planned, 2 pts experienced a DLT and 1 pt was not evaluable (NE), because of early progressive disease (PD) (see Table). In the evaluable pts 1 PD, 4 stable diseases and 2 partial responses (PR) were observed. One patient with PR had a resection of the local recurrence. Analysis of the resected specimen showed a pathological complete response (pCR). Enumeration of circulating endothelial cells measured at baseline and during therapy did not show consistent results. The same applied for the PhD on Ki-67, p27Kip1and EGFR in pretreatment and on-therapy skin biopsies. Conclusions: It is not feasible to combine Lap with fixed doses of cDDP and HT in pts with rCC in PIA mainly due to increased cDDP-related toxicity. The observed pCR is intriguing and warrants further investigation of combining HER2-blockade and cDDP/HT. Clinical trial information: NL24464.078.08. [Table: see text]

In a woman of 26, who suffered from a vulvovaginal infection and had previously been treated for Candida vaginitis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultured and identified. At her work she sold baking yeast. Topical treatment with amphotericin B 100 mg suppositories was successful. Microscopic examination (1000 x) of the discharge in saline showed haloed yeast cells. For treatment, oral ketoconazole or topical administration of amphotericin B or clotrimazole, in relatively high doses, may be applied. This yeast might be the cause of 'chronic candidiasis' more often than suspected, notably in women working in a bakery or a brewery.