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Background: The usefulness of prophylactic surgery and surveillance for hereditary breast cancer has been demonstrated, and germline testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 had been covered by insurance since 2020 in Japan. In addition to BRCA1 and BRCA2, several other genes are also associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer, such as PALB2, ATM, BARD1, CHEK2, PTEN, and TP53. Next-generation sequencing-enabled multigene panel tensing provides information about these gene variants at the same time, and at a low cost. Although germline testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 has become widespread in Japan, multi-panel gene testing for germline variants has been conducted only in a limited number of facilities, partly due to the difficulty associated with dealing with the gene variant information obtained from the test. The aim of this study was to clarify the current status of multigene panel testing in our institute, and reveal the characteristics of the variants detected in patients with, or predisposed to, hereditary breast cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 37 individuals who underwent next-generation sequencing-based multigene panel testing in order to investigate any inherited genetic variants due to a suspicion of hereditary breast cancer. Eighteen patients had a diagnosis of breast cancer with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, nine patients had a diagnosis of breast cancer without family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and 10 patients had a family history of breast cancer but had not developed breast cancer themselves. Results: Utilizing mutigene panel testing, at least one alteration was found in 24 genes, and a total of 39 variants were found in the 37 patients. Of these 37 patients, nine (24.3%) had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant with or without other variants of uncertain significance (VUS), 15 (40.5%) had VUS, and 13 (35.1%) had negative genetic test results. Among the nine patients with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, seven had variants in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 (one BRCA1 pathogenic variant, five BRCA2 pathogenic variants, and one BRCA2 likely pathogenic variant), while the remaining positive results were attributed to other genes (one MLH1 pathogenic variant, and one SDHB pathogenic variant). VUS included BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as other breast cancer-associated genes, such as ATM (n=2), CDH1 (n=2), NF1 (n=2), PALB2 (n=1), CHEK2 (n=1), NBN (n=1), and RAD51D (n=1). VUS also included other cancer syndrome-related genes, such as MLH1 (n=2), MUTYH (n=2), APC (n=1), and RET (n=1). Conclusion: Multigene panel tests in our institute revealed pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 24.3% of individuals who suspected hereditary breast cancer. As expected, multigene panel tests also revealed more VUS than pathogenic variants and 40.5% individuals were detected with VUS, which included many genes associated with hereditary breast cancer and other cancer syndromes, in addition to BRCA1 and BRCA2. Individuals with VUS will need to cope with new information if the interpretation of the variant changes in the future. We need to be aware of the characteristics and limitations of this type of panel testing, and to properly utilize the test results and information obtained for good quality patient care. Citation Format: Yusa Atake, Masayuki Nagahashi, Haruka Kanaoka, Akira Hattori, Ayako Bun, Reiko Fukui, Hiromi Ozawa, Yukie Fujimoto, Tomoko Higuchi, Michiko Imamura, Keiko Murase, Yuichi Takatsuka, Mina Kashima, Chiho Okada, Chinatsu Kinjo, Mikako Miyata, Ayako Miyazaki, Mako Ueda, Hiroshi Tsubamoto, Hideaki Sawai, Yasuo Miyoshi. Germline variants detected by next-generation sequencing-based multigene panel testing in patients with suspected hereditary breast cancer at a University Hospital in Japan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-12-02.

Patients with peritoneal dissemination (PD) caused by abdominal malignancies are often associated with massive ascites, which shows extremely dismal prognosis because of the discontinuation of systemic chemotherapy mostly due to poor performance status. Many treatment methods, such as simple drainage, peritoneovenous shunting (PVS) and cell-free and concentrated reinfusion therapy (CART), have been used for symptom relief. However, the clinical efficacies of these methods have not been fully investigated yet. Recently, we developed the Clinical Practice Guideline for PD caused by various malignancies according to "Minds Clinical Practice Guideline Development Guide 2017". In this guideline, we systematically reviewed information on clinical diagnosis and treatments for PD using PubMed databases (2000 – 2020), and clarified the degree of recommendation for clinical questions (CQ). The evidence level was divided into groups by study design and quality. The literature level and a body of evidence were evaluated in reference to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Based on the results of systematic review, the strength of the recommendations was evaluated at a consensus meeting of the Guideline Committee. This is the English synopsis of the part of treatment of malignant ascites in Clinical Practice Guideline for PD, 2021 in Japanese. The guidelines summarize the general aspect of the treatment of malignant ascites and statements with recommendation strengths, evidence levels, agreement rates and future perspective for four raised clinical questions.

Background/aim The anticancer mechanism of itraconazole remains unsolved; therefore, we studied itraconazole-induced alterations in specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in cancer cells. Materials and methods The human cervical squamous carcinoma cell line CaSki was cultured with or without 1 μM itraconazole. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to identify SPMs that were influenced by itraconazole. Cell growth experiments were conducted using itraconazole and inhibitors targeting the metabolic pathways of candidate SPMs. Results Resolvin E3, resolvin E2, prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2), delta-12-PGJ2, and maresin 2 were identified as candidate SPMs. The 12/15-lipoxygenase inhibitor, which is involved in the conversion of 18-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid to resolvin E3, attenuated the inhibitory effect of itraconazole. Inhibition of the PGJ2 metabolic pathway did not interfere with itraconazole treatment. Conclusion The metabolic pathway of SPMs, including resolving E3, could be proposed as an anticancer target of itraconazole.

Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, and itraconazole (GnPO-ITC) was administered as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). The efficacy and toxicity of these treatments were retrospectively investigated.A total of 81 patients (mean age=64 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1 were enrolled in the study, and administered nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/mMetastatic sites observed in patients included the liver (n=55, 68%), peritoneum (n=23, 28%), distant lymph nodes (n=24, 30%), and lungs (n=18, 22%). Within 28 days after initiation of chemotherapy, 15 patients (19%) experienced common ≥3 grade hematological adverse events. The major reason for discontinuation of treatment among the responders was peripheral sensory neuropathy in 36 patients (44%). The overall response rate to treatment was 64% [95% confidence interval (CI)=54-75%]. The median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 8.3 months (95% CI=6.8-9.8 months) and 14.4 months (95% CI=11.4-17.3 months), respectively. Among the 52 responders, 24 (46%) underwent conversion surgery, which did not improve survival (p=0.279). Second-line treatment with irinotecan was required in 71 (88%) patients. Hepatic arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy were administered to 33 (41%) and 27 (33%) patients, respectively.The GnPO-ITC regimen showed promising efficacy with manageable toxicities for controlling disease progression and improving overall survival.

Aim To evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy with itraconazole for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. Patients and methods Patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative unresectable gastric cancer referred to our hospital were included. The regimen comprised 160 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel i.v. and 100 mg/m2 oxaliplatin i.v. on day 1, 60 mg/m2 S-1 orally on days 1-3, and 400 mg itraconazole orally on days -2 to 2, repeated every 2 weeks for 6-8 cycles. Results Twenty-three patients aged 40-80 years (median age=68 years) were enrolled, of whom 21 had stomach cancer and two gastroesophageal junction cancer. Regarding stage, two, one, and 20 patients had stage IIIA, IIIB, and IV, respectively. Among patients with liver metastases, 2/10 had simultaneous lung metastases. Nine patients had peritoneal dissemination, and five patients with stage IV disease developed recurrence after primary surgery followed by adjuvant S-1. The other 18 patients had no history of surgery or chemotherapy. The response rate was 70% (complete response in two; partial response in 14). Among 12 patients (67%) who underwent conversion surgery, R0 resection was conducted in eight, and no residual tumour was observed in two. For the population overall, the median overall survival was 24 months (95% confidence intervaI=21 months-not reached) and the 1-year overall survival rate was 95% (95% confidence intervaI=67-98%). Grade 3/4 neutropenia and grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred in five (22%) and six (26%) patients, respectively, while no patient developed grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia. Conclusion Chemotherapy with itraconazole is promising for patients with unresectable gastric cancer.

Background/aim Itraconazole shows anticancer activity in various types of cancer but its underlying mechanism is unclear. We investigated the effect of itraconazole on membrane-associated lipids. Materials and methods To investigate the influences of itraconazole on cholesterol trafficking, cervical cancer CaSki cells were cultured with itraconazole and analyzed by Filipin staining followed by confocal microscopy. Effect on the glycerophospholipid profiles was analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Results After itraconazole treatment, Filipin staining revealed cholesterol accumulation in the intracellular compartments, which was similar to the distribution after treatment of U18666A (cholesterol transport inhibitor). LC/MS analysis showed a significant decrease in phosphatidylserine levels and an increase in lysophosphatidylcholine levels in CaSki cells. Conclusion Itraconazole inhibited cholesterol trafficking and altered the phospholipid composition. Alterations in the cell membrane can potentiate the anticancer activity of itraconazole.

Context: In platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, single-agent chemotherapy is recommended for the reduction of adverse events. However, in clinical practice, some patients can tolerate drug-specific adverse events. Aims: We assessed the safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PEG-LD) and docetaxel regimen in the first cycle of ovarian cancer. Settings and Design: We performed a phase I study to evaluate the combination therapy of PEG-LD and docetaxel. Materials and Methods: We recruited five patients with recurrent ovarian cancer within 12 months of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. All patients had measurable disease severity. PEG-LD and docetaxel were intravenously administered on day 1 and every 21 days using three dose levels: 25 mg/m2 PEG-LD and 50 mg/m2 docetaxel; 30 mg/m2 PEG-LD and 50 mg/m2 docetaxel; and 30 mg/m2 PEG-LD and 60 mg/m2 docetaxel. Statistical Analysis Used: We defined the maximum tolerated dose of the combination therapy based on the modified Fibonacci method. Results: Five patients were enrolled in this study. The median treatment-free interval was 5.5 months. Two dose-limiting toxicities (Grade 4 neutropenia) were observed in two patients. One complete response, one partial response, one stable disease, and two progressive disease cases were observed. The overall response rate was 2/5, and the disease control rate was 3/5. The median overall survival was 7.4 months. Conclusions: We determined that 25 mg/m2 of PEG-LD and 50 mg/m2 of docetaxel were safe and effective doses. This preliminary efficacy and safety data should be further investigated in a Phase II trial.

Aim A multi-institutional phase II trial was conducted to determine the efficacy and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and nedaplatin followed by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced, bulky stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer. Methods Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2-II, bulky type (>4 cm in diameter) squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were enrolled. Irinotecan (60 mg/m2 ) was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 and nedaplatin (80 mg/m2 ) was also administered on day 1 of every 21-day cycle. After two cycles of chemotherapy, a radical hysterectomy was performed. Until 6 weeks after the surgery, three to five cycles of the regimen were added as adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the 2-year relapse-free survival rate. The response rates and toxicities were evaluated as secondary endpoints. Results Thirty-two patients from seven institutions were enrolled in this study. The median age was 48 years (range 25-75 years). The average follow-up period was 37.8 months (15-71 months). Twenty-three patients completed the regimen as planned. The objective response rate (complete response + partial response) for the neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen was 81.2%. The 2-year and 5-year relapse-free-survival rates were 87.5% and 78.8%, respectively. The incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia was 6.3% and 34.4% during neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment, respectively. All other toxicities were well tolerated. Conclusion Our treatment showed efficacy and tolerability for patients with locally advanced, bulky stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer. This suggests that treatment has the potential to improve the prognosis compared to concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is a rare disease associated with a history of uterine surgery leiomyomas. BML is often seen in the lungs. Symptomatic patients with BML are usually treated with surgical resection or medical castration. Here, we report three patients diagnosed with BML. A 58-year-old patient presented with back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography – computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a tumor of 3 cm in diameter in the L2/L3 vertebrae with Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation. Histopathology of CT-guided biopsy was smooth muscle tumor, which was compatible with the specimen obtained by hysterectomy for leiomyoma five years before. After administration of letrozole for one month, her back pain improved. Letrozole was used for 5 years, and the size of the tumor remained stable. A 38-year-old patient presented with abdominal distension. CT demonstrated multiple abdominal and subcutaneous tumors and uterine leiomyomas. She had myomectomy and complete surgical resection of the multiple tumor, and was diagnosed with BML. Six years later, she presented with slight cough, and CT showed multiple small nodules in the lungs. Because her symptom diminished spontaneously, she was followed without treatment. Her lung tumors gradually increased without symptoms. A 45-year-old patient with a past history of myomectomy twice presented with Raynaud symptom. CT showed multiple small nodules in the lung which showed no accumulation of 18-FDG. Histopathology of CT-guided biopsy was well-differentiated smooth muscle tumors, and she was diagnosed with BML. Because she had no symptoms, she was followed conservatively without treatment.

We have been studying drug repositioning of itraconazole for an anticancer drug. Previously, we reported clinical trials of patients with various types of cancer, and a window opportunity trial is ongoing (jRCTs051190006). Using uterine cancer cells, itraconazole inhibited cancer growth by downregulation of signal transduction (Akt/mTOR, hedgehog, Wnt/β-catenin). In this report, we investigated the bioactive lipid mediators (LMs) associated with itraconazole induced anti-cancer effect. Methods CaSki cervical cancer cells before and after exposure to itraconazole were scraped and stored at -30 °C. LC-MS/MS–based metabololipidomics were performed. Deuterated internal standards representing each chromatographic region of identified lipid mediators were added to samples to facilitate quantification. The samples were extracted by automated SPE system on C18 columns and were then subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis with a Qtrap 6500 (Sciex) connected with a Shimadzu LC-30AD HPLC system. Biochemical pathway for LMs which increased more than 2 fold or decreased less than a half either at 30 min and 60 min after incubation with 10-6M itraconazole were subjected to the cell growth inhibitory experiments using WST assay. Results Among downstream metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid, resolvin E3 and resolvin E2 increased over 2 fold at 30 min and at 60 min, respectively. Coculture with 10M ML351, 12/15-LOX inhibitor responsible for the metabolism from 18-HEPE to resolvin E3, did not effect on the growth of CaSki cells. Coculture with 10M ML351 and 10-6M itraconazole attenuated the growth inhibitory effect of itraconazole (figure 1). Conclusion Resolvin E3 could be a potential therapeutic target for the cancer treatment.

No standard treatment is available for 2nd line, especially for patients who experience anaphylaxis to platinum, or develop early recurrence. Previously, we reported 4 cases treated with 50 mg of oral cyclophosphamide daily and 15 mg/kg of intravenous bevacizumab every 3 weeks (mCPA-BEV). Here, we report follow up of the 4 cases and the additional cases. Methods Patients with cervical cancer who had anaphylaxis to platinum or who recurred less than 6 months after the last administration of cisplatin, and treated with mCPA-BEV were retrospectively reviewed. Adverse events and response rate were recorded according to CTCAE ver 5.0 and RECIST ver 1.1, respectively. Results During 2016 and 2020, 11 patients were enrolled. Histology of the tumor were SCC in 6, adeno in 3, adeno-SCC in 1, and LCNEC in 1. Two patients had platinum anaphylaxis, 7 patients had progressive disease during previous chemotherapy, and 2 patients recurred within 6 months. One patient suffered from grade 3 neutropenia; however, no grade 2 or higher non-hematological toxicities were observed. Median duration of chemotherapy was 4.1M (range 0.2–30.6 M). One patient had CR in RECIST criteria, and none had PR. Median PFS was 4.1 months (95%CI: 2.1–11.3M), and median OS was 33.7M (95%CI: 13.5–33.7M, figure 1). Conclusion The tumor dormancy was probably maintained by long administration with mild toxicities. These cases demonstrate the use of mCPA-BEV with minimal toxicity and expected anti-cancer activity and indicate that this regimen could be considered for the second-line chemotherapy in advanced recurrent cervical cancer.

We have been studying drug repositioning of itraconazole for an anticancer drug, and in vitro study demonstrated itraconazole inhibited growth of cervical cancer cells via down regulation of Akt/mTOR, hedgehog, and Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction. We report a case who showed rapid response to itraconazole and transcript analysis of the sequential biopsy was conducted. [Case] A 75-year-old woman with cervical cancer, diagnosed with Stage IIIB (cT3C N0 MA) squamous cell carcinoma was enrolled in a window of opportunity clinical trial (jRCTs051190006). She had 40 mg of oral itraconazole daily for 7 days before the primary treatment started (a window period). Her symptom of vaginal bleeding decreased and the vaginal ultrasound showed the maximum diameter of the cervical tumor decreased from 61 mm to 50 mm. The primary treatment involved pelvic external beam radiation therapy (54Gy/30fr) combined with chemotherapy (40 mg/m2 of cisplatin, weekly x 5 times) and a brachytherapy boost (24 Gy/4fr). Four months after last administration of cisplatin, she had pelvic, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph node recurrence. Tumor genomic profiling using FoundationOne CDx showed PIK3CA and PTEN mutation, microsatellite stable, and tumor mutation burden of 23Muts/Mb. In Japan, pembrolizumab was not covered by public insurance. She wished further treatment with itraconazole. Transcript analysis of mRNA obtained before and after itraconazole treatment during the initial window period are shown in table 1. Pathway mapping using Transcriptome Analysis Console version 4.0 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) showed significant reduction of PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective The purpose of chemotherapy for recurrent cancer is to get survival benefit, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life. We used oral cyclophosphamide (CPA) and bevacizumab (BEV) combination therapy in cases of recurrent ovarian and peritoneal cancer, where standard chemotherapy was difficult to conduct. We subsequently evaluated the safety and efficacy of this treatment. Methods Between August 2014 and June 2020, subjects who provided informed consent received the following regimen: oral CPA 50 mg daily and intravenous BEV15 mg/kg every 3 weeks as 1 cycle. Data from the two facilities were retrospectively studied. Result Twenty-two patients were enrolled (20 with ovarian cancer and 2 with peritoneal cancer). The median follow-up period was 18.9 months (range, 5.0–51.5), and median age was 60 years (range 37–81). Sixteen patients had platinum resistance. The median number of previous chemotherapy regimens was 2.5 (range 0–5). The median implementation cycle was 5 (range 2–14). Eighteen patients discontinued treatment: three due to side effects, and fifteen due to disease progression. Grade 2 toxicities included neutropenia (1), protein urea (1), hypertension (2), and esophagitis (1). Two patients had a complete response, and one patient had a partial response. Five patients had stable disease. The response rate was 13.6%. Median PFS was 5.3 months (range, 0.8–23.5). The median OS from the initiation of CPA/BEV was 9.2 months (range, 4.8–51.5+). Conclusions The combination therapy of oral cyclophosphamide and bevacizumab had relatively effective, and can be used safely in patients who have become difficult to treat after second-line chemotherapy.

Aim To investigate the effects of leuprorelin using a self-administered quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire in patients with recurrent gynecological cancer. Methods Records of patients who received 3.75 mg leuprorelin every 4 weeks for the treatment of recurrent gynecological cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The physical domain of the QOL questionnaire, Care Notebook, was used to assess physical symptoms. Symptom deterioration was defined as a ≥10-point increase in baseline score; otherwise, symptoms were defined as controlled. Radiological and serological responses were evaluated according to the 2011 Gynecological Cancer Intergroup criteria. Results From 2007 to 2015, 25 patients were administered leuprorelin for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, granulosa cell tumor, endometrial cancer, endometrial stromal sarcoma and clear cell cervical cancer (in 13, 3, 6, 2 and 1 patients, respectively). Twenty patients had received a median of three lines (range 1-12 lines) of chemotherapy. Ten patients had progressive disease during their previous round of chemotherapy. Twenty patients completed the questionnaire every 4 weeks. Following leuprorelin treatment for 8 weeks, the symptom and disease control rates were 65% (13/20) and 44% (11/25), respectively. Two patients, one each with granulosa cell tumor and endometrial cancer, had stable disease at 6 months. Among the 20 patients who completed the QOL questionnaire, symptom control and disease control at 8 weeks showed a significant correlation (P = 0.016). Conclusion Leuprorelin had minimal anticancer activity. The physical domain of the QOL questionnaire could be used to assess effects of hormonal treatment.

Background Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina is extremely rare, with a poorer prognosis than cutaneous malignant melanoma. Previous studies have explored the repurposing of itraconazole, a common oral anti-fungal agent, for the treatment of various cancers. Here, we describe a patient with metastatic, unresectable vaginal malignant melanoma treated with 200 mg oral itraconazole twice a day in a clinical window-of-opportunity trial. Case presentation A 64-year-old Japanese woman with vaginal and inguinal tumours was referred to our institution. On the basis of an initial diagnosis of vaginal cancer metastatic to the inguinal lymph nodes, we treated her with itraconazole in a clinical trial until the biopsy and imaging study results were obtained. During this period, biopsies were performed three times, and 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG/PET)–computed tomography (CT) was performed twice. Biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina. Imaging studies revealed metastases to multiple sites, including the brain, for which she underwent gamma-knife radiosurgery. During the window period before nivolumab initiation, the patient received itraconazole for 30 days. Within a week of itraconazole initiation, pain in the inguinal nodes was ameliorated. PET–CT on days 6 and 30 showed a reduction in tumour size and FDG uptake, respectively. The biopsied specimens obtained on days 1, 13, and 30 were subjected to cDNA microarray analysis, which revealed a 100-fold downregulation in the transcription of four genes: STATH, EEF1A2, TTR, and CDH2. After 12 weeks of nivolumab administration, she developed progressive disease and grade 3 immune-related hepatitis. Discontinuation of nivolumab resulted in the occurrence of left pelvic and inguinal pain. Following re-challenge with itraconazole, the patient has not reported any pain for 4 months. Conclusion The findings of this case suggest that itraconazole is a potential effective treatment option for primary malignant melanoma of the vagina. Moreover, we identified potential itraconazole target genes, which could help elucidate the mechanism underlying this disease and potentially aid in the development of new therapeutic agents.

Standard chemotherapy for women with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer involves a combination of paclitaxel, platinum, and bevacizumab. However, for patients who experience anaphylaxis in response to paclitaxel or platinum, have permanent peripheral neuropathy, or develop early recurrence or progressive disease during first-line chemotherapy, the development of a non-taxane non-platinum regimen is mandatory. Clinical trials using anti-angiogenic treatment demonstrated favorable outcomes in cases of highly vascularized cervical cancer. Metronomic chemotherapy has been considered an anti-angiogenic treatment, although its use in combination with bevacizumab has not been studied in cervical cancer. We treated four patients with recurrent cervical cancer with 50 mg of oral cyclophosphamide daily and 15 mg/kg of intravenous bevacizumab every 3 weeks (CFA-BEV). One patient experienced disease progression after 4 months, whereas the other three patients continued the regimen until their last follow-up at 13, 14, and 15 months, respectively. One patient suffered from grade 3 neutropenia; however, no grade 2 or higher non-hematological toxicities were observed. These cases demonstrate the use of CFA-BEV with minimal toxicity and expected anti-cancer activity and indicate that this regimen should be considered for second-line chemotherapy in advanced recurrent cervical cancer., Highlights • Development of non-taxane, non-platinum regimen is warranted in the second line treatment of recurrent cervical cancer. • Clinical trials using anti-angiogenetic drugs showed better outcomes in cases of highly vascularized cervical cancer. • Metronomic chemotherapy has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. • This is the first case report of metronomic chemotherapy with bevacizumab in cervical cancer.

The purpose of this phase II trial was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel and nedaplatin (TN) as the initial postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for uterine cervical cancer with lymph node metastases (LNM). Patients with FIGO stage IB1‐IIA2 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were enrolled. Histological confirmation of LNM was mandatory. Intravenous paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 and nedaplatin at 80 mg/m2 were administered every 28‐day cycle, of which there were 5 cycles after radical hysterectomy. Sixty‐two patients were enrolled in the study from November 2011 to July 2015. Their median age was 48.5 years (range 28‐64). The median tumor diameter was 37 mm (5‐64). Overall, 30 patients (48.4%) had 1 metastatic lymph node, 11 (17.7%) had 2, 3 (4.8%) had 3, 5 (8.1%) had 4, and 13 (21.0%) had 5 or more. With a median follow‐up of 45.7 months (range 23.4‐69.5), the 2‐year relapse‐free survival and 2‐year overall survival rates were 79.0% (90% CI, 69.0%‐86.2%) and 93.5% (95% CI, 83.7%‐97.5%), respectively. Almost all adverse events were relatively mild. Grade 3‐4 adverse events (NCI‐CTC ver. 4.0) that occurred in 5% or more of patients were neutropenia (60.7%) and infection (6.6%). The proportion of patients who completed 5 cycles of treatment was 90.3%. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with TN for cervical cancer with LNM was demonstrated to be an effective and feasible treatment. A phase III trial is warranted to compare this with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the current status of secondary debulking surgery (SDS) and tertiary debulking surgery (TDS; performed for recurrence after SDS) and to assess the overall survival after recurrence of Müllerian epithelial cancer in Japan. We also evaluated the data of patients who underwent a fourth debulking surgery (i.e., quaternary debulking surgery (QDS))., Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 164 patients with recurrent Müllerian epithelial cancers (i.e., ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancers). The SDS was performed between January 2000 and September 2014 in 20 Japanese hospitals. Clinicopathological data were collected and analyzed., Results Of the 164 patients, 66 patients did not have a recurrence or died after SDS. Ninety-eight patients had a recurrence after SDS. Forty-three of the 98 patients underwent TDS; 55 of the 98 patients did not undergo TDS and were classified into the non-TDS group. The overall survival (OS) after SDS was significantly better in the TDS group than in the non-TDS group. The median OS after SDS was 123 and 42 months in the TDS group and non-TDS group, respectively. Of the 43 patients who received TDS, 11 patients were further treated with QDS. The median OS after SDS was 123 months for patients who underwent QDS., Conclusions This multicenter study on the prognosis of post-SDS is apparently the first report on QDS in Japan. Patients undergoing TDS have a good prognosis, compared to patients in the non-TDS group. Novel drugs are being evaluated; however, debulking surgery remains a necessary treatment for recurrence.

Ovarian Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs) are rare sex cord tumors (Oliva et al., 2005). The standard treatment for high-grade SCTs is surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Although platinum-based chemotherapy is also an option for recurrent SCTs (Sigismondi et al., 2012), there is no established chemotherapy regimen for platinum-resistant recurrent SCTs. The effectiveness of pazopanib in treating epithelial ovarian cancer has recently been reported (du Bois et al., 2014; Pignata et al., 2015). In the case described herein, pazopanib was used to treat the platinum-resistant recurrence of a high-grade Sertoli cell tumor, and the response was evaluated by 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)-computed tomography (CT). Written informed consent to reporting the case was obtained from the patient.

To investigate the localization and function of gremlin-2 during human ovarian folliculogenesis.Ovarian tissue from a gynecologic cancer patient was cultured in the presence or absence of gremlin-2 and then analyzed histologically. Growing follicles were counted by the microscopic observations of ovarian histological sections. Immunocytochemical staining was carried out to detect the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 and phosphorylated Smad 1/5/8 (p-Smad 1/5/8).Gremlin-2 was detected in human primordial, primary, and early growing follicles before culture. By day 4 of culture, the follicle growth rate in the presence of gremlin-2 (13.7%; 24/175) was significantly lower than that of the control (54.8%; 92/175; p0.01). BMP4 expression was similar in the presence and absence of gremlin-2, whereas the p-Smad 1/5/8 signal was noticeably stronger in the absence of gremlin-2 in primordial and early-stage growing follicles.Gremlin-2 maintains the follicle store as primordial follicles by suppressing Smad 1/5/8 signaling in the human ovary. The data presented here provide potential insight into reproductive medicine for cases of intractable infertility, such as premature ovarian insufficiency and cancer survivors.

Aim The early and precise diagnosis and proper palliative treatment of bone metastasis is important for improving the quality of life of cervical cancer patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical features, treatment modalities and prognosis of bone metastasis in cervical cancer patients in Japan. Methods The medical records of 75 cervical cancer patients with bone metastasis who were treated between January 2000 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in a multi-institutional study. Results Fifty-four patients (72.0%) had a single bone metastasis. Bone metastases were found in the spine (46.7%) and pelvis (42.7%). Forty-three patients (57.3%) also had extra-osseous metastases. Most of the patients received radiotherapy, chemotherapy or both, but 25 patients (33.3%) received palliative care only. Bisphosphonates were given as palliative therapy to 25 patients (33.3%). The median overall survival after the diagnosis of bone metastasis was significantly shorter in patients with extra-osseous metastases than in those without extra-osseous metastases (14 vs 5 months; P < 0.05). The survival of patients who received chemotherapy following radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy was significantly longer than that of the patients who received palliative care. On multivariate analysis, the presence of extra-osseous metastasis was an independent predictor of survival in patients with bone metastasis from cervical cancer. Conclusions Multidisciplinary treatment might improve the prognosis of patients with bone metastasis who do not have extra-osseous lesions.

To investigate the effects of leuprorelin using a self-administered quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire in patients with recurrent gynecological cancer.Records of patients who received 3.75 mg leuprorelin every 4 weeks for the treatment of recurrent gynecological cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The physical domain of the QOL questionnaire, Care Notebook, was used to assess physical symptoms. Symptom deterioration was defined as a ≥10-point increase in baseline score; otherwise, symptoms were defined as controlled. Radiological and serological responses were evaluated according to the 2011 Gynecological Cancer Intergroup criteria.From 2007 to 2015, 25 patients were administered leuprorelin for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, granulosa cell tumor, endometrial cancer, endometrial stromal sarcoma and clear cell cervical cancer (in 13, 3, 6, 2 and 1 patients, respectively). Twenty patients had received a median of three lines (range 1-12 lines) of chemotherapy. Ten patients had progressive disease during their previous round of chemotherapy. Twenty patients completed the questionnaire every 4 weeks. Following leuprorelin treatment for 8 weeks, the symptom and disease control rates were 65% (13/20) and 44% (11/25), respectively. Two patients, one each with granulosa cell tumor and endometrial cancer, had stable disease at 6 months. Among the 20 patients who completed the QOL questionnaire, symptom control and disease control at 8 weeks showed a significant correlation (P = 0.016).Leuprorelin had minimal anticancer activity. The physical domain of the QOL questionnaire could be used to assess effects of hormonal treatment.

We experienced a rare case of uterine metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer in an 82-year-old Japanese woman revealed by detecting the same epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation in both lung and endometrial biopsy specimens. The patient noticed abnormal genital bleeding at the first presentation. Further examination revealed huge masses in both lung and uterus. Biopsies from the lung and endometrium were performed. Although the pathological findings of both specimens showed similar adenocarcinomatous features including intracytoplasmic luminas, immunohistochemical analyses could not clarify whether these two tumors are lung metastasis of endometrial adenocarcinoma, uterine metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma or double primary adenocarcinomas of the lung and endometrium. Mutational analyses of EGFR gene using genomic DNA revealed that both lung and endometrial tumors had the same substitution mutation (L858R) at exon 21 which is often observed in lung adenocarcinomas. Since EGFR mutations are rarely detected in primary endometrial cancers and especially L858R mutation has not been reported in them, detection of the same L858R EGFR gene mutation in both lung and endometrial tumors strongly suggested that uterine tumor is the metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. Mutational analyses might be useful to determine whether the tumor is primary or metastatic when the particular mutational types are observed in particular tumor types and/or particular organs.

Highlights • An ovarian clear cell carcinoma patient showed malignant pericardial and pleural effusion. • She subsequently experienced pulmonary embolism due to cancer progression. • Pericardial and pleural effusion were successfully treated using bevacizumab.

Objectives: We conducted a retrospective multi-institutional study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of intraperitoneal or intrapleural triamcinolone acetonide (TA), a slowly metabolized corticosteroid administration for the management of malignant ascites or pleural effusion. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients with gynecologic cancer who were treated with paracentesis or thoracocentesis followed by administration of 400 mg of TA between 2005 and 2014 were reviewed. Results: The median age of the 74 eligible patients was 59 years. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3–4 was present in 53 patients (73%), and 52 patients (70%) had ovarian cancer. Paracentesis followed by TA administration was performed in 65 patients (88%), and 37 patients (50%) were treated in a palliative setting. Chemotherapy or surgery after TA administration was performed in 37 patients (50%) in an aggressive setting, of which 14 patients (19%) were treated at the primary phase and 23 patients (31%) were treated at recurrent phase. The time interval of serial drainage was prolonged in 15 of 19 assessable patients, resulting in a response rate of 79% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 54–94%). Median overall survival after TA therapy in a palliative setting was 36 days (95% CI: 19–58 days). After TA therapy in a palliative setting, one patient complained of mild abdominal pain, two patients with advanced peritonitis carcinomatosis experienced bowel perforation, and three patients died within 7 days owing to disease progression. Conclusions: Intraperitoneal and intrapleural TA administration were feasible and effective in symptomatic control of ascites and pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND/AIM Repurposing itraconazole as an anticancer agent has been evaluated in several studies. The present study investigated whether itraconazole exerts an anticancer effect on cervical cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS CaSki and HeLa cells were cultured in itraconazole and vehicle after which colony-forming and cell viability assays were performed. Transcription and protein expression were assessed by cDNA microarray analysis and immunoblotting, respectively. RESULTS Itraconazole suppressed proliferation of CaSki and HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, CaSki cells were more significantly affected by itraconazole than HeLa cells. The microarray analysis showed an 8-fold down-regulation in the expression of GLI1, WNT4 and WNT10A among itraconazole-treated CaSki cells. Moreover, the transcription of sterol carrier protein-2 and ATP-binding cassette transporter-1 was unaffected by itraconazole. Immunoblots showed suppression in β-catenin expression and Akt phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Itraconazole is a multi-targeting anticancer agent and a promising therapeutic agent for cervical cancer.

Several cases of the uterus being preserved after diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) have been reported. Most of these patients were alive and did not experience relapse, but this might have reflected the short follow-up period, given the indolent recurrence of ESS. We report the first fatal case of ESS 10 years after fertility-sparing management. A specimen obtained from the last operation showed loss of estrogen receptor status and expression of c-kit without c-kit or PDGFR-α gene mutations.

Prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is crucial for maintaining the quality of life of cancer patients. Female patients have been underrepresented in previous clinical studies of aprepitant or palonosetron. We performed a prospective multicenter study to investigate the efficacy and safety of triple therapy comprising these two agents and dexamethasone in female cancer patients receiving chemotherapy that included cisplatin (≥ 50 mg/m(2)).Aprepitant was administered at a dose of 125 mg before chemotherapy on day 1 and at 80 mg on days 2 and 3. Palonosetron (0.75 mg) was given before chemotherapy on day 1. Dexamethasone was administered at a dose of 9.9 mg before chemotherapy on day 1 and at 6.6 mg on days 2-4. The primary endpoint was the the proportion of patients with a complete response (CR no vomiting and no use of rescue medication) throughout the overall period (0-120 h post-chemotherapy).Ninety-six women (median age 55 years) were enrolled. The overall CR rate was 54.2 %. CR was obtained during the acute phase (0-24 h post-chemotherapy) and the delayed phase (24-120 h post-chemotherapy) in 87.5 and 56.3 % of the patients, respectively. The most common adverse reactions were constipation and fatigue (reported by three patients each).Exhibition of a favorable overall CR rate over existing two-drug combinations suggests that the triple therapy regimen used in the present study is effective and tolerable in patients with gynecological malignancies receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Female patients may have a higher risk of developing CINV.

Aim The ideal timing for transition to best supportive care (BSC) for ovarian cancer patients is not clear. We retrospectively assessed the survival benefit of continuing chemotherapy and hospice enrollment in late-stage ovarian cancer patients. Materials and Methods Eligibility criteria included platinum and taxane treatment, clinical progression within 6 months of the last platinum dose, and progression during chemotherapy. Results Of the 55 eligible patients (median overall survival after first becoming refractory [1st Ref], 96 days), 22 received chemotherapy (Chemo group), two received radiation therapy, and 13 had medical contraindications for subsequent chemotherapy. The remaining 18 patients (BSC group) were compared with the Chemo group. The Chemo and BSC groups had similar background characteristics, except for the rate of consultation with a regional palliative care physician before or within 1 week of 1st Ref (9% vs 50%, respectively). In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.251, P = 0.005) and hospice enrollment (hazard ratio, 0.274, P = 0.023) were predictive factors of survival after 1st Ref. Conclusions Chemotherapy after 1st Ref can be offered and hospice enrollment during the terminal stages is encouraged for recurrent ovarian cancer patients.

Itraconazole, a common anti-fungal agent, has demonstrated potential anticancer activity, including reversing chemoresistance mediated by P-glycoprotein, modulating the signal transduction pathways of Hedgehog, mechanistic target of rapamycin and Wnt/β-catenin in cancer cells, inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, and possibly interfering with cancer-stromal cell interactions. Clinical trials have suggested the clinical benefits of itraconazole monotherapy for prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma, as well as the survival advantage of combination chemotherapy for relapsed non-small cell lung, ovarian, triple negative breast, pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. As drug repurposing is cost-effective and timesaving, a review was conducted of preclinical and clinical data focusing on the anticancer activity of itraconazole, and discusses the future directions for repurposing itraconazole as an anticancer agent.

4026 Background: Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that itraconazole, a common anti-fungal agent, has anticancer activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the chemotherapy with itraconazole on unresectable, metastatic, and recurrent gastric cancer. Methods: All patients were referred to our clinic with a clinical diagnosis of unresectable gastric cancer. The regimen consisted of 160 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel IV on day 1, 100 mg/m2 oxaliplatin IV on day 1, 60 mg/m2 S-1 orally on days 1-7, and 400mg itraconazole orally on days -1 to 3, repeated every 3 weeks. Conversion surgery was allowed. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: Between 2015 and 2018. 23 patients were enrolled. Their median age was 68 years (range 40-80 years); stomach/gastroesophageal junction: 21/2; Stage IIIA/IIIB/IV: 2/1/20. Among 10 patients who had liver metastases, 2 had simultaneous lung metastases. Nine patients had peritoneal dissemination. Five patients with stage IV had recurrent disease after primary surgery followed by adjuvant S-1. The other 18 patients had no history of surgery or chemotherapy. Response rate was 70% (CR/PR: 2/14). Among 12 patients (67%) who had conversion surgery, R0 resection was conducted in 8 and no residual tumor was observed in 2. Among enrolled 23 patients, median OS was 22 months (95%CI: > 12 months) and 1-year OS rate was 81.8% (95%CI: 46.7%―95.5%). Grade 3/4 neutropenia in 5 (22%), no grade 3/4 thorombocytopenia, grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy in 6 (26%). Conclusions: The addition of itraconazole to chemotherapy showed promising efficacy with high conversion surgery rate and with acceptable toxicities. Clinical trial information: UMIN000021340.