The similarities and differences between mesonephric carcinoma and mesonephric-like carcinoma: Two cases

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Mesonephric carcinomas are rare cancers that arise from mesonephric remnants.

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Mesonephric-like carcinomas are similar but with mesonephric differentiation.

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These cases add to the limited literature of these separate but similar entities.

Tolerability of maintenance olaparib in newly diagnosed patients with advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation in the randomized phase III SOLO1 trial

Objectives.

In the phase III SOLO1 trial (NCT01844986), maintenance olaparib provided a substantial progression-free survival benefit in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation who were in response after platinum-based chemotherapy. We analyzed the timing, duration and grade of the most common hematologic and non-hematologic adverse events in SOLO1.

Methods.

Eligible patients were randomized to olaparib tablets 300 mg twice daily (N = 260)or placebo (N = 131), with a 2-year treatment cap in most patients. Safety outcomes were analyzed in detail in randomized patients who received at least one dose of study drug (olaparib, n = 260; placebo, n = 130).

Results.

Median time to first onset of the most common hematologic (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) and non-hematologic (nausea, fatigue/asthenia, vomiting) adverse events was <3 months in olaparibtreated patients. The first event of anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and vomiting lasted a median of <2 months and the first event of fatigue/asthenia lasted a median of 3.48 months in the olaparib group. These adverse events were manageable with supportive treatment and/or olaparib dose modification in most patients, with few patients requiring discontinuation of olaparib. Of 162 patients still receiving olaparib at month 24, 64.2% were receiving the recommended starting dose of olaparib 300 mg twice daily.

Conclusions.

Maintenance olaparib had a predictable and manageable adverse event profile in the newly diagnosed setting with no new safety signals identified. Adverse events usually occurred early, were largely manageable and led to discontinuation in a minority of patients.

Patient-centred outcomes and effect of disease progression on health status in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation receiving maintenance olaparib or placebo (SOLO1): a randomised, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

In the phase 3 SOLO1 trial, maintenance olaparib provided a significant progression-free survival benefit versus placebo in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation in response after platinum-based chemotherapy. We analysed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient-centred outcomes in SOLO1, and the effect of radiological disease progression on health status.

METHODS

SOLO1 is a randomised, double-blind, international trial done in 118 centres and 15 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older; had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0-1; had newly diagnosed, advanced, high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer with a BRCA mutation; and were in clinical complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to either 300 mg olaparib tablets or placebo twice per day using an interactive voice and web response system and were treated for up to 2 years. Treatment assignment was masked for patients and for clinicians giving the interventions, and those collecting and analysing the data. Randomisation was stratified by response to platinum-based chemotherapy (clinical complete or partial response). HRQOL was a secondary endpoint and the prespecified primary HRQOL endpoint was the change from baseline in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian Cancer Trial Outcome Index (TOI) score for the first 24 months. TOI scores range from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicated better HRQOL), with a clinically meaningful difference defined as a difference of at least 10 points. Prespecified exploratory endpoints were quality-adjusted progression-free survival and time without significant symptoms of toxicity (TWiST). HRQOL endpoints were analysed in all randomly assigned patients. The trial is ongoing but closed to new participants. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01844986.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 3, 2013, and March 6, 2015, 1084 patients were enrolled. 693 patients were ineligible, leaving 391 eligible patients who were randomly assigned to olaparib (n=260) or placebo (n=131; one placebo patient withdrew before receiving any study treatment), with a median duration of follow-up of 40·7 months (IQR 34·9-42·9) for olaparib and 41·2 months (32·2-41·6) for placebo. There was no clinically meaningful change in TOI score at 24 months within or between the olaparib and placebo groups (adjusted mean change in score from baseline over 24 months was 0·30 points [95% CI -0·72 to 1·32] in the olaparib group vs 3·30 points [1·84 to 4·76] in the placebo group; between-group difference of -3·00, 95% CI -4·78 to -1·22; p=0·0010). Mean quality-adjusted progression-free survival (olaparib 29·75 months [95% CI 28·20-31·63] vs placebo 17·58 [15·05-20·18]; difference 12·17 months [95% CI 9·07-15·11], p<0·0001) and the mean duration of TWiST (olaparib 33·15 months [95% CI 30·82-35·49] vs placebo 20·24 months [17·36-23·11]; difference 12·92 months [95% CI 9·30-16·54]; p<0·0001) were significantly longer with olaparib than with placebo.

INTERPRETATION

The substantial progression-free survival benefit provided by maintenance olaparib in the newly diagnosed setting was achieved with no detrimental effect on patients' HRQOL and was supported by clinically meaningful quality-adjusted progression-free survival and TWiST benefits with maintenance olaparib versus placebo.

FUNDING

AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp & Dohme.

The presence of an endometrioid component does not alter the clinicopathologic profile or survival of patients with uterine serous cancer: A gynecologic oncology group (GOG/NRG) study of 934 women

OBJECTIVE

While most cases of endometrial cancer can readily be classified as pure endometrioid, pure serous, or another type, others show an apparent mixture of serous and endometrioid components, or indeterminate serous versus endometrioid features. Since serous histology carries a worse prognosis than endometrioid, Gynecologic Oncology Group protocol GOG-8032 was established to examine whether the presence of a non-serous component is a favorable feature in an otherwise serous cancer.

METHODS

934 women with serous cancer were prospectively identified among a larger group enrolled in GOG-0210. Six expert gynecologic pathologists classified each case as pure serous (SER, n=663), mixed serous and endometrioid (SER-EM-M, n=138), or indeterminate serous v. endometrioid (SER-EM-I, n=133) by H&E morphology. Follow-up data from GOG-0210 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The subgroups did not differ on BMI, race, ethnicity, lymphovascular invasion, cervical invasion, ovary involvement, peritoneal involvement, omental involvement, FIGO stage, or planned adjuvant treatment. SER-EM-M patients were younger (p=0.0001) and less likely to have nodal involvement (p=0.0287). SER patients were less likely to have myoinvasion (p=0.0002), and more likely to have adnexal involvement (p=0.0108). On univariate analysis, age, serous subtype, race, and components of FIGO staging predicted both progression-free and overall survival. On multiple regression, however, serous subtype (SER, SER-EM-M, or SER-EM-I) did not significantly predict survival.

CONCLUSIONS

There were few clinicopathologic differences between cases classified as SER, SER-EM-M, and SER-EM-I. Cases with a mixture of serous and endometrioid morphology, as well as cases with morphology indeterminate for serous v. endometrioid type, had the same survival as pure serous cases. NCT#: NCT00340808.

Clinical Activity and Safety of the Anti-Programmed Death 1 Monoclonal Antibody Dostarlimab for Patients With Recurrent or Advanced Mismatch Repair-Deficient Endometrial Cancer: A Nonrandomized Phase 1 Clinical Trial

Question

What is the clinical antitumor activity and safety of dostarlimab for patients with deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancer?

Findings

In this nonrandomized phase 1 clinical trial, the confirmed objective response rate was 42%; 13% of patients had a confirmed complete response, and 30% of patients had a confirmed partial response. Anemia (3%), colitis (2%), and diarrhea (2%) were the most common grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events.

Meaning

Dostarlimab was associated with clinically meaningful and durable antitumor activity with an acceptable safety profile for patients with deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancers that have progressed after prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Importance

Deficient mismatch mutation repair mechanisms may sensitize endometrial cancers to anti–programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapies. Dostarlimab (TSR-042) is an investigational anti–PD-1 antibody that binds with high affinity to the PD-1 receptor.

Objective

To assess the antitumor activity and safety of dostarlimab for patients with deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This ongoing, open-label, single-group, multicenter study began part 1 on March 7, 2016, and began enrolling patients with deficient mismatch mutation repair endometrial cancer on May 8, 2017. Median follow-up was 11.2 months (range, 0.03 [ongoing] to 22.11 [ongoing] months; based on radiological assessments). Statistical analysis was performed July 8 to August 9, 2019.

Interventions

Patients received 500 mg of dostarlimab intravenously every 3 weeks for 4 doses, then 1000 mg every 6 weeks until disease progression, treatment discontinuation, or withdrawal.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was objective response rate and duration of response by blinded independent central review using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1.

Results

As of the data cutoff, 104 women (median age, 64.0 years [range, 38-80 years]) with deficient mismatch mutation repair endometrial cancers were enrolled and treated with dostarlimab. Of these, 71 had measurable disease at baseline and at 6 months or more of follow-up and were included in the analysis. There was a confirmed response in 30 patients (objective response rate, 42.3%; 95% CI, 30.6%-54.6%); 9 patients (12.7%) had a confirmed complete response, and 21 patients (29.6%) had a confirmed partial response. Responses were durable; the median duration of response was not reached (median follow-up was 11.2 months). The estimated likelihood of maintaining a response was 96.4% at 6 months and 76.8% at 12 months. Anemia (3 of 104 [2.9%]), colitis (2 of 104 [1.9%]), and diarrhea (2 of 104 [1.9%]) were the most common grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this nonrandomized trial, dostarlimab was associated with clinically meaningful and durable antitumor activity with an acceptable safety profile for patients with deficient mismatch mutation repair endometrial cancers after prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02715284

Randomized Phase II Trial of Nivolumab Versus Nivolumab and Ipilimumab for Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Cancer: An NRG Oncology Study

PURPOSE

Single-agent PD-1 blockade exhibits limited efficacy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We evaluated ipilimumab plus nivolumab compared with nivolumab alone in women with persistent or recurrent EOC.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria included measurable disease, 1-3 prior regimens, and platinum-free interval (PFI) < 12 months. Participants were randomly allocated to intravenous nivolumab (every 2 weeks) or induction with nivolumab plus ipilimumab for 4 doses (every 3 weeks), followed by every-2-week maintenance nivolumab for a maximum of 42 doses. The primary null hypothesis was equal probability of objective response within 6 months of random allocation in each arm.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were allocated to receive either nivolumab (n = 49), or nivolumab plus ipilimumab (n = 51), with PFI of < 6 months in 62%. Six (12.2%) responses occurred within 6 months in the nivolumab group and 16 (31.4%) in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab group (odds ratio, 3.28; 85% CI, 1.54 to infinity; P = .034). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2 and 3.9 months in the nivolumab and nivolumab plus ipilimumab groups, respectively, with a PFI-stratified hazard ratio of 0.53 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.82); the respective hazard ratio for death was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.44 to 1.42). Grade ≥ 3 related adverse events occurred in 33% of patients in the nivolumab group and 49% in the combination group, with no treatment-related deaths. PD-L1 expression was not significantly associated with response in either treatment group.

CONCLUSION

Compared with nivolumab alone, the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab in EOC resulted in superior response rate and longer, albeit limited, PFS, with toxicity of the combination regimen comparable to prior reports. Additional combination studies to enhance durability of the dual regimen are warranted.

GOG 244-The lymphedema and gynecologic cancer (LEG) study: Incidence and risk factors in newly diagnosed patients

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for lymphedema associated with surgery for gynecologic malignancies on GOG study 244.

METHODS

Women undergoing a lymph node dissection for endometrial, cervical, or vulvar cancer were eligible for enrollment. Leg volume was calculated from measurements at 10-cm intervals starting 10 cm above the bottom of the heel to the inguinal crease. Measurements were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively at 4-6 weeks, and at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 18-, and 24- months. Lymphedema was defined as a limb volume change (LVC) ≥10% from baseline and categorized as mild: 10-19% LVC; moderate: 20-40% LVC; or severe: >40% LVC. Risk factors associated with lymphedema were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 1054 women enrolled on study, 140 were inevaluable due to inadequate measurements or eligibility criteria. This left 734 endometrial, 138 cervical, and 42 vulvar patients evaluable for LVC assessment. Median age was 61 years (range, 28-91) in the endometrial, 44 years (range, 25-83) in the cervical, and 58 years (range, 35-88) in the vulvar group. The incidence of LVC ≥10% was 34% (n = 247), 35% (n = 48), and 43% (n = 18), respectively. The peak incidence of lymphedema was at the 4-6 week assessment. Logistic regression analysis showed a decreased risk with advanced age (p = 0.0467). An exploratory analysis in the endometrial cohort showed an increased risk with a node count >8 (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

For a gynecologic cancer, LVC decreased with age greater than 65, but increased with a lymph node count greater than 8 in the endometrial cohort. There was no association with radiation or other risk factors.

GOG 244 - The LymphEdema and Gynecologic cancer (LEG) study: The association between the gynecologic cancer lymphedema questionnaire (GCLQ) and lymphedema of the lower extremity (LLE)

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether patient-reported lymphedema-related symptoms, as measured by the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ), are associated with a patient-reported diagnosis of lymphedema of the lower extremity (LLE) and limb volume change (LVC) in patients who have undergone radical surgery, including lymphadenectomy, for endometrial, cervical, or vulvar cancer on Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) study 244.

METHODS

Patients completed the baseline and at least one post-surgery GCLQ and LVC assessment. The 20-item GCLQ measures seven symptom clusters-aching, heaviness, infection-related, numbness, physical functioning, general swelling, and limb swelling. LLE was defined as a patient self-reported LLE diagnosis on the GCLQ. LVC was measured by volume calculations based on circumferential measurements. A linear mixed model was fitted for change in symptom cluster scores and GCLQ total score and adjusted for disease sites and assessment time.

RESULTS

Of 987 eligible patients, 894 were evaluable (endometrial, 719; cervical, 136; vulvar, 39). Of these, 14% reported an LLE diagnosis (endometrial, 11%; cervical, 18%; vulvar, 38%). Significantly more patients diagnosed versus not diagnosed with LLE reported ≥4-point increase from baseline on the GCLQ total score (p < 0.001). Changes from baseline were significantly larger on all GCLQ symptom cluster scores in patients with LLE compared to those without LLE. An LVC increment of >10% was significantly associated with reported general swelling (p < 0.001), heaviness (p = 0.005), infection-related symptoms (p = 0.002), and physical function (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-reported symptoms, as measured by the GCLQ, discerned those with and without a patient-reported LLE diagnosis and demonstrated predictive value. The GCLQ combined with LVC may enhance our ability to identify LLE.

The Association Between Mindfulness and Postoperative Pain: A Prospective Cohort Study of Gynecologic Oncology Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To describe the association between preoperative dispositional mindfulness (the personality trait of being mindful) and postoperative pain in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Gynecologic oncology patients (n = 126) planning minimally invasive hysterectomy.

INTERVENTIONS

Minimally invasive hysterectomy.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Baseline mindfulness was assessed at the preoperative visit using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Postoperative pain and opioid usage were evaluated via chart review and surveys at postoperative visits at 1 to 2 weeks and 4 to 6 weeks. Higher baseline mindfulness was correlated with lower postoperative pain as measured by both the average and highest numeric pain scores during the inpatient stay (r = -.23, p = .020; r = -.21, p = .034). At the initial postoperative visit, pain score was also inversely correlated with preoperative mindfulness score (r = -.26, p = .008). This relationship was not observed at the final postoperative visit (r = -.08, p = .406). Pre-operative mindfulness and opioid usage were also inversely associated, though this relationship did not reach statistical significance (r = -.18, p = .066).

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness was previously shown to be a promising intervention for chronic pain treatment. Our study demonstrates that higher preoperative dispositional mindfulness is associated with more favorable postoperative pain outcomes, including lower pain scores but not lower opioid consumption. This relationship provides an opportunity to target the modifiable personality characteristic of mindfulness, to reduce postoperative pain in patients following gynecologic surgery.

Molecular markers in uterine serous cancer: Correlation between endometrial biopsy and hysterectomy specimens

Objectives

To measure the correlation of molecular biomarkers between biopsy and final pathology specimens in uterine serous cancer (USC) and to establish the overall prevalence of specific biomarkers among subjects with USC.

Methods

Twenty eight patients with a diagnosis of USC and sufficient biopsy and hysterectomy specimens were identified. IHC was used to measure the biomarker status of EGFR, phospho-AKT, ER, PR, Her2/neu, and PTEN in FFPE tissue. The presence or absence of individual biomarkers was then compared between a given subject's diagnostic biopsy specimen and final hysterectomy specimen.

Results

In the cohort identified, average age was 72 and average BMI was 29. 75% of patients had full lymphadenectomy performed. The average time from biopsy to surgery was 33 days (range 9–91 days). The distribution of disease was 61% stage I (n = 17), 14% stage II (n = 4), 22% stage III (n = 6) and 4% stage IV (n = 1). Biopsy and hysterectomy specimens agreed 67% of the time for phospho-AKT, 80% for ER, 73% for PR, 83% for EGFR, 100% for Her2/neu and 95% for PTEN loss.

Conclusions

The measurement of specific biomarkers correlated well between subjects' biopsy and hysterectomy specimens in women with USC as measured by a pathologist using routine clinical techniques. Preoperative diagnostic biopsy may be a useful tool for guiding neoadjuvant targeted therapy in USC.

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Molecular biomarkers can be measured in endometrial biopsy specimens using routine clinical techniques.

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There was 100% correlation between biopsy and hysterectomy specimen staining for Her2/neu.

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Standardization of staining for molecular markers in endometrial cancers has potential to expand treatment options.

Less Is More: Minimally Invasive and Quality Surgical Management of Gynecologic Cancer

Surgery is a cornerstone of gynecologic oncology. Minimally invasive techniques have been adopted rapidly, in lieu of open approaches, in cervical and endometrial cancer staging. In addition, nodal assessment has undergone significant changes with the introduction of SLN biopsies. The movement toward less is more has also been seen with perioperative and postoperative care and the advent of ERAS protocols, which attempt to maintain normal physiology with the goal of improving functional recovery. It is imperative that new technology be critically evaluated to ensure that oncologic outcomes are not compromised.

Weak correlation of bleeding scores to platelet electron microscopy: A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with delta-storage pool disorder

BACKGROUND

Delta granule storage pool deficiency (δ-SPD) is a rare platelet disorder in which a deficiency of platelet granules leads to poor aggregation, resulting in varying clinical bleeding phenotypes. Children with δ-SPD have variable laboratory results, making the proper diagnosis and evaluation controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the demographic and laboratory trends of this population and to assess the value of electron microscopy in diagnostic evaluation and its correlation to bleeding symptoms.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 109 pediatric patients diagnosed with δ-SPD. We collected demographic information and bleeding scores using a validated bleeding assessment tool. A descriptive and exploratory analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were female, with an average age at diagnosis of 11.61 years. Females were diagnosed at a significantly older age presenting most often with menorrhagia, while males presented most commonly with epistaxis. The majority showed normal lumiaggregometry, the mean platelet electron microscopy (PEM) value was 2.37, and the mean bleeding score was 6. Bleeding assessment tool and PEM had a significantly weak correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with more dense granules per platelet had higher bleeding scores than those with fewer dense granules per platelet. The current body of evidence does not favor the use of PEM in routine clinical practice, and results are difficult to interpret. In patients with severe mucocutaneous bleeding symptoms and normal platelet aggregation studies, consideration should be given to an alternative diagnosis and further evaluation is warranted.

Maintenance Olaparib in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Advanced Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Most women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer have a relapse within 3 years after standard treatment with surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. The benefit of the oral poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib in relapsed disease has been well established, but the benefit of olaparib as maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed disease is uncertain.

METHODS

We conducted an international, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy of olaparib as maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III or IV) high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian-tube cancer (or a combination thereof) with a mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2, or both ( BRCA1/2) who had a complete or partial clinical response after platinum-based chemotherapy. The patients were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive olaparib tablets (300 mg twice daily) or placebo. The primary end point was progression-free survival.

RESULTS

Of the 391 patients who underwent randomization, 260 were assigned to receive olaparib and 131 to receive placebo. A total of 388 patients had a centrally confirmed germline BRCA1/2 mutation, and 2 patients had a centrally confirmed somatic BRCA1/2 mutation. After a median follow-up of 41 months, the risk of disease progression or death was 70% lower with olaparib than with placebo (Kaplan-Meier estimate of the rate of freedom from disease progression and from death at 3 years, 60% vs. 27%; hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.23 to 0.41; P<0.001). Adverse events were consistent with the known toxic effects of olaparib.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of maintenance therapy with olaparib provided a substantial benefit with regard to progression-free survival among women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA1/2 mutation, with a 70% lower risk of disease progression or death with olaparib than with placebo. (Funded by AstraZeneca and Merck; SOLO1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01844986 .).

Measuring adolescent mental health around the globe: psychometric properties of the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in South Africa, and comparison with UK, Australian and Chinese data

AIMS

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Self-Report (SDQ-S) in South African adolescents, and compared findings with data from the UK, Australia and China.

METHODS

A sample of 3451 South African adolescents in grade 8, the first year of secondary school (Mage = 13.7 years), completed the SDQ-S in Afrikaans, English or isiXhosa. Means, group differences and internal consistency were analysed using SPSS V22, and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using MPlus V7.

RESULTS

In the South African sample, significant gender differences were found for four of the five sub-scale means and for total difficulties, but gender differences of alpha scores were negligible. The internal consistency for the total difficulties, prosocial behaviour and emotional symptoms sub-scales were fair. UK cut-off values for caseness (set to identify the top 10% of scores in a UK sample) led to a higher proportion of South African adolescents classified in the 'abnormal' range on emotional and peer difficulties and a lower proportion classified in the 'abnormal' range for hyperactivity. South African cut-offs were therefore generated. The cross-country comparison with UK, Australian and Chinese data showed that South African adolescent boys and girls had the highest mean scores on total difficulties as well as on the subscales of emotional symptoms and conduct problems. In contrast, South African boys and girls had the lowest mean scores for hyperactivity/inattention. The UK boys and girls had the highest mean scores for hyperactivity/inattention, while the Australian sample had the highest scores for prosocial behaviours. The Chinese boys had the highest peer problem mean scores and Chinese boys and girls had the lowest means on prosocial behaviours. Confirmatory factor analyses showed significant item loadings with loadings higher than 0.40 for the emotional and prosocial behaviour sub-scales on the five-factor model, but not for all relevant items on the other three domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support the potential usefulness of the SDQ-S in a South African setting, but suggest that the SDQ-S should not be used with UK cut-off values, and indicate the need for further validation and standardisation work in South African adolescents. We recommend that in-country cut-offs for 'caseness' should be used for clinical purposes in South Africa, that cross-country comparisons should be made with caution, and that further examination of naturalistic clusters and factors of the SDQ should be performed in culturally and contextually diverse settings.

Gastric-Type Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: Report of Two Cases in Patients From the United States

Gastric-type adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix have been described within the literature in detail; however, the description of gastric-type endometrial adenocarcinomas is a recent development, with only two cases originating from Japan in the world literature to date. According to these prior reports, the recognition of this pattern of differentiation is critical, as it is often associated with deep myoinvasion, positive regional lymph nodes, and poor outcome despite appropriate adjuvant treatment. We present two cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma with gastric-type differentiation in patients from the United States with superficial myoinvasion and positive patient outcomes. Gastric-type differentiation in endometrial adenocarcinomas is rare and likely underrecognized. Continued reporting of these cases is necessary to further understand the natural history and clinical implications of this entity.

Management of Low-Grade Cervical Müllerian Adenosarcoma in a 14-Year-Old Girl

BACKGROUND

Müllerian adenosarcomas of the cervix are composed of benign epithelial and malignant stromal components. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical and histologic difficulties in diagnosis and to propose fertility-preserving management of low-grade lesions.

CASE

A 14-year-old girl presented with a friable lesion found to originate from the anterior cervical lip. Initially, clinical suspicion was for sarcoma botryoides, however, pathologic evaluation revealed a low-grade cervical Müllerian adenosarcoma. Cold knife conization was performed, and the mass was resected with clear margins.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix is difficult to diagnose in adolescents because of features more commonly associated with alternative diagnoses. For patients with low-grade lesions desiring future fertility, local excision with close follow-up is reasonable.

Is famine exposure during developmental life in rural Bangladesh associated with a metabolic and epigenetic signature in young adulthood? A historical cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Famine exposure in utero can 'programme' an individual towards type 2 diabetes and obesity in later life. We sought to identify, (1) whether Bangladeshis exposed to famine during developmental life are programmed towards diabetes and obesity, (2) whether this programming was specific to gestational or postnatal exposure windows and (3) whether epigenetic differences were associated with famine exposure.

DESIGN

A historical cohort study was performed as part of a wider cross-sectional survey. Exposure to famine was defined through birth date and historical records and participants were selected according to: (A) exposure to famine in postnatal life, (B) exposure to famine during gestation and (C) unexposed.

SETTING

Matlab, a rural area in the Chittagong division of Bangladesh.

PARTICIPANTS

Young adult men and women (n=190) recruited to a historical cohort study with a randomised subsample included in an epigenetic study (n=143).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome measures of weight, body mass index and oral glucose tolerance tests (0 and 120 min glucose). Secondary outcome measures included DNA methylation using genome-wide and targeted analysis of metastable epialleles sensitive to maternal nutrition.

RESULTS

More young adults exposed to famine in gestation were underweight than those postnatally exposed or unexposed. In contrast, more young adults exposed to famine postnatally were overweight compared to those gestationally exposed or unexposed. Underweight adults exposed to famine in gestation in utero were hyperglycaemic following a glucose tolerance test, and those exposed postnatally had elevated fasting glucose, compared to those unexposed. Significant differences in DNA methylation at seven metastable epialleles (VTRNA2-1, PAX8, PRDM-9, near ZFP57, near BOLA, EXD3) known to vary with gestational famine exposure were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Famine exposure in developmental life programmed Bangladeshi offspring towards diabetes and obesity in adulthood but gestational and postnatal windows of exposure had variable effects on phenotype. DNA methylation differences were replicated at previously identified metastable epialleles sensitive to periconceptual famine exposure.

Prostate-specific antigen testing rates and referral patterns from general practice data in England

BACKGROUND

There is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in England, but eligible men can request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test from their general practitioner (GP). There are no routinely available data to monitor the extent of PSA testing and referral.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of PSA testing in general practice and subsequent patterns of referral.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Data obtained from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) for men aged 45-84 years who had a PSA test during 2010-2011, registered in practices in England with linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data.

METHOD

Patient data were linked to previous tests and consultations. Rates of PSA testing and proportions of men retested and referred to secondary care were calculated.

RESULTS

Overall, 8.74 (95% CI 8.67-8.82) of men per 100 person-years were tested at least once in 2010, and 9.45 (95% CI 9.37-9.53) in 2011. Rates increased with age and decreased with increasing level of deprivation. Of the 53,069 men tested in 2010, 11,289 (21.3%) had a previous PSA test within the past 12 months. Of men with raised PSA according to age specific guidelines, 22.4% (2113/9425) were referred to secondary care within 14 days, with 36% of the remainder retested within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of PSA testing have increased compared with earlier studies; the data suggest that many GPs are retesting men with raised PSA rather than referring immediately. More routine data on PSA testing, including reasons for testing, and subsequent management and outcomes, are required.