A novel human glassy-cell carcinoma cell line producing IL-6 and IL-8 from uterine cervix

A case of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin

Glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare tumor, and has a poor prognosis because of its aggressive clinical behavior and resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We report a case of bulky glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that effectively responded to paclitaxel and carboplatin in a neoadjuvant setting. The patient was a 30-year-old woman who became aware of vaginal bleeding and was referred to our hospital because of a cancerous tumor of the uterine cervix. Physical examination showed the cervical tumor to be approximately 8 cm in diameter with no involvement of the parametrium or vagina. The biopsy results suggested a diagnosis of glassy cell carcinoma. The final diagnosis was glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, stage 1b2. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin was administered for downstaging. The response rate was 67.9% (partial response) under magnetic resonance imaging, and elevated serum cancer-related antigen 125 (119 U/ml) and squamous cancer cell antigen (34 ng/ml) were reduced to 34 U/ml and 3.3 ng/ml, respectively. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, she underwent radical hysterectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy with the same regimen. The clinical course was very good. We speculate that glassy cell carcinoma is a sensitive tumor to paclitaxel and carboplatin. Further evaluation concerning diagnosis and treatment, however, is needed to improve the prognosis of patients with glassy cell carcinoma.

IL-8 increases transmission of HIV type 1 in cervical explant tissue

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is the predominant cytokine expressed in the female genital tract of women with certain infectious/inflammatory conditions. IL-8 increased HIV-1 replication in T cells and to a greater extent in monocytes/macrophages in vitro. Physiological levels of IL-8 increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection 5- to 8-fold in cervical explant tissues. Competitive inhibition of the IL-8 receptor CXCR2 with the small molecule inhibitor SB225002 resulted in a 45-70% decrease in cervical explant susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

A case of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix effectively responding to chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin

Glassy cell carcinoma (GCC) of the uterine cervix is a highly malignant tumor and has a poor prognosis. As yet, no effective systemic chemotherapy to this tumor has been reported. Here we describe a case of recurrent GCC that responded to paclitaxel and carboplatin combination treatment. The patient, a 32-year-old woman, with clinical staging FIGO IB1 disease had a radical hysterectomy and postoperative radiotherapy. Three months after initial treatment, she had a relapse as peritoneal dissemination, which was confirmed in the second surgery (adnectomy) and which did not respond to platinum-based conventional chemotherapy (cisplatin, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and carboplatin, etoposide). The recurrent peritoneal tumors responded well to paclitaxel and carboplatin combination treatment. An elevated serum concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen (672 ng/ml) was reduced to 14.4 ng/ml by six such courses. Peritoneal histopathology confirmed a complete response in the third surgery (ileostomy) for adhesive ileus by the radiotherapy. This is the first report of effective systemic chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin to recurrent GCC of the uterine cervix.