Preoperative work-up for definition of lymph node risk involvement in early stage endometrial cancer: 5-year follow-up

Micro-histology combined with cytology improves the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial lesions

BACKGROUND

In the study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of micro-histology combined with cytology to improve the quality of slides and diagnose endometrial lesions.

METHODS

Endometrial specimens were collected from Li Brushes. Every specimen was prepared for micro-histological and cytological slides, using cell block (CB) and liquid-based cytology (LBC) technologies. Semi-quantitative scoring system was used to evaluate the qualities of slides. CB slides were assessed by 5-category scoring system. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated in LBC, CB, and LBC + CB groups based on the histological gold standard. Endometrial atypical hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer were considered positive, whereas others were considered negative.

RESULTS

A total of 167 patients were enrolled. CB slides were inferior to LBC slides only in cellularity (p < 0.001), but superior in the other six parameters (all p < 0.001). The satisfaction rate of micro-histology accounted for 92.3%. The accuracy index in the CB group was higher than in the LBC group in terms of sensitivity (85.5% vs. 82.7%) and specificity (98.9% vs. 95.7%). The sensitivity and specificity in the LBC + CB group were increased to 94.2% and 99.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of micro-histological slides was higher than that of cytological slides. By combining micro-histology with cytology, higher accuracy was achieved for endometrial lesions diagnosis.

Causes of death in endometrial cancer survivors: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Increasing attention has been paid to the survival of endometrial cancer (EC) patients, but the non-cancer causes of death from EC are rarely reported. This study primarily aimed to investigate the non-cancer causes of death in patients with EC.

METHODS

The study collected relevant data, including age, tumour stage and treatment mode, on patients diagnosed with endometrial malignancies from 2000 to 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Programme. We analysed the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) to determine the cause of death.

RESULTS

The study included 135,831 patients with EC. During the follow-up, 46,604 (34.3%) patients died, of whom 42.9%, 15.6% and 41.5% died of EC, other cancers and non-cancer causes, respectively. As the diagnosis time increased, the number of EC-associated mortalities gradually decreased. The most common non-cancer causes of death were heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and diabetes. Regarding the general population of the United States, patients with EC died of heart disease (SMR: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.09), diabetes (SMR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.47-1.65) and septicaemia (SMR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.28-1.52), which were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with EC, the number of deaths from non-cancer causes (mainly heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and diabetes mellitus) is equivalent to that of EC. In addition, compared with the general population, EC survivors have a higher risk of death from sepsis and diabetes. These discoveries support how survivors can avoid future-related health risks. By doing this, clinicians can improve the quality of life and chances of the survival of patients with EC.

Beyond Sentinel Lymph Node: Outcomes of Indocyanine Green-Guided Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial and Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to compare the number of lymph nodes removed during indocyanine green (ICG)-guided laparoscopic/robotic pelvic lymphadenectomy with standard systematic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (EC) and cervical cancer (CC).

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective comparative study (Clinical Trial ID: NCT04246580; updated on 31 January 2023). Women affected by EC and CC who underwent laparoscopic/robotic systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy, with (cases) or without (controls) the use of ICG tracer injection within the uterine cervix, were included in the study.

RESULTS

The two groups were homogeneous for age (p = 0.08), Body Mass Index, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages (p = 0.41 for EC; p = 0.17 for CC), median estimated blood loss (p = 0.76), median operative time (p = 0.59), and perioperative complications (p = 0.66). Nevertheless, the number of lymph nodes retrieved during surgery was significantly higher (p = 0.005) in the ICG group (n = 18) compared with controls (n = 16).

CONCLUSIONS

The accurate and precise dissection achieved with the use of the ICG-guided procedure was associated with a higher number of lymph nodes removed in the case of systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy for EC and CC.

Influence of uterine manipulator use on the incidence of lymphovascular propagation in the treatment of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancers are among the epithelial malignancies of the lining of the uterine cavity. The invasion of carcinoma into the lymphovascular space (LVSI) is considered a risk factor for the course of the disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We evaluated 170 female patients. Our primary objective was to find any difference in the incidence of LVSI in female patients treated with and without an intrauterine manipulator. In addition, we analyzed the effect of the type of intrauterine manipulator used on the incidence of LVSI, tumor grading, myometrial invasion, and the method of obtaining primary histology with regard to the incidence of LVSI.

RESULTS

Using a manipulator during surgery was not associated with LVSI (with a manipulator vs. without, 11.5 vs. 21.7%; OR 1.8; 95% CI 0.73-4.39; p = 0.199). However, the method used to obtain the primary histology had a statistically significant effect on the incidence of LVSI in our set (p-value = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we did not confirm the effect of a uterine manipulator on the possible increase of LVSI positive cases. The secondary analysis indicated a higher incidence of LVSI in the female patients diagnosed with curettage than in those who underwent hysteroscopy. Trail registration: Trail is registered in ClicincalTrails.gov with identifier: NCT05261165.

Fertility-Sparing Strategies for Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Stepping towards Precision Medicine Based on the Molecular Fingerprint

Endometrial cancer represents the fifth most common cancer in women, and the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries [...].

The "Sandwich" Schedule: A Well-Tolerated Adjuvant Treatment Both in Intermediate-High- and High-Risk Endometrial Cancer

(1) Background: In intermediate-high- and high-risk endometrial cancer (EC), radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) play a basic role. However, there is controversy regarding the optimal timing of their combination. The "sandwich" schedule involves adjuvant CT followed by RT and subsequent CT. The aim of this study is to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the "sandwich" schedule. (2) Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in two gynecological oncology units in Torino, Italy, from 1 January 2003 until 31 December 2021. Intermediate-high- and high-risk patients with available clinical data were included. Compliance with treatment, CT and RT toxicities, disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 118 patients were selected: 27.1% FIGO I-II stages and 72.9% III-IV. Most of the patients (75.4%) received a carboplatin-paclitaxel combination, and as much as 94.9% of CT cycles were completed. Chemotherapy-related G3-4 toxicities were detected in 5.3% of the patients, almost half of which were hematological. Grade 2 gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were reported in 8.4% and 4.2% of cases, respectively. With a median follow-up of 46 months, DFS was 77.6%, CSS was 70% and 5-year OS was 54%. (4) Conclusions: The "sandwich" schedule for CT and RT combination is an effective adjuvant treatment with low toxicity both in intermediate-high- and high-risk EC.

Pain Management during Office Hysteroscopy: An Evidence-Based Approach

Background and Objectives: Hysteroscopy is a reliable technique which is highly useful for the evaluation and management of intrauterine pathology. Recently, the widespread nature of in-office procedures without the need for anesthesia has been requesting validation of practical approach in order to reduce procedure-related pain. In this regard, we performed a comprehensive review of literature regarding pain management in office hysteroscopic procedures. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Methodology Register), Global Health, Health Technology Assessment Database and Web of Science, other research registers (for example Clinical Trials database) were searched. We searched for all original articles regarding pain relief strategy during office hysteroscopy, without date restriction. Results have been collected and recommendations have been summarized according to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) tool. Moreover, the strength of each recommendation was scored following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment (GRADE) system, in order to present the best available evidence. Results: Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for pain management are feasible and can be applied in office setting for hysteroscopic procedures. The selection of strategy should be modulated according to the characteristics of the patient and difficulty of the procedure. Conclusions: Accumulating evidence support the use of pharmacological and other pharmacological-free strategies for reducing pain during office hysteroscopy. Nevertheless, future research priorities should aim to identify the recommended approach (or combined approaches) according to the characteristics of the patient and difficulty of the procedure.

Vibrational Biospectroscopy: An Alternative Approach to Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis and Screening

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of death among women worldwide. Early detection and treatment are associated with a favourable prognosis and reduction in mortality. Unlike other common cancers, however, screening strategies lack the required sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to be successfully implemented in clinical practice and current diagnostic approaches are invasive, costly and time consuming. Such limitations highlight the unmet need to develop diagnostic and screening alternatives for EC, which should be accurate, rapid, minimally invasive and cost-effective. Vibrational spectroscopic techniques, Mid-Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy and Raman, exploit the atomic vibrational absorption induced by interaction of light and a biological sample, to generate a unique spectral response: a “biochemical fingerprint”. These are non-destructive techniques and, combined with multivariate statistical analysis, have been shown over the last decade to provide discrimination between cancerous and healthy samples, demonstrating a promising role in both cancer screening and diagnosis. The aim of this review is to collate available evidence, in order to provide insight into the present status of the application of vibrational biospectroscopy in endometrial cancer diagnosis and screening, and to assess future prospects.

Ultra-minimally invasive surgery in gynecological patients: a review of the literature

In the last decade, Ultra-minimally invasive surgery (UMIS) including both minilaparoscopic (MH) and percutaneous (PH) endoscopic surgery achieved widespread use around the world. Despite UMIS has been reported as safe and feasible surgical procedure, most of the available data are drawn from retrospective studies, with a limited number of cases and heterogeneous surgical procedures included in the analysis. This literature review aimed to analyze the most methodologically valid studies concerning major gynecological surgeries performed in UMIS. A literature review was performed double blind from January to April 2021. The keywords ‘minilaparoscopy’; ‘ultra minimally invasive surgery’; ‘3 mm’; ‘percutaneous’; and ‘Hysterectomy’ were selected in Pubmed, Medscape, Scopus, and Google scholar search engines. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed for the drafting of the systematic review. The systematic literature research provided 298 studies, of which 9 fell within the inclusion criteria. Two hundred ninety-six total patients were included, 148 for both PH and MH groups. Median age (48 years), BMI (24 kg/m²), OT (90 min), EBL (50 ml), time to discharge (1 day), self scar evaluation (10/10), and VAS (3/10) were reported. The most frequent intraoperative complication in both the PH and MH groups was surgical bleeding. The UMIS approaches were feasible and safe even for complex gynecological procedures. Operative times and complications were superimposable to the “classical” minimally invasive approaches reported in the literature. The reported results apply only to experienced surgeons.

Contemporary Fertility-Sparing Management Options of Early Stage Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer in Young Nulliparous Patients

Incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) has been increasing in recent years, especially in high-income countries. The disease commonly affects peri- and postmenopausal women; however, about 5% of women are diagnosed with EC in their reproductive age. Due to both the increasing incidence of EC among reproductive age women and trends to delayed childbearing, fertility-sparing treatment for young patients with EC has become extremely important for researchers and practitioners. Because the classic treatment with total hysterectomy and bilateral saplingo-oophorectomy is not an appropriate approach for young women demanding fertility preservation, several fertility-sparing options have been developed and summarized in this review. Utilization of different medications and their combination (progestagens, gonadotropin releasing hormones analogues, and metformin in different formulations) are tested and found as efficient for fertility-sparing treatment. New minimally invasive surgical techniques, combined with progestagens, are also confirmed as valuable. There are many novel conservative and surgical treatment approaches under investigation. Assuming that molecular biomarkers can be both diagnostic and prognostic to assist in prediction of response to a certain therapy, prognostic risk groups' stratification along with specific biomarkers' identification will ensure low recurrence and decrease mortality rates in young women with EC.

European Society of Gynaecological Oncology quality indicators for the surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Quality of surgical care as a crucial component of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary management improves outcomes in patients with endometrial carcinoma, notably helping to avoid suboptimal surgical treatment. Quality indicators (QIs) enable healthcare professionals to measure their clinical management with regard to ideal standards of care.

OBJECTIVE

In order to complete its set of QIs for the surgical management of gynecological cancers, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) initiated the development of QIs for the surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

QIs were based on scientific evidence and/or expert consensus. The development process included a systematic literature search for the identification of potential QIs and documentation of the scientific evidence, two consensus meetings of a group of international experts, an internal validation process, and external review by a large international panel of clinicians and patient representatives. QIs were defined using a structured format comprising metrics specifications, and targets. A scoring system was then developed to ensure applicability and feasibility of a future ESGO accreditation process based on these QIs for endometrial carcinoma surgery and support any institutional or governmental quality assurance programs.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine structural, process and outcome indicators were defined. QIs 1-5 are general indicators related to center case load, training, experience of the surgeon, structured multi-disciplinarity of the team and active participation in clinical research. QIs 6 and 7 are related to the adequate pre-operative investigations. QIs 8-22 are related to peri-operative standards of care. QI 23 is related to molecular markers for endometrial carcinoma diagnosis and as determinants for treatment decisions. QI 24 addresses the compliance of management of patients after primary surgical treatment with the standards of care. QIs 25-29 highlight the need for a systematic assessment of surgical morbidity and oncologic outcome as well as standardized and comprehensive documentation of surgical and pathological elements. Each QI was associated with a score. An assessment form including a scoring system was built as basis for ESGO accreditation of centers for endometrial cancer surgery.

Performance of automatic machine learning versus radiologists in the evaluation of endometrium on computed tomography

PURPOSE

In this study, we developed radiomic models that utilize a combination of imaging features and clinical variables to distinguish endometrial cancer (EC) from normal endometrium on routine computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

A total of 926 patients consisting of 416 endometrial cancer (EC) and 510 normal endometrium were included. The CT images of these patients were segmented manually, and divided into training, validation, testing and external testing sets. Non-texture and texture features of these images with endometrium or uterus as region of interest were extracted. The clinical feature "age" was also included in the feature set. Feature selection and machine learning classifier were applied to normalized feature set. This manual optimized combination was then compared with the best pipeline exported by Tree-Based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT) on testing and external testing set. The performances of these machine learning pipelines were compared to that of radiologists.

RESULTS

The manual expert optimized pipeline using the "reliefF" feature selection method and "Bagging" classifier on the external testing set achieved a test ROC AUC of 0.73, accuracy of 0.73 (95% CI 0.62-0.82), sensitivity of 0.64 (95% CI 0.45-0.79), and specificity of 0.78 (95% CI 0.65-0.87), while TPOT achieved a test ROC AUC of 0.79, accuracy of 0.80 (95% CI 0.70-0.87), sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI 0.43-0.77), and specificity of 0.90 (95% CI 0.78-0.96). When compared to average radiologist performance, the TPOT achieved higher test accuracy (0.80 vs. 0.49, p < 0.001) and specificity (0.90 vs. 0.51, p < 0.001), with comparable sensitivity (0.61 vs. 0.46, p = 0.130).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that automatic machine learning can distinguish EC from normal endometrium on routine CT imaging with higher accuracy and specificity than radiologists.

Robotic single-site surgery versus laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in early-stage endometrial cancer: a case-control study

Introduction

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) can reduce the limited invasiveness of conventional laparoscopy while providing superior cosmetic results. Robotic single-site surgery (RSSS) can overcome this shortcoming to a certain extent.

Aim

To evaluate the advantages of RSSS in treating early-stage endometrial cancer by comparing RSSS with LESS.

Material and methods

From January 2018 to August 2018, patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer from endometrial curettage and imaging studies were selected for this prospective cohort study, with 22 undergoing RSSS and 18 undergoing LESS. All surgical procedures were performed using the conventional da Vinci Si surgical system with the Lagiport single port or a conventional laparoendoscopic instrument with the Lagiport single port. Operative time was recorded electronically. Intraoperative parameters and postoperative parameters were recorded and further analyzed.

Results

The operation was successfully completed, and a pure single-point approach was adopted. There were no laparotomy or intraoperative complications. Compared with the LESS group, the RSSS group had significantly longer pre-surgical time, significantly lower median operation time, significantly lower median blood loss, and significantly lower vaginal cuff closure time. The median length of hospital stay in the RSSS group was significantly lower than that in the LESS group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of early and late complications between the two groups. No recurrence events were observed in either the RSSS or the LESS group.

Conclusions

RSSS is feasible and safe in patients with early-stage endometrial cancer. RSSS can reduce operating time, blood loss and length of hospital stay compared with LESS.

Pipelle endometrial sampling success rates in Kazakhstani settings: results from a prospective cohort analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of Pipelle endometrial sampling and to explore factors influencing Pipelle success rate in the clinical settings of Kazakhstan. This prospective analysis included 87 patients who had undergone Pipelle biopsy due to medical indications for endometrial sampling. We analysed physician and patient-related factors potentially influencing the success rate of this method. Pipelle endometrial biopsy overall success rate was 82.76%. The indications for the procedure and patients' age were key factors influencing Pipelle sampling success (p < .001). The success rate was the highest in the group with abnormal uterine bleeding as a biopsy indication in the reproductive age group (93.19%; p < .001).Pipelle biopsy was found to be an acceptable option for endometrial sampling in our clinical setting; at the same time, physicians should consider the potential influencing factors on its success rate like indications for the procedure, BMI and patients' age as well as their menopausal status. In order to provide precise future directions, there is a need to study a larger number of patients.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Compared to dilation and curettage sampling conducted in the operation room, Pipelle endometrial sampling is relatively inexpensive, associated with less morbidity, safe, accurate, and can be performed in an office setting.What do the results of this study add? This is the first prospective data analysis about Pipelle endometrial sampling in Kazakhstani population.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Enabling the timely diagnosis of current endometrial pathology, Pipelle endometrial sampling approach may have an important impact on healthcare safety and efficiency, and improve overall treatment outcomes and the quality of life of Kazakhstani population if used consistently.

Molecular Basis of Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

The human endometrium is a unique tissue undergoing important changes through the menstrual cycle. Under the exposure of different risk factors in a woman's lifetime, normal endometrial tissue can give rise to multiple pathologic conditions, including endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Etiology and pathophysiologic changes behind such conditions remain largely unclear. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the pathophysiology of endometriosis and its potential role in the development of endometrial cancer from a molecular perspective. A better understanding of the molecular basis of endometriosis and its role in the development of endometrial pathology will improve the approach to clinical management.

Effect of age as a continuous variable in early-stage endometrial carcinoma: a multi-institutional analysis in China

Objective: To explore the effect of age at diagnosis as a continuous variable on survival and treatment choice of patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma (EC).

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with early-stage EC from January 1999 to December 2015 in multiple institutions in China. All patients received primary hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy for EC confirmed pathology of stage I and II disease (FIGO 2009 staging). All patients were divided into low-risk, intermediate-risk, high-intermediate-risk and high-risk groups according to ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO risk classification.

Results: The median follow-up time was 57months, and the 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 95.7%. Age as a continuous variable was an independent prognostic factor for CSS. With an increase in age, the hazard ratio (HR) for CSS increases gradually. Other independent prognostic factors included myometrial invasion (MI), grade, and chemotherapy. In the stratified analysis of age, the HRs of age on CSS in patients >70y were 5.516, 5.015, 4.469, 4.618, 5.334, and 5.821 after adjusting for cancer characteristics, local treatment, chemotherapy and treatment-related late toxicity. In patients 66-70-year-old, the HRs were 2.509, 2.074, 2.101, 2.091, 2.157 and 1.621 after adjusting for the above covariates. In patients ≤65y, there was no significant difference in the HR of age on CSS after adjustment.

Conclusion: Age as a continuous variable is an independent prognostic factor and 65 year-old may be the best cut-off point for CSS in patients with early-stage EC in the Asian population. Quality of life should be given greater weight in the choice of therapeutic schedule for those patients >70 y.

Impact of lymph node ratio in patients with stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma treated with postoperative radiotherapy

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of the lymph node ratio (LNR) and other clinicopathological factors in patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer. Methods: Factors affecting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed in 397 patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Patients undergoing the removal of at least ten lymph nodes were included in the study. Results: The 5-year OS and PFS rates were 58% and 52%, respectively, with a median follow-up time of 35.7 months. The LNR cutoff value was 9.6%. In the multivariate analysis, advanced age (≥60 years), grade III tumor, presence of cervical stromal invasion, higher LNR and lack of adjuvant chemotherapy were independent predictors for worse OS and PFS. Conclusion: The LNR is an independent predictor for OS and PFS in patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer treated with postoperative radiotherapy.

Factors Influencing Uptake of Breastfeeding: The Role of Early Promotion in the Maternity Hospital

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of breastfeeding at birth points in Sicily and the relevance of the factors influencing the adoption of exclusive breastfeeding during hospitalization linked to childbirth.

METHODS

A survey was conducted to monitor the prevalence of breastfeeding in seven out of nine facilities providing maternity services in the province of Catania (Sicily, Southern Italy) in the years 2016-2018. An online questionnaire was administered using an electronic tablet by the midwife to the mother after discharge.

RESULTS

Women who had a higher educational qualification breastfed in a greater proportion (59.6%; odds ratio OR 0.60 for abandoning breastfeeding). Having had a caesarean section moderately impaired breastfeeding uptake, with an almost double chance of declining exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 1.74). Starting breastfeeding within 1 h from delivery showed a significant facilitating effect (OR = 0.58). Rooming-in had a strong facilitating effect on exclusive breastfeeding. A breastfeeding advocacy program was shown to protect from abandoning breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to offer in all hospitals the possibility and support for breastfeeding in the first moments after childbirth to increase the number of those who will then continue with exclusive breastfeeding.

ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines for the management of patients with endometrial carcinoma

A European consensus conference on endometrial carcinoma was held in 2014 to produce multidisciplinary evidence-based guidelines on selected questions. Given the large body of literature on the management of endometrial carcinoma published since 2014, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) jointly decided to update these evidence-based guidelines and to cover new topics in order to improve the quality of care for women with endometrial carcinoma across Europe and worldwide. ESGO/ESTRO/ESP nominated an international multidisciplinary development group consisting of practicing clinicians and researchers who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in the care and research of endometrial carcinoma (27 experts across Europe). To ensure that the guidelines are evidence-based, the literature published since 2014, identified from a systematic search was reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of any clear scientific evidence, judgment was based on the professional experience and consensus of the development group. The guidelines are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 191 independent international practitioners in cancer care delivery and patient representatives. The guidelines comprehensively cover endometrial carcinoma staging, definition of prognostic risk groups integrating molecular markers, pre- and intra-operative work-up, fertility preservation, management for early, advanced, metastatic, and recurrent disease and palliative treatment. Principles of radiotherapy and pathological evaluation are also defined.

First-stage clear-cell endometrial carcinoma with paraaortic lymph node recurrence: a case report

Introduction

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most common malignancy in women worldwide; in developed countries this oncological entity climbs to fourth place. In 2012 worldwide 319 600 new cases were registered and about 1/3 of those were diagnosed in Europe, i.e. more than 100 000 cases. Statistics in Bulgaria show an increase in the incidence; the National Cancer Registry reported an incidence rate of 8.6% for 2013, with 1293 new cases; about 300 women die because of this diagnosis every year. Clear-cell endometrial carcinoma (EC) is relatively rare, in 1-6% of cases, with significantly shorter survival rates even for early stages (I and II), compared to the other histological subtypes.

Case report

A 62-year-old patient was subjected to surgery for clear-cell endometrial carcinoma, stage pT1N0M0, FIGO stage IA. Despite radical surgical treatment as per Bulgarian oncological standards - total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection with postoperative radiotherapy - there was a recurrence in a the paraaortic lymph node 15 months later. A second surgical intervention with radical resection of the parailiac metastatic lymph nodes on the left was done with subsequent pseudo-adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, and no further relapse has occurred 36 months later.

Conclusions

Clear-cell EC is an aggressive disease with worse prognosis than the endometroid subtype. Therefore, comprehensive surgery and surgical staging should be performed, including pelvic and paraaortic lymph node dissection, regardless of stage.

ESGO/ESTRO/ESP Guidelines for the management of patients with endometrial carcinoma

A European consensus conference on endometrial carcinoma was held in 2014 to produce multidisciplinary evidence-based guidelines on selected questions. Given the large body of literature on the management of endometrial carcinoma published since 2014, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) jointly decided to update these evidence-based guidelines and to cover new topics in order to improve the quality of care for women with endometrial carcinoma across Europe and worldwide. ESGO/ESTRO/ESP nominated an international multidisciplinary development group consisting of practicing clinicians and researchers who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in the care and research of endometrial carcinoma (27 experts across Europe). To ensure that the guidelines are evidence-based, the literature published since 2014, identified from a systematic search was reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of any clear scientific evidence, judgment was based on the professional experience and consensus of the development group. The guidelines are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 191 independent international practitioners in cancer care delivery and patient representatives. The guidelines comprehensively cover endometrial carcinoma staging, definition of prognostic risk groups integrating molecular markers, pre- and intra-operative work-up, fertility preservation, management for early, advanced, metastatic, and recurrent disease and palliative treatment. Principles of radiotherapy and pathological evaluation are also defined.

Computer-Aided Segmentation and Machine Learning of Integrated Clinical and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Parameters for Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Cancer

Simple Summary

Computer-aided segmentation and machine learning added values of clinical parameters and diffusion-weighted imaging radiomics for predicting nodal metastasis in endometrial cancer, with a diagnostic performance superior to criteria based on lymph node size or apparent diffusion coefficient.

Abstract

Precise risk stratification in lymphadenectomy is important for patients with endometrial cancer (EC), to balance the therapeutic benefit against the operation-related morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate added values of computer-aided segmentation and machine learning based on clinical parameters and diffusion-weighted imaging radiomics for predicting lymph node (LN) metastasis in EC. This prospective observational study included 236 women with EC (mean age ± standard deviation, 51.2 ± 11.6 years) who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before surgery during July 2010–July 2018, randomly split into training (n = 165) and test sets (n = 71). A decision-tree model was constructed based on mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the tumor (cutoff, 1.1 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), skewness of the relative ADC value (cutoff, 1.2), short-axis diameter of LN (cutoff, 1.7 mm) and skewness ADC value of the LN (cutoff, 7.2 × 10⁻²), as well as tumor grade (1 vs. 2 and 3), and clinical tumor size (cutoff, 20 mm). The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 94% and 80% for the training set and 86%, 78% for the independent testing set, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUCs) of the decision-tree was 0.85—significantly higher than the mean ADC model (AUC = 0.54) and LN short-axis diameter criteria (AUC = 0.62) (both p < 0.0001). We concluded that a combination of clinical and MR radiomics generates a prediction model for LN metastasis in EC, with diagnostic performance surpassing the conventional ADC and size criteria.

Identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers in endometrial cancer using targeted metabolomic profiling

PURPOSE

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy with high disease burden especially in advanced stages of the disease. Our study investigated the metabolomic profile of EC patient's serum with the aim of identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers that could be used especially in early disease detection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using targeted metabolomic serum profiling based on HPLC-TQ/MS, women with EC (n ​= ​15) and controls (n ​= ​21) were examined for 232 endogenous metabolites.

RESULTS

Top performing biomarkers included ceramides, acylcarnitines and 1-methyl adenosine. Top 4 biomarkers combined achieved 94% sensitivity with 75% specificity with AUC 92.5% (CI 90.5-94.5%). Individual markers also provided significant predictive values: C16-ceramide achieved sensitivity 73%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.83, C22-ceramide sensitivity 67%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.77, hydroxyhexadecenoylcarnitine sensitivity 60%, specificity 96%, AUC 0.76 and 1-methyladenosine sensitivity 67%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.75. The individual markers, however, did not reach the high sensitivity and specificity of the 4-biomarker combination.

CONCLUSIONS

Using mass spectrometry targeted metabolomic profiling, ceramides, acylcarnitines and 1-methyladenosine were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for EC. Additionally, these identified metabolites may provide additional insight into cancer cell metabolism.

Challenges Posed by Embryonic and Anatomical Factors in Systematic Lymphadenectomy for Endometrial Cancer

Lymph node involvement has been shown to be one of the most relevant prognostic factors in a variety of malignancies; this is also true of endometrial cancer. The determination of the lymph node status is crucial in order to establish the tumor stage, and to consider adjuvant treatment. A wide range of surgical staging practices are currently used for the treatment of endometrial cancer. The necessity and extent of lymph node dissection is an ongoing controversial issue in gynecological oncology. Lymph node surgery in endometrial cancer is technically challenging, and can be time consuming because of the topographic complexity of lymphatic drainage as such, and the fact that the lymph nodes are directly adjacent to both blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, profound and exact knowledge of the anatomy is essential. Sentinel lymph node mapping was recently introduced in surgical staging with the aim of reducing morbidity, whilst also obtaining useful prognostic information from a patient's lymph node status. The present review summarizes the current evidence on the role of lymph node surgery in endometrial cancer, focusing on the embryological, anatomical, and technical aspects.

ESGO/ESTRO/ESP guidelines for the management of patients with endometrial carcinoma

A European consensus conference on endometrial carcinoma was held in 2014 to produce multi-disciplinary evidence-based guidelines on selected questions. Given the large body of literature on the management of endometrial carcinoma published since 2014, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) jointly decided to update these evidence-based guidelines and to cover new topics in order to improve the quality of care for women with endometrial carcinoma across Europe and worldwide.

Preoperative assessment of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC), the most common among gynaecological malignancies occurs predominantly after the menopause. The diagnosis is most commonly (in about 75-80%) set up at early stage when surgical therapy and if necessary postoperative radiotherapy results in an excellent prognosis, with a 90-95% 5-year overall survival (OS) and a locoregional recurrence rates of 4-8%. Accurate preoperative assessment of the lymph nodes would ideally identify those patients with advanced stage disease, who might benefit from more extensive surgical procedures and adjuvant therapies. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hysteroscopic excisional biopsy (HEB) and high resolution 2D or 3D ultrasound performed by expert operator are considered to add valuable information for preoperative staging of EC. The use of biomarkers could be beneficial in decreasing inter-observer variability between the histology of the diagnostic specimen and the final operative sample, as well as to avoid overtreatment in a part of the high-grade tumors with excellent prognosis. The goal of surgical management of EC is to remove the primary tumor and to identify definite prognostic factors to determine whether adjuvant therapy is required. Extended surgery, including para-aortic lymphadenectomy has a significant morbidity, and with the future selection of cases it can be safely avoided, we can decrease complications without compromising oncological safety. In the future, the importance of hysteroscopy guided sampling may increase to gain a representative sample for biomarker detection.

Impact of endometrial sampling technique and biopsy volume on the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Histotype and tumor grading of endometrial cancer are the most important factors that have to be assessed by preoperative endometrial sampling, and their concordance with the final surgical and definitive histological findings is of paramount importance. We aim to compare histotype and tumor grading concordance of various endometrial sampling techniques (ESTs) and to investigate the role of endometrial volume biopsy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with apparent early stage endometrial cancer collecting demographic, clinical data, type of EST, pathological characteristics of endometrial biopsies and final specimens. We classified ESTs as dilation and curettage (D&C), diagnostic hysteroscopy with D&C, outpatient hysteroscopy and operative hysteroscopy with or without D&C. Diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy were performed with Bettocchi's 5 mm hysteroscope. We evaluated concordance for histotype, and tumor grading, and we performed subgroup analysis based on the technique and final tumor grading. Concordance was classified from good, moderate, sufficient, fair, poor and none using Cohen k-statistic. Finally, we investigated the existence of independent risk factors for discordant tumor grading using multivariate binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

We collected 148 patients and of these 131 (88.5%) were diagnosed with endometrioid histotype and 65 (44%), 46 (31%) and 37 (25%) respectively with well, moderate and poor differentiated tumors. Atypical hyperplasia (AH) was detected preoperatively in 28 patients (19%). Histotype concordance was fair (k=0.35) and tumor grading concordance was moderate (k=0.45); particularly, concordance was fair in well-differentiated cases (k=0.38); concordance was moderate in moderate- and poor-differentiated cases (k=0.52) and good (k=0.71). Operative hysteroscopy showed moderate concordance for histotype (k=0.41), while grading concordance was fair for G1 (k=0.41), moderate for G2 (k=0.58) and good for G3 (k=0.72), regardless the use of D&C. Preoperative volume biopsy did not impact the concordance of tumor grading, while the adoption of operative hysteroscopy (with or without D&C) decreased the risk of grading discordance in G3 tumors (HR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.03-0.94; P=0.04). Conversely, time elapsed from diagnosis to treatment in well-differentiated tumors increased the risk of discordant results (HR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.52; P=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Operative hysteroscopy demonstrated the best tumor grading concordance, especially in poor-differentiated tumors. The volume of biopsy did not affect the tumor grading concordance.

Lymph node evaluation in endometrial cancer: how did it change over the last two decades?

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries, and surgery represents the pivotal part of treatment. Hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy allow removing the primary tumor and defining patients at higher risk, who might benefit from adjuvant therapies. Minimally invasive surgery is associated with superior postoperative outcomes and represents a safe and effective approach for surgical staging of EC. The lymph node status evaluation in EC is still a matter of debate. Over the last twenty years much has changed, moving from a full systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for staging purpose to the removal of the pelvic (with or without paraaortic) lymph nodes only in selected EC classes of risk. Two randomized trials failed to demonstrate survival benefits of lymphadenectomy in case of apparent early stage EC; however, its prognostic role has never been questioned. At present, with the aim of reducing the surgical-related morbidity, sentinel node mapping is emerging as a safe and valid alternative to lymphadenectomy for EC staging, demonstrating high accuracy and an increased detection of lymph nodes metastasis. Here, we performed a review of the most significant studies, which supported the changes in the lymph node status evaluation for EC over the last two decades.

Role of uterine manipulator during laparoscopic endometrial cancer treatment

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy with 61,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the USA. Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) LAP2 randomized study demonstrated a superimposable 5-year overall survival between laparotomic and laparoscopic approaches in EC treatment. In this context the uterine manipulator (UM) represents a valuable tool in order to increase the ergonomics of surgical gesture during a laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Despite the proven safety of the minimally invasive approach in EC treatment, neither the indication whether to use or not, nor the recommendation concerning a specific type of UM are provided by international guidelines. This narrative review aims to collect all the main findings in the literature about UM use to investigate its safety in EC patients. Based on the analysis of the literature research, the main results were categorized into two manipulator-related problems: the iatrogenic LVSI, and the retrograde tumor spillage. LVSI is defined as the presence of tumor cells within an endothelium-lined space. An electronic search was performed using the following keywords: 'uterine manipulator', and 'endometrial cancer'. The electronic database search provided a total of 93 studies. Of whom, 12 case reports, 5 studies not in English language, and 65 works not fitting the review scope were excluded from the analysis. Eleven studies were considered eligible for the purpose of the study. The most recent studies have highlighted the safety of the uterine manipulator in the early-stage EC laparoscopic treatment. All types of manipulators are considered to be fairly safe but its application should be tailored according to tumor dimension and grade of myometrial infiltration.

Accuracy of preoperative sampling diagnosis for predicting final pathology in patients with endometrial carcinoma: a review

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer. The most frequent symptom of this disease is postmenopausal bleeding. Diagnosis of EC must be histologically confirmed, and there are several methods for endometrial sampling to obtain cells or endometrial tissue. The first step in diagnosis should be ultrasound measurement of endometrial thickness, followed by endometrial sampling, which can be performed by office endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopic biopsy, or dilatation and curettage (D&C). The review in this article was carried out to present previously published studies, comprehensively evaluate method performance (i.e., overall accuracy of preoperative sampling in patients with endometrial carcinoma, and overall agreement on grade and histological subtype between preoperative endometrial sampling and final diagnosis), and determine which sampling method is most accurate on the basis of the statistical data in the studies analyzed. From the literature analyzed and examined, it can be concluded that preoperative endometrial sampling is not always the best predictor of final histology in EC and has its limitations. In surgical decisions based only on preoperative sampling, a biopsy should be made with caution, and it is necessary to take other parameters into account. Inadequate grading leads to suboptimal clinical management, mainly in early-stage tumors. This review showed that, although hysteroscopic biopsy was mainly associated with the highest tumor grade agreement, and although D&C showed the highest overall accuracy in detecting endometrial carcinoma, the data do not therefore reliably indicate which method yields the most precise results. The results of this review indicate that further studies on larger samples and with greater statistical power are needed to accurately define the role and type of preoperative sampling methods.

Endometrial cancer-is our knowledge changing?

In developed countries, endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy in postmenopausal women. At the same time, EC has become one of the most common cancers in numerous developing countries, probably influenced by global epidemic of obesity. The majority of patients have low-grade endometrioid cancer with a high 5-year survival rate, but with high-risk EC, the survival rates are still rather low. However, despite intensive research in last decades, our knowledge of the mechanisms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment have not significantly improved. The standard treatment of all types of EC is still a traditional combination of surgery, irradiation and/or chemotherapy, despite the fact that each of these options is not without having some negative side effects. Despite the fact that on the molecular level, EC is relatively well-studied, but the efforts to transform these findings into either diagnosis or therapies of EC remain elusive. In addition, some research into risk factors involved in the development or progression of EC seems to be more a fishing expedition than a well thought-out approach. The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent developments in the search for biomarkers and prognostic markers and to discuss the progress in EC treatment.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in endometrial cancer: state of the art

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological neoplasm in developed countries. In literature, there are discordant data regarding the therapeutic value of systematic lymphadenectomy whereas the importance of lymph node status for determining prognosis and the need for adjuvant treatment is undoubted. Given the low risk of lymph-node metastases in the apparent early-stage disease and the significant surgical and postoperative risks when performing a complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, the surgical approach in these patients is controversial, ranging from no nodal evaluation to comprehensive pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. The recent introduction of sentinel node mapping represents the mid-way between the execution and omission of node dissection in EC patients. Indeed, the sentinel node mapping has rapidly emerged as an alternative to complete lymphadenectomy to reduce morbidity. In the present review, we discuss the role of sentinel node mapping in the surgical management of EC evaluating all aspects of this procedure.

Novelties of ultrasound imaging for endometrial cancer preoperative workup

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological cancer. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) plays a leading role in the preoperative workup and often is the first diagnostic instrumental examination. Despite expert hands' ultrasound is recommended to assess myometrial invasion in early stage EC, this method is a strictly operator-dependent examination, and varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity have been reported. The present review aims to provide an update of ultrasound imaging in the preoperative work-up for EC patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A double-blind search was performed from May to September 2020. The following keywords: "ultrasound," "transvaginal ultrasound" and "endometrial cancer" were searched in Pubmed search engines, Scopus, and Web of Science. The Prisma statement was followed for the selection of the articles included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The initial search provided 958 studies, of which 11 were included in the analysis. non-English articles, not relevant to the purposes of this study, case reports and articles with fewer than 40 cases were excluded.

CONCLUSIONS

TVU sensitivity and specificity in myometrial infiltration and cervical invasion is comparable to MRI but has lower costs, greater patient tolerability, and does not require contrast agents. An expert operator should perform the ultrasound examination in patients with suspected EC The presence of myometrial lesions, such as leiomyomas, could lower the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, so special attention should be paid to patients with concomitant uterine lesions.

Sentinel lymph node for endometrial cancer treatment: review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and in two thirds of patients it is apparently uterine confined at presentation. Lymph nodal status represents one of the main prognostic factors. Nodal evaluation with sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has gained more ground in clinical practice after the publication of different studies demonstrating the feasibility and accuracy of this technique. However, at the moment there are no RCTs available evaluating the long-term oncologic safety of SLN technique compared to LND. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence on oncologic outcomes between SLN mapping alone and LND. Differences in operative complications and long-term complications were also analyzed.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The literature search was conducted in the PubMed database and it focused on comparative studies published from inception to September 2020 analyzing differences in oncological outcomes or complications between nodal evaluation with SLN technique alone and nodal evaluation with lymphadenectomy. Comparative studies with more than 10 cases, published in English, were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 5 retrospective comparative studies have been identified reporting data on oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent SLN mapping alone vs. LND. Non significative difference has been reported in terms of overall survival and recurrence free survival between the two groups. Six studies evaluated differences in terms of complications between the two techniques. A total of 2302 patients were identified. Postoperative complications were detected in 9.6% and 7.7% of patients who underwent lymphadenectomy and SLN mapping respectively and no significant difference was noted (P=0.3). Looking at major postoperative complications the rate in the LND group was significantly higher than in the SLN group (3.6% vs. 1.5%, P=0.02). Two of these six studies reported data on lymphatic long-term complications. The prevalence of lymphedema ranged from 0% to 1.3% in the SLN group and from 10% to 18% in the LND group. The absolute difference reported (13.35%) was similar to the one found in literature.

CONCLUSIONS

SLN mapping in apparently uterine confined disease has been demonstrated to be a feasible and accurate technique for nodal evaluation and high-quality evidence support this. Moreover, SLN mapping resulted to be associated with less major postoperative and long-term complications when compared to LDN. Conversely, high-quality evidence is not available on long-term oncologic safety of this technique compared to the standard LND. Randomized trials are requested to provide reliable data on this aspect.

Quality of life and fertility preservation counseling for women with gynecological cancer: an integrated psychological and clinical perspective

Purpose: Relational and sexual problems are frequent in patients with a diagnosis of gynecological cancer, because this disease has a strong negative impact on female identity and sexuality. Psychological and sexual functioning is affected by inauspicious diagnosis. Furthermore, therapies may compromise reproductive function. The aim of this study is to propose a general overview on the impact of gynecological cancer on quality of life and psychological and sexual functioning, as well as on the importance of adequate counseling related to fertility preservation techniques.Materials and methods: We provide a narrative overview of the recent literature about quality of life and fertility preservation counselling in women with gynecological cancer.Results and conclusions: According to recent studies, 75% of women between 18 and 45 years with a diagnosis of cancer wish to have children. When cancer affects the reproductive system, the psychological distress is even stronger because there is a loss of menstrual function and fertility. Currently, fertility preservation techniques in women with gynecological cancer are beneficial and lead to an improvement in the quality of life.

Breastfeeding in Hospitals: Factors Influencing Maternal Choice in Italy

Monitoring the prevalence of breastfeeding is one of the actions provided for in Italian National Health System. This study aims to observe the prevalence of breastfeeding in a representative set of birthing hospitals in the province of Catania, in Sicily, Italy, to assess the factors influencing women in their decisions to breastfeed during hospitalization after delivery. We conducted an observational study on 3813 questionnaires administered to mothers of newborns during their hospital stay from the years 2016 to 2018 in eight hospitals of various types. The average maternal age was 31.3 years ± 5.8. Sixty-nine percent of women did not attend a prenatal course. From childbirth to discharge, the percentage of women who breastfed was 88%, of whom 45% did exclusive breastfeeding. Only 35% of women who had a caesarean section adopted exclusive breastfeeding. In our experience, rooming-in was not associated with an increase in breastfeeding. We observed that both attendance to prenatal courses and the mother's education level played a minor role in influencing the mother's decision in breastfeeding A fairly high percentage of exclusive breastfeeding, 75%, was attained just in one hospital, where dedicated staff was deployed to encourage breastfeeding. The lowest percentage (12%) of exclusive breastfeeding was observed in a large private accredited health facility. Hospital presence of professionals trained in human lactation is a smart investment for society.

Fertility preservation in endometrial cancer patients: options, challenges and perspectives

Several different approaches have been designed by physicians in order to preserve fertility in younger patients with endometrial carcinoma. There are various options offering different advantages, but hysteroscopic resection of pathologic endometrial tissue with placement of a Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device has proven to be the most successful in allowing patients to conceive and give birth afterwards. However, conservative treatments should only be considered in patients with low-grade and low-stage endometrial tumours. There are many published studies which have sought out a preferable approach to treating endometrial cancer whilst preserving fertility. However, more research on this matter is needed to allow a better understanding as to which techniques/approaches are optimal. In this review, we will summarise the current available treatment options for endometrial cancer in patients of reproductive age.

Fertility preservation in women affected by gynaecological cancer: the importance of an integrated gynaecological and psychological approach

Gynaecological cancer treatment significantly affects the fertility of women in reproductive age. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the mainstays of ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers and anatomically or functionally impact the uterus and ovaries. Moreover, the sexual function and psychological wellbeing of patients are highly weakened after a cancer diagnosis: depression, anxiety and impairment of quality of life represent a relevant concern for patient care. The potential loss of fertility could be more distressing than cancer itself. For this reason, it is of paramount importance to try to preserve fertility in women affected by gynaecological cancers. Recently, tailored fertility preservation therapies have been developed to meet the childbearing demand from more than half of women between 18 and 40 years with a diagnosis of cancer. Currently, fertility preservation techniques play a significant role in improving the quality of life of women with gynaecological cancer. In this scenario, we propose a narrative overview of the recent literature about the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of fertility preservation in the case of gynaecological cancers.

Scoring systems for the evaluation of adnexal masses nature: current knowledge and clinical applications

Adnexal masses are a common finding in women, with 20% of them developing at least one pelvic mass during their lifetime. There are more than 30 different subtypes of adnexal tumours, with multiple different subcategories, and the correct characterisation of the pelvic masses is of paramount importance to guide the correct management. On that basis, different algorithms and scoring systems have been developed to guide the clinical assessment. The first scoring system implemented into the clinical practice was the Risk of Malignancy Index, which combines ultrasound evaluation, menopausal status, and serum CA-125 levels. Today, current guidelines regarding female patients with adnexal masses include the application of International Ovarian Tumours Analysis simple rules, logistic regression model 1 (LR1) and LR2, OVERA, cancer ovarii non-invasive assessment of treating strategy, and assessment of Different Neoplasias in the adnexa. In this scenario, the choice of the scoring system for the discrimination between benign and malignant ovarian tumours can be complex when approaching patients with adnexal masses. This review aims to summarise the available evidence regarding the different scoring systems to provide a complete overview of the topic.

Baseline Serum HE4 But Not Tissue HE4 Expression Predicts Response to the Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System in Atypical Hyperplasia and Early Stage Endometrial Cancer

The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is a conservative management option for atypical hyperplasia (AH) and low grade early stage endometrial cancer (EEC), but around 1 in 3 patients fail to respond to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum and/or tissue HE4 expression could predict response to LNG-IUS therapy. Patients with AH or presumed Stage I EEC had serum and endometrial samples taken at baseline and at 3-month intervals over 12 months post-insertion of LNG-IUS. 74 patients were recruited and baseline demographics recorded. Of 57 patients for whom response was histologically determinable, 39 (68%) were responders and 18 (32%) non-responders. Mean baseline serum HE4 was significantly lower in responders (62.1 ± 1.1 pM, 95% confidence interval (CI) 52.7–73.2), compared to non-responders (125.6 ± 1.3 pM, 95% CI 74.5–211.7, p = 0.014), including when considering age, BMI, menopausal status, smoking status, and histological grade as covariables (p = 0.005). Baseline tissue HE4 expression was not significantly different in responders compared to non-responders (p = 0.999). Responders showed a significant mean reduction (−9.8 ± 3.4%, 95% CI −16.7 to −2.8%, p = 0.008) in serum HE4 between baseline and 3 months (p = 0.008), whereas non-responders showed no significant change (p = 0.676). Neither responders nor non-responders showed a significant percentage change in serum HE4 from baseline beyond 3 months (p > 0.05). Change in serum HE4 between baseline and 3 and 6 months and tissue HE4 tissue expression between baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months was not significantly different in responders compared to non-responders (p > 0.05). This study suggests that baseline serum HE4, but not baseline tissue HE4 expression, is independently predictive of response to the LNG-IUS and could be used to guide management decisions.

Circulating Cell-Free DNA or Circulating Tumor DNA in the Management of Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal cancer of all gynecological malignancies, while endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common one. Current strategies for OC/EC diagnosis consist of the extraction of a solid tissue from the affected area. This sample enables the study of specific biomarkers and the genetic nature of the tumor. However, the tissue extraction is risky and painful for the patient and in some cases is unavailable in inaccessible tumors. Moreover, a tissue biopsy is expensive and requires a highly skilled gynecological surgery to pinpoint accurately which cannot be applied repeatedly. New alternatives that overcome these drawbacks are rising up nowadays, such as liquid biopsy. A liquid biopsy is the analysis of biomarkers in a non-solid biological tissue, mainly blood, which has remarkable advantages over the traditional method. The most studied cancer non-invasive biomarkers are circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and circulating free DNA (cfDNA). These circulating biomarkers play a key role in the understanding of metastasis and tumorigenesis, which could provide a better insight into the evolution of the tumor dynamics during treatment and disease progression. Liquid biopsy is an emerging non-invasive, safe and effective method with considerable potential for clinical diagnosis and treatment management in patients with OC and EC. Analysis of cfDNA and ctDNA will provide a better characterization of biomarkers and give rise to a wide range of clinical applications, such as early detection of OC/EC, the prediction of treatment responses due to the discovery of personalized tumor-related biomarkers, and therapeutic response monitoring.

Knockdown of lncRNA TDRG1 Inhibits Tumorigenesis in Endometrial Carcinoma Through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in females. Dysregulation of lncRNA TDRG1 has been widely documented in several cancers, including EC. However, the mechanism of this lncRNA involving in EC progression remains to be further elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The enrichment levels of TDRG1 in EC tissues and cell lines were examined by RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell, and Western blot assays were conducted to assess whether TDRG1 knockdown could affect cell cycle arrest, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of EC cells. The phosphorylation levels of mTOR, AKT and PI3K that associated with PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway were determined by Western blot assay.

RESULTS

TDRG1 expression was markedly upregulated in EC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of TDRG1 significantly induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, restrained the invasion and migration abilities in EC cells. Moreover, TDRG1 silencing decreased the protein levels of p-AKT, p-PI3K, and p-mTOR of EC cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data underlined the implication of TDRG1 in EC progression, proposing that targeting TDRG1 might be a potential therapeutic avenue in EC.

Interplay between miRNAs and Genes Associated with Cell Proliferation in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer develops as a result of abnormal cell growth associated with uncontrolled cell proliferation, excessive activation of signaling pathways and miRNA activity. The aim of this study was to determine the expression profile of genes associated with cell proliferation and to assess which miRNAs can participate in the regulation of their expression. The study enrolled 40 patients with endometrial cancer and 10 patients without neoplastic changes. The expression profile of genes associated with cell proliferation and the expression profile of miRNAs were assessed using microarrays. RT-qPCR was performed to validate mRNA microarray results. The mirTAR tool was used to identify miRNAs that regulate the activity of genes associated with cell proliferation. Decreased expression of IGF1 and MYLK, as well as SOD2 overexpression, were observed in endometrial cancer using both mRNA microarrays and RT-qPCR. Microarray analysis showed low levels of NES and PRKCA, but this was only partially validated using RT-qPCR. Reduced activity of MYLK may be caused by increased miR-200c, miR-155 and miR-200b expression. Cell proliferation is disturbed in endometrial cancer, which may be associated with an overexpression of miR-200a, miR-200c, and miR-155, making it a potential diagnostic marker.

Uterine manipulator in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: safety and usefulness

The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of uterine manipulators in facilitating total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, UpToDate, SpringerLink, ClinicalKey and Elsevier ScienceDirect databases was performed, and articles describing TLH with or without the use of uterine manipulators were retrieved. Complications related to the use of uterine manipulators are numerous, and although uterine manipulator seems to facilitate TLH, the procedure without a uterine manipulator seems to have a comparable safety and effectiveness, although evidence based on a direct comparison of the two approaches is limited without available controlled trials. Uterine manipulator may provide support in cases of large uteri, severe endometriosis, recto vaginal adhesions and regional anesthesia, while its use may increase complications in cases of vaginal stenosis and nulliparity. Therefore, to perform TLH, the surgeon should individualize for each case if uterine manipulator is needed and which manipulator best suits the surgical procedure requirements and case characteristics. Further studies comparing the two approaches are mandatory.

Minimally Invasive Myomectomy: An Overview on the Surgical Approaches and a Comparison with Mini-Laparotomy

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign solid tumors of the female genital tract manageable by surgical of pharmacological approach. When the medical management is ineffective or surgery is primarily requested, several surgical approaches can be used. Among these, minimally invasive surgery might be preferred. Myomectomy is the standard surgical treatment when fertility sparing is claimed. It can be performed via laparoscopy, robotic surgery and hysteroscopy and the choice depend on UFs features and surgeon's skill. Alongside these minimally invasive options, mini-laparotomy has been proposed as a less invasive surgical approach comparable to the well-established minimally invasive options. The aim of this review is to describe the most recent advances in minimally invasive techniques to perform myomectomy, comparing them with mini-laparotomy approach.

A comparison of sacral neuromodulation vs. transvaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of refractory overactive bladder: the impact on quality of life, body image, sexual function, and emotional well-being

Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is defined by the presence of urinary urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually accompanied by an increase in urinary frequency and nocturia in the absence of urinary tract infections (UTI) or other diseases. The overall prevalence of OAB symptoms in the female population is reported to be 16.6% and increases with advancing age and menopause. The aetiology of OAB is not fully understood and is likely to affect a heterogeneous population of patients due to changes to their central and peripheral nervous systems. Although OAB is frequently associated with female sexual dysfunction (FSD), its real impact on sexual function in women has been evaluated only in a few studies. The first line of treatment for OAB includes behavioural modification and physical therapy, either as monotherapies or in combination. Many patients who have not had success in managing their symptoms with more conservative therapies may decide to resort to third-line treatments for refractory OAB. These treatments include neuromodulation therapies, particularly transvaginal electrical stimulation (TES) and sacral neuromodulation (SN). The aim of this short commentary is to provide an overview of the effectiveness of these treatments and of their impact on quality of life, body image, sexual function, and emotional well-being.

α-bisabolol enhances radiotherapy-induced apoptosis in endometrial cancer cells by reducing the effect of XIAP on inhibiting caspase-3

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common cancers in females. Although the diagnosis and treatment in early stages can greatly improve the survival rate of patients, the advanced EC still is lethal. Radiotherapy is widely used against EC, and it is a great challenge to find an effective way to overcome the resistance of EC during radiotherapy. α-bisabolol is a promising drug, which has already exhibited its anti-tumor effect in some malignancies. Here we reported that α-bisabolol could inhibit the proliferation of EC cells. It is also shown that their abilities of migration and invasion were effectively reduced by α-bisabolol. Furthermore, our results also demonstrated that α-bisabolol could improve sensitivity of EC cells in radiotherapy and further inhibited the growth of EC cells. By Western blot, we found the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and cyclin E were significantly decreased, which indicated that EC cells can be further suppressed by using α-bisabolol and radiotherapy. It is also demonstrated in our study that the rate of apoptotic cells is markedly increased in EC by using these two treatments. The significant decrease in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and increase in caspase-3 detected in our study suggested that the enhancement of apoptosis is mediated by XIAP/caspase-3 pathway, which was further confirmed by examining the downstream effectors of caspase-3, COX-2, PARP and cleaved PARP. In the present study, we demonstrated that α-bisabolol could enhance the sensitivity of EC cells to radiotherapy, which provide a novel alternative for overcoming radioresistance of EC cells and achieving a better outcome in radiotherapy.

Management of postoperative chylous ascites after surgery for ovarian cancer: a single-institution experience

Postoperative chylous ascites is a rare complication from operative trauma to the cisterna chyli or lymphatic vessels in the retroperitoneum. In the present study, we aimed to identify the incidence of postoperative chylous ascites in patients treated for ovarian cancer and to describe its management. We retrospectively reviewed all patients submitted to surgery for ovarian cancer at our Institution from October 2016 to November 2018. We analyzed the clinicopathological features, including the primary tumor histology, stage, grade, surgical procedure, median number of harvested pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. We described our experience in the diagnosis and management of chylous ascites. Five hundred and forty-six patients were submitted to surgery for ovarian cancer and 298 patients received pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Chylous ascites occurred in 8 patients with an incidence of 1.4% in the overall population and a 2.68% among patients receiving lymphadenectomy. All patients received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with Olimel N4E 2000 mL (Baxter^®) and somatostatin therapy with 0.2 mL per 3 times/day for a median of 9 days (range 7-11). Median hospital stay was 15 days (range 7-16). All patients were successfully managed conservatively and none required surgical correction. Conservative management of chylous ascites with TPN, somatostatin and paracentisis is feasible and effective. These data should be confirmed by prospective multicentric studies.