Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) consensus review for ovarian germ cell tumors

Real Implication of Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Ovarian Cancer: Reproductive Outcomes

BACKGROUND

to prove the effectivity of fertility-sparing procedures in early-stage ovarian cancer by assessing pregnancy rates and obstetrical outcomes.

METHODS

we performed a retrospective multicenter study among 55 Spanish hospitals, collecting patients from 18 to 40 years old with diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer, epithelial (EOC) or non-epithelial (non-EOC), from January 2010 to December 2019. Data on the use of assisted reproductive techniques, pregnancy attempts and obstetrical outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

a total of 150 patients met inclusion criteria, 70 (46.6%) EOC and 80 (53.4%) non-EOC. Pregnancy attempts were reported in 51 (34%) patients, with 42 (28%) patients carrying the pregnancy to term. Among them, 30 (71.4%) underwent surgery alone and 12 (28.6%) had additional postoperative chemotherapy. A total of 32 (76.1% patients) had spontaneous pregnancies and 10 (23.9%) required in vitro fertilization. There was only one (2.4%) complication reported. Vaginal delivery was reported in twenty-nine (69%) patients and cesarean section in five (11.9%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

fertility-sparing management for ovarian cancer seems to be an option with proven good pregnancy rates and low complications. The selection of patients must consider strict criteria in order to maintain a good prognosis.

Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To describe population-level utilization of fertility-sparing surgery and outcome of reproductive-aged patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent fertility-sparing surgery in the United States.

METHODS

This retrospective study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program. The study included 3,027 patients younger than age 50 years with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer receiving primary surgical therapy from 2007 to 2020. Fertility-sparing surgery was defined as preservation of one ovary and the uterus for unilateral lesion and preservation of the uterus for bilateral lesions. Temporal trend of fertility-sparing surgery was assessed with linear segmented regression with log-transformation. Overall survival associated with fertility-sparing surgery was assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 534 patients (17.6%) underwent fertility-sparing surgery. At the cohort level, the utilization of fertility-sparing surgery was 13.4% in 2007 and 21.8% in 2020 ( P for trend=.009). Non-Hispanic White individuals (2.8-fold), those with high-grade serous histology (2.2-fold), and individuals with stage IC disease (2.3-fold) had a more than twofold increase in fertility-sparing surgery utilization during the study period (all P for trend<.05). After controlling for the measured clinicopathologic characteristics, patients who received fertility-sparing surgery had overall survival comparable with that of patients who had nonsparing surgery (5-year rates 93.6% vs 92.1%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI, 0.57-1.35). This survival association was consistent in high-grade serous (5-year rates 92.9% vs 92.4%), low-grade serous (100% vs 92.2%), clear cell (97.5% vs 86.1%), mucinous (92.1% vs 86.6%), low-grade endometrioid (95.7% vs 97.7%), and mixed (93.3% vs 83.7%) histology (all P >.05). In high-grade endometrioid tumor, fertility-sparing surgery was associated with decreased overall survival (5-year rates 71.9% vs 93.8%, adjusted hazard ratio 2.90, 95% CI, 1.09-7.67). Among bilateral ovarian lesions, fertility-sparing surgery was not associated with overall survival (5-year rates 95.8% vs 92.5%, P =.364). Among 41,914 patients who had epithelial ovarian cancer with any age and stage, those younger than age 50 years with stage I disease increased from 8.6% to 10.9% during the study period ( P for trend=.002).

CONCLUSION

Nearly one in five reproductive-aged patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer underwent fertility-sparing surgery in recent years in the United States. More than 90% of reproductive-aged patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent fertility-sparing surgery were alive at the 5-year timepoint, except for those with high-grade endometrioid tumors.

Gonadal Teratomas: A State-of-the-Art Review in Pathology

Teratomas are neoplasms arising from germ cells and encompass tissues derived from two or more embryonic germ layers, including ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. These tumours typically localize along the midline or in paramedian positions and can manifest as gonadal (20%) or extragonadal (80%) entities. Although gonadal teratomas are uncommon, they represent the predominant type of gonadal tumour in the paediatric population. They comprise approximately 20-25% of all ovarian tumours in females and about 3-5% of all testicular tumours in males. Ovarian teratomas exhibit a higher incidence in early childhood and adolescence, whereas testicular teratomas are more prevalent during the first three months of life and between the ages of 15 and 19. While the majority of paediatric gonadal teratomas are benign, malignant or mixed variants may also arise, necessitating more aggressive therapeutic interventions.

The role of surgeon specialty in management and survival of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: A population-based study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to describe management and survival in adult patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) undergoing surgery by general gynecologists (GG) versus gynecologic oncologists (GO).

METHODS

This is a population-based retrospective cohort study, including patients (age ≥ 18 years old) with MOGCT identified in the provincial cancer registry of Ontario, (1996-2020). Baseline characteristics, surgical and chemotherapy treatment were compared between those with surgery by GG or GO. Cox proportional hazards (CPH) model was used to determine if surgeon specialty was associated with overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Overall, 363 patients were included. One-hundred and sixty (44%) underwent surgery by GO and 203 (56%) by GG. There were higher rates of stage II-IV in the GO group (27.5% vs 3.9%, p < 0.001, and higher proportion of chemotherapy (64.4% vs 37.4%, p < 0.0001). Five-year OS was 90% and 93% in the GO vs GG groups, respectively (p = 0.39). CPH model showed factors associated with increased risk of death were older age at diagnosis (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12) and chemotherapy (HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.44-6.75). Surgeon specialty was not independently associated with all-cause death (HR 1.04, 95% 0.51-2.15, p = 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

In this group of MOGCT, 5-year OS was not significantly different between patients having surgery by GO compared to GG. Nevertheless, survival rates were lower than expected in the GG group despite their low-risk features. Further exploration is warranted regarding the reasons for this and whether patients with suspected MOGCT may benefit from early assessment by GO for optimal management.

Immature ovarian teratoma in a 20-year-old woman: A case report

Immature ovarian teratomas are a rare subtype of germ cell tumours characterized by the presence of embryonic elements, particularly primitive neuroepithelium, and they typically affect young women. We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with a growing abdominal mass that turned out to be a grade II immature teratoma after adnexectomy. This article reviews the clinical presentation, imaging features, and some of the main problems that arise in the management of immature ovarian teratomas.

Reproductive outcomes after conservative treatment in early and advanced stage MOGCTs

BACKGROUND

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors usually occur in young women. The standard of care is fertility sparing surgery and comprehensive surgical staging followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) if needed. The aim of this study was to analyze the reproductive outcomes after conservative treatment in patients diagnosed, treated and followed up in MITO (Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian Cancer) centers.

METHODS

A questionnaire concerning gynecological symptoms, reproductive outcomes and fertility treatment was administered to 164 MOGCTs survivors. Data regarding patients deceased were collected from MITO-9 database. There were 114 patients diagnosed at reproductive age between 1983 and 2019 included.

RESULTS

109 patients answered the questionnaire and 5 patients decesased were included (median age 24.9 years). 78.1% were stage I,4.4% stage II, 14.9% stage III and 2.6% stage IV. 57.9% received chemotherapy, the mean number of cycles was 4.1. Median time to menstrual recovery after BEP was of 5.6 months range, only 1 case of premature ovarian failure was reported. Among the 114 patients 38 (33.3%) attempted to become pregnant, 29/38 (76.3%) got pregnant with a total of 44 conceptions. 40.9% received chemotherapy and 22.9% did not (p 0.048). Pregnancy desire was the only predictive factor associated with live births among women who attempted pregnancy after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

As MOGCTs affect women of child-bearing age, fertility preservation represents a major treatment issue. Our results are consistent with the available evidence, confirming that adjuvant chemotherapy for MOGCT does not impact the reproductive function and fertility.

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome and autoantibody accompaniments of germ cell tumors

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNSs) are a group of diseases affecting the central and/or peripheral nervous system caused by immune-mediated processes directed toward antigens with shared expression in tumor and neural tissue. Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are associated with PNSs with varied clinical phenotypes. Early diagnosis of PNS is vital to potentially uncover and treat underlying tumors, improving the chances of recovery, and preventing permanent neurologic complications. In this chapter, we outline the pathophysiology and epidemiology of PNS. We briefly provide a summary of GCTs in males and females. We review the neural-specific autoantibodies and PNSs associated with GCTs and their clinical and radiologic accompaniments. We also provide an overview of the treatment and prognosis of these disorders.

Detailed characterization of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in yolk sac tumors

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is considered as a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, the potency of ICB therapy in yolk sac tumors (YSTs) has not been confirmed, and the comprehensive analysis of tumor immune microenvironment and the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4 were also not thoroughly evaluated.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was performed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 23 YSTs patients to detect the density and distribution of tumor-infiltrating T cells, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), as well as the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA4.

RESULTS

Overall, more than half (61 %) of all patients exhibited an immune-desert phenotype based on CD3+ T cells. PD-1 expression was identified in five tumor samples (21.7 %), and PD-L1 expression exhibited a different positive rate in tumor cells (TCs) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (39.1 % and 17.4 %). Noteworthily, the rate of positive CTLA4 expression in both TCs and TILs was markedly higher (69.6 % and 56.5 %) than those of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Furthermore, TLSs were observed in 21.74 % of all tissues, and samples with TLSs exhibited significantly higher densities of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules, particularly PD-1/PD-L1. In addition, tumors located in testes also exhibited a higher density of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules.

CONCLUSION

Generally a high frequency of CTLA4 expression was found, PD-1/PD-L1 expression, the immune-inflamed phenotype, and TLSs were low frequency in YSTs, however, YSTs in testes showed a higher density of TILs and higher expression of immune checkpoint molecules.

Systematic Review of the Survival Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Women with Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer have predominantly included women with high-grade serous carcinomas. The response rate and oncological outcomes of NACT for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the effects of NACT on women with MOGCT by conducting a systematic review of four public search engines. Fifteen studies were identified, and a further descriptive analysis was performed for 10 original articles. In those studies, most women were treated with a bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen, and one to three cycles were used in most studies. Four studies comparing NACT and primary debulking surgery showed similar complete response rates (n = 2; pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-5.27), comparable overall survival (n = 3; 87.0-100% versus 70.0-100%), disease-free survival (n = 3; 87.0-100% versus 70.0-100%), recurrence rate (n = 1; OR 3.50, 95%CI 0.38-32.50), and adverse events rate from chemotherapy between the groups. In conclusion, NACT may be considered for the management of MOGCT; however, possible candidates for NACT use and an ideal number of NACT cycles remain unknown. Further studies are warranted to validate the efficacy of NACT in advanced MOGCT patients.

Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult breast and reproductive tumors

Tumors of the breast and reproductive organs that occur in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) have different biological features and can present special challenges. Although prognosis for these tumors is generally favorable, the long-term effects of treatment can be debilitating. Treatments are often multimodal and may include surgery as well as chemotherapy and/or radiation, which can cause considerable distress and anxiety related to loss of femininity or masculinity, concern over future fertility, or sexual dysfunction. Thus, tumors of the reproductive organs in pediatric/AYA patients require special consideration of the treatment effects beyond the intended oncologic outcome. Multidisciplinary teams should be involved in their care and address issues of fertility, sexual dysfunction, and psychosexual concerns before treatment begins. This review addresses histology, risk factors, prognosis, staging and treatment of gynecologic, breast and testicular cancers in pediatric and AYA patients.

Current limits of conservative treatment in ovarian cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fertility-sparing surgery in ovarian cancer is an increasing need in gynecology-oncology clinical practice because of the frequent childbearing delay in developed countries. As the evidence in literature is based on observational studies, this review focuses on summarizing the most recent and relevant evidence for the conservative management of young patients with ovarian cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Staging surgery is mandatory in epithelial ovarian tumors. In sex cord-stromal tumors, fertility-sparing surgery is only recommended in FIGO stage IA. Due to its good prognosis, conservative treatment is possible in some cases of advanced disease of germ cell tumors and borderline tumors. Cystectomy is a reasonable option in serous borderline tumors but is not recommended in other tumor subtypes. Successful conception rates after fertility-sparing surgery ranges from 30 to 60%.

SUMMARY

Fertility-sparing surgery is a well tolerated option in young women with early-stage ovarian cancer with acceptable reproductive outcomes.

Clinical Challenges in the Management of Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumours

Nonepithelial ovarian cancers (NEOC) are a group of rare malignancies, including germ cell tumours (GCT) and sex cord-stromal tumours (SCST), along with small-cell carcinomas and sarcomas. GCTs represent 2-5% of ovarian cancers, with a yearly incidence of 4:100,000, and they usually affect young women and adolescents. Precursory germ cells of the ovary form the basis of GCT. They are histologically classified into primitive GCT, teratomas, and monodermal and somatic-type tumours associated with dermoid cysts. A primitive GCT can be either a yolk sac tumour (YST), dysgerminoma, or mixed germ cell neoplasm. Teratomas are either mature (benign) or immature (malignant). Given that malignant GCTs occur rarely compared to epithelial ovarian tumours (EOC), greater focus is required in their diagnosis and treatment. In this article, we review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and molecular biology, along with the management and therapeutic challenges.

Therapeutic Management and Prognostic Factors for Ovarian Malignant Tumours in Adolescents: A Comprehensive Review of Current Guidelines

Background: Ovarian malignant tumours are rarely diagnosed in adolescents but may have a significant impact on their survival, future fertility and quality of life. The management of such cases is rather complex and requires expertise and careful planning according to scarce existing evidence and recommendations. Objective: The aim of this study was to review and compare recommendations from published guidelines regarding the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of malignant ovarian tumours in adolescents. Evidence acquisition: A comparative descriptive/narrative review of guidelines issued by L’Observatoire des Tumeurs Malignes Rares Gynécologiques, the British Society for Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Gynecological Oncology-European Society for Paediatric Oncology and the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors was conducted. Results: All guidelines recommend a thorough diagnostic work-up, consisting of both imaging tests and serum tumour marker measurement, as well as the use of immunohistochemical methods to confirm the diagnosis and complete surgical staging prior to constructing the treatment plan. There is a lack of recommendations regarding the assessment of prognostic factors, with only one guideline providing detailed information. Treatment strategies, as suggested by the majority of guidelines and with only a few discrepancies between them, should include both surgery and adjuvant therapies, mainly chemotherapy, with great emphasis on fertility preservation when it is considered oncologically safe and on the significance of regular and long-term follow-up. Conclusions: There is a significant degree of agreement among recommendations of existing guidelines. The reported differences, although limited, highlight the need for the adoption of an international consensus in order to further improve the management of adolescent ovarian cancer.

Update on new treatments for rare ovarian tumours

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In spite of their rarity when considered individually, the sum of all rare ovarian tumours (ROT) represent almost half of all ovarian malignancies. As such, their appropriate inclusion within dedicated clinical trials is essential for enhanced management.

RECENT FINDINGS

Supported by institutional expert national (e.g. TMRG) and international (e.g. ESGO) networks and owing to national (e.g. ARCAGY-GINECO) and international (e.g. ENGOT) collaborations dedicated to clinical research, the last few years have shown increased number of clinical trials dedicated to ROT. These either were based on specific molecular features of ROT (e.g. expression of oestrogen receptors for low-grade serous ovarian carcinomas and anastrazole evaluation in the PARAGON trial) or on the evaluation of innovative therapies (e.g. pembrolizumab within the ROT cohort from the AcSé Pembrolizumab multicentric basket trial). Furthermore, recent years have also shown the advent of randomized clinical trials. For instance, the ALIENOR trial positioned weekly paclitaxel as a new option for relapsed sex cord-stromal tumours, while the GOG281/LOGS trial raised trametinib as a new standard-of-care option for recurrent low-grade serous carcinomas.

SUMMARY

The last few years have exhibited a paradigm shift towards the possibility to develop dedicated trials for ROT, owing to international collaborations supported by institutional networks. Current trials, molecular-driven and based on innovative designs, are highly promising, as they may bring ROT management towards more personalized medicine.

Prognosis of lymphadenectomy in malignant ovarian germ cell tumor

Background and objectives

The routine application of lymphadenectomy remains a controversial part of surgical staging in malignant ovarian germ-cell tumor (MOGCT). Thus, studies are needed to explore the prognostic significance of lymphadenectomy in MOGCT. The goal of this retrospective study was to report the clinical outcomes of lymph node dissection (LND) and non-LND in MOGCT surgeries.

Measurements and main results

A total of 340 cases of MOGCTs were included: 143 patients (42.1%) had LND and 197 (57.9%) had no LND. The OS rates at 5 years in the LND and non-LND group were 99.3% vs. 100%, respectively. The DFS rates at 5 years in the LND and non-LND group were 88.8% vs. 88.3%. Forty-three patients (12.6%) were successfully pregnant during the postoperative follow-up. There were 44 recurrences (12.9%) and six deaths (1.8%). Stage was an independent prognostic factor for DFS in the multivariate analysis. Pathology was reported as an independent prognostic factor associated with OS in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Lymphadenectomy had no significant influence on the OS (P=0.621) or disease-free survival rate (P=0.332) of patients with MOGCT.

Assessment of prognostic and reproductive outcomes of omentectomy for patients with clinically apparent early-stage (I, II) malignant ovarian germ cell tumours: A multicentre retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the effect of omentectomy on the prognosis and fertility in patients with clinically early-stage (I, II) malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCT).

DESIGN

A retrospective multicentre study.

SETTING

Four university teaching hospitals in China.

POPULATION

A total of 268 patients with clinically apparent early-stage (I, II) MOGCT.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the medical records. Additionally, the propensity score matching (PSM) algorithm was adopted.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prognostic outcomes were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Fertility outcomes were pregnancy and live birth rates.

RESULTS

A total of 187 (69.8%) patients underwent omentectomy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant differences in DFS and OS between the omentectomy and non-omentectomy groups before and after PSM (p > 0.05). Additionally, subgroup analysis stratified by age (<18 and ≥18 years) showed similar results. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage was the only risk factor associated with DFS (hazard ratio [HR] 14.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.47-48.38, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 37.36, 95% CI 3.87-361.16, p = 0.002). Pregnancy and live birth rates in the total population were 80.3% and 66.7%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups before and after PSM.

CONCLUSIONS

Omentectomy did not improve survival or affect fertility in patients with clinically apparent early-stage (I, II) MOGCT, regardless of the age. The clinical FIGO stage was an independent risk factor for recurrence and death.

Oncology and reproductive outcomes over 16 years of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors treated by fertility sparing surgery

BACKGROUND

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) are rare and frequently occur in women of young and reproductive age and the oncologic and reproductive outcomes after fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) for this disease are still limited.

AIM

To evaluate the oncology and reproductive outcomes of MOGCT patients who underwent FSS.

METHODS

All MOGCT patients who underwent FSS defined as the operation with a preserved uterus and at least one side of the ovary at our institute between January 2005 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients were recruited for this study. The median age was 22 years old and over 77% were nulliparous. The three most common histology findings were immature teratoma (32.2%), dysgerminoma (24.2%), and yolk sac tumor (24.2%). The distribution of stage was as follows; Stage I, 74.8%; stage II, 9.7%; stage III, 11.3%; and stage IV, 4.8%. Forty-three (67.7%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. With a median follow-up time of 96.3 mo, the 10-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 82.4% and 91%, respectively. For reproductive outcomes, of 43 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, 18 (41.9%) had normal menstruation, and 17 (39.5%) resumed menstruation with a median time of 4 mo. Of about 14 patients who desired to conceive, four were pregnant and delivered good outcomes. Only one case was aborted. Therefore, the successful pregnancy rate was 28.6%

CONCLUSION

The oncology and reproductive outcomes of MOGCT treated by FSS are excellent. Many patients show a long survival time with normal menstruation. However, the obstetric outcome is not quite satisfactory.

Current progress of ferroptosis study in ovarian cancer

Tumors are the leading cause of death all over the world, among which ovarian cancer ranks the third in gynecological malignancies. The current treatment for ovarian cancer is liable to develop chemotherapy resistance and high recurrence rate, in which a new strategy is demanded. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered manner of regulatory cell death, is shown to be induced by massive iron-dependent accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. With the in-depth study of ferroptosis, its associated mechanism with various tumors is gradually elucidated, including ovarian tumor, which probably promotes the application of ferroptosis in treating ovarian cancer. To this end, this review will focus on the history and current research progress of ferroptosis, especially its regulation mechanism, and its potential application as a novel treatment strategy for ovarian cancer.

Ferroptosis-Related Long Noncoding RNAs as Prognostic Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly malignant gynecologic tumor with few treatments available and poor prognosis with the currently available diagnostic markers and interventions. More effective methods for diagnosis and treatment are urgently needed. Although the current evidence implicates ferroptosis in the development and therapeutic responses of various types of tumors, it is unclear to what extent ferroptosis affects OC. To explore the potential of ferroptosis-related genes as biomarkers and molecular targets for OC diagnosis and intervention, this study collected several datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas-OC (TCGA-OC), analyzed and identified the coexpression profiles of 60 ferroptosis-related genes and two subtypes of OC with respect to ferroptosis and further examined and analyzed the differentially expressed genes between the two subtypes. The results indicated that the expression levels of ferroptosis genes were significantly correlated with prognosis in patients with OC. Single-factor Cox and LASSO analysis identified eight lncRNAs from the screened ferroptosis-related genes, including lncRNAs RP11-443B7.3, RP5-1028K7.2, TRAM2-AS1, AC073283.4, RP11-486G15.2, RP11-95H3.1, RP11-958F21.1, and AC006129.1. A risk scoring model was constructed from the ferroptosis-related lncRNAs and showed good performance in the evaluation of OC patient prognosis. The high- and low-risk groups based on tumor scores presented obvious differences in clinical characteristics, tumor mutation burden, and tumor immune cell infiltration, indicating that the risk score has a good ability to predict the benefit of immunotherapy and may provide data to support the implementation of precise immunotherapy for OC. Although in vivo tests and research are needed in the future, our bioinformatics analysis powerfully supported the effectiveness of the risk signature of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs for prognosis prediction in OC. The findings suggest that these eight identified lncRNAs have great potential for development as diagnostic markers and intervention targets for OC and that patients with high ferroptosis-related lncRNA expression will receive greater benefits from conventional chemotherapy or treatment with ferroptosis inducers.

Fast-growing immature ovarian teratoma during pregnancy: a case report and a review of the literature

Background

Immature ovarian teratoma is one of the three common malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. However, immature ovarian teratoma in pregnancy is very rare. Due to the rare occurrence, there is little evidence regarding its diagnosis, optimal management, and prognosis. Hence, we present a case of immature teratoma diagnosed during pregnancy, and analyze its clinicopathological features, management and prognosis.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old woman underwent a sonographic examination revealed no abnormality in the bilateral adnexal area before 29 weeks gestational age (WGA). At 29 WGA, ultrasound demonstrated a 9.7 × 8.5 × 6.4 cm complex structure in the left adnexal area. At 30 WGA, repeated ultrasound revealed rapid growth of tumor mass, measuring 25.0 × 15.0 × 13.7 cm. An elective cesarean section combined with exploratory laparotomy was performed at 33 WGA. Intraoperative frozen pathological examination suggested left ovarian immature teratoma. Then, she underwent a complete staging surgery. Subsequently, the patient received 4 cycles of bleomycin-etoposide-cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy. After 18 months of follow-up, there is no sign of tumor recurrence till now.

Conclusions

This case report suggests that the benefits and risks of timely treatment for patients and fetuses should be fully assessed by a multidisciplinary team. The early diagnosis, the timing of surgery and chemotherapy, the choice of chemotherapy for BEP will determine the prognosis. Surgery and combination chemotherapy with BEP play an important role in the treatment of immature teratomas in pregnancy, and could gain successful and satisfactory outcomes for mother and fetus.

Oncological and Reproductive Outcomes in Patients With Advanced-Stage Ovarian Immature Teratoma: Experience From a Tertiary Center

Objective

To evaluate the oncological and reproductive outcomes in patients with advanced-stage ovarian immature teratoma (IMT).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced-stage IMT who were treated with surgery between January 1985 and December 2020. Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) was defined as preservation of the uterus and at least one adnexa. Oncological outcomes were compared between patients who underwent FSS and radical surgery. Patients who underwent FSS were also contacted to gather information about their menstrual history and reproductive outcomes.

Results

Forty-six patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of whom 38 underwent FSS and eight were treated with radical surgery. Fifteen patients suffered recurrence after a median follow-up time of 74.2 months (range: 4.1–434.1 months). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69.1% and 89.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified suboptimal cytoreductive surgery as the only independent risk factor for recurrence. There was no significant difference in DFS or OS between patients with different surgical procedures. Ten of the 15 relapsed patients had optimal salvage surgery and all remained alive with no evidence disease. Among the 32 patients who underwent FSS, 29 resumed menstruation after surgery, and five of seven patients who designed pregnancy achieved a total of five successful pregnancies.

Conclusions

Ovarian IMT has a favorable prognosis, even when diagnosed at an advanced stage. FSS is feasible in patients with advanced-stage IMT who wish to preserve their fertility. Patients may benefit from optimal cytoreductive surgery during initial and salvage surgery.

Adjuvant and post-surgical treatment in non-epithelial ovarian cancer

Non-epithelial cancers arising from the ovary are uncommon malignancies. Germ cell tumors of the ovary arise from primordial germ cells, and sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary represent a cluster of tumors arising from the sex cord and stromal compartment. Most patients diagnosed with germ cell tumors are young adults and adolescent females. In contrast, ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors more commonly occur in a mature age group. Advances in the adjuvant management of non-epithelial ovarian cancer following optimal surgical and pathological staging have improved patient survival outcomes. In addition, active surveillance is preferentially assigned to patients diagnosed with stage I germ cell tumor, stage 1A grade 1 immature teratoma, stage 1A yolk sac tumor, and stage 1AI sex cord-stromal tumors. This article discusses the importance of selecting the adjuvant treatment approach most suitable to the patients' surgical and pathological stages, thereby safeguarding patient outcomes.

The effect of fertility-sparing surgery on sexuality and global quality of life in women with malignant ovarian germ cell and sex cord stromal tumors: an analysis of the CORSETT database of the AGO study group

Purpose

Malignant ovarian germ cell (MOGCT) and sex cord stromal tumors (SCST) are ovarian neoplasms that affect disproportionally young women. Little is known about the impact of surgical and adjuvant management of these patient’s sexual life. This study investigated the effect of fertility-sparing surgery on sexual activity and global quality of life (gQoL) in women with MOGCT and SCST.

Methods

CORSETT was an observational, multicenter, mixed retrospective/prospective cohort study of the AGO study group. Women of any age who had been diagnosed with MOGCTs and SCSTs between 2001 and 2011 were asked to complete the Sexual Activity Questionnaire (SAQ) and the EORTC QLQ-C30.

Results

In total, 355 patients were included. Of these, 152 patients with confirmed histological diagnosis had completed the questionnaires. A total of 106 patients were diagnosed with SCST and 46 with MOGCT.

Totally, 83 women (55%) were sexually active. After fertility-sparing surgery, patients had a 2.6 fold higher probability for being sexually active than after non-fertility-conserving treatment (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.6, p = 0.01). After adjustment for age, time since diagnosis, FIGO stage, histology and phase of disease, the OR dropped to 1.8 (p = 0.22).

Of the sexually active patients, 35 (42%) reported high levels of discomfort during intercourse; 38% after fertility-sparing; and 58% after non-fertility-sparing surgery (adjusted OR 2.8, p = 0.18).

Women with fertility-conserving treatment reported a significantly better global QoL (F_adj 2.1, 6.2 points difference, p = 0.03) but not more pleasure during intercourse than women without fertility-sparing surgery (F_adj 0.4, p = 0.52).

Conclusion

Fertility preserving approaches should be offered to every patient, when oncologically acceptable.

Surveillance Only for High-risk FIGO Stage IA/IB Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors: Results From a National Cancer Database

OBJECTIVES

Investigate the use and outcomes of a surveillance only strategy for patients with high-risk stage I malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

METHODS

Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA/IB grade 2 or 3 immature teratoma, yolk sac, or mixed germ cell tumor diagnosed between 2004 and 2014 who had at least 1 month of follow-up were drawn from the National Cancer Database. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated for each histologic subtype using Kaplan-Meier curves, and compared with the log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 497 patients were identified; 115 (23.1%) with grade 2 immature teratoma, 157 (31.6%) with grade 3 immature teratoma, 101 (20.3%) with yolk sac tumor, 124 (25%) with mixed germ cell tumor. Rate of adjuvant chemotherapy was 68.2% (655 patients), while rate of lymph node biopsy/dissection was 55.2%. A total of 19 (3.8%) deaths were observed at a median of 29.8 months. There was no difference in OS between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy with grade 2 (P=0.35) and grade 3 immature teratoma (P=0.47) or mixed germ cell tumors (P=0.55). Patients with yolk sac tumors those who received chemotherapy had better OS compared with those who did not, P=0.019; 5-year OS rates were 92.7% and 79.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A surveillance only strategy for patients with stage I malignant ovarian germ cell tumors is associated with excellent survival outcomes for patients with grade 2 or 3 immature teratoma or mixed germ cell tumors.

Analysis of the genomic landscape of yolk sac tumors reveals mechanisms of evolution and chemoresistance

Yolk sac tumors (YSTs) are a major histological subtype of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors with a relatively poor prognosis. The molecular basis of this disease has not been thoroughly characterized at the genomic level. Here we perform whole-exome and RNA sequencing on 41 clinical tumor samples from 30 YST patients, with distinct responses to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. We show that microsatellite instability status and mutational signatures are informative of chemoresistance. We identify somatic driver candidates, including significantly mutated genes KRAS and KIT and copy-number alteration drivers, including deleted ARID1A and PARK2, and amplified ZNF217, CDKN1B, and KRAS. YSTs have very infrequent TP53 mutations, whereas the tumors from patients with abnormal gonadal development contain both KRAS and TP53 mutations. We further reveal a role of OVOL2 overexpression in YST resistance to cisplatin. This study lays a critical foundation for understanding key molecular aberrations in YSTs and developing related therapeutic strategies.

Imaging in gynecological disease (22): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian embryonal carcinomas, non-gestational choriocarcinomas and malignant mixed germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of three types of rare malignant ovarian germ cell tumor: embryonal carcinoma, non-gestational choriocarcinoma and malignant mixed germ cell tumor.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter study. From the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian embryonal carcinoma, non-gestational choriocarcinoma or malignant mixed germ cell tumor, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced ultrasound examiner between 2000 and 2020. Additional patients with the same histology were identified from the databases of the departments of gynecological oncology in the participating centers. All tumors were described using IOTA terminology. Three examiners reviewed all available ultrasound images and described them using pattern recognition.

RESULTS

One patient with embryonal carcinoma, five patients with non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma and seven patients with ovarian malignant mixed germ cell tumor (six primary tumors and one recurrence) were identified. Seven patients were included in the IOTA studies and six patients were examined outside of the IOTA studies. The median age at diagnosis was 26 (range, 14-77) years. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were highest in non-gestational choriocarcinomas and alpha-fetoprotein levels were highest in malignant mixed germ cell tumors. Most tumors were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage I (9/12 (75.0%)). All tumors were unilateral, and the median largest diameter was 129 (range, 38-216) mm. Of the tumors, 11/13 (84.6%) were solid and 2/13 (15.4%) were multilocular-solid; 9/13 (69.2%) manifested abundant vascularization on color Doppler examination. Using pattern recognition, the typical ultrasound appearance was a large solid tumor with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and often dispersed cysts which, in most cases, were small and irregular. Some tumors had smooth contours while others had irregular contours.

CONCLUSIONS

A unilateral, large solid tumor with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and with dispersed small cystic areas in a young woman should raise the suspicion of a rare malignant germ cell tumor. This suspicion can guide the clinician to test tumor markers specific for malignant germ cell tumors. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Impact of Lymphadenectomy on Outcomes of Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The study aimed to assess if additional lymphadenectomy with primary staging surgery improves overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of early-stage ovarian cancer (ESOC).

Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for any type of study comparing OS or DFS between lymphadenectomy and control groups for any type of ESOC. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were pooled in a random-effects model.

Results: Twelve studies were included. Meta-analysis indicated that lymphadenectomy is associated with significantly improved OS only for epithelial tumors (HR 0.75 95% CI 0.68, 0.82 I² = 0% p < 0.00001) but not for malignant germ cell tumors (HR 1.31 95% CI 0.88, 1.94 I² = 0% p = 0.18). Single studies indicated a tendency of improved OS with lymphadenectomy which was significant for ovarian carcinosarcoma but not for sex cord-stromal tumors. On meta-regression of all histological types, the percentage of patients with lymph node metastasis in the lymphadenectomy group was not found to influence the effect size. Meta-analysis also indicated that lymphadenectomy is associated with significantly improved DFS for epithelial tumors (HR 0.59 95% CI 0.45, 0.77 I² = 0% p < 0.0001). Single studies on malignant germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumors failed to demonstrate any significant beneficial effect of lymphadenectomy on DFS.

Conclusions: Within the limitations of the review, lymphadenectomy may improve OS and DFS for epithelial ESOC. Scarce data suggest that lymphadenectomy is not associated with improved outcomes for malignant germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumors but may benefit ovarian carcinosarcoma. Large-scale RCTs and robust observational studies shall improve current evidence.

Gynecologic Malignancies in Children and Adolescents: How Common is the Uncommon?

The aim of this study is to assess the projected incidence and prognostic indicators of gynecologic malignancies in the pediatric population. In this population-based retrospective cohort study, girls ≤18 years with ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal and vulvar malignancies diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-18 registry. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze overall survival (OS). The age-adjusted annual incidence of gynecologic malignancies was 6.7 per 1,000,000 females, with neoplasms of the ovary accounting for 87.5%, vagina 4.5%, cervix 3.9%, uterus 2.5% and vulva 1.6% of all gynecologic malignancies. Malignant germ-cell tumors represented the most common ovarian neoplasm, with an increased incidence in children from 5-18 years. Although certain subtypes were associated with advanced disease stages, the 10-year OS rate was 96.0%. Sarcomas accounted for the majority of vaginal, cervical, uterine and vulvar malignancies. The majority of vaginal neoplasms were observed in girls between 0-4 years, and the 10-year OS rate was 86.1%. Overall, gynecologic malignancies accounted for 4.2% of all malignancies in girls aged 0-18 years and the histologic subtypes and prognosis differed significantly from patients in older age groups.

Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Commonly Expresses in Germ Cell Tumors: Evaluation on a Large Series from Multiple Centers

Aim

The concrete features of expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) are needed to be revealed in male and female germ cell tumors (GCTs).

Methods

TdT immunostaining was performed in 195 GCTs, and the tumor and/or tumorous components included seminomas, germ cell neoplasias in situ (GCNISs), dysgerminomas, embryonal carcinomas (ECs), extragonadal germinomas, yolk sac tumors (YSTs), teratomas, and spermatocytic tumors. Twenty-one sex cord-stromal tumors were also added. Expression of the classical germ cell tumor markers (PLAP, OCT4, SALL4, CD117, and D2-40) was compared to that of TDT.

Results

Nearly all (tumors or tumorous components) seminomas (99%, 107/108), GCNISs (98%, 51/52), dysgerminomas (94%, 17/18), ECs (100%, 15/15), and extragonadal germinomas (100%, 11/11) were positive for TdT. None of the cells in YSTs (0/38), teratomas (0/19), spermatocytic tumors (0/1), or sex cord-stromal tumors (0/21) were immunoreactive for TdT staining. The normal testicular and ovarian gonadal tissues were also negative for TdT. However, TdT presented with significant loss of antigen immunoreactivity in the paraffin-embedded tissues older than 3 years, giving rise to weak or moderate staining in a subset of cases. The expressions of TdT showed no significances with PLAP, OCT4, SALL4, CD117, and D2-40 during the diagnosis of the most GCTs (P>0.05), except for with PLAP, SALL4, or CD117 in YST (P=0.000 each), and D117 (P=0.000) or D2-40 (P=0.006) in ECs.

Conclusion

Our findings further verify that TdT can serve as a new GCT marker for seminomas, GCNISs, dysgerminomas, ECs, and extragonadal germinomas, with a highly positive rate. Awareness of TdT positivity in GCTs contributes to the prevention of erroneous diagnoses, particularly in the setting of core needle biopsies. To determine the properties where TdT staining may not be apparent in some old archived paraffin-embedded tissues, one could circumvent the potential misinterpretations of false-negative immunohistochemistry results.

Fertility-sparing Surgery for Patients with Cervical, Endometrial, and Ovarian Cancers

OBJECTIVE

Nearly 10% of the 1.3 million women living with a gynecologic cancer are aged <50 years. For these women, although their cancer treatment can be lifesaving, it's also life-altering because traditional surgical procedures can cause infertility and, in many cases, induce surgical menopause. For appropriately selected patients, fertility-sparing options can reduce the reproductive impact of lifesaving cancer treatments. This review will highlight existing recommendations as well as innovative research for fertility-sparing treatment in the 3 major gynecologic cancers.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

For early-stage cervical cancers, fertility-sparing surgeries include cold knife conization, simple hysterectomy with ovarian preservation, or radical trachelectomy with placement of a permanent cerclage. In locally advanced cervical cancer, ovarian transposition before radiation therapy can help preserve ovarian function. For endometrial cancers, fertility-sparing treatment includes progestin therapy with endometrial sampling every 3 to 6 months. After cancer regression, progestin therapy can be halted to allow attempts to conceive. Hysterectomy with ovarian preservation can also be considered, allowing for fertility using assisted reproductive technology and a gestational carrier. For ovarian cancers, fertility-sparing surgery includes unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (with lymphadenectomy and staging depending on tumor histology). With higher-risk histology or higher early-stage disease, adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended-however, this carries a 3% to 10% risk of ovarian failure. Use of oocyte or embryo cryopreservation in patients with early-stage ovarian malignancy remains an area of ongoing research.

CONCLUSION

Overall, fertility-sparing management of gynecologic cancers is associated with acceptable rates of progression-free survival and overall survival and is less life-altering than more radical surgical approaches.

Reproductive Outcomes and Fertility Preservation Strategies in Women with Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors after Fertility Sparing Surgery

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors are rare tumors that mainly affect patients of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive outcomes and fertility preservation strategies in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors after fertility-sparing surgery. Data in literature support that fertility-sparing surgery is associated with an excellent oncological outcome not only in early stages malignant ovarian germ cell tumors but also in advanced stages. Moreover, the possibility of performing conservative treatment should be considered even in case of relapse or advanced disease, given the high chemosensitivity. Indeed, available data have shown that menstrual function is maintained after platinum-based regimens in over 85-95% of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and rate of premature menopause reported in literature ranges between 3% and 7.4%, while premature ovarian failure rates are between 3.4% and 5%. Moreover, reproductive outcomes are about 80% with no increase in the risk of teratogenicity compared to general population. Therefore, conservative surgery for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors currently may represent a therapeutic option in patients who wish to preserve fertility but must be available for extended follow-up and after subscribing to informed consent.

Ovarian dysgerminoma detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT technique: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian dysgerminoma (OD) mostly affect young women, have a rapid growth rate, and could result in complications such as rupture, hemoperitoneum or torsion, and acute abdomen. However, there have been no reports of OD on F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 21-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital on February 6, 2016, due to "reduced menstrual flow with abdominal distension for 3 months".

DIAGNOSIS

Color Doppler ultrasound showed a large solid mass in the abdomen and pelvis. Serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was elevated significantly. Subsequent computed tomography (CT) of chest showed a large effusion in the right thoracic cavity. Abdominal CT scan revealed the presence of a solid mass occupying a large space in the middle and lower abdomen, suggesting that it derived from the left ovary. Then, she underwent F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT examination for further diagnosis and staging. PET/CT showed a large occupying lesion in the abdomen. The maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) of F-FDG was 15.8. No obvious hypermetabolic metastases were observed in the other parts of the body. Postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the ovarian dysgerminoma.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent surgery. Chemotherapy was successfully carried out post-operation.

OUTCOMES

Fortunately, the patient is responding well to treatment and the postoperative recurrence-free survival time has been more than 3 years.

CONCLUSION

OD usually occurs in young women and is characterized by large solid pelvic mass. The F-FDG PET/CT scan shows abnormally increased metabolism of the tumor. Because of the high metabolic characteristics, F-FDG PET/CT may be of great significance in the diagnosis and staging of OD.

Germinal ovarian tumors in reproductive age women: Fertility-sparing and outcome

MOGCTs (malignant ovarian germ cell tumors) are rare tumors that mainly affect patients of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fertility and survival outcomes in young women with MOCGTs treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS).From 2000 to 2018, data from 28 patients of reproductive age with a diagnosis of MOGCT at the University of Bari were collected. Most received FSS, and in patients treated conservatively, the reproductive outcome and survival were investigated. Data of patient demographics, clinical presentation, oncology marker dosage, staging, type of surgery, histological examination, survival, and reproductive outcome were collected from hospital and office charts. All informed consent was obtained from all patients. The median age was 24 (range: 9-45 years). The majority of the patients had stage IIIC. Twenty-four woman received FSS consisting of unilateral ovariectomy and omentectomy, whereas only 4 women, based on their stage (IIIC), received a radical surgery (hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy). Our study shows that FSS in MOGCTs can produce good results both on reproductive outcomes and on survival. Indeed, in our group, there was only 1 case of exitus as result of recurrence. Furthermore, patients after FSS maintained normal ovarian function and 5 of 5 women who tried to get pregnant succeeded spontaneously. The median follow-up was 90 months (range 3-159).Conservative surgery for MOGCTs should be considered for women of reproductive age who wish to preserve fertility.

Ovarian Dysgerminoma: A Tertiary Center Experience

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the oncologic outcome in patients with pure ovarian dysgerminomas treated and followed-up in our hospital. Methods: This study included 18 ovarian dysgerminoma patients with unilateral and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) ± hysterectomy+omentectomy+bilateral pelvic ± para-aortic lymphadenectomy+peritoneal cytologic sampling. Results: Four (22%) patients underwent definitive surgery, including type I hysterectomy and BSO. Only one of the remaining 14 patients underwent BSO because of bilateral streak gonad presence during intraoperative examination. Thirteen patients (72%) had conservative surgeries. In addition, staging surgeries were performed to all patients except for one patient with 16 weeks of pregnancy (patient #3) in the study group. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was part of the staging procedure except for this pregnant patient. Lymph node metastasis was positive in four (22%) patients. Three (16%) patients recurred and none of them died because of disease during follow-up period. Two of the relapsed patients were treated with combination of surgery and chemotherapy, whereas the third patient received only chemotherapy for treatment. Conclusions: Fertility sparing surgery should be the choice of treatment in patients with pure ovarian dysgerminoma. In addition, staging surgery, including retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is obligatory for determining stage IA patients who are exempt from adjuvant chemotherapy. Close surveillance policy enables early detection of patients with recurrences in whom salvage therapy is highly curable.

Napabucasin overcomes cisplatin resistance in ovarian germ cell tumor-derived cell line by inhibiting cancer stemness

Background

Cisplatin resistance of ovarian yolk sac tumors (oYST) is a clinical challenge due to dismal patient prognosis, even though the disease is extremely rare. We investigated potential association between cisplatin resistance and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers in chemoresistant oYST cells and targeting strategies to overcome resistance in oYST.

Methods

Chemoresistant cells were derived from chemosensitive human oYST cells by cultivation in cisplatin in vitro. Derivative cells were characterized by chemoresistance, functional assays, flow cytometry, gene expression and protein arrays focused on CSC markers. RNAseq, methylation and microRNA profiling were performed. Quail chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) with implanted oYST cells were used to analyze the micro-tumor extent and interconnection with the CAM. Tumorigenicity in vivo was determined on immunodeficient mouse model. Chemoresistant cells were treated by inhibitors intefering with the CSC properties to examine the chemosensitization to cisplatin.

Results

Long-term cisplatin exposure resulted in seven-fold higher IC₅₀ value in resistant cells, cross-resistance to oxaliplatin and carboplatin, and increased migratory capacity, invasiveness and tumorigenicity, associated with hypomethylation of differentially methylated genes/promotors. Resistant cells exhibited increased expression of prominin-1 (CD133), ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), aldehyde dehydrogenase 3 isoform A1 (ALDH3A1), correlating with reduced gene and promoter methylation, as well as increased expression of ALDH1A3 and higher overall ALDH enzymatic activity, rendering them cross-resistant to DEAB, disulfiram and napabucasin. Salinomycin and tunicamycin were significantly more toxic to resistant cells. Pretreatment with napabucasin resensitized the cells to cisplatin and reduced their tumorigenicity in vivo.

Conclusions

The novel chemoresistant cells represent unique model of refractory oYST. CSC markers are associated with cisplatin resistance being possible targets in chemorefractory oYST.

Rare ovarian tumours. Other treatments for ovarian cancer

AIM

The description of rare malignant ovarian tumours and the most suitable treatments. Alternative therapies different from intravenous chemotherapy are also explained.

METHODS

Literature review and ongoing trial information have been used to elaborate this guide.

RESULTS

Each ovarian cancer type must be identified and treated properly from diagnostic to surgery, adjuvant treatment and metastatic disease. Hormonotherapy can be useful as an alternative treatment, especially in low-grade ovarian cancer and endometrioid subtype. Tumour characterisation is appropriated for treatment selection when targeted therapy is indicated. MEK inhibitors, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors, therapies against integrins, antibody-drug conjugates and other strategies are described. Antiangiogenics, PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy are discussed in other parts of this publication.

CONCLUSION

Different ovarian cancer types must receive the appropriated treatment. Alternative therapies may be evaluated beyond the standard therapy, frequently in a clinical trial, and an individualised molecular study may help to find the best treatment.

[Clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary: experience of 21 years old Tunisian]

Introduction

les tumeurs germinales malignes de l´ovaire (TGMO) sont des tumeurs ovariennes rares. Chaque type histologique peut avoir des particularités cliniques et thérapeutiques qu´il est important de connaître. L´objectif était de rapporter et analyser les particularités des données épidémiologiques, diagnostiques, anatomopathologiques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques des TGMO dans notre contexte tunisien.

Méthodes

notre étude est une enquête rétrospective descriptive et analytique réalisée aux services de Gynécologie-obstétrique du CHU FARHAT HACHED de Sousse sur une période de 21 ans colligeant tous les cas des patientes ayant été traitées pour TGMO.

Résultats

un nombre total de 30 dossiers a été éligible pour notre étude. L´âge moyen de nos patientes était de 22ans. La majorité des patientes étaient en période d´activité génitale. Le motif de consultation était représenté essentiellement par les douleurs abdomino-pelviennes suivie d´une augmentation du volume abdominal. L´échographie abdominopelvienne a été pratiquée chez 80% de nos patientes montrant un aspect suspect de malignité chez 100% d´entre elles. Pour nos patientes, 70% ont été abordées par laparotomie médiane vu le volume tumoral et 30% seulement par cœlioscopie. 76,7% ont eu un traitement conservateur. On a noté la prédominance de stade I alors qu´on n´a pas eu de cas en stade IV. La survie globale tout stade confondu était de 96,7% à 2ans et de 85,7% à 5ans et 75,8% à 10ans. Les facteurs pronostiques des TGMO isolés de notre série étaient le délai de consultation supérieur à 6mois, l´âge supérieur à 30ans, la taille tumorale supérieure à 20cm et le stade tumoral.

Conclusion

il serait plus intéressant de rassembler les autres cas de TGMO diagnostiqués au niveau des autres registres du cancer du pays afin d´établir un registre national des tumeurs rares de l´ovaire.

Anti-cancer therapy and clinical trial considerations for gynecologic oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has consumed considerable resources and has impacted the delivery of cancer care. Patients with cancer may have factors which place them at high risk for COVID 19 morbidity or mortality. Highly immunosuppressive chemotherapy regimens and possible exposure to COVID-19 during treatment may put patients at additional risk. The Society of Gynecologic Oncology convened an expert panel to address recommendations for best practices during this crisis to minimize risk to patients from deviations in cancer care and from COVID-19 morbidity.

METHODS

An expert panel convened to develop initial consensus guidelines regarding anti-neoplastic therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to gynecologic cancer care and clinical trials.

RESULTS

COVID-19 poses special risks to patients who are older, have medical co-morbidities, and cancer. In addition, this pandemic will likely strain resources, making delivery of cancer care or conduct of clinical trials unpredictable. Recommendations are to limit visits and contact with health care facilities by using telemedicine when appropriate, and choosing regimens which require less frequent visits and which are less immunosuppressive. Deviations will occur in clinical trials as a result of limited resources, and it is important to understand regulatory obligations to trial sponsors as well as to the IRB to ensure that clinical trial and patient safety oversight are maintained.

CONCLUSIONS

The ongoing crisis will strain resources needed to deliver cancer care. When alterations to the delivery of care are mandated, efforts should be taken to minimize risks and maximize safety while approximating standard practice.

The impact of lymphadenectomy on prognosis and survival of clinically apparent early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of lymphadenectomy (LND) on survival of clinically apparent early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the survival of patients who were diagnosed with the three most common histopathology types of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (yolk sac tumor, dysgerminoma and immature teratoma) and with clinical stage I and II disease, and treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between 1 January 1970 and 30 September 2018.

RESULTS

There were 227 stage I, 28 stage II and one stage IIIA cases after surgery. One hundred and twenty-six patients underwent lymphadenectomy and 130 did not. Only one lymph node metastasis (0.8%) was found in the lymphadenectomy group. Two hundred and twenty-four out of 256 patients (87.5%) received postoperative chemotherapy. There were five relapses (4.0%) in the lymphadenectomy group and four (3.1%) in the non-lymphadenectomy group. Median follow-up was 68 months (range, 1-388). The 10-year disease-free survival rate in the lymphadenectomy group and non-lymphadenectomy group were 88.2 and 96.4%, respectively (P = 0.412); the 10-year overall survival rate in the two groups were 95.7 and 98.2%; respectively (P = 0.798). The results showed that lymphadenectomy did not improve patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphadenectomy may have little impact on survival in patients with clinically apparent early-stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and may be omitted in the surgical treatment.

Rare ovarian tumors: an update on diagnosis and treatment

Rare ovarian cancers occur frequently. Almost half of ovarian malignancies relate to several different 'rare' histotypes, according to the World Health Organization. The most common tumors are epithelial tumors, including high grade serous carcinomas, the presumed 'frequent ovarian cancers', together with low grade serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell, and carcinosarcomas. Sex cord stromal tumors and germ cell carcinomas define two other groups of different subtypes, and small cell carcinomas are an independent high grade subtype closely related to the family of rhabdoid tumors. All of these cancers are primary ovarian cancers, classified by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. However, the tumor subtypes display various epidemiologic, clinical, pathological, prognostic, and therapeutic characteristics. Because of the scarcity of data, current understanding of each subtype is limited and treatment has generally been derived from the more common tumor types. The aim of this article is to review the current literature on rare ovarian malignancies.

Performance of lymphadenectomy for apparent early stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors in the era of platinum-based chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the patterns of use and impact of lymphadenectomy (LND) on overall survival (OS) of patients with apparent early stage malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs).

METHODS

Patients with apparent stage I MOGCT diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were drawn from the National Cancer Database. The performance of LND was assessed from the pathology report. OS was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves, and compared with the log-rank test. A multivariate Cox analysis was performed to control for confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 2774 patients were identified; 1426 (51.4%) underwent LND. The median number of lymph nodes (LN) removed was 9 (range 1-81); 48.3% of patients had at least 10 lymph nodes removed. The rate of regional lymph node metastasis was 10.3% (147 patients). There was no difference in OS, between patients who did (n = 1287) and did not (n = 1210) undergo LND, p = 0.81; 5-yr OS rates were 96.5% and 97.6% respectively. After controlling for patient age, insurance status, histology, presence of medical comorbidities, and receipt of chemotherapy, the performance of LND was not associated with better survival (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 0.82, 2.14).

CONCLUSIONS

While LN metastasis is common in apparent early stage MOGCTs, the performance of LND was not associated with a survival benefit.

Outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with recurrent and persistent malignant ovarian germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVE

Due to the rarity of recurrent and persistent malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs), there is no standardized protocol for salvage therapy. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with recurrent and persistent MOGCTs.

METHODS

Clinical data for 59 patients with recurrent and persistent MOGCTs admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1, 2000, to April 30, 2018, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-one cases (35.6%) were recurrent, and 38 (64.4%) were persistent. Patient age ranged from 1 to 39 years, and disease stage was as follows: 33 stage I, 4 stage II, 21 stage III, and 1 stage IV. There were 19 immature teratomas, 26 yolk sac tumors, 1 dysgerminoma, and 13 mixed germ cell tumors. Regarding the primary surgery, fertility was preserved in 49 patients and not preserved in 10 patients. Among the patients who underwent fertility-preserving primary surgery, 40 had fertility preserved in the second operation, and 9 did not. In the mean follow-up of 52.6 months (range 2-279 months) after recurrence, 19 patients (32.2%) experienced a second relapse, and 16 (27.1%) died. The 5-year survival and progression-free survival rates after relapse were 70.0% and 67.0%, respectively. The optimal salvage surgery and chemotherapy regimen after relapse were independent prognostic factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of recurrent and persistent MOGCTs was good after salvage therapy. The optimal salvage surgery and adjuvant standardized chemotherapy significantly impact patient prognosis. For young nulliparous patients, secondary fertility-sparing salvage therapy can be considered.

Role of staging surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in adult patients with apparent stage I pure immature ovarian teratoma after fertility-sparing surgery

OBJECTIVE

The standard treatment for young patients with stage I malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, except stage I dysgerminoma and stage IA G1 immature teratoma, is unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with complete staging surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. However, the role of complete staging surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of complete staging surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early-stage pure immature teratoma after fertility-sparing surgery.

METHODS

Patients with stage I pure immature teratoma who underwent fertility-sparing surgery between January 1986 and June 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Fertility-sparing surgery was defined as preservation of the uterus and at least one adnexa. The inclusion criteria were age >18 years, stage I disease (confined to one ovary), and diagnosis of pure immature teratoma. Patients with distant metastasis or mixed ovarian germ cell tumor were excluded. Complete staging surgery was defined as peritoneal cytology examination, peritoneal biopsy, omentectomy, or omental biopsy with or without lymph node dissection. Patients designated with stage I disease without complete staging surgery were categorized as stage X. Disease-free survival was defined as the interval from the date of surgery to the date of recurrence or censoring. Disease-free survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were included in the analysis, with a median age of 26 years (range 18-40): 26 (34.7%) patients had received complete staging surgery; 51 (68%) patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy while 24 (32%) underwent surgery alone; and 4 patients (5.3%) had recurrent disease during a median follow-up time of 80.2 months (range 13.7-261). The recurrence rates in the chemotherapy group and surveillance groups were 3.9% and 8.3%, respectively (p=0.46). All patients were successfully salvaged, except for one death. Tumor relapse occurred in patients with all grades of immature teratoma (G1: 1/35; G2: 2/25; G3: 1/15). Univariate analysis revealed that complete staging surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and tumor grade were not associated with 5 year disease-free survival (p=0.69, p=0.46, p=0.7, respectively). The 5 year disease-free survival rate was 94.6% and the overall survival rate was 98.7%.

CONCLUSION

Adult patients with stage I pure immature teratoma had 98.7% overall survival and recurrence rates were low after fertility-sparing surgery.

Detailed overview on rare malignant ovarian tumors

The group of rare malignant ovarian tumors includes the group of germ cell tumors, sex cords stromal ovarian tumors, small cell carcinoma, malignant Brenner tumors, rare epithelial tumors such as mucinous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, or low-grade serous carcinoma, as well as ovarian carcinosarcoma. Together they comprise about 10% of all ovarian tumors. Due to their low prevalence and their heterogeneity, data and treatment recommendations are limited. Even though all ovarian tumors are staged according to the FIGO staging of epithelial ovarian tumors, treatment differs especially in germ cell tumors and sex cords stromal ovarian tumors. Non-epithelial ovarian tumors can arise from a variety of ovarian precursor cells such as germ cells, granulosa cells, theca cells, or stromal fibroblasts. As can be expected already due to their divergent precursor lesions, these malignancies are substantially different but united by their rarity. This overview article gives a comprehensive summary on the pathology and clinical presentation, as well as therapy recommendations of a selection of those rare ovarian tumors, based on the latest national guidelines and related important publications.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Pregnancy Complicated by Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features, treatment, and feto-maternal outcomes of pregnancy complicated by malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs), to increase the awareness on this condition.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with MOGCTs during pregnancy, who were treated and followed-up at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to December 2017. The demographic characteristics, pathological features, treatment and prognosis were analyzed.

Results

The histological subtypes varied in 14 patients (dysgerminoma, n=1; immature teratoma, n=4; yolk sac tumor, n=6; and mixed germ cell tumors, n=3). Ten (71.4%) patients, including three who opted for conservative therapy until childbirth, one who only received salvage chemotherapy during pregnancy, and six who underwent cystectomy or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy during pregnancy, desired fetal preservation. After undergoing surgery, four patients chose surveillance instead of timely adjuvant chemotherapy. Eight patients delivered their babies, and the preterm delivery rate was 50.0%. One newborn died of premature birth. The median follow-up period was 44 (range: 13 to 86) months. During the current study period, 12 patients had survived and did not report any diseases. However, two died due to disease progression.

Conclusion

Pregnant women with MOGCTs had favorable outcomes. However, when a malignant tumor is suspected, surgery cannot be avoided. Thus, instead of timely postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, close surveillance may be an acceptable alternative for pregnant women with low-risk MOGCTs.

Trends in the surgical management of malignant ovarian germcell tumors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate trends in the surgical management of young women and pediatric patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) and associated survival outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database we identified patients under 40 years who underwent surgery between 1994 and 2014. The Joinpoint Regression Program was employed to investigate the presence of temporal trends and calculate average annual percent change (AAPC) rates. For analysis purposes two age groups were formed; pediatric/adolescent (≤21 yrs) and young adult (22-40 yrs). Histology was categorized into dysgerminoma, immature teratoma, yolk-sac tumor, mixed germ cell tumor and other histology. Cancer specific survival was compared using log-rank tests.

RESULTS

A total of 2238 patients were identified, with median age 21 years. Only 12.4% underwent hysterectomy. One third underwent omentectomy, and one half underwent lymphadenectomy (LND). A decrease in the rate of omentectomy (AAPC: -2.15, 95% CI: -3.4, -0.9) and hysterectomy (AAPC: -3.31, 95% CI: -6.1, -0.4) was observed. There was no change in the rate of LND (AAPC: 0.17, 95% CI: -0.7, 1.1). Pediatric patients were less likely to undergo omentectomy (30.2% vs 35.5%, p < 0.001), hysterectomy (3.5% vs 22%, p < 0.001) and LND (45.6% vs 54.7%, p < 0.001). There were no apparent survival differences according to the performance of hysterectomy, omentectomy or LND, when stratified by early (stage I) and advanced stage (II-IV), (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric patients with MOGCTs undergo less extensive surgical staging. A trend towards less extensive surgical procedures for young women over time was observed, without an apparent detrimental effect on cancer specific survival.

Persistently elevated alpha-fetoprotein associated with chronic hepatitis B during chemotherapy for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: a case series and a review of the literature

Background

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) plays a crucial role in the management of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) and is an important reference index for chemotherapy termination. However, a high level of AFP can also be caused by several benign diseases, causing confusion and impacting treatment decisions.

Case presentation

We described four patients who were diagnosed with MOGCTs; the histologic subtype in two of them was mixed MOGCTs (yolk sac tumor with mature teratoma), while the rest was immature teratoma. The serum AFP level of each patient was abnormal before surgery, but it was still persistently elevated around 300 ng/ml even after additional cycles of chemotherapy. All patients were thoroughly evaluated, but we did not find any evidence of disease progression or residual tumors. Liver function tests were normal, whereas serum assays revealed positive of hepatitis B surface antigen, and two patients had a high level of HBV-DNA. They were chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus and never received relevant treatments. Then they were managed with tumor surveillance and the antiviral treatment. Thereafter, the AFP levels presented a slowly decreasing trend.

Conclusions

False elevation of AFP in MOGCTs is a rare condition and should be assessed with a comprehensive evaluation to avoid unnecessary treatments.