The cooperation between professional societies contributes to the capacity building and system development for prevention and control of cancer in low- and middle-income countries: the practice of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Project in Cambodia

Cervical cancer cell-derived Tie1 expression via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway promotes tumor progression

BACKGROUND

Tie1 orphan receptor has become a focus of research, Tie1 can form a polymer with Tie2, regulate the Ang/Tie2 pathway and play a vital role in pathological angiogenesis and tumor progression, the function of Tie1 has remained uncertain in the progression of cervical cancer (CC). Here, we investigated the functional influences of Tie1 overexpress on CC in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

We used Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis to detect the relative expression of Tie1 in CC, and we analyzed its connection with the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS)of CC patients. To prove the role of Tie1 in cell proliferation and metastatic, Tie1 expression in CC cell lines was upregulated by lentivirus.

RESULTS

The high expression of Tie1 in tumor cells of cervical cancer tissues is significantly correlated with FIGO stage, differentiated tumors, tumors with diameters, deep stromal invasion. We found that cell progression was promoted in Tie1-overexpress CC cell lines in vivo and in vitro. Tie1 potentially exerts a commanding influence on the expression of markers associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research indicates that Tie1 is highly connected to CC progression as it may play a role in the EMT process through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Feasibility, accuracy and acceptability of self-sampled human papillomavirus testing using careHPV in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is a potential option for cervical cancer screening, but research is scarce in Cambodia. We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy, and acceptability of self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study including women aged 20-49 years attending 2 national hospitals in the capital city was conducted. Women underwent both self-sampling and clinician-sampling of specimens, and were then asked to complete an acceptability questionnaire. The paired samples were analyzed for high-risk HPV by careHPV and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

A total of 375 women were eligible for inclusion. Based on PCR, 78.9% were negative for HPV in both self and clinician-samples, 9.9% had a complete HPV type match, and 6.1% had all HPV types in clinician-samples also detected in self-samples. In 5.1%, one or more HPV types identified in the clinician-samples were missed in self-samples. When using careHPV, the overall agreement between the 2 sampling methods was 95.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]=95.8-95.6) with good concordance (κ=0.66, 95% CI=0.56-0.76). Nearly 90% of the women preferred clinician-sampling over self-sampling, citing greater comfort, ease, and speed.

CONCLUSION

Self-sampled HPV testing using careHPV could be an option for cervical cancer screening in Cambodia; however, it requires periodic quality control of handling procedures. In addition, women's health education regarding the accuracy of self-sampled HPV testing and the importance of follow-up in cases of positive results is needed.

The current situation of health services for hydatidiform mole in Cambodia

AIM

Management of hydatidiform mole is important to reduce the mortality and morbidity of choriocarcinoma. This study aims to understand the existing health services for hydatidiform mole and to estimate the incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in Cambodia.

METHODS

A questionnaire was used to collect information on the existing health services for pregnancy and hydatidiform mole at health facilities from attendants of the 16th Annual Conference of the Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2017. The incidence of GTD in 2014-2017 was estimated using Health Information System data.

RESULTS

A total of 126 attendants, who were from all provinces except three provinces, answered the questionnaire. The work places were national hospitals (n = 29), provincial hospitals (n = 42), district hospitals (n = 20), health centers (n = 6), and others (n = 29). The answers of participants from the public sector suggested the following: Ultrasonography is available at all hospitals but not health centers; Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurement is only available at national hospitals; Treatment of hydatidiform mole is performed at national hospitals and provincial hospitals; and Treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is provided at national hospitals. The incidence of hydatidiform mole and GTN at health facilities in the public sector in 2014-2017 was 0.95 per 1000 deliveries and 6.58 per 100 000 deliveries, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that provincial hospitals are important to detect suspected invasive mole and refer to national hospitals for diagnosis and treatment. Further studies on the management of GTD and development of the guidelines of GTD are needed.