Adjuvant therapy in high-risk early endometrial carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 46 cases

Cutaneous metastasis in endometrial cancer: once in a blue moon - case report

Background

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies are uncommon. Moreover, endometrial carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the skin, with a reported prevalence of 0.8%. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old woman who developed cutaneous metastases from an endometrial carcinoma.

Case presentation

When admitted to our department, the patient underwent a biopsy that showed the presence of cutaneous metastasis in relation to her initial endometrial cancer, diagnosed 3 years earlier. Thereafter, she was treated with a bilateral uterine artery embolization and chemotherapy. The patient had complications and survived 5 months after the diagnosis of the cutaneous metastasis. She died from sepsis.

Conclusion

Cutaneous metastases of the endometrial carcinoma are usually incurable and suggest an unfortunate prognosis where palliation is the mainstay of patient management.

Proteomic identification of PKM2 and HSPA5 as potential biomarkers for predicting high-risk endometrial carcinoma

AIM

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is a common gynecologic malignancy. EC has a favorable prognosis because it is usually diagnosed at an early stage. However, the recurrence rate is high and the prognosis is poor for high-risk EC. Identification of new biomarkers for the prediction of high-risk features will help to guide the treatment and improve the prognosis of patients with EC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Differentially expressed proteins among high-risk EC, low-risk EC, and normal endometrial tissues were determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and a liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) proteomics approach. Then, the candidate proteins were examined by immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen protein spots were differentially expressed between the high- and low-risk groups, and 25 protein spots were differentially expressed between the high-risk and normal endometrium groups. Twenty-two proteins were identified by MS analysis. PKM2 and HSPA5 were elevated in the high-risk EC tissues compared with both the low-risk EC and normal endometrial tissues. The elevated expression of PKM2 and HSPA5 in high-risk EC tissue was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis.

DISCUSSION

PKM2 and HSPA5 may play an important role in the progression of EC. These two proteins are potential biomarkers to better predict high-risk EC and thereby guide clinical therapy.

Ultrastructural changes in the rat kidney after single dose of cyclophosphamide—Possible roles for peroxisome proliferation and lysosomal dysfunction in cyclophosphamide-induced renal damage

Electron microscopy was used to examine changes in the subcellular organelles of the rat kidney at different time intervals after a single exposure to cyclophosphamide (CP). The morphological changes were studied at different time points (6 hrs, 16 hrs and 24 hrs) after a single-dose administration of CP. Six rats were killed at each time intervals after the administration of CP. Saline-treated rats served as controls. CP administration resulted in alterations in various subcellular organelles including peroxisomes, lysosomes, mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the renal tubular epithelium as well as damage to the glomerulus. The basement membrane of the glomerulus was thickened. Many podocytes were destroyed. The nucleoplasm of the endothelial cell showed fewer granularities. The tubules were distorted and the brush border was destroyed. Two striking features in the renal tubular cells are increase in number and size of the peroxisomes (peroxisome proliferation) and decrease in the number of lysosomes. The mitochondria were elongated and the number was increased in the tubules of CP-treated rats. The ER was dilated. Cell necrosis was also seen. This study is an evidence of changes in morphology of rat kidney after induction of renal damage by a single dose of CP. Since transmission electron microscopy is the highest magnification tool at present, it can be useful in estimating the degree of injury and outcome of alternative treatment strategies in the management of CP-induced renal damage after establishing a scoring system.

Current status in the management of uterine corpus cancer in Korea

Uterine corpus cancer has increased in prevalence in Korean women over the last decade. Recently, elegant studies have been reported from many institutes. To improve treatment strategies, a review of our own data is warranted. This work will discuss the risks and prognostic factors for uterine corpus cancer, and the radiologic evaluation, prediction of lymph node metastasis, systematic lymphadenectomy, minimally invasive surgery, ovarian-saving surgery, fertility-sparing treatment, and adjuvant treatment in women with uterine cancer.