Improved survival for ovarian cancer patients stage IIIC treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital between 1984 - 2001

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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment of FIGO stage IIIC patients who were primarily treated completely or partially at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) during a 15-year period in order to discover possibilities for improvement of prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: A retrospective study based on record information from all patients with epithelial ovarian cancer stage IIIC treated at NRH 1985 - 2000, in total 776 patients. Results: We found age, amount of residual tumour after surgery for primary treatment and type of chemotherapy to be the most significant prognostic factors for overall survival. During the last 5-year period primary surgery was increasingly centralised, surgery was improved with lymph node staging and paclitaxel was used. Survival was significantly best during the last 5-year period and after macroscopically radical surgery. Also progression-free survival was best with no macroscopic tumour left. Conclusions: Improved survival during the last 5-year period is partly attributed to improved surgery, partly to the addition of paclitaxel. We believe that a further centralisation of primary surgery for advanced ovarian cancer can contribute towards a better prognosis.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Ovarian cancer stage IIIC. Consequences of treatment level on overall and progression-free survival

BACKGROUND

Maximum cytoreduction at primary surgery has been found to be one of the strongest prognostic factors for survival of ovarian cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of hospital level (primary vs secondary care centre), number and timing of surgery and chemotherapy on how radical the surgery was at primary treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer Stage IIIC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study based on record information from all patients with epithelial ovarian cancer Stage IIIC treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) 1985-2000, in total 776, subdivided into four groups: 1) Local primary surgery, no direct re-operation at NRH, no interval debulking; 2) local primary surgery, no direct re-operation, but interval debulking after 3-4 courses of chemotherapy at NRH; 3) local primary surgery, direct re-operation at NRH, no interval debulking; 4) primary surgery at NRH. Lymph node biopsies at re-operation in early stages and upgrading of stage where necessary were registered.

RESULTS

Whether surgery was radical or not was an independent prognostic factor for overall and progression-free survival. The treatment group was an independent prognostic factor for overall, but not for progression-free survival. Group 3 had significantly the best overall and progression-free survival (p = 0.01 and 0.05). For macroscopically radical surgery both overall and progression-free survival were found significantly better for groups 3, 4 and 1 than for group 2. Most lymph node biopsies were performed during the last period and 28% were upgraded from Stage I and II to IIIC. More patients were referred for primary surgery at NRH during the last 5-year period during which overall survival and time to progression were significantly better.

INTERPRETATION

Whether primary surgery is radical or not is a significant prognostic factor for survival and primary surgery is best performed by specialists in gynaecological oncology.

Long-term follow-up confirms a survival advantage of the paclitaxel-cisplatin regimen over the cyclophosphamide-cisplatin combination in advanced ovarian cancer

Two independent and consecutive randomized clinical trials, conducted by the American Gynecological Oncology Group and by an European-Canadian Intergroup, have shown superiority, in clinical response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival, of a cisplatin-paclitaxel regimen over cisplatin-cyclophosphamide given as first-line chemotherapy for women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The results of these studies, published with a median follow-up of about 3 years, have been updated with a 6.5-year follow-up: In each case, an 11% absolute gain in survival favoring the paclitaxel arm is shown; this advantage remains both statistically and clinically significant and supports a role for paclitaxel in frontline chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

Long-term follow-up confirms a survival advantage of the paclitaxel–cisplatin regimen over the cyclophosphamide–cisplatin combination in advanced ovarian cancer

Two independent and consecutive randomized clinical trials, conducted by the American Gynecological Oncology Group and by an European–Canadian Intergroup, have shown superiority, in clinical response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival, of a cisplatin–paclitaxel regimen over cisplatin–cyclophosphamide given as first-line chemotherapy for women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The results of these studies, published with a median follow-up of about 3 years, have been updated with a 6.5-year follow-up: In each case, an 11% absolute gain in survival favoring the paclitaxel arm is shown; this advantage remains both statistically and clinically significant and supports a role for paclitaxel in frontline chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

Randomized intergroup trial of cisplatin-paclitaxel versus cisplatin-cyclophosphamide in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: three-year results

BACKGROUND

A randomized trial conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG, study #111) in the United States showed a better outcome for patients with advanced ovarian cancer on the paclitaxel-cisplatin regimen than for those on a standard cyclophosphamide-cisplatin regimen. Before considering the paclitaxel-cisplatin regimen as the new "standard," a group of European and Canadian investigators planned a confirmatory phase III trial.

METHODS

This intergroup trial recruited 680 patients with broader selection criteria than the GOG #111 study and administered paclitaxel as a 3-hour instead of a 24-hour infusion; progression-free survival was the primary end point. Patient survival was analyzed by use of the Kaplan-Meier technique. Treatment effects on patient survival were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

The overall clinical response rate was 59% in the paclitaxel group and 45% in the cyclophosphamide group; the complete clinical remission rates were 41% and 27%, respectively; both differences were statistically significant (P =.01 for both). At a median follow-up of 38.5 months and despite a high rate of crossover (48%) from the cyclophosphamide arm to the paclitaxel arm at first detection of progression of disease, a longer progression-free survival (log-rank P =.0005; median of 15.5 months versus 11.5 months) and a longer overall survival (log-rank P =. 0016; median of 35.6 months versus 25.8 months) were seen in the paclitaxel regimen compared with the cyclophosphamide regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

There is strong and confirmatory evidence from two large randomized phase III trials to support paclitaxel-cisplatin as the new standard regimen for treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Normobaric oxygen treatment during radiotherapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Results from a prospective controlled randomized trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Hypoxia, a frequent characteristic of cervical cancer, is associated with reduced sensitivity to irradiation and thus may be a source of radiotherapy failure. This study was planned to test the hypothesis, that inhalation of oxygen during radiotherapy may increase the radiation effect on the tumor and improve loco-regional control and overall survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 1963 to 1965, a consecutive series of 208 patients with cervical cancer stage II/III who were to be treated by external irradiation plus radium inserts, were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to either receive oxygen inhalations during the radiotherapy sessions or just breathing air. Due to technical reasons the oxygen group was divided. For the first 10 months, they did receive oxygen during the radium inserts only, the last 13 months during all radiotherapy sessions.

RESULTS

After median 33 years follow-up, there are no differences in overall survival, cancer-specific survival or loco-regional control. Subgroup analysis shows significantly improved loco-regional control in the stage IIB patients, with squamous cell carcinoma who received oxygen during all radiotherapy sessions. This improvement was especially pronounced among the patients who also received blood transfusions.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no influence of normobaric oxygen treatment on the overall outcome to radiotherapy in patients with stage II cervical cancer, but subgroup analyses support the hypothesis that there is tumor areas of hypoxia-based radioresistance that may be counteracted by oxygen administration.

Influence of HSP27 and steroid receptor status on provera sensitivity, DNA-ploidy and survival of females with endometrial cancer

Heat shock protein (HSP) 27, estradiol (ER), progesterone (PR), isocitric dehydrogenase and DNA-ploidy have been measured in 152 endometrial adenocarcinomas. These parameters have also been related to each other and to tumor grade and overall patient survival. HSP27 was assessed immunohistochemically and ploidy by FACS analysis, whilst biochemical methods were used for the other assays. HSP27 was significantly correlated with ER but not PR, grade or ploidy. Both ER and PR were related to tumor grade but not ploidy. Provera (2-14 days, mean 8) had no apparent effect on HSP27 staining but induced isocitric dehydrogenase in 70% of the tumors. Provera decreased ER (64%) and PR (70%) content in originally positive tumors. The presence of either HSP27, ER or PR in the pretreatment sample was significantly associated with provera induction of isocitric dehydrogenase activity; neither tumor grade nor ploidy predicted for induction of this enzyme. High levels of either HSP27, ER, PR or provera-induced isocitric dehydrogenase and diploid DNA were associated with good overall survival, whereas aneuploidy was linked with poor survival.

Improving the quality of anti-emetic therapy

The outcome of anti-emetic therapy (AT) to women with gynaecological cancer receiving chemotherapy, in total 552 courses, was registered for a 1-year period. A quality improvement (QI) programme was established, based on three standardized AT regimens. Evaluation and documentation of AT effects were performed by the patients themselves, reporting the number of emetic episodes and degree of nausea for 5 days following the chemotherapeutic treatment. The results were visualized in monthly graphic displays. Various factors which might contribute to the achieved improvements are discussed. In conclusion, the continuous QI process seems to be a suitable method in guiding direct patient care.

Genetic alterations of the TP53 gene, p53 protein expression and HPV infection in primary cervical carcinomas

Primary cervical carcinomas from 92 patients were investigated for genetic alterations in the tumour suppressor gene TP53. Studies of allelic imbalance (AI) were performed by Southern blot analysis and by using two PCR (polymerase chain reaction) polymorphisms within the TP53 gene. AI in the tumour was observed in 22 per cent (11 of 52 informative patients) and was significantly associated with recurrence both in a univariate (P = 0.013) and in a multivariate (P = 0.045) analysis. The DNA samples were subjected to mutation analysis of four of the conserved domains in the TP53 gene, using PCR followed by constant denaturant gel electrophoresis (CDGE). Mutations were observed in 2 of 92 tumours (2 per cent), of which one was a silent mutation and the other a frameshift. Overexpression of the p53 protein was found by immunostaining of sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material in 55 per cent (51/92) of the tumours. In 88 per cent (45/51) of these, overexpression was present in less than 5 per cent of the tumour cells. Overexpression was significantly associated with relapse-free survival only in a univariate analysis (P = 0.045). AI of the TP53 locus did not correlate with p53 expression or mutation. The important gene on 17p, responsible for the shorter disease-free survival for patients with AI of TP53, may therefore be another gene closely linked to TP53. In addition, the 92 tumour samples were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. Fifty-four per cent (50/92) of the samples were positive for HPV 16 using in situ hybridization, and 93 per cent (86/92) using the PCR technique. The numbers for HPV 18 were 15 per cent (14/92) and 23 per cent (21/92), respectively. Twenty-one per cent (19/92) were positive for both HPV 16 and HPV 18, while 4 per cent (4/92) were negative for both HPV 16 and 18. The tumour with the frameshift TP53 mutation was HPV 16-positive, and the four samples negative for HPV 16 and 18 did not contain TP53 mutations within the conserved domains but had elevated p53 protein expression.

Comparison of HPV detection in parallel biopsies and cervical scrapes by PCR

PCR was used to detect HPV DNA in cervical scrapes of 23 women with cervical cancer. Compared with PCR-assisted HPV DNA detection in parallel biopsies, the sensitivity was 81% and the specificity 100%. We conclude that cervical scrapes can be used for detection of HPV DNA in women with cervical cancer.

Detection of genital papillomavirus types by polymerase chain reaction using common primers

We describe the detection of eight genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types, including HPV16 and HPV18, by PCR amplification of a 323 base-pair region of the genome within the L1 open reading frame (ORF). The primer sequences are: TGYAAATATCCWGATTWTWT and GTATCWACMACAGTAACAAA. The method will detect purified HPV16 DNA down to a concentration of as little as a single molecule in 100 microliters. The method is also applicable to purified DNA and crude lysates from tumour biopsies. Typing of the PCR product can be achieved with specific oligonucleotide probes.

Colony-forming ability of human ovarian carcinomas in the Courtenay soft agar assay

One hundred and twenty-one ovarian carcinomas were cultivated in soft agar according to the Courtenay & Mills (C-M) soft agar method. 71% of the tumours formed colonies, and 54% formed more than 30 colonies. Tumour cells from malignant fluids grew more frequently than did solid tumours, whereas the plating efficiencies (PEs) were higher in the case of solid tumours. In general, the PEs were higher and more tumours formed colonies in the C-M method compared to the Hamburger-Salmon (H-S) method. The colony-forming ability did not show statistically significant correlation to histopathological type and grade, previous treatment and S-phase fraction, but was related to DNA ploidy. In poorly differentiated tumours a high colony-forming ability was associated with a poor prognosis, whereas the opposite was found in well and moderately differentiated tumours. Differential dose-response relationships were obtained after in vitro treatment with anticancer agents.

Changes in tumor morphology in one human endometrial carcinosarcoma heterotransplanted into nude mice

Tissue material from one human endometrial carcinosarcoma was transplanted into nude mice. In the third passage two independent tumor lines developed, which continued to grow independently. After the fifth passage one line could be diagnosed histopathologically as a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma without sarcoma components, while the other line was still a carcinosarcoma. It was assumed that the development of two histologically different tumor lines could be due to clonal selection induced by the new host.

Prognostic value of flow cytometrical DNA measurements in stage I-II endometrial carcinoma: correlations with steroid receptor concentration, tumor myometrial invasion, and degree of differentiation

The prognostic value of flow cytometric DNA measurements of individual tumor cells was studied in 166 patients with endometrial carcinoma stage I-II. Follow-up time was 1-46 months and 110 patients were followed for more than 2 years. Three different ways of estimating DNA ploidy were evaluated, and the use of normal endometria in defining diploidy was considered the best. DNA-ploidy had a much more marked prognostic value in terms of 2-year recurrence-free survival than other known prognostic parameters, such as degree of differentiation, range of myometrial invasion and estradiol and progesterone receptor concentrations. The proliferative activity as determined by DNA flow cytometrical analysis was not correlated with prognosis.