Preoperative quality of life and surgical outcomes in gynecologic oncology patients: a new predictor of operative risk?

OBJECTIVE

Quality of life (QoL) for women with gynecologic malignancies is predictive of chemotherapy related toxicity and overall survival but has not been studied in relation to surgical outcomes and hospital readmissions. Our goal was to evaluate the association between baseline, pre-operative QoL measures and 30-day post-operative morbidity and health resource utilization by gynecologic oncology patients.

METHODS

We analyzed prospectively collected survey data from an institution-wide cohort study. Patients were enrolled from 8/2012 to 6/2013 and medical record data was abstracted (demographics, comorbid conditions, and operative outcomes). Responses from several validated health-related QoL instruments were collected. Bivariate tests and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with QoL scores.

RESULTS

Of 182 women with suspected gynecologic malignancies, 152 (84%) were surveyed pre-operatively and 148 (81%) underwent surgery. Uterine (94; 63.5%), ovarian (26; 17.5%), cervical (15; 10%), vulvar/vaginal (8; 5.4%), and other (5; 3.4%) cancers were represented. There were 37 (25%) cases of postoperative morbidity (PM), 18 (12%) unplanned ER visits, 9(6%) unplanned clinic visits, and 17 (11.5%) hospital readmissions (HR) within 30days of surgery. On adjusted analysis, lower functional well-being scores resulted in increased odds of PM (OR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01-.1.21) and HR (OR 1.11, 95%CI 1.03-1.19). A subjective global assessment score was also strongly associated with HR (OR 1.89, 95%CI 1.14, 3.16).

CONCLUSION

Lower pre-operative QoL scores are significantly associated with post-operative morbidity and hospital readmission in gynecologic cancer patients. This relationship may be a novel indicator of operative risk.

The effect of pretreatment patient characteristics on the allocation of treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

6514

Background: While the standard treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is maximum cytoreductive surgery followed by adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, some patients are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) with or without surgery and others receive no therapy. The primary objective of this study was to identify pre-treatment characteristics associated with receipt of non-standard treatment. Methods: 11,155 patients with clinical stage recorded were selected from 25,784 patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2005 from the National Cancer Database, a registry sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons. Among the 11,155 patients, 9,015 were stage IIIC or IV. 383 (4.25%) were excluded due to missing treatment information leaving 8,632 patients for the analysis. Evaluable variables included demographics, health insurance, Charlson co-morbidity score, area-level income and facility characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated standard care versus suboptimal care. Results: In this cohort, 5,517 (63.91%) of patients received optimal treatment. In multivariate analyses, Uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients were less like likely to receive optimal treatment as compared to privately insured patients (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.46–0.73; OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.49–0.76, respectively). Blacks and Hispanics were also less likely receive optimal treatment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.50–0.72, OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.57–0.90, respectively) compared to whites. Patients with a Charlson comorbidity score of 1, 2, or 3 were also less likely to receive optimal care (OR = 0.84 95% CI 0.74–0.96; OR = 0.46 95% CI 0.34–0.62; OR = 0.27 95% CI 0.13–0.55, respectively). Treatment in a comprehensive cancer facility or teaching hospital compared to community cancer hospitals was associated with optimal treatment (OR = 1.28 95% CI 1.10–1.48; OR = 1.66 95% CI 1.43–1.93). Conclusions: In this large retrospective multi-institutional cohort, approximately one-third of patients with clinical stage III and IV ovarian cancer did not receive optimal treatment. Pretreatment patient characteristics, such as race, insurance status, age, medical cormorbidities, and facility-type, were strongly associated with suboptimal treatment.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The association of pretreatment patient characteristics on the allocation of treatment in stage II ovarian cancer

e17508

Background: In high-risk early stage ovarian cancer, surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy demonstrates improved survival in prospective trials. The objective of this research was to document patterns of care in the treatment of stage II epithelial ovarian cancer and those factors associated with less than optimal treatment. Methods: The study population was selected from patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003 to 2005 and reported to the National Cancer Database, a hospital-based cancer registry. 2,252 (93.8%) patients had sufficient information for analysis. Demographics, health insurance, Charlson co-morbidity score, area-level income, and facility characteristics were analyzed as factors potentially associated with treatment. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess factors associated with optimal treatment versus suboptimal treatment. Results: Among the women 2,252 women included in the study 1,533 (68.0%) received surgery and chemotherapy and 719 (32.0%) received surgery alone. In multivariate analysis, Black and Hispanic patients were significantly less like likely to receive optimal treatment as compared to white patients (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.36–0.82; OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.34–0.79, respectively). Women 75 years of age or more were significantly less likely to receive optimal treatment (OR = 0.43 95% CI 0.28–0.67) compared to women less than 53 years. Treatment in a comprehensive cancer facility or teaching hospital compared to community cancer hospitals was positively associated with optimal treatment (OR = 1.40 95% CI 1.02–1.92; OR = 1.89 95% CI 1.38–2.59). Among the 719 patients not receiving chemotherapy, 205 had no reason recorded, and the majority with information (456/514) stated that chemotherapy was not part of planned therapy. Only 33 patients (6.4%) were recorded as refusing recommended chemotherapy. Conclusions: Although only a small proportion of newly diagnosed cases, Stage II ovarian cancer patients have a high probability of benefiting from adjuvant chemotherapy, which improves the likelihood of long-term survival and cure. Further studies are needed to address the patient, clinician and health system factors associated with suboptimal treatment.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A prospective multi-center ovarian cancer screening study in women at increased risk

5510

Background: No proven ovarian cancer (OC) screening strategy exists for women who are at increased risk for the disease. A risk of ovarian cancer algorithm (ROCA) using serial CA125 values has previously shown greater positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity than a single CA125 in screening women at general population risk. We hypothesized that using ROCA would yield a reasonable PPV for ovarian cancer screening in a cohort at increased risk. Methods: Between 7/2001 and 9/2006, 25 sites (14 Cancer Genetics Network, 3 ovarian SPOREs, 1 EDRN, 7 others) prospectively enrolled patients. Inclusion criteria included: among self, 1° or 2° relatives in same lineage either (i) BRCA1/2 mutation, or (ii) two of OC or early onset (age = 50) breast cancer (BC), or (iii) Ashkenazi ethnicity and 1 of OC or BC. A previous diagnosis of OC excluded subjects. Subjects underwent CA125 every 3 months and the risk of having ovarian cancer based on the CA125 profile was recalculated after each test. ROCA referred subjects with risk > 1% to ultrasound (US), and risk > 10% additionally to a gynecologic oncologist. Objectives included PPV for study indicated surgery, sensitivity, and compliance. Sample size was chosen to observe 8 OC endpoints with a power of 80% to rule out PPV = 10% if the true PPV = 20%. Results: 2,343 high risk women enrolled, with 6,284 women years of screening and 19,549 CA125s obtained. There were 628 (10%/yr) referrals to US with 414 US performed. 38 women underwent study indicated surgeries. 9 OCs were identified during screening, 3 were prevalent (1 early, 2 late stage), and 6 were incident (5/6 = 83% early, 1 late). 3 of the 6 incident cases were found on prophylatic oophorectomy in early stage. ROCA detected 2 in early stage of remaining 3 incident cases, and 3 of 3 prevalent cases. The PPV was 5/38 = 13% (95% CI 4.4%, 28%) and sensitivity was 5/6 = 83%, CI (36%, 99%). There was high compliance with CA125 testing throughout study, with 84%, 85%, 85%, 82% subjects returning within 1 month of schedule for first 4 tests. Conclusions: Frequent CA125 testing using ROCA results in an acceptable PPV and high compliance in a cohort of women at increased risk for OC. A definitive screening study (= 30 incident cases) using ROCA with serial CA125 and possibly additional markers is required to define sensitivity for early stage OC.

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Dynamic cervical change during real-time ultrasound: prospective characterization and comparison in patients with and without symptoms of preterm labor

OBJECTIVES

To compare the incidence of dynamic cervical change (spontaneous real-time cervical shortening) in singleton patients with and without symptoms of preterm labor (PTL).

METHODS

A total of 109 patients between 23 and 34 weeks' gestation with and without PTL symptoms underwent cervical length ultrasound and contraction monitoring over a 10-min period. Cervical length measurements were taken at 1-min intervals. Exclusion criteria included ruptured membranes, dilation > 3 cm or cerclage. Following the examination, the sonographer made a subjective assessment as to whether noticeable dynamic cervical change had occurred. A measurement was then made during the application of fundal pressure. The initial cervical length, shortest length, maximum change in length and incidence of dynamic change were compared between patients with and without PTL symptoms. The shortest cervical length was compared to the presence and timing of uterine contractions and the measurement during the application of fundal pressure.

RESULTS

A total of 43 asymptomatic patients and 66 symptomatic patients were studied. Compared to asymptomatic patients, patients with PTL symptoms had shorter initial lengths, nadir lengths and mean lengths over time as well as a greater amount of maximum change. Dynamic cervical change was more frequently seen in symptomatic patients (48% vs. 9%, P < 0.001) and was associated with uterine contractions (odds ratio 4.6, 95% CI 1.9-10.8). Fundal pressure was not able to reproduce the shortest cervical length that occurred spontaneously during the observation period.

CONCLUSIONS

Dynamic cervical change (real-time cervical shortening) is common in patients with PTL symptoms and is associated with uterine contractions. Whether this finding enhances the ability to predict preterm delivery remains to be elucidated.

Recruitment strategies for cervical cancer prevention study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe recruitment strategies for a single-visit cervical cancer prevention study.

METHODS

From January through December 1999, low-income, predominantly Latino women were recruited to participate in a single-visit cervical cancer prevention study. For the first 6 months, all women who had ever visited one of two community-based study clinics were invited to participate (clinic registry recruitment). For the remainder of the year, recruitment was modified to be primarily inclusive of advertisements in English- and Spanish-language community newspapers and fliers left in local businesses and organizations (media campaign recruitment). Eligible volunteers were randomized to one of two study arms, usual-care program or single-visit program. All study subjects completed demographic and medical questionnaires delivered by bilingual staff. Women who declined to participate in this study were asked to provide reasons for this preference. Statistical analyses included the use of chi-square, logistic regression, and Student's t test.

RESULTS

The proportion of women who agreed to participate was higher in the media recruitment group than in the clinic registry group [51% (535/1041) compared to 26% (405/1542), P < 0.001]. The no-show rate among participants solicited from the media strategy was significantly less than that from the clinic registry. There were no significant differences in the median age, number of months since the last Papanicolaou smear, incidence of abnormal Papanicolaou smear, education, or income of the subjects based on the recruitment strategy.

CONCLUSION

A media-based recruitment strategy was effective for this single-visit cervical prevention study. This approach may be effective for recruitment of other low-income groups to clinical trials.

The topography of colorectal cancer varies by race/ethnicity and affects the utility of flexible sigmoidoscopy

Colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50 is recommended for all Americans considered at "average" risk for the development of colorectal cancer either with flexible sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or with colonoscopy. Patients who elect flexible sigmoidoscopy and FOBT undergo full colonoscopy only if left-sided neoplasia is detected or if the FOBT is positive. Unfortunately in blacks and whites most right-sided colorectal lesions are unaccompanied by left-sided sentinel lesions, which leads some to prefer colonoscopic screening in these patients. The topography of colorectal cancer in Asians and Latinos is unavailable. We used 1988-1995 California Cancer Registry data to determine the topography of 105,906 consecutive colorectal cancers among Asian, black, Latino, and white patients. We found that the proportion of colorectal cancer distal to the splenic flexure and therefore detectable by flexible sigmoidoscopy varied by ethnicity: Asian (71%) > Latino (63%) > white (57%) > black (55%); P < 0.001. These differences were significant after adjusting for age and sex. The risk of distal disease relative to whites was 1.61 in Asians, 1.15 in Latinos, and 0.82 in blacks (P < 0.001). Flexible sigmoidoscopy detects a higher proportion of colorectal cancers in Asians and Latinos than in whites or blacks. Further study is needed to assess whether the topography of benign colorectal neoplasia parallels that of malignant disease. Colorectal screening recommendations may need to incorporate racial and ethnic differences in colorectal neoplasia topography.

Racial and ethnic colorectal cancer patterns affect the cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening in the United States

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50 is recommended for all Americans considered at "average" risk for the development of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We used 1988-1995 California Cancer Registry data to compare the cost-effectiveness of two 35-year colorectal cancer screening interventions among Asians, blacks, Latinos, and Whites.

RESULTS

Average annual age-specific colorectal cancer incidence rates were highest in blacks and lowest in Latinos. Screening beginning at age 50 was most cost-effective in blacks and least cost-effective in Latinos (measured as dollars spent per year of life saved), using annual fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) combined with flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years and using colonoscopy every 10 years. A 35-year screening program beginning in blacks at age 42, whites at age 44, or Asians at age 46 was more cost-effective than screening Latinos beginning at age 50.

CONCLUSIONS

Colorectal cancer screening programs beginning at age 50, using either FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy in each racial or ethnic group, are within the $40,000-$60,000 per year of life saved upper cost limit considered acceptable for preventive strategies. Screening is most cost-effective in blacks because of high age-specific colorectal cancer incidence rates.

Intent-to-treat analysis of stage Ib and IIa cervical cancer in the United States: radiotherapy or surgery 1988-1995

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the patterns of care and outcome of women with early cervical cancer in the United States based on surgical or radiation intent-to-treat principles.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 1995 public-use file was the data source. Subjects between the ages of 15 and 80 years at diagnosis who were treated for stage Ib or IIa cervical cancer were identified. The 1039 women who comprised the study group were stratified according to age at diagnosis (40 years or less, older than 40 years), primary treatment intent (surgery, radiotherapy), tumor size (4 cm or less, over 4 cm), registry site, and ethnicity. Survival analyses included 784 women who had at least 2 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

There were 276 cancers (26.5%) over 4 cm, and 586 (56%) women were older than 40 years at diagnosis. There were 741 (71%) subjects in the surgical intent-to-treat group, and the remainder (298) were in the radiation intent-to-treat group. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a 5-year survival advantage for women with tumors 4 cm or less who were in the surgical intent-to-treat group compared with the radiation intent-to-treat group (86% and 71%, P <.001). Treatment group was not prognostic for cervical cancers over 4 cm (surgical intent-to-treat compared with radiation intent-to-treat; 72% and 68% survival, respectively). Multivariable analysis confirmed a survival advantage for women with surgical intent-to-treat and tumors of 4 cm or less.

CONCLUSION

In the United States there is a survival advantage for surgical intent-to-treat compared with radiation intent-to-treat for women with tumors 4 cm or less, independent of ethnicity, adjuvant therapy, or age.

Breast cancer survival and hormone replacement therapy: a cohort analysis

Controversy exists regarding the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The objective of this study is to perform a matched cohort analysis to evaluate the impact of HRT on mortality in breast cancer survivors. Patients with breast cancer who received HRT after diagnosis of breast cancer were identified. Control subjects were identified from the regional cancer registry. Matching criteria included age at diagnosis, stage of breast cancer, and year of diagnosis. Controls were selected only if they were alive at the time of initiation of HRT of the matched case. Only subjects not included in a previously reported matched analysis were selected. One hundred twenty-five cases were matched with 362 controls. Ninety-eight percent (123/125) of the cases received systemic estrogen; 90/125 (72%) also received a progestational agent. The median interval between diagnosis of breast cancer and initiation of HRT was 46 months (range 0-401 months). The median duration of HRT was 22 months (range 1-357 months). The risk of death was lower among the HRT survivors; odds ratio 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.11-0.71). This analysis does not suggest that HRT after the treatment of breast cancer is associated with an adverse outcome.

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of increased intravenous hydration on the course of labor in nulliparous women

OBJECTIVE

One variable that has the potential to affect the course of labor but has not been evaluated previously is the adequacy of maternal hydration. Typical orders provide for 125 mL of intravenous fluids per hour in patients taking limited oral fluids. Many such patients are clinically dehydrated. Physiologists have shown that increased fluids improve skeletal muscle performance in prolonged exercise. This study was designed to determine whether increased intravenous fluids affect the progress of labor.

STUDY DESIGN

Nulliparous women with uncomplicated singleton gestations at term, in spontaneous active labor with dilatation between 2 and 5 cm, and with a cephalic presentation were included. Patients who gave consent were randomly selected to receive either 125 mL or 250 mL of intravenous fluids per hour.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-five patients were randomly selected, 94 to the 125-mL group and 101 to the 250-mL group. Prerandomization variables were well matched between the 2 groups. The mean volume of total intravenous fluids was significantly greater in the 250-mL group (2008 mL vs 2487 mL; P =.002), as was the mean hourly rate (152 mL/h in the 125-mL group vs 254 mL/h in the 250-mL group; P =.001). The frequency of labor lasting >12 hours was statistically higher in the 125-mL group (20/78 [26%] vs 12/91 [13%]; P =.047). In addition, there was a trend favoring longer mean duration of the first stage and total duration of labor in patients delivered vaginally in the 125-mL group, by 70 and 68 minutes, respectively (P =.06). There was a trend toward a lower frequency of oxytocin administration for inadequate labor progress in the higher fluid rate group (61 [65%] in the 125-mL group vs 51 [49%] in the 250-mL group; P =.06). Cesarean deliveries were more frequent in the 125-mL group (n = 16) than in the 250-mL group (n = 10) but did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

This study presents the novel finding that increasing fluid administration for nulliparous women in labor above rates commonly used is associated with a lower frequency of prolonged labor and possibly less need for oxytocin. Thus inadequate hydration in labor may be a factor contributing to dysfunctional labor and possibly cesarean delivery. Consideration of this factor in clinical management and in future studies considering variables that affect labor is warranted.

Pathologic variables and adjuvant therapy as predictors of recurrence and survival for patients with surgically evaluated carcinosarcoma of the uterus

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine clinicopathologic variables associated with extrauterine disease, recurrence, and survival in patients with carcinosarcoma (CS) of the uterus.

METHODS

Patients believed to have disease confined to the uterine corpus who underwent primary surgical assessment were identified and data retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Occult metastases were found in 38 (61%) of 62 patients. At last follow-up, 31 (50%) had had recurrence, with an extrapelvic component in 43%, and 53% had died. Depth of myometrial invasion and lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) were associated with extrauterine disease. Five-year survival for patients with disease confined to the corpus (74%) was significantly greater than for those with more advanced disease (24%, P = 0.0013). Factors associated with recurrence and survival included depth of myometrial invasion, LVSI, adnexal and serosal involvement, positive cytology, and lymph node metastases. Of 24 patients with uterine disease only, 11 received no adjuvant therapy, yet 8 (73%) were free of disease at last follow-up. Neither adjuvant radiotherapy nor chemotherapy was identified as an independent prognostic variable for recurrence or survival.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of patients with CS clinically confined to the uterine corpus harbor occult metastases in a pattern similar to that found with endometrial carcinoma. Survival is significantly diminished for this group. Although the benefit of adjuvant therapy cannot be demonstrated by this study, a number of early stage patients survive without adjuvant therapy. This argues for extending the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics endometrial carcinoma surgical staging system to include CS, and also for conducting prospective trials to examine the benefits of adjuvant therapy for patients with early stage disease.

Signet ring cell histology is associated with unique clinical features but does not affect gastric cancer survival

Signet ring cell histology is found in 3 to 39 per cent of gastric cancer cases and has been reported to be a feature of poor prognosis, although this issue has not been rigorously examined. The objective of this study was to determine those demographic and clinical variables associated with signet ring cell histology and to determine the effect of signet ring cell histology on survival using multivariate analyses. We studied a historical cohort of consecutive cases of gastric cancer reported to the population-based California Cancer Registries of Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties from 1984 through 1994. Factors associated with signet ring cell histology were assessed using chi2 and logistic regression. Life tables were constructed to assess unadjusted survival and survival differences in patient subgroups. Multivariate survival was determined using a Cox proportional hazards model. Of 3020 patients, 464 (15%) had signet ring cell histology. Patients with signet ring cell histology were more likely to be younger than 50 years (odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-3.5), less likely to be male (OR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.37-0.66), and more likely to have tumors of the distal stomach (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.4-3.0). Signet ring cell histology did not adversely affect unadjusted overall survival, race-stratified survival, or stage-stratified survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that patients with signet ring cell histology had an insignificant increased risk of dying (relative risk = 1.027; P>0.10) in comparison with patients without signet ring cell histology. Patients with signet ring cell histology were more likely to be young women and to have tumors of the distal stomach. Signet ring cell histology did not impact survival in our group of largely advanced gastric cancer cases.

Does human papillomavirus have a role in cancers of the uterine corpus?

OBJECTIVE

Thepurpose of this study was to determine the role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in invasive uterine corpus cancer by characterizing the frequency of HPV DNA in malignant uterine tumors.

METHODS

Hysterectomy specimens from 66 women with uterine carcinoma were analyzed. Tumor specimens were frozen at -80 degrees C at the time of surgical resection. DNA was later extracted and examined for HPV DNA using type-specific PCR primers for HPV 6, 16, and 18 and consensus primers MY09/MY11, which detect DNA from 33 other common HPV types. Isolation procedures were undertaken to prevent contamination.

RESULTS

The histologic diagnoses of the 66 uterine cancer cases included 58 endometrial adenocarcinomas, 4 adenosquamous carcinomas, 3 malignant mixed mesodermal tumors, and 1 squamous cell carcinoma. HPV was detected by both type-specific and consensus primers in only 2 of the uterine specimens. None of the typical endometrioid adenocarcinoma specimens contained HPV DNA. HPV 16 was detected in 1 of the adenosquamous carcinoma samples and HPV 18 was detected in the squamous carcinoma specimen.

CONCLUSION

HPV DNA is not found in malignancies of the uterine corpus without malignant squamous elements when the risk of contamination is minimized. For these tumors, HPV appears to be unrelated to the neoplastic transformation process.

Interstitial brachytherapy for vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of interstitial brachytherapy in the management of vaginal recurrences of endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

Thirty patients received interstitial irradiation, with or without external beam radiotherapy. They were followed for a minimum of 5 years or until death.

RESULTS

The median age was 66 years at initial diagnosis of endometrial cancer. FIGO stages included Stage I (n = 18), Stage II (n = 7), and Stage III (n = 5). All patients were treated originally by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without lymphadenectomy, and 13 (43%) also received postoperative adjuvant whole pelvis radiotherapy as part of their primary treatment. Vaginal recurrences were diagnosed at a mean interval of 29 months after hysterectomy (range, 3-119 months). No patient had clinical evidence of pelvic sidewall extension or of distant metastatic disease. All patients were treated with interstitial brachytherapy; each implant delivered a mean maximal tumor dose of 25.5 Gy. Eighteen patients (60%) also received external beam radiotherapy (mean dose, 48 Gy) as part of their treatment for vaginal recurrence. Twenty-eight patients (93%) experienced a complete clinical response. Ten patients relapsed in the vagina (n = 5) or at distant sites (n = 5). Eleven patients are dead of disease. From the time of vaginal recurrence, the median overall survival was 60 months and the cause of death adjusted 5-year survival rate was 65%. Major morbidity included radiation proctitis (n = 2), fistula (n = 2), and radiation stricture (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Interstitial irradiation resulted in favorable local control as well as a 5-year survival rate and morbidity comparable to that reported previously for conventional brachytherapy.

Young age as a prognostic factor in cervical cancer: results of a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to use population-based data to determine the difference in 5-year survival in women diagnosed with cervical cancer between those aged 18-34 years and those aged 40-60 years.

STUDY DESIGN

The SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) public-use database, 1973-1994, was used for this investigation. Only subjects with cervical carcinoma diagnosed between 1988 and 1990 were included. Subjects were stratified on age at diagnosis (<35 years or 40-60 years), clinical stage, histologic type, race-ethnicity, and grade.

RESULTS

Two thousand cases of invasive cervical cancer were identified. The younger subgroup of patients was diagnosed with earlier-stage disease more frequently than the older group (P =.0001). When adjustments were made for non-cervical cancer causes of death, there was no difference in 5-year survival between the 2 cohorts. African American women had a poorer 5-year survival (P =.02)

CONCLUSION

There was no overall difference in survival between the 2 cohorts when appropriate adjustments were made for cause of death and for stage, histologic type, and grade of disease.

An experience with estrogen replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of breast cancer patients who elected estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).

STUDY DESIGN

Breast cancer survivors who elected ERT received the preferred regimen of conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg/day with medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/day.

RESULTS

145 patients received ERT for at least 3 months. Thirteen recurrences (9%) were identified; 10 are alive with disease, 3 are dead of disease. The median interval between diagnosis and commencement of ERT was 41 months. Forty-one percent of the study group initiated ERT within 3 years of their breast cancer diagnosis. The median duration of follow-up on ERT was 30 months.

CONCLUSION

The concern that ERT might activate growth in occult metastatic sites and promote a rash of recurrences was not confirmed. It is unreasonable to categorically deny all breast cancer survivors ERT.