Mid-term outcomes of laparoscopic vaginal stump?round (Kakinuma method) and stump?uterosacral (Shull method) ligament fixation for pelvic organ prolapse: a retrospective comparative study

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) and robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RSC) using mesh are popular approaches for treating pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, it is not uncommon that native tissue repair (NTR) should be presented as an option to patients who are expected to have extensive intraperitoneal adhesion or patients for whom LSC or RSC is difficult owing to various risk factors. Laparoscopic vaginal stump-uterosacral ligament fixation (Shull method) has been introduced as a method for NTR in case of POP. However, effective repair using this surgical procedure may not be possible in severe POPs. To solve the problems of the Shull method, we devised the laparoscopic vaginal stump-round ligament fixation (Kakinuma method) in which the vaginal stump is fixed to the uterine round ligament, a histologically strong tissue positioned anatomically higher than the uterosacral ligament. This study aimed to retrospectively and clinically compare the two methods.

METHODS

Of the 78 patients who underwent surgery for POP between January 2017 and June 2022 and postoperative follow-up for at least a year, 40 patients who underwent the Shull method (Shull group) and 38 who underwent the Kakinuma method (Kakinuma group) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between the two groups in patient background variables such as mean age, parity, body mass index, and POP-Q stage. The mean operative duration and mean blood loss in the Shull group were 140.5 ± 31.7 min and 91.3 ± 96.3 ml, respectively, whereas the respective values in the Kakinuma group were 112.2 ± 25.3 min and 31.4 ± 47.7 ml, respectively. Thus, compared with the Shull group, the operative duration was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) and blood loss was significantly less (P = 0.003) in the Kakinuma group. Recurrence was observed in six patients (15.0%) in the Shull group and two patients (5.3%) in the Kakinuma group. Hence, compared with the Shull group, recurrence was significantly less in the Kakinuma group (P = 0.015). No patients experienced perioperative complications in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the Kakinuma method can serve as a novel and viable NTR procedure for POP.

Abnormal uterine bleeding successfully treated via ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of uterine myoma lesions: Three case reports

BACKGROUND

Microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) is a minimally invasive treatment method for heavy menstrual bleeding. However, additional treatment is often required after recurrence of uterine myomas treated with MEA. Additionally, because this treatment ablates the endometrium, it is not indicated for patients planning to become pregnant. To overcome these issues, we devised a method for ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of uterine myoma feeder vessels. We report three patients successfully treated for heavy menstrual bleeding, secondary to uterine myoma, using our novel method.

CASE SUMMARY

All patients had a favorable postoperative course, were discharged within 4 h, and experienced no complications. Further, no postoperative recurrence of heavy menstrual bleeding was noted. Our method also reduced the myoma's maximum diameter.

CONCLUSION

This method does not ablate the endometrium, suggesting its potential application in patients planning to become pregnant.

LiNA OperaScopeTM for microwave endometrial ablation for endometrial polyps with heavy menstrual bleeding: A case report

BACKGROUND

The procedure for microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) follows established MEA practice guidelines but requires hysteroscopic observation of the uterine lumen before and after MEA. When a luminal uterine lesion is recognized, its removal requires preoperative dilation of the cervix because the outer diameter of a conventional rigid hysteroscope is 8.7 mm. Recently, a fully disposable rigid hysteroscope (LiNA OperaScopeTM) with a narrow diameter (4.4 mm) and forceps capable of extracting endometrial lesions has become available.

CASE SUMMARY

Here, we report a case of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) complicated by endometrial polyps where MEA was performed after removing endometrial polyps using the LiNA OperaScopeTM device. A 48-year-old woman with three prior pregnancies and three deliveries was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment after being diagnosed with HMB 2 years earlier. The patient underwent MEA following endometrial polypectomy using LiNA OperaScopeTM. After MEA, endometrial cauterization was again examined using the LiNA OperaScopeTM, and the procedure was completed. No preoperative cervical dilation was performed. The patient's clinical course was favorable, and she was discharged 3 h after surgery. One month after surgery, menstruation resumed, and both HMB and dysmenorrhea improved markedly from 10 preoperatively to 1 postoperatively, as assessed subjectively using the visual analog scale. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful with no complications.

CONCLUSION

LiNA OperaScopeTM can be a minimally invasive treatment for MEA of HMB with uterine lumen lesions.

Discrimination of Frailty Phenotype by KinectTM-Based Stepping Parameters

Background

Frailty increases the risk of falling, hospitalization, and premature death, necessitating practical early-detection tools.

Objectives

To examine the discriminative ability of KinectTM-based stepping parameters for identifying frailty phenotype.

Design

Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

Eighteen neighborhoods near Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.

Participants

In total, 563 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥75 years without mobility limitations, neurological disease, or dementia were included.

Measurements

Step number (SN) and knee total movement distance (KMD) during a 20-s stepping test were evaluated using the KinectTM infrared depth sensor.

Results

The number (%) of participants with frailty were 51 (9.1). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) of a parameter consisting of SN and KMD for frailty was 0.72 (0.64, 0.79).

Conclusions

Stepping parameters evaluated using KinectTM provided acceptable ability in identifying frailty phenotype, making it a practical screening tool in primary care and home settings.

Effectiveness of treating menorrhagia using microwave endometrial ablation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz

BACKGROUND

Microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) is a minimally invasive treatment for menorrhagia. It has been covered by the national insurance in Japan since April 2012, and its demand has been increasing as the importance of women's health has advanced in society.

AIM

To examine the efficacy of MEA as a treatment option for menorrhagia.

METHODS

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 76 patients who underwent MEA between January 2016 and March 2020 in our department. MEA was performed in the lithotomy position, under general anesthesia, and with transabdominal ultrasound guidance, including the entire endometrial circumference while confirming endometrial coagulation. The Microtaze AFM-712 and the Sounding Applicator CSA-40CBL-1006200C were used for MEA, and the endometrium was ablated using a Microtaze output of 70 W and coagulation energization time of 50 s per cycle. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate menorrhagia, menstrual pain, and treatment satisfaction. Additionally, the hemoglobin (Hb) levels before and after MEA and associated complications were investigated.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was 44.8 ± 4.0 years. While 14 patients had functional menorrhagia, 62 had organic menorrhagia, of whom 14 had endometrial polyps, 40 had uterine fibroids, and 8 had adenomyosis. The VAS score before MEA and 3 and 6 mo after the procedure were 10, 1.3 ± 1.3, and 1.3 ± 1.3, respectively, for menorrhagia and 10, 1.3 ± 1.8, and 1.3 ± 1.8, respectively, for menstrual pain, both showing improvements (P < 0.001). The MEA Hb level significantly improved from 9.2 ± 4.2 g/dL before MEA to 13.4 ± 1.2 g/dL after MEA (P = 0.003). Treatment satisfaction was high, with a VAS score of 9.6 ± 0.7. Endometritis was observed in one patient after surgery and was treated with antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

MEA is a safe and effective treatment for menorrhagia.

New native tissue repair for pelvic organ prolapse: Medium-term outcomes of laparoscopic vaginal stump–round ligament fixation

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a new and widely used approach; however, ever since the United States Food and Drug Administration warned against the use of surgical mesh, repairs performed using patients’ tissues [i.e. native tissue repair (NTR)] instead of mesh have attracted much attention. At our hospital, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (the Shull method) was introduced in 2017. However, patients with more severe POP who have a long vaginal canal and overextended uterosacral ligaments may not be candidates for this procedure.

AIM

To validate a new NTR treatment for POP, we examined patients undergoing laparoscopic vaginal stump–round ligament fixation (the Kakinuma method).

METHODS

The study patients were 30 individuals with POP who underwent surgery using the Kakinuma method between January 2020 and December 2021 and who were followed up for > 12 mo after surgery. We retrospectively examined surgical outcomes for surgery duration, blood loss, intraoperative complications, and incidence of recurrence. The Kakinuma method involves round ligament suturing and fixation on both sides, effectively lifting the vaginal stump after laparoscopic hysterectomy.

RESULTS

The patients’ mean age was 66.5 ± 9.1 (45-82) years, gravidity was 3.1 ± 1.4 (2-7), parity was 2.5 ± 0.6 (2-4) times, and body mass index was 24.5 ± 3.3 (20.9-32.8) kg/m². According to the POP quantification stage classification, there were 8 patients with stage II, 11 with stage III, and 11 with stage IV. The mean surgery duration was 113.4 ± 22.6 (88-148) min, and the mean blood loss was 26.5 ± 39.7 (10-150) mL. There were no perioperative complications. None of the patients exhibited reduced activities of daily living or cognitive impairment after hospital discharge. No cases of POP recurrence were observed 12 mo after the operation.

CONCLUSION

The Kakinuma method, similar to conventional NTR, may be an effective treatment for POP.

Efficacy and safety of an Aron Alpha method in managing giant ovarian tumors

Background

Giant malignant tumors have an increased risk of intraoperative rupture, which might lead to a worse disease condition and tumor recurrence. We performed a clinical study on patients with a giant ovarian mass who underwent laparoscopy combined with an Aron Alpha method.

Methods

This retrospective clinical study spanned from January 2016 to September 2022 and included 23 patients with giant ovarian tumors treated with an Aron Alpha method.

Results

The mean age of the subjects was 47.6 ± 17.8 years, mean tumor diameter 20.4 ± 5.8 cm, mean surgical duration 87.2 ± 33.1  min, and mean hemorrhage volume 94.1 ± 92.2 mL. No patient experienced intraoperative tumor rupture or surgery-related symptoms. Histopathology of excised samples revealed serous cyst adenoma and mucinous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy and mature cystic teratoma, and endometriotic cyst adenoma in 6, 4, and 3 patients, respectively. The mean hospitalization period was 6.0 ± 1.2 days, and the hospitalization period was not extended in any subject.

Conclusion

The Aron Alpha method allows tumor resection without capsular rupture and is a useful, minimally invasive surgical method for resecting giant ovarian tumors in which malignancy cannot be ruled out.

Effectiveness of microwave endometrial ablation combined with hysteroscopic transcervical resection in treating submucous uterine myomas

BACKGROUND

Hypermenorrhea is characterized by excessive menstrual bleeding that causes severe anemia and interferes with everyday life. This condition can restrict women’s social activities and decrease their quality of life. Microwave endometrial ablation (MEA) using a 2.45-GHz energy source is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional hysterectomy for treating hypermenorrhea that is resistant to conservative treatment, triggered by systemic disease or medications, or caused by uterine myomas and fibrosis. The popularity of MEA has increased worldwide. Although MEA can safely and effectively treat submucous myomas, some patients may still experience recurrent hypermenorrhea postoperatively and may require additional treatment.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of MEA combined with transcervical resection (TCR).

METHODS

Participants underwent cervical and endometrial evaluations. Magnetic resonance imaging and hysteroscopy were performed to evaluate the size and location of the myomas. TCR was performed before MEA using a hystero-resectoscope. MEA was performed using transabdominal ultrasound. The variables included operation time, number of ablation cycles, length of hospital stay, and visual analog scale cores for hypermenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and treatment satisfaction at 3 and 6 mo postoperatively. The postoperative incidence of amenorrhea, changes in hemoglobin concentrations, and MEA-related complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 34 women underwent a combination of MEA and TCR during the study period. Two patients were excluded from the study as their histopathological tests identified uterine malignancies (uterine sarcoma and endometrial cancer). The 32 eligible women (6 nulliparous, 26 multiparous) had a mean age of 45.2 ± 4.3 years (range: 36–52 years). Patients reported very severe hypermenorrhea (10/10 points on the visual analog scale) before the procedure. However, after the procedure, the hypermenorrhea scores decreased to 1.2 ± 1.3 and 0.9 ± 1.3 at 3 and 6 mo, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean follow-up duration was 33.8 ± 16.8 mo. Although 10 women (31.3%) developed amenorrhea during this period, none experienced a recurrence of hypermenorrhea. No surgical complications were observed.

CONCLUSION

Reducing the size of uterine myomas by combining MEA and TCR can safely and effectively treat hypermenorrhea in patients with submucous myomas.

Diagnosed corrected transposition of great arteries after cesarean section: A case report

BACKGROUND

Corrected transposition of the great arteries (cTGA) is a cardiac malformation in which the ventricular and arterial-ventricular positions in the heart are doubly reversed. In general, this defect puts a load on the systemic circulation and causes heart failure, resulting in a poor prognosis. This article reports a case of cTGA detected in a patient with post-caesarean pregnancy who had undergone elective caesarean section and was experiencing an episode of acute heart failure.

CASE SUMMARY

This was the case of a 36-year-old gravida 3 para 1 woman. No problems were noted in the puerperal course following the previous pregnancy. The current pregnancy was also uneventful. An elective caesarean section was performed and the patient was discharged from the hospital 7 d after the operation. On postoperative day 18, the patient became aware of breathing difficulty and presented at a nearby clinic, where she was referred to our institution after bilateral pleural effusions were detected. She was then diagnosed with acute heart failure after noting the presence of a prominent pedal oedema and SpO₂ 91% (supine position and room air); the patient was promptly hospitalised for close examination and treatment. Although chest computed tomography revealed the presence of cTGA, no other cardiac malformations were observed. Owing to improvements in both the pedal oedema and pleural effusions, the patient was discharged on day 9.

CONCLUSION

Close examination should be performed on the premise of congenital cardiac malformation when heart failure symptoms are noted during perinatal control.

Prevention and management of hypertrophic scars after laparoscopic surgery using silicone gel sheets: a pilot study

Objective

To assess the effectiveness and safety of modified silicone gel sheets applied to hypertrophic scars and keloids following laparoscopic surgery.

Methods

Patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery and who had either conventional or modified silicone gel sheets affixed to their surgical lesions for 6 months postoperatively (treatment groups), and control patients who had not received postsurgical treatment involving silicone gel sheets, were enrolled. The surgical wounds were assessed visually and using the Japan Scar Workshop (JSW) Scar Scale. Patients were interviewed before, 3 months after, and 6 months after sheet affixation.

Results

A total of 45 patients were included, comprising 15 patients per group. Both silicone gel-sheet groups had significantly lower JSW Scar Scale scores at 3 and 6 months after affixation compared with controls. The scores were not significantly different between the conventional and modified treatment groups and no adverse events were observed in the latter.

Conclusions

Modified silicone gel sheets were more effective than controls and comparable to conventional gel sheets, and there were no adverse events related to laparoscopic surgical wounds in the improved silicone gel sheet group, demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of the modified silicone gel sheets.

Safety and efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration under local anesthesia compared to general anesthesia in the surgical management of miscarriage: a retrospective cohort study

Background

In Japan, dilatation & curettage (D&C) has been performed under general anesthesia as a surgery for an early pregnancy miscarriage for a long time. In 2016, manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) under general anesthesia was introduced at our hospital and has been used as a surgical treatment for first-trimester pregnancy miscarriage, with its utility to date being reported here. In July 2018, our hospital introduced the MVA procedure under local anesthesia. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of MVA under general and local anesthesia in first-trimester pregnancy miscarriage surgery in Japanese women.

Methods

In this retrospective observational cohort study, we enrolled 322 pregnant women at less than 12 weeks of gestation, who underwent MVA surgery under local anesthesia (n = 166) or conventional general anesthesia (n = 156). The duration of surgery, blood loss volume, quantity of anesthesia, presence or absence of retained products of conception, and clinical complications were evaluated. In addition, the intraoperative pain and treatment satisfaction were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

The duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the local anesthesia group. No significant differences were observed between both groups in terms of the blood loss volume and incidence of retained products of conception. In addition, no serious complications were observed in either group. No significant differences were noted between the two groups in the VAS scores for pain and treatment satisfaction.

Conclusions

In this retrospective study, the use of MVA under local anesthesia for early pregnancy miscarriage surgery was found to be equally safe and effective when performed under conventional general anesthesia. This technique allowed the achievement of appropriate pain control with excellent patient satisfaction.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13037-022-00328-7.

Paclitaxel-carboplatin and bevacizumab combination with maintenance bevacizumab therapy for metastatic, recurrent, and persistent uterine cervical cancer: An open-label multicenter phase II trial (JGOG1079)

OBJECTIVE

This multicenter, open-label, phase II study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel-carboplatin, bevacizumab, and bevacizumab-based maintenance therapy for metastatic, recurrent, and persistent uterine cervical cancer.

METHODS

Patients with measurable diseases that were not adapted to regional therapies, such as surgery or radiotherapy, and were systematic chemotherapy-naïve were eligible. The participants received paclitaxel (175 mg/m²), carboplatin (AUC 5), and bevacizumab (15 mg/m²) every three weeks until disease progression or unacceptable adverse events occurred. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), safety, and time to treatment failure.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients were analyzed using our protocol. The median paclitaxel- carboplatin therapy duration was six cycles; 40% of patients received bevacizumab maintenance therapy. The median PFS was 11.3 months. The median OS was not reached; the median time to treatment failure was 5.9 months. The ORR was 79.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 63.8-88.4]; 16 patients (23.2%) showed complete response (CR) and 39 patients (56.5%) showed partial response (PR). The median PFS was 14.3 months (95% CI 7.3-17 months) for the 25 patients who received maintenance therapy and 7.4 months (95% CI 6.1-11 months) for nonrecipients (p = 0.0449). Gastrointestinal perforation/fistulas occurred in four patients (5.6%), all of whom had a history of radiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Paclitaxel-carboplatin and bevacizumab therapy is an acceptable and tolerable treatment for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with positive peritoneal cytology in stage IA endometrial cancer

This study evaluated the influence of positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) on the prognosis of patients with stage IA endometrial cancer, and the usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy in their treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with stage IA endometrial cancer admitted in our hospital between 2005 and 2015. Among 989 patients who underwent peritoneal cytology, 135 (13.7%) had PPC. Multivariate analysis extracted several independent risk factors for recurrence in stage IA patients, including those with PPC. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not cause a significant difference in the 5-year relapse-free survival rate in patients with PPC (p = 0.78). Similarly, the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate with or without chemotherapy was not different among type II cancer patients (p = 0.11). However, the baseline risk of 5-year relapse-free survival without chemotherapy in patients with PPC and type II was very low (66.7%). While PPC was an independent risk factor for recurrence in stage IA endometrial cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy did not influence the survival rate in patients with PPC. While it is controversial whether adjuvant chemotherapy should be administered in stage IA uterine cancer with only PPC as a prognostic factor, it should be considered for early-stage patients who have multiple risk factors for recurrence.

Efficacy and safety of standard of care with/without bevacizumab for platinum-resistant ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal cancer previously treated with bevacizumab: The Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study JGOG3023

We investigated the efficacy and safety of further bevacizumab therapy in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer whose disease had progressed after bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. In this multicenter, open-label, phase II trial (JGOG3023), patients were randomized 1:1 to a single-agent chemotherapy alone (either pegylated liposomal doxorubicin [40 or 50 mg/m² administered intravenously], topotecan [1.25 mg/m² intravenously], paclitaxel [80 mg/m² intravenously], or gemcitabine [1000 mg/m² intravenously]) or single-agent chemotherapy + bevacizumab (15 mg/m² intravenously). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) according to RECIST version 1.1. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and response rate according to Gynecological Cancer Intergroup cancer antigen 125 criteria. In total, 103 patients were allocated to chemotherapy (n = 51) or chemotherapy + bevacizumab (n = 52). Median investigator-assessed PFS was 3.1 and 4.0 mo in each group, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.90, P = .0082). Median OS was 11.3 and 15.3 mo in each group, respectively (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.38-1.17, P = .1556). Respective ORRs were 13.7% and 25.0% (P = .0599) and response rates were 16.7% and 21.4% (P = .8273). The incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs was 42.0% in the chemotherapy group and 54.9% in the chemotherapy + bevacizumab group; AEs were well tolerated, with only 2 and 12 events leading to discontinuation of therapy, respectively. Bevacizumab was effective beyond progressive disease and AEs were manageable. The observed improvement in PFS requires further verification.

Nivolumab Versus Gemcitabine or Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin for Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer: Open-Label, Randomized Trial in Japan (NINJA)

[Figure: see text].

Should indications for laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) exclude patients with sciatica?

Objective

Previously, indications for laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) have excluded patients with sciatica because R0 resection has not been deemed possible [1]. Because laparoscopy optimizes visualization and thus provides for meticulous dissection, we hypothesized that R0 resection can be achieved by means of laparoscopic LEER in patients with sciatica. This video article aimed to clarify the technical feasibility of laparoscopic LEER performed for laterally recurrent previously irradiated cervical cancer with concomitant sciatica.

Methods

We investigated technical feasibility of laparoscopic LEER performed as a salvage therapy following abdominal radical hysterectomy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in a patient suffering laterally recurrent cervical carcinoma with concomitant sciatica. The recurrent tumor involved the right external and internal iliac artery and vein, ileocecum, rectosigmoid colon, right ureter, right obturator nerve, and right sciatic nerve, with a resulting fistula between the tumor and the rectosigmoid colon, and severe sciatica. Resection of all these structures was essential for achievement of R0 status, and such resection means concomitant femoral bypass with prosthetic graft interposition and gastrointestinal/urinary tract resection.

Results

Laparoscopic LEER with femoral-femoral artery bypass could be conducted without any postoperative complications. Pathological R0 resection could be achieved, and local recurrence could have been controlled. However, the patient died from liver and lung metastasis at 1 year after this resection surgery.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic LEER for a laterally recurrent previously irradiated cervical cancer with concomitant sciatica was technically feasible, however, further study involving a greater number of patients and longer follow-up period is warranted to determine the stringent indications.

A retrospective assessment of the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in Japan during the early years following its introduction: a Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group study (JGOG1081S)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) for cervical cancer, in terms of morbidity and short-term oncologic outcome following LRH's introduction into Japan.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with early-stage cervical cancer (FIGO staging IA2, IB1, and IIA1) who underwent LRH from Dec 2014 to Dec 2016. We assessed the morbidity, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), and prognostic factors for RFS.

RESULTS

A total of 251 patients were included from 22 facilities across Japan. There were 8 cases of stage IA2 cervical cancer, 226 of IB1, and 17 of IIA1. The median operating time was 343 min and the median blood loss was 190 ml. Two patients (0.8%) had a postoperative complication with a Clavien-Dindo classification of grade 3 or higher. After a median follow-up time of 15.6 months, the 2-year RFS was 87.4%, and the 2-year OS was 97.8%. When the 2-year RFS rate was compared with whether the patient pathologically had tumors of less than 2 cm, versus 2 cm or more, the RFS was 95.8% and 80.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis found that tumor size and the route of lymph node removal were independent prognostic factors for recurrence.

CONCLUSION

When LRH was first introduced into Japan, we found that the route of lymph node removal was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence in addition to large tumors (≥ 2 cm). Our results suggest that prognosis may be secured by paying attention to the lymph node removal route.

Phase 2 single-arm study on the safety of maintenance niraparib in Japanese patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of niraparib 300 mg/day in Japanese patients with platinum-sensitive, relapsed ovarian cancer in a maintenance setting.

METHODS

Phase 2, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study enrolled Japanese patients with platinum-sensitive, relapsed ovarian cancer who had received ≥2 platinum-based regimens. The primary endpoint (incidence of grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia-related events within 30 days after initial niraparib administration) was justified by the incidences of a global pivotal phase 3 study and its post-hoc safety analysis on thrombocytopenia, the major hematological adverse event of niraparib. The overall safety analysis examined other treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

RESULTS

Enrolled patients (n=19) had a median (min, max) body weight of 53.9 (40.8-79.1) kg; all but one patient weighed <77 kg. Most (94.7%) patients initially received niraparib 300 mg/day but this decreased in subsequent cycles (mean±standard deviation dose intensity, 191.6±65.7 mg/day). In total, 6/19 (31.6%) patients experienced grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia-related events within 30 days of initial niraparib administration. Other common TEAEs included nausea, and decreased platelet or neutrophil counts. No progression-free or overall survival events occurred; only 1 of 4 response-evaluable patients had a post-baseline tumor assessment (stable disease).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia-related events in Japanese ovarian cancer patients was similar to that in the corresponding non-Japanese study. Overall, the safety profile was acceptable and consistent with the known safety profile and previous experience with niraparib.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759587.

Continuous Administration of Bevacizumab After Disease Progression in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Chemotherapy with additional bevacizumab is the standard treatment for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer. We aimed to investigate the clinical utility and safety of bevacizumab when used in combination with chemotherapy after disease progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective, observational study recruited patients treated for recurrent ovarian cancer from 2014 to 2016. We evaluated the effects of bevacizumab with chemotherapy in patients whose disease had progressed following treatment with bevacizumab. We assessed progression-free survival and adverse events.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients received post-progression treatment with bevacizumab. The median progression-free survival was 8.7 months (95% confidence interval=5.5-11). The progression-free survival was compared pre- and post-progression treatment, and was longer in platinum-resistant than platinum-sensitive cases after treatment (p=0.06). The most common non-hematological toxicity was proteinuria. The incidence of serious adverse events was low.

CONCLUSION

Continuous administration of bevacizumab may be beneficial for ovarian cancer patients after disease progression.

Adjuvant treatment of endometrial cancer today

Endometrial cancer frequently occurs in post-menopausal women, and the endometrium is a well-known site of cancer affecting women. Endometrial cancer is found with genital bleeding and often at an early stage. However, there are some risks of recurrence after hysterectomy. As a medical treatment after the diagnosis of endometrial cancer, appropriate adjuvant therapy is considered to lead to a decrease in the rate of recurrence and improvement of prognosis according to the determination of the cancer stage from the surgical and histopathological results. In this review, we describe post-operative adjuvant therapy administered for endometrial cancer and advanced disease, focusing on chemotherapy, radiation therapy and the combination of both. These treatments are divided according to the risk of recurrence as based primarily on the reported evidence.

Association of gBRCA1/2 mutation locations with ovarian cancer risk in Japanese patients from the CHARLOTTE study

Whether germline (g) breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutations are located within or outside the ovarian cancer cluster region (OCCR) (1380-4062 bp for gBRCA1, and between 3249-5681 bp and 6645-7471 bp for gBRCA2) may influence risk variations for ovarian cancers. This ad hoc analysis of the CHARLOTTE epidemiological study in Japan assessed the distribution of gBRCA1/2 mutations in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer, and investigated an association between gBRCA1/2 mutation locations and ovarian cancer risk. Differences in patient background and clinical characteristics in subgroups stratified by gBRCA1/2 mutation locations were also evaluated. We analyzed the data of 93 patients (14.7%) from the CHARLOTTE study who were positive for gBRCA1/2 mutations. After excluding 16 cases with L63X founder mutation, 28 (65.1%) of gBRCA1 mutations were within the OCCR. Of 30 gBRCA2 mutations, 15 (50.0%) were within the OCCR. Of 27 patients (one patient excluded for unknown family history) with gBRCA1 mutations located in the OCCR, 11 (40.7%) had a family history of ovarian cancer; the proportion of patients with a family history of ovarian cancer and gBRCA1 mutations outside the OCCR was lower (13.3%). Sixty percent of patients with gBRCA1 mutations outside the OCCR had a family history of breast cancer; the proportion of patients with a family history of breast cancer and gBRCA1 mutations within the OCCR was relatively lower (33.3%). Understanding the mutation locations may contribute to more accurate risk assessments of susceptible individuals and early detection of ovarian cancer among gBRCA mutation carriers.

A case of endometrial carcinoma progressed during pregnancy resulting in fetal death

Most endometrial carcinomas (ECs) occurring during pregnancy are diagnosed in the first trimester. During the gestation period, progesterone level, which has a protective effect on the endometrium, is found to increase. In EC cases, administering high-dose progesterone is a therapeutic strategy because this hormone can considerably shrink tumors. Herein, the case of a woman in whom EC progressed during pregnancy is reported. Before pregnancy, she was diagnosed with atypical polypoid adenomyoma based on a blind office biopsy. She spontaneously conceived 2 months later, although she was suggested to undergo dilatation and curettage under general anesthesia to confirm the diagnosis. Subsequently, fetal death occurred at 26 weeks. A vaginal delivery was deemed impossible due to vaginal metastasis of EC; thus, cesarean section was performed. Computed tomography revealed multiple lung, pelvic, and inguinal lymph node metastases. Additional biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated endometrioid carcinoma. She underwent systemic chemotherapy. However, eventually, the disease progressed, resulting in death 11 months after the cesarean section. In the present case, grade 3 EC may have existed before pregnancy, and this condition could have been diagnosed if hysteroscopic resection or total curettage under general anesthesia was performed. Grade 1 tumor may have been eliminated by the high progesterone level maintained during pregnancy, and thus, only grade 3 tumor progressed. Women who wish to preserve their fertility should undergo precise whole endometrial examination. If not, the fetus and mother may consequently experience an eventful clinical course.

Laparoscopic Ureteral Reimplantation for the Management of Long-segment Ureteral Defect in Gynecologic Surgeries

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate techniques of laparoscopic ureteral reconstruction for long-segment ureteral defects in gynecologic surgeries.

DESIGN

Step-by-step demonstration of a laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation using the Boari flap and ileal interposition.

SETTING

Gynecologic diseases often involve the ureter; hence, knowledge of ureteral reconstruction techniques is imperative in gynecologic surgeries. The important aspect of ureteral reconstruction is to ensure tension-free anastomosis; therefore, various methods are required depending on the length of the ureteral defect [1]. The Boari flap and ileal interposition are preferred for repairing 8-cm to 12-cm and >12-cm ureteral defects, respectively. These methods have traditionally required large incisions [2,3]. Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation using the Boari flap and ileal interposition has been reported to be as safe as the open technique and superior in terms of postoperative recovery in urologic surgeries [3,4]; however, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been reported in the field of gynecology. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the techniques of laparoscopic Boari flap and ileal ureter replacement in gynecologic surgeries. The technique was approved by our institutional review board.

INTERVENTIONS

The first case involved an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor, whereas the second case involved recurrent endometrial cancer. In both cases, long-segment ureteral resection was required to achieve complete tumor clearance. Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation was performed successfully, without any complications, using the Boari flap in the first case and ileal interposition in the second.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation is technically feasible for the management of long-segment ureteral defects.

Pembrolizumab monotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced ovarian cancer: Subgroup analysis from the KEYNOTE-100

Interim results from the two-cohort, phase 2 KEYNOTE-100 study (NCT02674061) of 376 patients with previously treated advanced recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) showed that pembrolizumab monotherapy was associated with an objective response rate (ORR) of 8.0% (95% CI, 5.4-11.2). We present outcomes for the Japanese patients (n = 21) enrolled in KEYNOTE-100. Patients with epithelial ROC had received either 1-3 prior chemotherapy lines and had platinum-free interval or treatment-free interval (PFI; TFI) of 3-12 months (cohort A) or 4-6 prior chemotherapy lines and had PFI/TFI of ≥3 months (cohort B). All patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks as monotherapy for 2 years or until progression, death, unacceptable toxicity or consent withdrawal. Primary objectives were ORR per RECIST v1.1 for each cohort and higher programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumor expression. The relationship between PD-L1 expression (measured as combined positive score [CPS]) and ORR was assessed. Twenty-one Japanese patients (cohort A, n = 19; cohort B, n = 2) were treated. The median (range) age was 57 (37-78) years; 19 (90.5%) patients had ECOG status of 0 and 16 (76.2%) patients had stage III-IV disease. ORR was 19.0% (95% CI, 5.4-41.9) and seemed to increase with increasing PD-L1 expression. A total of 13 (61.9%) patients had treatment-related adverse events (TRAE), and 5 (23.8%) had grade 3-4 TRAE. There were no treatment-related deaths in this subpopulation. Pembrolizumab monotherapy was associated with antitumor activity in Japanese patients with ROC, with no new safety signals identified in this subpopulation. The data suggested a trend toward higher PD-L1 expression among some patients with higher ORR.

Minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic surgery for an intra-abdominal desmoid tumor: A case report

•

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor is rare with no particular imaging features, so preoperative diagnosis is quite difficult.

•

R0 resection is essential for treatment but often requires extensive surgical trauma, which can be a risk for recurrence.

•

A laparoscopic approach for this tumor was effective, with the resulting diagnosis and resection being less traumatic.

•

The first report of successful laparoscopic complete resection and reconstructive procedures were demonstrated.

Surgical outcomes of early-stage primary vaginal nonsquamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Definitive radiation therapy (RT), using external beam RT and/or brachytherapy, is a standard treatment option for primary vaginal carcinoma. However, this treatment has poor prognosis when applied to vaginal nonsquamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC). We aimed to clarify treatment outcome and surgical safety in early-stage primary vaginal non-SCC.

METHODS

After receiving approval from the institutional review board, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and pathological samples of patients treated at our hospital between 1991 and 2018. Among 49 patients with primary vaginal carcinoma, 12 with histologically confirmed early-stage primary vaginal non-SCC were included in this study.

RESULTS

In total, 40% of patients with primary vaginal carcinoma treated at our hospital had primary vaginal non-SCC. The average observation time was 34 months (median 53.3 months). Three patients had local recurrence: 2 in pelvic lymph nodes and 1 in the vagina. Furthermore, 2 patients died of their disease. Five-year local control rate of stage I and stage II non-SCC was 75% and 100%, respectively. Disease-specific survival rate of stage I and stage II non-SCC was 81.8% and 100%, respectively. No major morbidity was observed. Three patients required allogeneic blood transfusion, whereas 1 underwent autotransfusion. None of the 12 patients were discharged with self-catheterization.

CONCLUSION

Five-year local control and disease-specific survival rates of patients surgically treated for vaginal non-SCC were favorable. Therefore, surgery could be a safe and reasonable option for early-stage primary vaginal non-SCC.

The first Japanese nationwide multicenter study of BRCA mutation testing in ovarian cancer: CHARacterizing the cross-sectionaL approach to Ovarian cancer geneTic TEsting of BRCA (CHARLOTTE)

INTRODUCTION

BRCA gene mutations are associated with hereditary ovarian cancer. BRCA plays a key role in genome integrity, and mutations result in an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Although various guidelines recommend BRCA testing in patients with ovarian cancer, data on germline BRCA (gB RCA) mutation frequency in ovarian cancer in Japan are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine gBRCA1/2 mutations in Japanese patients with ovarian cancer, stratified by clinicopathological characteristics, and to assess patients' satisfaction with pre-test genetic counseling.

METHODS

The CHARLOTTE study (CHARacterizing the cross-sectionaL approach to Ovarian cancer: geneTic TEsting of BRCA; UMIN000025597) is the first large multicenter epidemiological survey of Japanese women, aged ≥20, with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer (epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer), with histologically confirmed specimens. Patients were enrolled sequentially and underwent pre-test genetic counseling for BRCA testing. Blood samples were centrally tested for the presence or absence of known gBRCA mutations. A questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction with pre-test genetic counseling.

RESULTS

A total of 634 patients with a mean age of 56.9 years were included. Most patients (84.2%) had epithelial ovarian cancer, and 51.1% had FIGO stage III-IV cancer. Nearly all patients (99.5%) received genetic counseling before the BRCA testing, either by an obstetrician-gynecologist (42.0%) or a clinical geneticist (42.0%). The overall prevalence of gBRCA1/2 mutations was 14.7% (93/634), with gBRCA1 mutations (9.9%) more common than gBRCA2 mutations (4.7%). High-grade serous carcinoma showed a prevalence of gBRCA mutations of 28.5%. Most patients were satisfied with pre-test counseling, irrespective of the service provider's professional position.

DISCUSSION

Patients with high-grade serous carcinoma and family history of ovarian cancer had a slightly higher prevalence of gBRCA mutations, but none of the subgroups had considerably high gBRCA mutation prevalence. These data suggest that gBRCA testing should be carried out in all patients with ovarian cancer.

Feasibility and outcome of total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with no-look no-touch technique for FIGO IB1 cervical cancer

Objectives

Intraoperative tumor manipulation and dissemination may possibly compromise survival of women with early-stage cervical cancer who undergo minimally-invasive radical hysterectomy (RH). The objective of the study was to examine survival related to minimally-invasive RH with a “no-look no-touch” technique for clinical stage IB1 cervical cancer.

Methods

This retrospective study compared patients who underwent total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH) with no-look no-touch technique (n=80) to those who underwent an abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH; n=83) for stage IB1 (≤4 cm) cervical cancer. TLRH with no-look no-touch technique incorporates 4 specific measures to prevent tumor spillage: 1) creation of a vaginal cuff, 2) avoidance of a uterine manipulator, 3) minimal handling of the uterine cervix, and 4) bagging of the specimen.

Results

Surgical outcomes of TLRH were significantly superior to ARH for operative time (294 vs. 376 minutes), estimated blood loss (185 vs. 500 mL), and length of hospital stay (14 vs. 18 days) (all, p<0.001). Oncologic outcomes were similar between the 2 groups, including disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.591) and overall survival (p=0.188). When stratified by tumor size (<2 vs. ≥2 cm), DFS was similar between the 2 groups (p=0.897 and p=0.602, respectively). The loco-regional recurrence rate following TLRH was similar to the rate after ARH (6.3% vs. 9.6%, p=0.566). Multiple-pelvic recurrence was observed in only 1 patient in the TLRH group.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the no-look no-touch technique may be a useful surgical procedure to reduce recurrence risk via preventing intraoperative tumor spillage during TLRH for early-stage cervical cancer.

Laparoscopic Mesh Repair for Perineal Hernia after En Bloc Resection of an Aggressive Angiomyxoma Using a Modified Sacral Colpopexy Technique

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate laparoscopic mesh repair of perineal hernia (PH) by a modified sacral colpopexy technique.

DESIGN

Step-by-step demonstration of the technique used for the surgical repair of PH after gynecologic surgery.

SETTING

PH is defined as a pelvic floor defect through which the intra-abdominal viscera may protrude [1]. The reported incidence of PH ranges from 0.6% to 3%, and it generally occurs after rectal or prostate surgery [2]. Owing to its low incidence, there is no standard procedure to treat PH [3]. Herein, we demonstrate a successful case of PH treatment with a composite mesh (Dual Mesh; W. L. Gore & Associates, Newark, DE) after gynecologic surgery by a modified laparoscopic sacral colpopexy technique, which was approved by our institutional review board.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient had undergone extralevator abdominoperineal excision for an aggressive angiomyxoma and developed a sigmoid colon-protrudent PH after the surgery [4]. The patient suffered from defecatory dysfunction and dysmenorrhea. A total laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and mesh repair of the PH were performed at 2 years after the primary surgery, and they were successful without any intra- or postoperative complications. Because the pelvic floor defect was too large to secure the mesh by a simple placement, we applied the modified sacral colpopexy technique using 2-0 proline (ETHICON, Tokyo, Japan) to cover and support this defect. At 12 months after the second surgery, there was no sign of recurrence of PH and aggressive angiomyxoma, and the preoperative symptoms had diminished.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic mesh repair by the modified sacral colpopexy technique is safe and effective to manage PH.

Trajectory of criterion symptoms of major depression under newly started antidepressant treatment: sleep disturbances and anergia linger on while suicidal ideas and psychomotor symptoms disappear early

OBJECTIVE

In modern psychiatry, depression is diagnosed with the diagnostic criteria; however, the trajectory of each of the criterion symptoms is unknown. This study aims to examine this.

METHODS

We made repeated assessments of the nine diagnostic criterion symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) among 2011 participants of a 25-week pragmatic randomised controlled trial of sertraline and/or mirtazapine for hitherto untreated major depressive episodes. The changes from baseline were estimated with the mixed-effects model with repeated measures. The time to disappearance of each symptom was modeled using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

The total score on PHQ-9 was 18.5 (SD = 3.9, n = 2011) at baseline, which decreased to 15.3 (5.2, n = 2011) at week 1, to 11.5 (5.9, n = 1953) at week 3, to 7.8 (6.0, n = 1927) at week 9, and to 6.0 (5.9, n = 1910) at week 25. Suicidal ideas, psychomotor symptoms decreased rapidly, while anergia and sleep disturbance also decreased but only slowly. The survival analyses confirmed the primary analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Upon initiation of antidepressant treatment, patients with newly treated major depressive episodes can expect their suicidal ideas and psychomotor symptoms to disappear first but sleep disturbances and anergia to linger on.

Step-by-step demonstration of laparoscopic laterally extended endopelvic resection for a recurrent endometrial cancerous tumor at a sciatic foramen, with a detailed explanation of the pelvic sidewall anatomy

OBJECTIVE

Laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) is regarded as a surgical salvage therapy for patients with laterally recurrent gynecologic carcinomas [1]. A prerequisite for R0 resection using this excision technique is carcinoma location remote from the sciatic foramen [1,2]. However, considering the advantages provided by laparoscopy in terms of visualization and dissection, laparoscopic LEER can potentially be used to achieve R0 resection of a laterally recurrent carcinoma at the sciatic foramen [3].

METHODS

The patient underwent an abdominal radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymph node dissection due to stage II endometrial carcinoma. Almost 30 years later, a recurrent endometrial carcinoma, diagnosed by needle biopsy, was detected at the pelvic sidewall. Abdominal CT scan revealed that the recurrent tumor involved the bladder, right ureter, and rectum, and was located at the right sciatic foramen. Due to a long recurrence-free interval, resection surgery was chosen as the treatment.

RESULTS

Tumor resection (LEER) and reconstructive surgery were performed laparoscopically. The operation time was 540 minutes, and blood loss volume was 350 ml, with no blood transfusion. R0 resection was achieved without any intraoperative and postoperative complications. There has been no sign of recurrence during the 6 months that have passed since this surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Total laparoscopic LEER and reconstructive surgery for a recurrent endometrial carcinoma located at the right sciatic foramen is technically feasible in experienced hands.

Clinically relevant molecular subtypes and genomic alteration-independent differentiation in gynecologic carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma (CS) of the uterus or ovary is a rare, aggressive and biphasic neoplasm composed of carcinoma and sarcoma elements. Previous genomic studies have identified the driver genes and genomic properties associated with CS. However, there is still no molecular subtyping scheme with clinical relevance for this disease. Here, we sequence 109 CS samples, focusing on 596 genes. We identify four molecular subtypes that resemble those observed in endometrial carcinoma: POLE-mutated, microsatellite instability, copy number high, and copy number low subtypes. These molecular subtypes are linked with DNA repair deficiencies, potential therapeutic strategies, and multiple clinicopathological features, including patient outcomes. Multi-regional comparative sequencing reveals genomic alteration-independent CS cell differentiation. Transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses confirm epithelial-mesenchymal transition as a mechanism of sarcoma differentiation. The current study thus provides therapeutic possibilities for CS as well as clues to understanding the molecular histogenic mechanism of its development.

Development of Simple, Objective Chair-Standing Assessment of Physical Function in Older Individuals Using a KinectTM Sensor

BACKGROUND

With increasing interest in addressing quality of life of older individuals, tests such as the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) are widely used measures of infirmity and burden of care. However, these scales are largely qualitative and especially problematic when assessing movement-based tasks. While effective, reliable analysis of human movement is technically complicated and expensive; an infrared depth sensor is potentially a low-cost, portable devise which may provide a quantitative aspect to clinical testing.

OBJECTIVE

to assess the utility of the KinectTM sensor in providing an objective evaluation of human movement using an oft measured ADL (chair stand).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community, geriatric day-care center in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Men (n=136) and women (n=266) between 50 and 93 years of age, consisting of healthy (HE; n=312) and physically frail (FR; n= 90) individuals.

MEASUREMENTS

Subjects completed two trials of the chair stand, conducted without assistance. Trials were timed and recorded with KinectTM v2. Coronal plane angle (CPA) was determined by a line transecting the shoulder-center and waist relative to the vertical axis and was used to assess quality of the chair stand movement pattern.

RESULTS

Age, height, and body mass were not different between groups. CPA was significantly greater in FR (29.3 ± 8.3°) than HE (19.5 ± 6.5°). CPA and age were significantly related (r=0.148, p<0.01). An optimal threshold for CPA identifying frailty was determined by a receiver-operator characteristic curve with a CPA of 23.1° providing the greatest combination of sensitivity (79%) and specificity (73%).

CONCLUSION

During the chair stand, frail older adults adopted a forward lean position (increased CPA) compared to healthy older adults. This compensatory posture appears to facilitate torso rotation while reducing lower-limb muscular effort during standing. As such, CPA serves as an indicator of reduced lower-body function in older, frail adults.

Modified posterior pelvic exenteration with pelvic side-wall resection requiring both intestinal and urinary reconstruction during surgery for ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Because of the anatomic proximity of the rectosigmoid to the female pelvic organs and its frequent involvement in ovarian cancer, an en bloc resection of ovarian tumors together with the uterus and rectosigmoid, also known as a modified posterior pelvic exenteration (MPPE), is frequently performed to achieve optimal cytoreduction [1]. Additionally, if the tumor has infiltrated the pelvic side-wall, a MPPE combined with pelvic side-wall resection can be selected [2]. We report the details of a technique for this surgery requiring intestinal and urinary reconstruction.

METHODS

A 55-year-old woman underwent an up-front cytoreductive surgery for FIGO stage IIIC (pT3c N1 M0) ovarian cancer. Preoperatively, a tumor infiltrating the left pelvic side-wall was suspected; however, hydronephrosis of the left kidney was not observed on an enhanced computed tomography examination. During a laparotomy, tumor involvement of the left ureter and internal iliac vessels was observed; a MPPE with pelvic side-wall resection including a partial ureterectomy was thus performed. After the resection of the pelvic and omental tumors, colorectal and vesicoureteral anastomoses were performed.

RESULTS

Histopathologically, a high-grade serous adenocarcinoma spreading into the muscular layer of the rectum, located close to the ureter and artery, and within 5 mm of the left pelvic side-wall was identified. Diet intake was started on postoperative day (POD) 3. The indwelling bladder catheter was removed on POD 10. Spontaneous voiding after surgery was sufficient and the volume of postvoid residual urine was noted to be <50 mL. The postoperative hospital stay was 12 days. No surgery-related complications occurred. Chemotherapy was initiated 3 weeks after the surgery. The ureteral stent was placed until 3 months after surgery.

DISCUSSION

A MPPE requiring intestinal and urinary reconstruction is both feasible and safe and can be considered for patients with ovarian cancer involving the pelvic side-wall. Postoperative bladder function was preserved in this patient. However, difficulty in spontaneous voiding after surgery occurs and self-intermittent catheterization is necessary in some patients undergoing a MPPE combined with pelvic side-wall resection. In the previous study, we evaluated the impact of MPPE with or without nerve preservation on bladder function of the patients with ovarian and endometrial cancer [2]. All patients with bilateral nerve-sparing surgery had sufficient micturition from the early postoperative period. Though 40% of the patients with unilateral nerve-sparing surgery had difficulty in spontaneous voiding and needed intermittent catheterization, voiding ability of them improved and no self-catheterization was required 3 months after surgery. The assessment of patient questionnaires suggested that bladder function was acceptable in both groups at 6 months. Patients with bilateral nerve-sacrificing surgery complained of neurogenic bladder requiring self-catheterization even 6 months after surgery. Careful follow-up is required to assess bladder function after MPPE to the extent of pelvic autonomic nerve preservation.

Comparison of the Technical Feasibility and Safety of Three Contained Morcellation Techniques: A Pilot Study in an Animal Model

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare 3 laparoscopic contained morcellation techniques in terms of feasibility and safety.

DESIGN

Pilot study in an animal model (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).

SETTING

Gynecologic oncology department at a cancer institute in Japan.

PATIENTS

Porcine model.

INTERVENTIONS

Three contained morcellation techniques were tested, each multiple times in 1 of 3 anesthetized female pigs: manual morcellation (8 times), dual-site power morcellation (8 times), and single-site power morcellation (6 times). All were tested on beef tongue introduced abdominally.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The following variables were compared: bag insertion time, morcellation time, bag removal time, total in-bag morcellation time, and the volume of pneumoperitoneum CO₂ consumed. Bag rupture was evaluated ex vivo on completion of the procedure. Bag insertion time (in minutes) was significantly greater for dual-site morcellation (10.91 ± 3.38) than for manual (4.58 ± 2.47, p = .003) or single-site power (7.25 ± .77, p = .014) morcellation. Bag removal time (in minutes) was also significantly greater for dual-site morcellation (.85 ± .11 vs .27 ± .14, p<.001, vs .33 ± .59, p = .001). Total in-bag morcellation time, although greatest for manual morcellation at 21.4 ± 10.2 minutes, did not differ significantly between techniques. CO₂ consumption was significantly low for manual morcellation. Visual inspection revealed no bag damage when manual morcellation was performed, but bag damage occurred in 3 dual-site cases and in 1 single-site case.

CONCLUSION

Considering preventing specimen leakage as the main aim of contained morcellation, the bag used for power morcellation needs improvement. Although manual morcellation requires an umbilical wound of about 25 mm, the absence of bag damage, acceptable total morcellation time, relatively low CO₂ consumption, and nonuse of a power device, which translate to an economic benefit, lead us to conclude that manual morcellation will remain advantageous into the future.

Bevacizumab combined with platinum-taxane chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced ovarian cancer: a prospective observational study of safety and efficacy in Japanese patients (JGOG3022 trial)

BACKGROUND

This was the first large-scale prospective observational Japanese study evaluating the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab combined with paclitaxel and carboplatin for newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Patients were prospectively enrolled in the primary analysis cohort if they had Stage III or IV epithelial ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer and were scheduled to receive paclitaxel plus carboplatin every 3 weeks in Cycles 1-6 and bevacizumab every 3 weeks in Cycles 2-22. Primary endpoints were bevacizumab-specific adverse events and adverse events ≥ Grade 3. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and the response rate.

RESULTS

Among 346 patients enrolled, 293 patients formed the primary analysis cohort. Regarding bevacizumab-specific adverse events ≥ grade 3, incidence rates of thromboembolic events (1.4%), gastrointestinal perforation (0.3%), fistula (0.7%), wound dehiscence (0%), and bleeding (0%) were very low. While incidence rates of hypertension (23.2%) and proteinuria (12.6%) were high, all such events were tolerable. No patient with prior bowel resection developed perforation or fistula. Median PFS was 16.3 months (95% CI 14.5-18.9). The response rate was 77.5% (95% CI 67.4-85.7). The response rate was 63.6% in patients with clear cell carcinoma, which tended to be better than previously reported. The median platinum-free interval was 11.5 months, and the platinum-resistant recurrence rate was 24.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining bevacizumab with chemotherapy was tolerable and efficacy was acceptable in Japanese patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Bevacizumab seems to reduce platinum-resistant recurrence and is promising for clear cell carcinoma.