Identification of patients with ovarian cancer who are experiencing the highest benefit from bevacizumab in first-line setting based on their tumor intrinsic chemosensitivity (KELIM): GOG-0218 validation study

5553

Background: In patients with high-grade ovarian cancer in first-line setting, predictive factors of bevacizumab efficacy are needed, for selecting patients. In ICON-7 trial, a poor tumor intrisic chemosensitivity (defined by unfavorable modeled CA-125 kinetic ELIMination rate constant KELIM) was a predictive biomarker. Among patients with high-risk diseases, only those with unfavorable KELIM had survival benefit from bevacizumab (mOS: 29.7 vs 20.6 months, HR = 0.78)(Colomban. JNCI CS 2020). The objective was to perform an external validation in GOG-0218 trial (NCT00262847). Methods: In GOG-0218, 1,873 patients were treated with carboplatin-paclitaxel +/- concurrent bevacizumab/placebo followed by a 15 month maintenance. Patient KELIM values were estimated with longitudinal CA-125 kinetics during the first 100 chemotherapy days. The association between KELIM score (categorized as favorable ≥ 1, or unfavorable < 1) and efficacy of bevacizumab (bevacizumab-concurrent + maintenance, vs placebo) for PFS and OS was assessed using univariate/multivariate analyses, in a Training set with 2/3 patients managed the investigators, and then a Validation set with all patients, managed by NGR-GOG. Results: KELIM was assessable in 1,662 patients with ≥ 3 CA-125 available values. In both sets, the patients with unfavorable KELIM derived benefit from bevacizumab compared to placebo (Training: PFS, HR = 0.65 [0.54-0.80]; OS, HR = 0.80 [0.65-0.99]; Validation: PFS, HR = 0.69 [0.59-0.82]; OS, HR = 0.87 [0.73-1.03]), whilst those with favorable KELIM had no benefit from bevacizumab (Training: PFS, HR = 0.96 [0.75-1.23]; OS, HR = 1.05 [0.80-1.37]; Validation, PFS, HR = 0.96 [0.79-1.17]; OS HR = 1.11 [0.89-1.84]). The highest benefit was observed in patients with high-risk diseases (stage IV or sub-optimally resected stage III) characterized by unfavorable KELIM, for PFS (Learning (n = 276): mPFS: 9.0 vs 5.2 months, HR = 0.61 [0.48-0.78]; Validation (n = 433): mPFS: 9.1 vs 5.6 months, HR = 0.64 [0.53-0.78]), and for OS (Learning (n = 278): mOS: 38.9 vs 27.9 months, HR = 0.72 [0.56-0.93], Validation set (n = 438): mOS: 35.1 vs 29.1 months, HR = 0.79 [0.65-0.97]). Conclusions: This validation analysis of GOG-0218 trial confirms the outcomes of ICON-7 trial about the association between poor tumor chemosensitivity and benefit from concurrent + maintenance bevacizumab, suggesting that bevacizumab is mainly effective in patients with poorly chemosensitive diseases. No benefit was found in patients with favorable KELIM. The patients who derived the highest benefit from bevacizumab in PFS and OS (OS absolute benefit ̃ 6 to 9 months) were those with high-risk diseases (stage IV, or incompletely resected stage III) associated with an unfavorable KELIM score (calculator on https://www.biomarker-kinetics.org/CA-125).

A phase I/II study of ruxolitinib with frontline neoadjuvant and post-surgical therapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, Fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer

5501

Background: The Interleukin-6/JAK/STAT3 axis, via an increase in cancer stem-like cell (CSC) survival, is a reported driver of chemotherapy resistance. We hypothesized that addition of the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib to standard chemotherapy would be tolerable and, by targeting therapy-resistant cells, improve the progression-free survival (PFS) of ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal carcinoma (OV/FT/PPC) patients treated in the up-front setting. Methods: Patients with OV/FT/PPC dispositioned to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were eligible for NRG-GY007 (NCT #02713386). In phase I, treatment was with dose-dense paclitaxel (P) 70 or 80 mg/m2 days 1, 8, and 15; carboplatin (C) AUC 5 or 6 day 1; and ruxolitinib (R) 15mg PO BID, every 21 days. In the absence of tumor progression or an inability to tolerate surgery, interval tumor reductive surgery (TRS) was required after cycle 3. After TRS, 3 additional cycles were administered, followed by maintenance ruxolitinib until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or voluntary withdrawal. In phase II, patients were randomized to dose-dense PC (arm 1) or dose-dense PC plus ruxolitinib (arm 2) at the phase I-defined dose of 15mg PO BID. After 3 cycles, TRS was performed, followed by another 3 cycles of the randomized regimen, without maintenance ruxolitinib. The primary phase II endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: 17 patients were enrolled in phase I. The MTD was P at 70, C at 5, and R at 15, which was chosen as the phase II dose. 130 patients were enrolled in phase II with a median follow-up of 24 months. There were five Grade 5 events in phase II, 2 in arm 1 and 3 in arm 2, with all except one being unrelated to therapy; a G5 febrile neutropenia in arm 2 was considered possibly related. In arm 2 there was potential trend towards higher grade 3-4 anemia (64% v 27% control), grade 3-4 neutropenia (53% v 37%), thromboembolic events (12.6% v 2.4%), and febrile neutropenia (6% v 0%). The HR for PFS was 0.702 (90% 1-sided CI = 0-0.89, log-rank p = 0.059). The median PFS in arm 1 was 11.6 versus 14.6 in arm 2. The overall survival HR = 0.785 (90% CI = 0.44 to 1.39, p = 0.70). There were no differences between rates of total gross resection. Conclusions: Ruxolitinib 15mg PO BID was well-tolerated with acceptable toxicity in combination with dose-dense PC. The primary endpoint of prolongation of PFS was achieved in the experimental arm. Further study of this combination can be considered. This trial also demonstrates the feasibility of early-phase randomized studies with novel agents and biospecimen collection in front line neoadjuvant treatment of ovarian cancer. Clinical trial information: 02713386.

Clinical trial in progress: Pivotal study of VB-111 combined with paclitaxel versus paclitaxel for treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (OVAL, VB-111-701/GOG-3018)

TPS6097

Background: Ofranergene obadenovec (VB-111) is a targeted anti-cancer gene therapy with a dual mechanism: a broad antiangiogenic effect and induction of a tumor directed viral immune response. In a phase II trial in platinum resistant ovarian cancer VB-111 in combination with weekly paclitaxel showed a CA-125 response rate (RR) of 58% and median overall survival (OS) of 498 days compared to 172.5 days in the sub-therapeutic dose (p = 0.028). The combination treatment was well tolerated. Favorable outcomes were associated with induction of an immunotherapeutic effect of tumor infiltration with CD-8 T cells. Based on these observations, a phase III randomized controlled trial, VB-111-701/GOG-3018 (OVAL) was initiated in collaboration with the GOG Foundation, Inc. Methods: The OVAL study, NCT03398655, is an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study. Patients with recurrent platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer, who have measurable disease (RECIST 1.1) and were previously treated with up to 5 lines are randomized 1:1 to receive VB-111 (1x1013 VPs) with weekly paclitaxel (80mg/m2), or weekly paclitaxel with placebo. Randomization is stratified by number of prior treatment lines, prior antiangiogenic therapy and platinum refractory disease status. Treatment beyond asymptomatic RECIST progression may continue until progression is confirmed by follow up imaging. The primary endpoints are OS, safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints include progression free survival, and objective RR by CA-125 (per GCIG criteria) and RECIST 1.1. The sample size calculation of 400 patients (event driven) provides 92% power to detect a difference in survival at the two-sided 5% significance level using the logrank test. A pre-planned interim analysis will take place in Q1 2020 to assess whether the CA-125 RR per GCIG criteria in the treatment arm is sufficiently larger than in the control arm and is comparable to the positive results of the phase II study. Study enrolment is ongoing and over 80 patients were enrolled in the US and Israel. Enrollment expansion to Europe is planned in 2020. Clinical trial information: NCT03398655.

Measurements of adiposity as prognostic biomarkers for survival with anti-angiogenic treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group ancillary data analysis of GOG 218

OBJECTIVE

Adiposity has been hypothesized to interfere with the activity of bevacizumab (BEV), an anti-angiogenic agent. Measurements of adiposity, BMI, surface fat area (SFA), and visceral fat area (VFA) were investigated as prognostic of oncologic outcomes among patients treated with chemotherapy, with or without BEV, on GOG 218, a prospective phase III trial.

METHOD

Pretreatment computed tomography (CT) for 1538 GOG 218 participants were analyzed. Proportional hazards models assessed association between adiposity and overall survival (OS) adjusted for other prognostic factors. The predictive value of adiposity as a function of BEV treatment was assessed in 1019 patients randomized to either chemotherapy (CT) + placebo (P) → P or CT + BEV → BEV.

RESULTS

After adjusting for prognostic factors, SFA was not associated with the overall hazard of death (p = 0.981). There was a non-significant 0.1% (p = 0.062) increase in hazard of death associated with a unit increase in VFA. When comparing the treatment HRs for patients who did and did not receive BEV, there was no association with SFA (p = 0.890) or VFA (p = 0.106). A non-significant 0.8% increase in the hazard of death with unit increase in BMI (p = 0.086) was observed. BMI values were not predictive of a longer survival for patients with BEV vs placebo (p = 0.606).

CONCLUSION

Measures of adiposity strongly correlated to one another but were not predictive of efficacy for BEV. VFA is a weak prognostic factor.

A phase II randomized study of avelumab plus entinostat versus avelumab plus placebo in patients (pts) with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)

5511

Background: Preclinical evidence suggests that combining avelumab (A), a human anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, and entinostat (E), a class I selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, may increase tumor immunogenicity and responsivity to checkpoint inhibition. This study evaluated whether A+E would lead to improved progression free survival (PFS) vs A in pts with advanced EOC. Methods: Pts with EOC which had progressed or recurred after 1st-line platinum-based chemotherapy and received 3- 6 lines of therapy were randomized 2:1 to receive A (10 mg/kg IV Q2W) plus E (5 mg PO QW) or A plus placebo (P). Treatment continued until disease progression (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was PFS (investigator-assessed, RECIST 1.1), stratifying on the presence/absence of bulky disease (tumor ≥ 50 mm) and platinum-refractory disease. The hypothesis was that the combination would reduce the hazard of PD or death by 43%, representing a 75% improvement in median PFS. 97 events (from 120 pts) provided 90% power with 1-sided significance level of 0.10. Secondary endpoints included ORR, duration and time to response, toxicity, clinical benefit rate, and OS. Results: 126 pts were enrolled, median age 63 yrs (range 43-82), median 4 prior lines, 83% serous histology. Median PFS was 1.64 and 1.51 mos for A+E and A+P, respectively (p = 0.31; HR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.58-1.39). No significant differences in ORR (6% vs 5%), or OS (NE vs 11.3 mos) were observed. 4 pts (3%) had clear cell EOC, with no responses observed. The incidence of related adverse events (AEs) was higher in the A+E arm compared to A+P (any grade: 93% vs 78%, Grade 3/4: 41% vs 10%), and the most frequent (≥20%) related AEs with A+E were fatigue (46%), nausea (31%), diarrhea (26%), anemia (26%), and chills (20%). Grade 3/4 related AEs occurring in ≥5% with A+E were fatigue (9%), and neutropenia (8%). 47% of pts in A+E arm required E dose holds/reductions. Discontinuations due to AEs were similar between arms (21% vs 17.5% for A+E and A+P, respectively), as was duration of study therapy (median 4 and 5 cycles started). Conclusions: In pts with heavily pretreated EOC, median PFS was not prolonged when E was added to A compared to A alone and the combination resulted in greater toxicity. Clinical trial information: NCT02915523.

Quality of life is significantly associated with survival in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: An ancillary data analysis of the NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG-0218) study

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate association between baseline quality of life (QOL) and changes in QOL measured by FACT-O TOI with progression-free disease (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

METHODS

Patients enrolled in GOG-0218 with completed FACT-O TOI assessments at baseline and at least one follow-up assessment were eligible. Baseline FACT-O TOI scores were sorted by quartiles (Q1-4) and outcomes compared between Q1 and Q2-4 with log-rank statistic and multivariate Cox regression adjusting for age, stage, post-surgical residual disease size, and performance status (PS). Trends in FACT-O TOI scores from baseline to the latest follow-up assessment were evaluated for impact on intragroup (Q1 or Q2-4) outcome by log-rank analysis.

RESULTS

Of 1152 eligible patients, 283 formed Q1 and 869 formed Q2-4. Mean baseline FACT-O TOI scores were 47.5 for Q1 vs. 74.7 for Q2-4 (P<0.001). Q1 compared to Q2-4 had worse median OS (37.5 vs. 45.6months, P=0.001) and worse median PFS (12.5 vs. 13.1months, P=0.096). Q2-4 patients had decreased risks of disease progression (HR 0.974, 95% CI 0.953-0.995, P=0.018), and death (HR 0.963, 95% CI 0.939-0.987, P=0.003) for each five-point increase in baseline FACT-O TOI. Improving versus worsening trends in FACT-O TOI scores were associated with longer median PFS (Q1: 12.7 vs. 8.6months, P=0.001; Q2-4: 16.7 vs. 11.1months, P<0.001) and median OS (Q1: 40.8 vs. 16months, P<0.001; Q2-4: 54.4 vs. 33.6months, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline FACT-O TOI scores were independently prognostic of PFS and OS while improving compared to worsening QOL was associated with significantly better PFS and OS in women with EOC.

Early initiation of chemotherapy following complete resection of advanced ovarian cancer associated with improved survival: NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study

BACKGROUND

To determine whether time from surgery to initiation of chemotherapy impacts survival in advanced ovarian carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a post-trial ad hoc analysis of Gynecologic Oncology Group protocol 218, a phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to study the antiangiogenesis agent, bevacizumab, in primary and maintenance therapy for patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian carcinoma. Maximum attempt at debulking was an eligibility criterion. Stage III patients, not stage IV, were required to have gross macroscopic or palpable residual disease following surgery. The survival impact of time from surgery to initiation of chemotherapy was studied using Cox regression models and stratified by treatment arm, residual disease and other clinical and pathologic factors.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred eighteen assessable patients were randomized (stage III (n = 1237); stage IV (n = 477), including those with complete resection (stage IV only, n = 81), low-volume residual (≤1 cm, n = 701), and suboptimal (>1 cm, n = 932). On multivariate analysis, time to chemotherapy initiation was predictive of overall survival (P < 0.001), with the complete resection group (i.e. stage IV) encountering an increased risk of death when time to initiation of chemotherapy exceeded 25 days (95% confidence interval 16.6-49.9 days).

CONCLUSION

Survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer may be adversely affected when initiation of chemotherapy occurs >25 days following surgery. Our analysis applies to stage IV only as women with stage III who underwent complete resection were not eligible for this trial. These results, however, are consistent with Gompertzian first-order kinetics where patients with microscopic residual are most vulnerable.

CLINICAL TRIALS IDENTIFIER

NCT00262847.

Integrating bevacizumab into the management of epithelial ovarian cancer: the controversy of front-line versus recurrent disease

Angiogenesis plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression has been associated with the development of malignant ascites and tumor progression. Bevacizumab (Avastin(®); Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA), a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, is the most widely studied antiangiogenesis agent across tumor types and specifically in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). With the recent reporting of four consecutive positive randomized trials adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy in the treatment of both front-line (GOG 218 and ICON7) and recurrent EOC ['platinum-resistant' (AURELIA Trial) or 'platinum-sensitive' (OCEANS Trial)], the most debatable question today is thus not IF we should treat ovarian cancer patients with bevacizumab, but WHEN. As bevacizumab is active in both settings, it seems appropriate to carefully consider this clinical controversy: 'what is the optimal setting for bevacizumab treatment?' A fine balance of efficacy, toxicity, quality of life, and symptom control is the main crux of this controversy. The cost effectiveness of bevacizumab in EOC is also controversial.

Antiangiogenic agents should be integrated into the standard treatment for patients with ovarian cancer

Tumor angiogenesis is a fundamental process driving the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer and related malignancies. The question is whether agents targeting tumor angiogenesis should at this time be integrated into standard treatment. In this article, the pro side of this question is presented. Multiple phase II trials have demonstrated efficacy for antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of women with recurrent ovarian cancer. Results of three phase III trials evaluating the antivascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab have been presented, all demonstrating significant increases in progression-free survival when combined with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy and continued beyond chemotherapy, with acceptable toxicity. Several other angiogenesis-targeted agents are undergoing phase III evaluation. Based on these data, it is concluded that antiangiogenic therapy, at least with bevacizumab, should be integrated into the standard clinical management of patients with this disease. Further investigation is needed to determine optimal utilization.

Bevacizumab demonstrates activity in advanced refractory fallopian tube carcinoma

The targeting of angiogenesis pathways in the treatment of gynecological cancers is an exciting development in cancer therapy. Bevacizumab has been shown to have activity in ovarian cancer through its inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor. Fallopian tube carcinoma is a rare malignancy and is often treated in a similar manner as ovarian carcinoma. We present a case of a complete response in a woman with refractory metastatic fallopian tube carcinoma treated with bevacizumab. This report demonstrates the significance of anti-angiogenesis therapy in the treatment of these tumors.

Angiogenesis in gynecological oncology-mechanism of tumor progression and therapeutic targets

The purpose of this article is to review the current literature pertaining to various angiogenic stimulators and angiogenesis inhibitors in gynecological malignancies and the relevance of these markers in the prognosis of these diseases. We also summarize the antiangiogenic drugs currently in development and in clinical use in gynecological oncology. The information was obtained from a computer search of MEDLINE for studies published in the English language regarding angiogenesis and angiogenesis inhibitors in gynecological malignancies between 1970 and December 2003; additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. In ovarian cancer, various different angiogenic activators have been found to correlate with microvessed density (MVD), stage, lymph node and peritoneal metastasis, and survival. In cervical cancer, correlation has been seen between increased angiogenic markers and stage, grade, tumor size, and survival. Studies in endometriat cancer show correlation of angiogenic markers with stage, grade, MVD, and survival. Whereas, in gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTD) only few markers have been studied, and some correlated with progression. Information on anti angiogenic drugs currently in ongoing and upcoming trials in gynecological malignancies is also presented. Angiogenesis factors may have a prognostic role to play in patients with gynecological cancers and should continue to be investigated as clinically useful tumor markers. Antiangiogenic-targeted therapies offer an attractive strategy for clinical investigation in gynecologic oncology.

Bowel resection at the time of primary cytoreduction for epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine the morbidity and survival associated with bowel resection at the time of primary cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

We reviewed all patients undergoing bowel resection by gynecologic oncology faculty at the time of primary cytoreduction for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed between 1983 and 1995.

RESULTS

There were 105 patients meeting the above criteria. The median age was 65 years (range 34 to 85 years). There were 76 stage III and 25 stage IV cancers. The primary indication for bowel resection was tumor debulking in 92% of the patients. Seventy patients had segmental resection of the colon only, and 22 patients underwent resections that included the large and small bowels. Mean operating time was 260 minutes and mean estimated blood loss was 1,447 mL. Thirty-three (31%) patients were optimally cytoreduced to less than 1 cm residual disease. Ten patients experienced major complications directly related to bowel resection, including bowel fistula (4 patients), early postoperative bowel obstruction (5 patients), and stomal hernia (1 patient). Other morbidity included ileus for more than 10 days (18 patients), cardiac complications (17 patients), pneumonia (8 patients), sepsis (5 patients), and thromboembolism (4 patients). Six patients died and five patients required reexploration within 30 days of operation. Patients with preoperative bowel obstruction and suboptimal residual disease were more likely to have postoperative morbidity. Median survival in the optimally debulked patients was 35 months compared with 18 months in patients suboptimally cytoreduced (p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that optimal debulking (p = 0.009) and platinum chemotherapy (p = 0.00006) were independently associated with improved survival. Age, International Federation of Gynecologia Oncologists stage, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and paclitaxel chemotherapy did not influence survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing bowel resection at the time of primary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer, optimal cytoreduction to less than 1 cm residual disease results in improved survival. Morbidity is common but is comparable to other published series of ovarian cancer patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery without bowel resection. Additionally, patients with preoperative bowel obstruction and suboptimal residual disease are more likely to have serious morbidity.

Fertility sparing treatment for in situ and early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix

OBJECTIVE

To explore the outcome and long-term follow-up of fertility sparing surgery for cervical adenocarcinoma in situ and early invasive adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Between 1985 and 1996, all women with adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and stage I adenocarcinoma were identified. Data were abstracted from clinical records and pathology reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty three women with stage I adenocarcinoma of the cervix were treated. Twenty subjects met the criteria for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA1 lesions. Fourteen subjects were treated with radical hysterectomy, whereas two were treated with simple hysterectomy. Because of the desire to preserve fertility, four women with adenocarcinoma were treated with cervical conization alone, and three women have gone on to deliver viable infants. Forty-two women with adenocarcinoma in situ were identified, of whom 20 were treated with fertility sparing surgery (conization). Five women treated with conization had positive margins recurring in two, and one developed an invasive adenocarcinoma 5 years after conization. None of the women with adenocarcinoma treated with cervical conization have developed recurrent disease after a median follow-up of 48 months. Cone margin status was predictive of residual disease at hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

Women with adenocarcinoma in situ and negative margins may be treated with conservative, fertility sparing surgery. Education is essential regarding the risks of residual/recurrent disease because subjects can develop lethal recurrent disease. The fertility sparing management of invasive stage IA1 adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix may also be entertained among women who desire future fertility and have negative margins of resection.

Simultaneously detected endometrial and ovarian carcinomas--a prospective clinicopathologic study of 74 cases: a gynecologic oncology group study

OBJECTIVES

The coexistence of carcinomas of the endometrium and ovary occurs in about 10% of women with ovarian carcinoma. It is often unclear whether this represents synchronous primary tumors or metastasis from endometrium to ovary, or from ovary to endometrium; consequently, staging, therapy, and expected outcome are uncertain. The Gynecologic Oncology Group sought to study patients with simultaneously detected adenocarcinomas in the endometrium and ovary with disease grossly confined to the pelvis to explore the possible correlation among discrete tumor subsets, natural history, and survival.

METHODS

Between 1985 and 1991, 85 patients were prospectively enrolled, of whom 74 were eligible. All were initially treated with total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and staging laparotomy, with radiation and chemotherapy left to the discretion of the treating physician and patient. Fifteen pathologic variables were examined to identify differences in tumor behavior.

RESULTS

Of the 74 patients, 23 (31%) had microscopic spread of tumor in the pelvis or abdomen. Sixty-four (86%) patients had endometrioid carcinomas in both the endometrium and the ovary, and endometriosis was found in the ovary of 23 (31%) patients. There was concordance between the histologic grade of the tumor in the ovary and the uterus in 51 (69%) patients. The estimated probability of recurrence 5 years following staging surgery is 15.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7-25.2%). The presence of metastasis discriminated two groups of patients that experienced different probabilities of recurrence within 5 years: 10.0% (95% CI: 4.32-21.3%) for those with tumors confined to the uterus and ovary and 27.1% (95% CI: 13.0-48.5%) for those with metastasis (hazard ratio = 4.6, P = 0.006). The histologic grades of ovarian and uterine tumors also distinguished groups of patients with different probabilities of recurrence at 5 years: 8.0% (95% CI: 2.8-21.3%) for those patients with no more than grade 1 disease at either site and 22.4% (95% CI: 11.8-38.4%) for those with a higher grade in either the ovary or the endometrium (hazard ratio = 3.1, P = 0.047). The estimated overall probability of surviving 5 years is 85.9% and that of surviving 10 years is 80.3%.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis for women with simultaneously detected carcinomas in the uterus and ovary with gross disease confined to the pelvis is surprisingly good, particularly for those with disease microscopically limited to the uterus and ovary or of low histologic grade.

Reimbursement for surgical procedures in gynecologic oncology

Reimbursement for gynecologic oncologists can be categorized into three areas: payments for evaluation and management of clinical diagnosis, payments for chemotherapy, and reimbursement for surgical procedures. Revenue from surgical care is generally considered the major source of income for gynecologic oncologists. The transition to Medicare's resource-based relative value scale-based physician payment system began on January 1, 1992, culminating nearly a decade of effort by the medical profession and the government to change the way Medicare pays for physician services. The resource-based relative value scale payment schedule was fully phased in on January 1, 1996, and has been adopted by other third party payers. As a result of this reform, relative value units were created for current procedural technology codes and represent a composite of work, practice, and malpractice expenditures. When multiplied by a dollar conversion factor, relative value units can be used to calculate the reimbursement amount for all procedures covered by Medicare and other private insurers. Many of the discrepancies in reimbursement for similar procedures performed by gynecologists and urologists were partially corrected in 1997; however, sex-specific bias still exists in payment for surgical procedures performed on men and women.

A virus-directed enzyme prodrug therapy approach to purging neuroblastoma cells from hematopoietic cells using adenovirus encoding rabbit carboxylesterase and CPT-11

Tumor cells that contaminate hematopoietic cell preparations contribute to the relapse of neuroblastoma patients who receive autologous stem cell rescue as a component of therapy. Therefore, effective purging methods are needed. This study details in vitro experiments to develop a viral-directed enzyme prodrug purging method that specifically targets neuroblastoma cells. The approach uses an adenovirus to deliver the cDNA encoding a rabbit liver carboxylesterase that efficiently activates the prodrug irinotecan,7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT-11). The data show that an adenoviral multiplicity of infection of 50 transduces 100% of cultured neuroblastoma cells and primary tumor cells, irrespective of the level of tumor cell line contamination. Exposure of neuroblastoma cell lines or of mixtures of these cell lines with CD34(+) cells at a ratio of 10:90 to replication-deficient AdRSVrCE for 24 h and subsequent exposure of cells to 1-5 microM CPT-11 for 4 h increased the toxicity of CPT-11 to three neuroblastoma cell lines (SJNB-1, NB-1691, and SK-N-SH) from approximately 20-50-fold and eradicated their clonogenic potential. Also, after "purging," RNA for neuroblastoma cell markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, synaptophysin, and N-MYC) was undetectable by reverse transcription-PCR. In contrast, the purging protocol did not affect the number or type of colonies formed by CD34(+) cells in an in vitro progenitor cell assay. No bystander effect on CD34(+) cells was observed. The method described is being investigated for its potential clinical utility, particularly its efficacy for use with patients having relatively high tumor burdens, because no published methods have been shown to be efficacious when the tumor burden exceeds 1%.

Primary immune system effects of the orally administered cyclopentane neuraminidase inhibitor RWJ-270201 in influenza virus-infected mice

The cyclopentane derivative [1S,2S,3R,4R]-3-[(1S)-1-(acetylamino)-2- ethylbutyl]-4-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]-2-hydroxy-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (RWJ-270201) has been previously reported to be a potent and selective inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase, and to inhibit infections with this virus in vitro, in mice, and in clinical challenge studies. The effect of oral gavage therapy of 100 mg/kg/day of RWJ-270201 administered twice daily for 5 days beginning 16 h prior to virus exposure, on various immune factors of importance in response to primary influenza infection was determined in mice infected with influenza A/Shangdong/09/93 (H3N2) virus. Spleens taken from the mice 2 h after termination of treatment were processed for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity and for enumeration of macrophages, T, T-helper, T-suppressor/cytotoxic, and B cells. Saline-treated mice and normal mice were run in parallel. Treatment had no significant effect on any immune parameter. In a second experiment, mice infected with influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1) were treated similarly with RWJ-270201 beginning 4 h pre-virus exposure. Treatment prevented any deaths from occurring, and markedly lessened arterial oxygen decline, lung consolidation, and lung virus titers. The mice developed mean neutralizing antibody (NA) titers of 1:592, and six of seven rechallenged mice resisted rechallenge with the same virus, indicating the initial virus-inhibitory effect also did not prevent the animals from developing an adequate humoral immune response to the virus.

Use of a modified ornithine decarboxylase promoter to achieve efficient c-MYC- or N-MYC-regulated protein expression

One of the advantages of viral-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (VDEPT) is its potential for tumor-specific cytotoxicity. However, the viruses used to deliver cDNAs encoding prodrug-activating enzymes transduce normal cells as well as tumor cells, and several approaches to achieve tumor-specific expression of the delivered cDNAs are being investigated. One such approach is to regulate transcription of the prodrug-activating enzyme with a promoter that is preferentially activated by tumor cells. Published data suggest that the most promising transcription factor/promoter/enhancer combinations are those activated by a tumor-specific transcription factor to retain tumor cell specificity but that are equal in strength to nonspecific viral promoters in their ability to up-regulate target cDNAs. This report identifies MYC-responsive, modified ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) promoter/enhancer sequences that up-regulate target protein expression in tumor cells overexpressing either N-MYC or c-MYC protein. The most efficient of the four constructs assessed contained six additional CACGTG MYC binding sites 5' to the endogenous ODC promoter (R6ODC). Reporter assays with this chimeric promoter/enhancer regulating expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase demonstrated 50-250-fold more activity in MYC-expressing cells compared with similar assays with promoterless plasmids. The R6ODC regulatory sequence was approximately equivalent to the CMV promoter in inducing expression of the neomycin resistance gene in c-MYC-expressing SW480 and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and in N-MYC-expressing NB-1691 neuroblastoma cells. The modified ODC promoter may, therefore, be useful in achieving tissue-specific expression of target proteins in tumor cells that overexpress c- or N-MYC.

Phase I trial of ifosfamide and 24-h infusional paclitaxel in pelvic malignancies: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to develop a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of ifosfamide and paclitaxel to be evaluated in the management of gynecologic malignancies.

METHODS

The Gynecologic Oncology Group conducted a Phase I trial of the regimen, initially with paclitaxel (24-h infusion) delivered on Day 1 and ifosfamide (1 h) administered (with Mesna) over the subsequent 4 days. All patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) starting 24 h after the Day 5 chemotherapy. Treatment was repeated on a 28-day schedule. A cohort of patients also received the alternate sequence of ifosfamide (4 days) followed by paclitaxel.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were evaluated. Even at the lowest dose level tested (paclitaxel 135 mg/m(2) followed by ifosfamide 1 g/m(2)/day x 4 days) grade 4 neutropenia was almost universal, despite the routine use of G-CSF. The alternate drug administration sequence resulted in marrow suppression of similar severity.

CONCLUSION

The combination of 24-h infusional paclitaxel with ifosfamide delivered over 4 days results in severe neutropenia, despite the administration of G-CSF, and is not recommended for further evaluation. In view of the known activity of the two agents in several malignancies, including cervix cancer, it would be reasonable to investigate the delivery of the agents employing alternative treatment schedules predicted to result in less severe marrow suppression (e.g., 3-h infusional paclitaxel).

Primary invasive carcinoma of the vagina: treatment with interstitial brachytherapy

BACKGROUND

Because primary carcinoma of the vagina comprises less than 2% of all gynecologic malignancies, the reported experience in the treatment of large numbers of patients is available only from a few major centers and most often encompasses a variety of differences in treatment selection and technique. The objective of this study was to assess the long term results of an interstitial iridium-192 afterloading implant technique using the Syed-Neblett dedicated vaginal plastic template.

METHODS

Patients who were treated from 1976 to 1997 were examined retrospectively.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients underwent interstitial implantation with (n = 61 patients) or without external beam radiotherapy. The median age was 59 years (range, 16-86 years). Patients were staged according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics system and included Stage I (n = 10 patients), Perez modification Stage IIA (n = 14 patients), Perez modification Stage IIB (n = 25 patients), Stage III (n = 15 patients), and Stage IV (n = 7 patients). Each implant delivered an approximately 20-gray (Gy) minimum tumor dose, with the total tumor dose reaching 80 Gy with integrated external beam radiotherapy. Local control was achieved in 53 patients (75%). The median follow-up was 66 months (range, 15-163 months), and the 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year actuarial disease free survival rates are 73%, 58%, and 58%, respectively. By stage, 5-year disease free survival rates included Stage I, 100% of patients; Stage IIA, 60% of patients; Stage IIB, 61% of patients; Stage III, 30% of patients; and Stage IV, 0% of patients. The factors disease stage and primary lesion size independently influenced the survival rates. Significant complications occurred in 9 patients (13%) and included necrosis (n = 4 patients), fistulae (n = 4 patients), and small bowel obstruction (n = 1 patient).

CONCLUSIONS

Interstitial irradiation can effect local control in the majority of patients with primary carcinoma of the vagina with acceptable morbidity. Long term cure is demonstrable in patients with Stage I-III disease.

Analysis of gene expression profiles in normal and neoplastic ovarian tissue samples identifies candidate molecular markers of epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer, in part because of the lack of effective early detection methods. Although alterations of several genes, such as c-erb-B2, c-myc, and p53, have been identified in a significant fraction of ovarian cancers, none of these mutations are diagnostic of malignancy or predictive of tumor behavior over time. Here, we used oligonucleotide microarrays with probe sets complementary to >6,000 human genes to identify genes whose expression correlated with epithelial ovarian cancer. We extended current microarray technology by simultaneously hybridizing ovarian RNA samples in a highly parallel manner to a single glass wafer containing 49 individual oligonucleotide arrays separated by gaskets within a custom-built chamber (termed "array-of-arrays"). Hierarchical clustering of the expression data revealed distinct groups of samples. Normal tissues were readily distinguished from tumor tissues, and tumors could be further subdivided into major groupings that correlated both to histological and clinical observations, as well as cell type-specific gene expression. A metric was devised to identify genes whose expression could be considered ideal for molecular determination of epithelial ovarian malignancies. The list of genes generated by this method was highly enriched for known markers of several epithelial malignancies, including ovarian cancer. This study demonstrates the rapidity with which large amounts of expression data can be generated. The results highlight important molecular features of human ovarian cancer and identify new genes as candidate molecular markers.

Evaluation of D-methionine as a cytoprotectant in cisplatin treatment of an animal model for ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the use of D-methionine(D-met) as a cytoprotectant in the context of clinically relevant doses of cisplatin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty five Fischer rats were injected intraperitoneally with 10(6) NuTu-19 cells and treated as follows: group 1 was the control group and received no treatment, group 2 received cisplatin 4 mg/kg and group 3 received cisplatin 4 mg/kg plus D-met. There were two groups that received high dose cisplatin. Group 4 received cisplatin 8 mg/kg and group 5 received cisplatin 8 mg/kg plus D-met. Treatment was initiated four weeks after injection of the NuTu-19 cells, and consisted of four weekly intraperitoneal injections. Serum BUN and creatinine levels in the high dose groups evaluated nephrotoxicity and clinical outcome was measured by mean survival using Kaplan Meier analysis.

RESULTS

There were no significant elevations in serum BUN or creatinine levels in any of the rats treated with high dose cisplatin. In the animals given cisplatin 8 mg/kg plus D-met, death from toxicity was prevented and all animals completed four treatments. In contrast, only two animals in group 4 (cisplatin 8 mg/kg alone) completed 4 treatments. There was a significant improvement in survival for the animals given D-met. (p = .0001) In all treated groups except for group 4, there was an improvement in survival compared to the control group. When comparing groups 2 and 3 (4 mg/kg +/- D-met), there was a subjective decrease in tumor response for group 3 but mean survival was not statistically different. (91 vs. 81 days; p = 0.07) A comparison of groups 2 and 5 revealed no survival benefit using high dose cisplatin with D-met. (91 vs. 79 days; p = 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that D-methionine provides cytoprotection against cisplatin toxicity without significant compromise of antitumor activity. All though D-methionine allowed for significant dose intensification of cisplatin above standard doses, there was no survival advantage noted in this group of animals. The indications for its use in the treatment of ovarian cancer remain to be determined.

Biomarker conservation in primary and metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the overexpression of specific biomarkers in primary advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancers.

METHODS

Biomarker expression by epithelial ovarian cancer specimens from primary and metastatic sites was examined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Biomarker expression by subpopulations of tissues consisting of matched pairs of synchronous and metachronous lesions was also studied.

RESULTS

A total of 3173 epithelial ovarian cancer specimens were retrieved from women with FIGO Stage III/IV disease. These included lesions from 1036 primary and 2137 metastatic sites. The percentages of biomarker expression for primary and metastatic lesions, respectively, were MDR1, 12 and 10%; p53, 55 and 60%; HER2, 12 and 11%; EGF-R, 26 and 33%; increased microvessel counts (CD31), 21 and 36%. Approximately 73% of both primary and metastatic specimens were aneuploid, and approximately 57% of both sets had an S-phase fraction >7%. Only EGF-R and CD31 expression were found to be significantly different between the primary and metastatic tumors (P < 0.05). Of the paired synchronous cases (n = 48) evaluated, 88% of aneuploid primary lesions were associated with aneuploid metastases. Similarly, the distributions for MDR1, HER2, and p53 expression did not vary significantly between primary and metastatic sites. Pairings of metachronous cases (n = 66) revealed that nearly 80% of primary aneuploid tumors (n = 39) retained their aneuploid status at the time of relapse. Furthermore, there were no significant changes in MDR1, p53, or HER2 expression at relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

With the exception of EGF-R and CD31, clonal divergence of the biomarkers evaluated in this study probably does not play a significant role in imparting clinical heterogeneity during the advanced and recurrent stages of epithelial ovarian cancer. These particular genes likely undergo alterations early in the tumorigenesis process before metastases have become established.

Failure to detect bovine immunodeficiency virus contamination of stud bull spermatozoa, blood leukocytes, or semen leukocytes in samples supplied by artificial insemination centers

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) infection could be detected in spermatozoa, blood leukocytes, or semen leukocytes from stud bulls in artificial insemination centers.

ANIMALS

30 bulls at 3 artificial insemination centers.

PROCEDURE

Polymerase chain reaction testing that used 3 sets of primer pairs targeting pol and env regions of the BIV proviral genome was performed on DNA extracted from semen leukocytes, spermatozoa, and blood leukocytes from each bull. Southern blot analysis was performed to increase sensitivity of detection. Western blot analysis of plasma samples was used to detect antibodies against BIV.

RESULTS

BIV provirus was not detected in DNA samples obtained from semen leukocytes, spermatozoa, or blood leukocytes, and antibodies against BIV were not detected.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Contrary to our report of high point prevalence of BIV contamination of semen from a single artificial insemination center, bulls of the study reported here did not appear to be infected. Maximum risk of BIV infection in similar bulls was estimated at 10% with a confidence level of 95%.

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.

Development and assessment of a general theory of cervical carcinogenesis utilizing a severe combined immunodeficiency murine-human xenograft model

OBJECTIVE

Currently, we lack a theoretical explanation for why squamous cell cervical cancer develops predominantly in specific sites (i.e., along the squamocolumnar junction). We therefore implanted human cervical tissues containing the transformation zone in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and studied morphology, steroid effects, gene expression, and human papillomavirus (HPV) factors.

METHODS

Normal and dysplastic human cervical tissues (3 x 2 mm) were placed subcutaneously in SCID-beige mice and later assessed by in situ hybridization for HPV 16/18 DNA and by immunohistochemistry for expression of CD31, keratin, proliferating-cell nuclear antigen, HPV 16 E6, p53, and Notch-1 (a binary cell fate determination protein). Some normal tissues were implanted with either a 90-day release 1.7-mg 17beta-estradiol pellet or a 5-mg tamoxifen pellet; others were infected prior to implantation with human recombinant adenovirus 5 vector containing a human cytomegalovirus promoter-driven beta-galactosidase gene and later assessed by X-gal staining.

RESULTS

Murine and human vessels formed anastomoses by 3 weeks. For at least 11 weeks, normal tissue retained the transformation zone and normal cell-type-specific keratin expression and exhibited normal proliferation; Notch-1 was present only in the basal cell layer. Dysplastic tissues exhibited koilocytosis, increased levels of cellular proliferation, and aberrant keratin, p53, and Notch-1 expression; HPV 16/18 DNA and HPV 16 E6 protein were detected for at least 6 weeks. Squamous metaplasia of normal cervical epithelium resulted from estrogen exposure, and a predominant columnar differentiation pattern was associated with tamoxifen administration. Through stable adenovirus infection, beta-galactosidase was expressed for at least 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

This small manipulatable xenograft model maintains normal and dysplastic human cervical epithelium through neovascularization. Neoplastic tissue retains HPV 16/18 DNA and a premalignant phenotype, including elevated levels of cellular proliferation and aberrant keratin, p53, and Notch-1 expression. These attributes constitute essential features of a biologic model through which one may study HPV-mediated human disease and may be superior to cell culture and transgenic murine systems. Furthermore, this may serve as a model for gene therapy. Finally, we suggest that the normal cervical epithelium is maintained through putative interactions between the Notch locus and cell cycle growth regulators such as p53 and pRb. Neoplastic cervical epithelium may arise through disruption of this pathway. This theory may be testable in our animal model.

Immunological effects of the orally administered neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir in influenza virus-infected and uninfected mice

Oseltamivir (GS4104), the ethyl ester prodrug of the carbocyclic transition state sialic acid analog GS4071, has been reported to be a striking inhibitor of influenza A and B virus infections in mice and ferrets. Multiple studies indicate this material to also be active against the disease in humans, and it has recently been approved for human use. The effect of oral gavage (p.o.) therapy of oseltamivir on various immune factors considered to be of importance in primary influenza virus infection was studied in mice. Both uninfected animals and those infected with influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1) virus were used. Doses of 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) were administered twice daily for 5 days beginning 16 h pre-virus exposure. Two hours after end of treatment, the mice were killed and their spleens assayed for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity. Subpopulations of splenic T, T-helper, T-cytotoxic and B lymphocytes as well as macrophages were determined using flow cytometry. Similar significant (P<0.01) increases in CTL activity were seen at effector:target cell ratios of 60:1 and 30:1 in the infected mice treated with oseltamivir or with placebo. NK cell activity was greater in the infected mice than in uninfected mice; the levels in all animals were not significantly affected by treatment with oseltamivir. Macrophage, T, T-helper, T-cytotoxic and B lymphocyte populations were similar in both treated and untreated animals. These data indicate treatment with oseltamivir does not adversely affect the primary in vivo cellular immune responses to influenza virus infection assayed in this study. The experiment was repeated to show that treatment with this compound significantly prevented the development of the infection and inhibited virus titers in the lung. Surviving treated mice on day 21 had mean neutralizing antibody titers of 1:208, and withstood rechallenge with the virus at this time, indicating the initial virus-inhibitory effect also did not prevent the animals from developing an adequate humoral immunity to the virus.

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.

Protein kinase C isoform expression and activity alter paclitaxel resistance in vitro

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of protein kinase C (PKC) isoform expression and functional activity to the development of multidrug resistance in gynecologic malignancies.

METHODS

Paclitaxel-resistant subclones (T30 and T30-Res) of the Mes-sa human uterine sarcoma cell line were selected through exposure to paclitaxel in vitro. Indices of relative drug resistance were determined by the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. Differences in the expression pattern of PKC isoforms were assessed by Western blot of cell lysates. Finally, the influence of PKC activity (i.e., translocation to the plasma membrane, confirmed by Western blot of plasma membrane bound protein) on resistance to paclitaxel was examined with the MTT assay in cells preincubated with PMA.

RESULTS

The indices of relative paclitaxel resistance of Mes-sa, Mes-sa-T30, and Mes-sa-T30-Res were 1-, 5-, and 11-fold, respectively. Five (alpha, gamma, iota, lambda, and mu) of the 11 known PKC isoforms were detected in all cell lysates. Only PKC-alpha and PKC-gamma expression increased with increasing indices of paclitaxel resistance. Interestingly, PMA induction of PKC activity reversed resistance to paclitaxel in all cell lines by 2- to 3-fold, and this reversal of drug resistance was associated with a time-dependent translocation of PKC-alpha and PKC-gamma to the plasma membrane compartment.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased expression of only the PKC-alpha and PKC-gamma isoforms correlates with increasing levels of paclitaxel resistance in Mes-sa cells in this in vitro experimental model. However, increased functional activity of these and other PKC isoforms leads to reversal in paclitaxel resistance. Therefore, PKC activating mechanisms normally present in primary tumor cells may be compromised in drug-resistant clones.

Phase II trial of vinorelbine in recurrent and progressive epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

A phase II, multicenter trial was conducted to define the efficacy and safety of vinorelbine (Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate) injection, NVB) in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

METHODS

Patients with persistent or recurrent EOC who had received one prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen were eligible. NVB was administered at 30 mg/m2 as a weekly outpatient intravenous infusion.

RESULTS

Using an intent-to-treat analysis of the 38 patients who received at least one dose, 11(29%, 95% confidence limits 15-46%) objective responses (4 complete, 7 partial) were observed. The median duration of response was 19 weeks. For all 38 patients, the median time to treatment failure and median survival were 12 and 60 weeks, respectively. Four of the 12 patients with platinum-resistant disease responded, while 7 of the 24 patients with platinum-sensitive disease responded. Toxicity was evaluable in all 38 patients. During course 1, 15 patients required dose reduction and 21 required dose delays. Grade 3-4 granulocytopenia occurred in 23 (62%) of 37 reporting patients. Grade 3-4 anemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 16 and 5%, respectively. The most common nonhematologic toxicities were nausea (grade 3 or less, in 34%), constipation (grade 3 or less, in 29%), and asthenia (grade 2 or less, in 24%). No life-threatening adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

NVB is an effective, palliative agent for women with recurrent EOC. Dose-limiting granulocytopenia is substantial, yet manageable.

In vitro phase II comparison of the cytotoxicity of a novel platinum analog, nedaplatin (254-S), with that of cisplatin and carboplatin against fresh, human cervical cancers

OBJECTIVE

To compare the in vitro cytotoxicity of nedaplatin, an investigational platinum analog, with that of cisplatin and carboplatin against fresh cervical cancers from untreated patients.

METHODS

Specimens were obtained prior to irradiation or radical surgery from 20 patients with locally invasive cervical carcinoma. Cytotoxicity was measured after single cell suspensions were grown in agar using colony counts and incorporation of [3H]thymidine. Nedaplatin and cisplatin were tested at 1 and 10 micrograms/ml dose levels while carboplatin was tested at 10 and 100 micrograms/ml dose levels continuously. When single hour exposures were used, drug doses were increased by 10-fold.

RESULTS

The median drug concentrations associated with a 50% inhibition of growth (IC50) for nedaplatin, cisplatin, and carboplatin were 0.435, 0.73, and 18.6 micrograms/ml, respectively. At 10 micrograms/ml for both cisplatin and nedaplatin and 100 micrograms/ml for carboplatin, cisplatin was the most active drug with 70% of tumors sensitive (</=50% survival relative to control plates) to cisplatin and 45 and 50% sensitive to nedaplatin and carboplatin, respectively (P = 0.015, P = 0.074). Six of 20 (30%) tumors resistant to cisplatin were also resistant to nedaplatin and carboplatin.

CONCLUSION

At doses approximating clinically achievable drug concentrations as defined by the mean plasma concentration time product, cisplatin appears more cytotoxic in vitro than either carboplatin or nedaplatin among chemotherapy-naive cervical cancers. However, nedaplatin and carboplatin are also active agents with similar activity. Since differences in drug sensitivity may be related to subtle differences in dose and schedule and the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of nedaplatin are favorable, clinical trials of nedaplatin are indicated.

Cervical cancer with paraaortic metastases: significance of residual paraaortic disease after surgical staging

Cervical carcinoma frequently metastasizes to the paraaortic region, necessitating extended field radiotherapy to effect a cure. As imaging modalities are unreliable in identifying all cases of paraaortic nodal metastases (PAN), surgical staging is often utilized prior to radiotherapy. This study was aimed at identifying factors predictive of survival in women with cervical carcinoma and paraaortic metastases. In particular, survival based on extent of paraaortic disease was examined. The study group consisted of 43 women (stages IB-IVB) identified between 1982 and 1993 who were treated with extended field radiation for cervical carcinoma with histologically confirmed paraaortic metastases. The estimated 5-year survival for the study population was 24% with a median survival of 18 months. Pelvic tumor size had a significant impact on survival with the median survival being 34 months if the primary lesion was < 6 cm compared to 14 months if > or = 6 cm (P = 0.01). Eight of the 26 (31%) women without residual PAN disease after surgical staging remain alive and disease free (mean follow-up, 74 months). In contrast, only 1 of the 17 (6%) women with gross residual PAN is alive 71 months after treatment (P = 0.05). However, a comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves did not show a statistically significant advantage to the surgical excision of grossly involved PAN (P = 0.98). Although long-term survival among women with grossly involved, unresected paraaortic metastases is uncommon, further study is necessary to elucidate the role of surgical excision of bulky aortic disease in women with cervical cancer.

A comparison of intracavitary versus interstitial irradiation in the treatment of cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Management of locally advanced cervical cancer consists primarily of combination external and internal radiation. In order to investigate the impact of intracavitary brachytherapy versus interstitial brachytherapy on local tumor control, survival, and complications, we retrospectively reviewed the concomitant experience of two institutions, each of which practice exclusively one of these radiotherapeutic techniques.

METHODS

Between 1979 and 1989, 61 patients with bulky stage II, III, or IVA cervical cancer were treated using a combination of teletherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy at one institution, while 70 similar patients were treated with teletherapy and interstitial brachytherapy at another institution. Patients in both groups were similar with respect to age, FIGO stage, tumor size, surgical stage, and histologic subtype. Patients treated with intracavitary therapy received a mean cumulative dose of 7706 cGy to point A and 5523 cGy to point B using standard Fletcher-Suit techniques. Those who received interstitial irradiation were treated with a mean external dose of 5050 cGy and 2 interstitial implants using a transperineal Syed-Neblett template with a mean tumor dose of 2239 and 1,942 cGy with each application, respectively. Patients treated with chemoradiation were excluded from this review.

RESULTS

Although initial rates of local control were not different, prolonged 5-year disease-free survival (50% vs 21%, P = 0.01) and improved 5-year local control (61% vs 32%, P = 0.01) were observed among patients with stage II disease treated with intracavitary irradiation. No statistical differences in survival could be detected among stage III and IVA patients. Women treated with intracavitary irradiation received a larger dose of brachytherapy than those treated with interstitial therapy (4608 vs 3504 radium milligram hours equivalent, P < 0.0001) because a tandem was only used in 17 (24%) interstitial implants. Major complications occurred in 21% of patients in each group.

CONCLUSION

When a tandem is infrequently used during interstitial brachytherapy, the toxicity is similar to that of intracavitary techniques. However, more relapses are observed among patients with stage II lesions treated with interstitial irradiation.

Value of preoperative CA 125 level in the management of uterine cancer and prediction of clinical outcome

OBJECTIVE

To enhance cost-effective management of uterine cancer by predicting the likelihood of extrauterine disease and survival on the basis of preoperative parameters.

METHODS

A retrospective review of preoperative CA 125 levels from 210 women with endometrial carcinoma was performed. The relationship of preoperative CA 125 levels to various preoperative and postoperative histopathologic factors was investigated.

RESULTS

Elevated CA 125 (greater than 35 U/mL) correlated (P < .05) with higher stage, higher grade, increased depth of myometrial invasion, positive cytology, pelvic or para-aortic lymph node metastases, and reduced actuarial survival (P < .001). Multivariate analysis of preoperative factors showed that an elevated CA 125 level was the most important predictor for poor survival (P < .001). Moreover, a preoperative CA 125 level greater than 65 U/mL was the most significant predictor of extrauterine disease and carried a 6.5-fold higher risk (95% confidence interval 2.5, 17.1). A logistic model to predict extrauterine disease was developed. The model has a sensitivity of 62%, specificity of 91%, positive predictive value of 69%, and negative predictive value of 88%.

CONCLUSION

A CA 125 level should be included as part of the preoperative workup for all patients with uterine cancer. Patients with a preoperative CA 125 level less than or equal to 20 U/mL should be considered as candidates for vaginal hysterectomy unless unfavorable histology or a high-grade (grade II or III) tumor is present. In our series, this approach would have eliminated 24% of the abdominal staging procedures, with a risk of less than 3% for extrauterine disease, while lowering treatment-related morbidity and cutting costs in the treatment of this common female cancer.

Echinacea-induced cytokine production by human macrophages

Echinacea purpurea, a plant originally used by native Americans to treat respiratory infections, was evaluated for its ability to stimulate the production of cytokines by normal human peripheral blood macrophages in vitro. Commercial preparations of echinacea fresh pressed juice and dried juice were tested at concentrations ranging from 10 micrograms/ml to 0.012 microgram/ml and compared to endotoxin stimulated and unstimulated controls. Cytokine production was measured by ELISA after 18 h of incubation for IL-1 and 36 and 72 h for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-10. Macrophages cultured in concentrations of echinacea as low as 0.012 microgram/ml produced significantly higher levels of IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 (P < 0.05) than unstimulated cells. The high levels of IL-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 induced by very low levels of echinacea are consistent with an immune activated antiviral effect. Echinacea induced lower levels of IL-6 in comparison to the other cytokines measured. These results demonstrate the immune stimulatory ability of the unpurified fresh pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea and offer some insight into the nature of the resulting immune response as compared to endotoxin.

Automated image analysis DNA cytometry to predict the pathological stage in clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVE

Automated image analysis DNA cytometry was used to predict the pathological stage in clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor patients.

METHODS

Orchiectomy specimens of 74 patients (41 pathological stage I, 33 pathological stage II) were analyzed by modular image analysis computer, and several mathematical indices from the DNA histogram were calculated.

RESULTS

The 5c-exceeding rate (rate of hyperpentaploid nuclei) was found to be significantly higher in patients with pathological stage II disease as compared with patients without metastases (p = 0.0174). Tumor tissue from lymph node metastases showed even higher amounts of hyperpentaploid nuclei (p < 0.0005). In this study, all patients with a 5c-exceeding rate above 3.1% had metastatic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-cell cytophotometry was able to show significant differences in 5c-exceeding rates between patients with and without tumor metastases. Because of high standard deviations, however, it was not possible to use this parameter for correct staging in all patients.

Association of genes within the major histocompatibility complex with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The objective was to determine whether a relationship exists among the complement C4B gene, a DR region gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirty-one subjects with ADHD, their mothers, all but 5 of their fathers, and 90 normal subjects living in northern Utah were studied. DR and C4B typing were performed by serologic HLA typing techniques and the DNA methods PCR-RFLP. The alleles of 2 genes, the null allele of the C4B gene and the beta 1 allele of the DR gene, encode for products involved in immune function and regulation. Each of these alleles was found to be significantly associated with ADHD. Moreover, approximately 55% of the ADHD subjects carried both of these alleles on 1 of their chromosomes, compared to only 8% of normal controls. Genes related to the immune system may be associated with development of the symptoms of ADHD.

Human papillomavirus type 18: association with poor prognosis in early stage cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cervical carcinoma is a leading cause of mortality from cancer among women worldwide, accounting for approximately 160,000 deaths annually. Prognosis in patients with this disease is dependent on several well-established clinical features (stage of disease and age of patient) and pathologic features (lymph node status, grade of tumor, and depth of invasion). Although the features associated with poor clinical outcome have been well studied, molecular markers such as human papillomavirus (HPV) type that may reflect the underlying biologic basis for clinical behavior are poorly understood.

PURPOSE

To test the hypothesis that differences in survival among patients with cervical carcinoma are associated with HPV DNA type, we conducted a historical cohort study of patients treated at our institutions over a 10-year period.

METHODS

Fresh primary tumor tissue samples from 291 women with all stages of cervical carcinoma diagnosed from April 1983 through August 1993 were rapidly frozen and stored at -70 degrees C until analysis. High-molecular-weight DNA was extracted and purified by homogenization, proteinase K digestion, phenol extraction, ammonium acetate salt displacement, ethanol precipitation, and ribonuclease treatment. HPV nucleotide sequences were amplified from tumor DNA samples by polymerase chain reaction with the use of both consensus L1 (MY09/MY11) primers that recognize more than 25 HPV types and modifications of type-specific primers developed for HPV types 16, 18, and 6. Clinical data were abstracted from hospital, office, and tumor registry records. Univariate analysis was conducted using Student's t test and chi-squared tests. Survival curves were estimated by use of the Kaplan-Meier method; differences between groups were examined by the logrank test. Multivariate survival analysis was performed according to the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

HPV DNA was detected in 247 (85%) of 291 tumors: HPV16 in 52%, HPV18 in 20%, other HPV types in 13%, and no HPV DNA in 15%. Eighty-eight percent of squamous tumors contained HPV DNA compared with 79% of adenocarcinomas, the latter harboring predominantly HPV18. Women 45 years old or younger with a history of cigarette smoking tended to have HPV DNA in their tumors, but the HPV type was not associated with established prognostic factors such as stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, or depth of stromal invasion. After a median follow-up of 38.9 months, among potential prognostic factors of patient age, histologic cell type, grade, and HPV DNA status, only stage was predictive of survival in the entire study population. However, among the 171 patients treated with type III radical hysterectomy (removal of uterus and upper vagina along with other tissues extending to the pelvic wall) and pelvic lymphadenectomy (removal of all lymphatic tissue in the pelvis), multivariate analysis determined that lymph node status (adjusted risk ratio [RR] = 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35-7.21), depth of stromal invasion (adjusted RR = 3.14; 95% Cl = 1.05-9.34), and the presence of HPV18 DNA (adjusted RR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.08-6.22) were statistically significant predictors of survival.

CONCLUSION

HPV18 DNA type is an independent prognostic factor in patients with cervical carcinomas treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

IMPLICATIONS

The use of molecular markers such as HPV DNA type may allow the identification of patients with early stage cervical cancer at high risk for disease recurrence.

Strong association of the third hypervariable region of HLA-DR beta 1 with autism

We reported that the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) including the null allele of the C4B gene and the extended haplotype B44-C30-DR4 is associated with autism. We report now that the third hypervariable region (HVR-3) of certain DR beta 1 alleles have very strong association with autism. The HVR-3 of DR beta 1* 0401 or the shared HVR-3 alleles DR beta 1* 0404 and DR beta 1* 0404 and DR *0101, was expressed on extended haplotypes in 23 of 50 (46%) autistic subjects as compared to only 6 of 79 (7.5%) normal subjects. Another HVR-3 sequence, the DR beta 1* 0701 allele, was carried on extended haplotypes in 16 (32.0%) of the autistic subjects as compared to 8 (10.1%) of the normal subjects.

Immunogenetic studies in autism and related disorders

The major histocompatibility complex comprises a number of genes that control the function and regulation of the immune system. One of these genes, the C4B gene, encodes a product that is involved in eliminating pathogens such as viruses and bacteria from the body. We previously reported that a deficient form of the C4B gene, termed the C4B null allele (no C4B protein produced) had an increased frequently in autism. In this study we attempted to confirm the increased incidence of the C4B null allele in autism and investigated the presence of a C4B null allele in two other childhood disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia (reading disability). In addition, we explored the relationship of autism to the DR beta 1 gene, a gene located close to the C4B in autism. We confirmed the finding of an increased frequency of the C4B null allele in autism and found that the related disorders also had an increased frequency of this null allele. In addition, two alleles of the DR beta 1 gene also had significantly increased representation in the autistic subjects.