What’s New in Gynaecological Oncology?

Abstract

Is para-aortic lymph node dissection beneficial in the treatment of endometrial cancer? Para-aortic lymph node dissection is associated with a survival benefit in women with intermediate or high-risk endometrial cancer: a retrospective cohort study of women with endometrial cancer reported that eight-year, disease-specific survival rates were significantly higher for women with intermediate or high-risk disease who underwent combined pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection compared with pelvic lymph node dissection alone; there was, however, no significant difference in women with low-risk disease. What is the best, cutting-edge management for clear cell and papillary serous cancers of the endometrium? There is increasing evidence of the efficacy of an integrated and modified approach for these special histotypes compared with standard treatment for endometrial cancer: platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy is effective in determining relapse/survival benefits of both early- and advanced-stage patients. Is it possible to predict optimal cytoreduction in ovarian cancer? A high preoperative serum CA-125 level is associated with a lower likelihood of optimal cytoreduction: a meta-analysis of 14 studies found that serum CA-125 ≥500 U/ml has sensitivity and specificity for optimal cytoreduction of 69 and 63 %, respectively. Can multiple conisation procedures increase the risk of preterm delivery? The risk of preterm delivery increases in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who undergo more than one cervical conisation. A population-based retrospective study reported that, compared with women who have undergone one prior conisation, the risk of preterm delivery increases threefold in women with two prior conisations. How often do the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 16 and 18 cause invasive cervical cancer? In recent decades, the rate at which the major HPV genotypes (contained within HPV vaccines) caused invasive cervical cancers remained stable. This observation is crucial, given the large amount of public money invested in prophylactic HPV vaccine campaigns.