Advanced Gynecologic Cancer Research Articles

Real-world efficacy and safety of low-dose pembrolizumab in patients with advanced and refractory gynecologic cancers

The approved standard dose of pembrolizumab (200mg administrated every 3 weeks) for cancer treatment imposes a significant financial burden on patients. However, no study has analyzed the clinical outcomes of low-dose pembrolizumab among individuals diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a low-dose pembrolizumab regimen in real-world clinical practice. We retrospectively assessed the efficacy and safety data of patients with gynecologic malignancies who received pembrolizumab between 2017 and 2022at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis of the objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) between patients with deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) and proficient MMR (pMMR). A total of thirty-nine patients were included and received pembrolizumab at fixed dosages of 50mg (5.1%), 100mg (84.6%) and 200mg (10.3%) per cycle. Compared to the pMMR group, the dMMR group exhibited a tendency toward improved ORR (45.5% vs. 13.0%, p=0.074), and notably, the median duration of response remained unreached. There was no significant difference in PFS between the dMMR and pMMR groups; however, the patients with dMMR in tumor tissue had a trend of better survival (p=0.079). Incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) of any grade was observed in 13 patients (33.3%), with 3 individuals (7.7%) experiencing grade 3 or 4 events. Low-dose pembrolizumab may be a cost-effective and safe treatment option without compromising clinical outcomes in patients with refractory gynecologic cancers.

Incorporation of Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology.

This review serves to provide clarity on the nature, scope, and benefits of early palliative care integration into the management of patients with gynecologic malignancies. There is increased recognition that timely referral to palliative care improves quality of life for patients and their families by providing goal-concordant care that reduces physical and emotional suffering and limits futile and aggressive measures at the end of life. Palliative care services rendered throughout the continuum of illness ultimately increase engagement with hospice services and drive down health expenditures. Despite these myriad benefits, misconceptions remain, and barriers to and disparities in access to these services persist and warrant continued attention. Palliative care should be offered to all patients with advanced gynecologic cancers early in the course of their disease to maximize benefit to patients and their families.

Depressed Mood as a Significant Risk Factor for Gynecological Cancer Aggravation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between depressed mood and gynecological cancer outcomes, identifying risk factors for cancer aggravation. This study was a retrospective analysis of gynecological cancer patients (January 2020-August 2022) at Korea University Anam Hospital using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Patients were classified into non-depressed mood (NDM)- and depressed mood (DM)-based scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression analyzing using SPSS. Of the 217 participants, the NDM group comprised 129 patients, and the DM group comprised 88. The two-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates showed significant differences (NDM, 93.6%; DM 86.4%; p = 0.006), but overall survival (OS) did not (p = 0.128). Patients with stage 3 or higher cancer, undergoing five or more chemotherapies, experiencing post-chemotherapy side effects, and depressed mood had an increased risk of cancer aggravation. Appropriate treatment of depressed mood, as well as adequate treatment for advanced gynecological cancer patients, those with numerous CTx., and those with post-CTx. side effects, may contribute to reducing the risk of cancer aggravation.

Total Reference Air Kerma (TRAK) is Associated with Dosimetric Parameters in Template-Based High Dose-Rate (HDR) Interstitial Brachytherapy in Advanced Gynecologic Cancers

To study TRAK and its association with dosimetric parameters in template-based high dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy in advanced gynecologic cancers. Brachytherapy treatment plans of 53 patients treated between 2012 and 2022 at our institution with template-based Iridium-192 HDR brachytherapy, post-external beam RT, for locally advanced cancers of the cervix and vagina were retrospectively reviewed. Brachytherapy dose ranged from 25 to 30-Gy delivered in 4 to 6 fractions. The median number of flexi-guide catheters implanted was 18 (range 10-30). Clinical Target Volume (CTV) values were mean (±SD): 72.2 (±40.4) cm3 (high-risk, HR) and 182.2 (±73.7) cm3 (intermediate-risk, IR) respectively. TRAK per fraction (cGy at 1m), dose-volume information for the implant, target, and organ-at-risk (OAR) were recorded. Indices for dose coverage (CI), homogeneity (DHI), non-uniformity (DNR), overdose volume (ODI) were computed. Regression and correlation tests were used to study the TRAK relationship with various dosimetric parameters. The false discovery rate at a 5% level was corrected using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. The average TRAK per fraction was 0.365 (±0.12) cGy. Mean and range values of plan quality indices were - CI 0.92 (0.7- 1.0), DHI 0.57 (0.41 - 0.77), DNR 0.43 (0.23 - 0.59) and ODI 0.22 (0.11 - 0.38), respectively Correlation results for TRAK with various dosimetric indices are presented in Table 1. TRAK showed a weak correlation with the number of flexi-guide catheters implanted (r = 0.35, p = 0.013). TRAK correlated strongly with target volumes (CTV_HR and CTV_IR and CTV_HR V100%) and with isodose volumes at both high (V300, V200, V150), and low dose levels (V90, V85, V50) (p<0.00001). TRAK correlated moderately with OAR 2-cm3 doses (p<0.00001). A weak correlation was observed between TRAK and plan quality indices. TRAK correlates positively with target volume and volumes enclosed by isodoses at various dose levels in interstitial HDR brachytherapy of advanced Gynecologic Cancers. Interestingly, our study observed a comparatively stronger positive correlation between TRAK and Sigmoid 2-cm3 dose, equated to TRAK correlation with bladder, rectum, and small bowel 2-cm3 doses. This finding could interest future studies utilizing TRAK as a surrogate for treatment outcome and toxicity.

Palliative Management of Inoperable Malignant Bowel Obstruction: Prospective, Open Label, Phase 2 Study at an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center

ContextMalignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a common complication of intra-abdominal cancer, frequently seen in advanced gastrointestinal and gynecologic cancer. Management of MBO can be challenging, particularly if the patient is not a surgical candidate. No consensus exists on how best to manage these patients medically. Retrospective studies suggest that the combination of dexamethasone, octreotide and metoclopramide may lead to relief of obstruction and improvement in symptoms associated with the obstruction. ObjectivesThis study seeks to prospectively evaluate the combination of drug “triple therapy” dexamethasone 4 mg BID, metoclopramide 10 mg Q6 and octreotide 300 mcg TID to assess tolerability, safety, and effect on symptoms and deobstruction. MethodsAdults admitted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with malignant bowel obstruction were eligible. Eligible patients who constented to the study were started on the triple therapy with close monitoring of symptoms and for adverse effects. ResultsA total of 15 patients enrolled in the study. Two patients experienced bradycardia as adverse effect and there was no incidence of bowel perforation. All patients who completed the study had complete resolution of their nausea, and improvement in other symptoms including pain, constipation, tolerance of oral intake and resumption of bowel movements. Only two of the 15 patients were alive to complete the six-month post study follow up. Conclusion“Triple therapy” with dexamethasone, metoclopramide, and octreotide for management of nonsurgical MBO in this small sample size appears safe and well tolerated however a diagnosis of inoperable MBO remains associated with poor prognosis and death within months.

Anemia and iron deficiency in advanced gynecological cancer: Postoperative recovery and iron therapy

Anemia and iron deficiency in advanced gynecological cancer: Postoperative recovery and iron therapy

Effectiveness and safety of anlotinib in patients with advanced gynecological cancer: A multi-center real-world study (1253)

Effectiveness and safety of anlotinib in patients with advanced gynecological cancer: A multi-center real-world study (1253)

Association of advanced gynecologic cancers and development of brain metastasis (1191)

Association of advanced gynecologic cancers and development of brain metastasis (1191)

Exploring motivations for participating in research among Australian women with advanced gynaecological cancer: a qualitative study

PurposeWith global moves to increase research among those living with advanced cancer and legitimise consumers as part of cancer research, this article aims to build an understanding of women’s motivations and reasons for participating in gynaecological cancer research. As a secondary aim, we considered the role of qualitative methods in enabling active involvement of consumers in research.MethodsWe applied thematic discursive analysis to 18 in-depth interviews with women diagnosed with advanced (stage III–IV) gynaecological cancer living in Australia.ResultsWe found that women viewed research as a vehicle for change in two directions: improving the lives of future generations and improving education and awareness. Underpinning these two framings of research, women spoke about their own role and reasons for participating in this interview study. Women’s stories were painted against a backdrop of social and medical silences around gynaecological cancer. It was from such silence that women chose to speak up and position themselves as participating in service for knowledge production.ConclusionWe learned that trust, reciprocity and relationships are central to women’s decisions to participate in cancer research. Legitimising consumers in cancer research requires methods, methodologies and practices that pay careful attention to power, control and representation.

Efficacy and Safety of Anlotinib in Overall and Disease-Specific Advanced Gynecological Cancer: A Real-World Study.

Anlotinib is a novel oral small-molecule multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been approved for treating non-small cell lung cancer. However, its efficacy and safety among patients with advanced gynecological cancer have not been comprehensively evaluated. We conducted this study to address this issue in the real-world setting. Data from patients treated with Anlotinib for persistent, recurrent or metastatic gynecological cancer were collected from 17 centers from August 2018. The database lock-time was on March 2022. Anlotinib was administered orally on days 1-14 every 3 weeks until disease progression, severe toxicity occurred, or death. In this study, disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer was mainly referred to cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. The outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 249 patients were analyzed, with a median follow-up of 14.5 months. The overall ORR and DCR were 28.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22.6% to 34.1%] and 80.7% (95% CI 75.3% to 85.4%), respectively. Specifically, the ORR varied from 19.7% to 34.4% and the DCR differed from 81.7% to 90.0% in disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer. The median PFS was 6.1 months and ranged from 5.6 to 10.0 months in the overall and disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer, respectively. Larger cumulative dosage of Anlotinib (>700 mg) was in general associated with longer PFS in the overall and disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer. The most common adverse event related to Anlotinib treatment was pain/arthralgia (18.3%). In conclusion, Anlotinib holds promise in treating patients with advanced gynecological cancer including its disease-specific types, with reasonable efficacy and tolerable safety.

A 3D-Printable, Low-Cost Obturator for Less Invasive Gynecologic Brachytherapy.

The purpose of this report is to design, develop, and evaluate a cost-effective applicator for interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) to minimize patient morbidity and facilitate access to curative radiation treatment for gynecologic cancers, especially in low-resource settings. A computer-aided design and prototype were developed of a proposed applicator that incorporates 44 slotted channels to gently guide needles, with or without a tandem, through the vaginal canal, effectively eliminating the need for transcutaneous needle insertions typically employed during ISBT of advanced gynecologic cancer and thus reducing the risk of vaginal laceration and bladder or rectal injury. The tested prototype was developed using AutoCAD software (Autodesk,San Francisco, CA) and 3D printed in Accura Xtreme Gray material using stereolithography. Small-scale iterative tests using a gelatin phantom were conducted on this prototype to confirm the efficacy of the applicator through inter-operator usability, needle stability, and needle arrangement. A promising prototype was developed aimed at addressing key issues with traditional perineum-based templates to facilitate ISBT, including being able to cover bulky tumors with parametrial extension reliably, decrease the risk of tissue or organ injury, and treat women with a prior hysterectomy. Results of preclinical testing demonstrated that the applicator met its purpose, suggesting that it may facilitate ISBT without the morbidity typically associated with the procedure, especially by addressing concerns associated with implementing the procedure in low-resource settings. The applicator shows substantial promise in the treatment of advanced gynecologic cancer. While further testing remains necessary to confirm its translatability to the clinical setting, the applicator appears capable of meeting its design objectives, representing its potential for improving upon current methods.

Advanced gynecological cancer: Quality of life one year after diagnosis.

Gynaecological cancer treatment impacts women's physical and psychological health. Our objective was to examine quality of life (QoL) in women with advanced gynaecological cancer at diagnosis and one year later, and to identify sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with QoL. Women with endometrial, ovarian or cervical cancer treated in Uppsala, Sweden 2012-2019 were included. FIGO stage ≥II was considered advanced gynaecological cancer, whereas women in FIGO stage I were used as a control group. QoL was assessed with SF-36. We obtained information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics from medical records and health questionnaires. Differences in QoL domains were tested with t-tests, a mixed model ANOVA and multiple linear regression analyses. The study population (n = 372) included 150 (40.3%) women with advanced gynaecological cancer. At diagnosis, women with advanced cancer reported lower physical (71.6 vs 81.8 (mean) p<0.05) and role functioning/physical scores (62.6 vs 77.2 (mean) p<0.05) than women in FIGO stage I. One year later, women with advanced cancer reported higher scores in the mental health domain (78.3 vs 73.2 (mean) p<0.05) than women in FIGO stage I. However, no difference was found in the QoL scores of women with advanced disease one year after diagnoses when stratified by diagnosis. Women with a history of psychiatric illness and higher BMI reported poorer physical and mental QoL at follow-up, while advanced stage, level of education and smoking were not associated with QoL. Women with advanced gynaecological cancer have equally good QoL one year after diagnosis as women with limited disease. Women with previous psychiatric illness and high BMI, are at risk of impaired physical and mental health.

Survival as a clinical outcome and its spiritual significance in a cohort of patients with advanced central pelvic neoplastic disease undergoing total pelvic evisceration: a poorly debated issue.

Patients with either treatment-resistant or relapsing advanced central pelvic neoplastic disease present with a condition responsible for debilitating symptoms and consequently poor quality of life (QoL). For these patients, therapeutic strategies are very limited and total pelvic evisceration is the only option for relieving the symptoms and increasing survival. Of note, taking charge of these patients cannot be limited to increasing their lifespan but must also be aimed at improving the clinical, psychological, and spiritual conditions. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the improvement in survival and QoL, focusing on spiritual wellbeing (SWB), in patients with poor life expectancy who underwent total pelvic evisceration for advanced gynecological cancers at our center. The QoL and SWB were assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC QLQ-SWB32, and SWB scale, which were repeatedly administered: 30 days before surgery, 7 days after the procedure, 1 and 3 months after surgery, and then every 3 months until death or the last follow-up assessment. Operative outcomes (blood loss, operative time, hospitalization, and incidence of complications) were evaluated as secondary endpoints. The patients and their families were included in a dedicated psycho-oncological and spiritual support protocol, which was managed by specifically trained and specialized personnel who accompanied them during all phases of the study. A total of 20 consecutive patients from 2017 to 2022 were included in this study. Of these patients, 7 underwent total pelvic evisceration by laparotomy and 13 underwent laparoscopy. The median survival was 24 months (range: 1-61 months). After a median follow-up of 24 months, 16 (80%) and 10 patients (50%) were alive at 1 year and 2 years after surgery, respectively. The EORTC-QLQ-C30 scores significantly improved yet at 7 days and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, as compared with the preoperative values. In particular, an early improvement in pain, overall QoL, and physical and emotional functions was observed. With respect to the SWB, the global SWB item score of the EORTC QLQ-SWB32 questionnaire significantly increased after 1 month and 3 months, as compared with preoperative values (p = 0.0153 and p = 0.0018, respectively), and remained stable thereafter. The mean SWB scale score was 53.3, with a sense of low overall SWB in 10 patients, a sense of moderate SWB in eight patients, and a sense of high SWB in two patients. The SWB scale score significantly increased after 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months, as compared with the preoperative value (p = 0202, p = 0.0171, and p = 0.0255, respectively), and remained stable thereafter. Total pelvic evisceration is a valid approach for improving both survival and QoL in selected patients with advanced pelvic neoplasms and poor life expectancy. Our results particularly underline the importance of accompanying the patients and their families during the journey with dedicated psychological and spiritual support protocols.

Efficacy and safety of anlotinib in overall and disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer: A real-world study.

5608 Background: Anlotinib is a novel oral small-molecule multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been approved for treating non-small cell lung cancer. However, its efficacy and safety among patients with advanced gynecological cancer. We conducted this study to address this issue in the real-world setting. Methods: Data from patients treated with anlotinib for persistent, recurrent or metastatic gynecological cancer including cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer were collected from 17 centers from August 2018. The database lock-time was on March 2022. Anlotinib was administered orally on days 1–14 every 3 weeks until disease progression, severe toxicity occurred, or death. The outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 249 patients were analyzed, with a median follow-up of 14.46 months. The overall ORR and DCR were 28.1% (95% CI 22.6% to 34.1%), and 80.7% (95% CI 75.3% to 85.4%), respectively. Specifically, the ORR varied from 19.7% to 34.4% and the DCR differed from 81.7% to 90.0% in disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer. The median PFS was 6.1 months and ranged from 5.6 to 10.0 months in the overall and disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer, respectively. Larger cumulative dosage of anlotinib (&gt;700 mg) was in general associated with longer PFS in the overall and disease-specific advanced gynecological cancer. The most common adverse event related to anlotinib use was pain/arthralgia (18.3%). Conclusions: In conclusion, anlotinib holds promise in treating patients with advanced gynecological cancer, such as cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, with reasonable efficacy and tolerable safety.

Molecular tumor profiling and therapy selection in advanced gynecological cancers: A retrospective cohort analysis from the Australian Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) Program.

5526 Background: Gynecological (gyne) cancers are highly diverse with distinct sites of origin and histological subtypes that can limit development of evidence-based therapies. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) has an increasing role in characterizing clinically relevant molecular subsets and in identifying actionable biomarkers with potential to guide therapy selection. Methods: MoST (ACTRN12616000908437) is an Australia-wide precision oncology program for adult patients (pts) with advanced cancers and limited treatment options. Tumor specimens are analysed by CGP and genomic results tiered by the level of evidence supporting matched therapies (https://topograph.info). Pts are followed for subsequent treatment and survival. Here, we present data for the MoST gyne cancer cohort. Results: Between Sept 2016 and Oct 2022, 533 gyne tumors were sequenced, with included pts having a minimum 4 months (mo) follow-up. Key histotypes included: ovarian serous (n=162) and non-serous (n=46) epithelial tumors; uterine carcinomas (n=99) and sarcomas (n=108); cervical carcinomas (n=51); germ cell and sex-cord stromal tumors (n=18); carcinosarcomas (n=33); and vulva/vaginal tumors (n=16). The median number of reported variants was 3 (IQR 2-5) and tumor mutational burden 3.1 mut/Mb (IQR 1.3—5.5, Range 0—284); 9 (2%) tumors were microsatellite unstable; and 22 (4%) had high level loss-of-heterozygosity (confirmed on validated genome-wide assays). The most common pathways involved in this pan-gyne cohort were: p53 (n=287, 54%), PI3K/AKT (n=227, 43%), cell cycle (n=182, 34%), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (n=91, 17%). Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/2 were identified in 29 tumors (5%; 18 in ovarian serous cancers), whereas 81 tumors (15%) had alterations in other homologous recombination genes, most commonly uterine sarcomas (n=32, 30%). Actionable genomic biomarkers matched to a clinically active treatment (TOPOGRAPH tier 1-3) were identified in 207 (39%) tumors. In 19 pts (3.5%) who received Tier 1-3 matched therapy after CGP, a trend towards longer survival was observed (median OS 22.3 mo, 95% CI 17.3 to not reached) compared to those receiving unmatched therapy (n=65, median OS 14.9 mo, 10.2 to 22.1, p=0.052) following CGP. No OS difference was seen in pts who received matched investigational therapy (Tier 3B/4, n=31, median OS 17.0 mo, 8.1 to NR) versus only unmatched therapy (n=118, median OS 14.0 mo, 11.3 to 22.5; HR 0.97, 0.57 to 1.64; p=0.91). Conclusions: CGP identified actionable genomic results in nearly half of advanced gyne cancers, with enrichment in particular histotypes that supports testing above current standard of care. Trends in prolonged OS with subsequent matched therapies may be better realized with earlier testing and improved drug/clinical trial access.

GCIG SB-001/NSGO-CTU-PEACE/ANZGOG 1923/2020: Palliation in gynae-oncology—Patients' expectations and assessment of care.

TPS5635 Background: Patients with advanced gynaecological cancers who are approaching end of life (EOL) have a high symptom burden and following several prior lines of therapy, a low likelihood of response to further anti-cancer treatment. Despite this, 20-30% of women with gynecological cancer received chemotherapy in the last 30 days of life, with potentially detrimental effects on health and quality of life. Little is known about patients' and carers' perceptions and preferences in this phase of illness. Eliciting patient’s values and preferences for EOL care and shared decision-making are central elements of GCIG SB-001/NSGO-CTU-PEACE with the aim of improving patient-centered EOL care. The primary aim of PEACE is to assess the feasibility of collecting data on patient satisfaction towards EOL. Secondary aims include collecting data on patient and carer satisfaction with care, as well as prospective collection of details of their care. Methods: PEACE will prospectively enroll patients in Norway and Australia. Key eligibility criteria include: Patients with gynaecological cancer at an advanced stage with a predicted life expectancy of approximately 4 months. Patients may be on anti-cancer treatment or may be under observation/palliative care. In addition, the patient must be able (both physically and cognitively) to complete patient-reported outcome measures independently. The study will also include an appointed carer (not mandatory). Patient and carer satisfaction with care and the importance of domains of care will be assessed with the CANHELP-Lite individualized (Canadian Health Care Evaluation Project) instrument and FACIT (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy). Carer’s perception of the bereavement period and the quality of the patient’s death will be assessed with the CANHELP lite bereavement and the Quality of Death and Dying questionnaire. The study will prospectively collect data on EOL treatment. Patient and carer satisfaction with care and quality of the dying process will be summarized by standard descriptive statistical measures. A sample size of 65 patients would have at least 80% power with 95% confidence to rule out a 60% completion rate in favour of the more interesting 75% rate. Assuming a 10% drop-out rate, PEACE will enrol 73 patients. Enrolment commenced in December 2022. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05142150 Clinical trial information: NCT05142150 .

The feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-advocacy serious game for women with advanced breast or gynecologic cancer.

Cancer clinicians and systems aim to provide patient-centered care, but not all patients have the self-advocacy skills necessary to ensure their care reflects their needs and priorities. This study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-advocacy serious game (an educational video game) intervention in women with advanced breast or gynecologic cancer. Women with recently diagnosed (<3months) metastatic breast or advanced gynecologic cancer were randomized 2:1 to receive a tablet-based serious game (Strong Together) (n=52) or enhanced care as usual (n=26). Feasibility was based on recruitment, retention, data completion, and intervention engagement. Acceptability was assessed via a postintervention questionnaire and exit interview. Preliminary efficacy was assessed on the basis of change scores from baseline to 3 and 6months in self-advocacy (Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship Scale) using intention-to-treat analysis. Seventy-eight women (55.1% with breast cancer; 44.9% with gynecologic cancer) were enrolled. Feasibility was demonstrated by satisfactory recruitment (69% approach-to-consent rate; 93% enroll-to-randomize rate), retention (90% and 86% at 3 and 6months, respectively; 85% data completion), and intervention engagement (84% completed ≥75% of the game). Participants endorsed the intervention's (75%) and trial's (87%) acceptability. Participants in the intervention group experienced significant improvements in self-advocacy at 3 and 6months compared to participants in the control group. Strong Together is feasible and acceptable among women with advanced breast or gynecologic cancer. This intervention demonstrates promising evidence of clinical efficacy. A future confirmatory trial is warranted to test the efficacy of the intervention for patient and health system outcomes.

Clinical Progression of Colorectal Resection in Gynecologic Cancer Patients: Does the Risk of Anastomotic Leakage Increase after Surgery?

This research aimed to examine the clinicopathological results of colorectal resection in patients with advanced gynecological cancers. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 104 patients with gynecological cancer who underwent colorectal resection from December 2008 to August 2020 at a single hospital (PNUYH). Using descriptive statistics, variables for risk factors and surgical complications were compared. We eliminated instances with malignancies originating from organs other than the female genitalia, benign gynecological illnesses, primary stoma formation, and any other bowel procedures outside colon resection. The average age of 104 patients was determined to be 62.0years. The most prevalent gynecological cancer was ovarian cancer (85 patients, 81.7%), and the most frequent procedure was low anterior resection (80 patients, 76.9%). There were postoperative problems in 61 patients (58.7%), while there was anastomotic leaking in just 3 patients (2.9%). Among the risk factors, only preoperative albumin was statistically significant (p=0.019). Our findings imply that colorectal resection can be performed safely and effectively on individuals with advanced gynecological cancer.

Understanding the spectrum of malignant bowel obstructions in gynecologic cancers and the application of the Henry score

ObjectiveMalignancy-associated bowel obstruction (MBO) is a potential sequela of advanced gynecologic cancers, adversely impacting both quality of life and prognosis. The Henry score (HS) was developed in a gastrointestinal cancer-predominant population to predict 30-day mortality. We aim to characterize MBO in gynecologic cancers and assess the utility of the HS in this population. MethodsThis is a retrospective review of patients with gynecologic cancer and MBO admitted to a single academic institution from 2016 to 2021. The primary outcome is to characterize malignant small and large bowel obstructions in primary and recurrent gynecologic cancer using readmission and mortality rates. Secondary outcomes are to assess the Henry score and inpatient MBO management. Results179 patients totaling 269 were admissions identified, most commonly affecting patients with ovarian cancer. The majority (89.4%) were managed non-operatively while 10.6% were managed surgically. No significant differences were observed in survival for medical versus surgical management. Thirty-day mortality increased with increasing HS (0%, 0–1; 14.3%, 2–3; 40.9%, 4–5). Over 1/3 (34.1%) of patients were readmitted for recurrent or persistent MBO. Goals of care conversations were documented for 56.8% of patients with HS 4–5. Mortality rates across the entire cohort were high—20.1% and 60.9% had died by 1 and 6 months, respectively. ConclusionsSurvival rates following an initial MBO admission are poor. The HS has utility in gynecologic cancers for assessing 30-day mortality and may be a useful tool to aid in the management and counseling of patients with gynecologic cancer and MBO.

Application of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gynecological Cancers: What Do Gynecologists Need to Know before Using Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?

Standard treatments for gynecological cancers include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, there are limitations associated with the chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat advanced and recurrent gynecological cancers, and it is difficult to identify additional treatments. Therefore, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy products, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and CTLA-4 inhibitors, are in the spotlight as alternatives for the treatment of advanced gynecological cancers. Although the ICI monotherapy response rate in gynecological cancers is lower than that in melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer, the response rates are approximately 13-52%, 7-22%, and 4-17% for endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers, respectively. Several studies are being conducted to compare the outcomes of combining ICI therapy with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and antiangiogenesis agents. Therefore, it is critical to determine the mechanism underlying ICI therapy-mediated anti-tumor activity and its application in gynecological cancers. Additionally, understanding the possible immune-related adverse events induced post-immunotherapy, as well as the appropriate management of diagnosis and treatment, are necessary to create a quality environment for immunotherapy in patients with gynecological cancers. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the ICI mechanisms, ICIs applied to gynecological cancers, and appropriate diagnosis and treatment of immune-related side effects to help gynecologists treat gynecological cancers using immunotherapy.