Title: Phytoestrogen Intake and Endometrial Cancer Risk

Authors: Pamela L. Horn-Ross, Esther M. John, Alison J. Canchola, Susan L. Stewart, and Marion M. Lee

Source: J Natl Cancer Inst 2003; 95: 1158-1164

Summary:  Phytoestrogens (i.e., weak estrogens found in plant foods) may have antiestrogenic effects. The associations between dietary intake of seven specific compounds representing three classes of phytoestrogens and the risk of endometrial cancer was evaluated in a case–control study.  Dietary information from 500 African American, Latina, and white women aged 35–79 years who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer between 1996 and 1999 and from 470 age- and ethnicity-matched control women identified through random-digit dialing were collected. Isoflavone (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37 to 0.93 for the highest versus lowest quartile of exposure) and lignan (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.44 to 1.1) consumptions were inversely related to the risk of endometrial cancer. These associations were slightly stronger in postmenopausal women. The interaction between obesity and phytoestrogen intake was not statistically significant. Some phytoestrogenic compounds, at the levels consumed in the typical American-style diet, are associated with reduced risk of endometrial cancer.

Click here for abstract from JNCI

Title: Height, Body Mass Index, and Ovarian Cancer: A Follow-up of 1.1 Million Norwegian Women.

Authors: Engeland A, Tretli S, and T Bjorge.

Source: JNCI. Vol 95, No. 16, Aug 20, 2003.

Summary:  This Norwegian cohort investigated whether BMI and height were associated with ovarian cancer risk. From 1963 to 1999, 1.1 million women from age 14 to 74 years old were evaluated. In that time, 7882 histologically verified cases of ovarian cancer were registered. Women who were overweight or obese in young adulthood had an increased risk of ovarian cancer. And, women with a very high BMI in adolescence had an RR of 1.56 (95% CI = 1.04 to 2.32) compared to women with medium BMI.

Click here for abstract from JNCI

Title: Predictors of clinical outcomes in the laparoscopic management of adnexal masses

Authors: Laura J. Havrilesky, Bercedis L. Peterson, Damla K. Dryden, John T. Soper, Daniel L. Clarke-Pearson and Andrew Berchuck

Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 102, Issue 2, August 2003, Pages 243-251

Summary:  To evaluate clinical outcomes of laparoscopic management of adnexal masses thought to be benign preoperatively, a retrospective study of patients undergoing laparoscopic evaluation of adnexal masses over a 7-year period was performed.  Complications occurred in 8% of 396 patients undergoing laparoscopic evaluation of adnexal masses and were associated with concurrent hysterectomy (P = .01) and smaller mass (P = .01). Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 25% and was associated with larger mass (P = .001), prior hysterectomy (P = .002), and younger age (P = .002). Malignancy occurred in 2%, and laparoscopic management was not associated with adverse outcomes. Adnexal masses thought to be benign preoperatively were successfully managed laparoscopically in three fourths of cases and clinical outcomes were acceptable. To a great extent, adverse events were attributable to concurrent hysterectomy rather than removal of the adnexal mass.

Click here for abstract from OB/GYN

Nothing of interest this month

Title:  Expression of c-ABL, c-KIT, and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-b in Ovarian Serous Carcinoma and Normal Ovarian Surface Epithelium                   

Authors:  Rosemarie E. Schmandt, Russell Broaddus, Karen H. Lu, Hyun Shvartsman, Angela Thorton, Anais Malpica, Charolette Sun, Diane C. Bodurka, David M. Gershenson

Source:  Cancer, Volume 98, Issue 4 , Pages 758 - 764

Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression in ovarian serous carcinomas the following tyrosine kinases: c-ABL, c-KIT, and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-b(PDGFR-b).  Inhibitors of Tyrosine Kinase, such as imatinib mesyl, are potential alternatives to standard chemotherapy. 52 ovarian serous carcinomas and 14 normal ovaries were evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining.  c-ABL was expressed in 71% of serous carcinomas, PDGFR-beta expression was observed in 81% of serous carcinomas overall and c-KIT staining was present in 26% of high-grade serous carcinomas.  The majority of ovarian serous carcinomas expressed one or more of the kinases targeted by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate, suggesting the potential usefulness of this drug in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Click here for abstract from Cancer

Title: Breast cancer and hormone-replacement therapy in the Million Women Study

Authors: Valerie Beral and Million Women Study Collaborators,

Source:  The Lancet, Volume 362, Issue 9382, 9 August 2003, Pages 419-427.

Editor's Summary: This is a very large study from the UK reaffirming the now well-established increased risk of breast cancer in women taking HRT

Click here for abstract from The Lancet

Title: Gene expression profiling for the prediction of therapeutic response to docetaxel in patients with breast cancer

Authors: Jenny C Chang, Eric C Wooten, Anna Tsimelzon, Susan G Hilsenbeck, M Carolina Gutierrez, Richard Elledge, Syed Mohsin, C Kent Osborne, Gary C Chamness, D Craig Allred and Peter O'Connell,

Source:  The Lancet, Volume 362, Issue 9381, 2 August 2003, Pages 362-369.

Editor's Summary: This is one of the first studies to use gene expression profiling in a manner which can potentially alter therapy instead of offering Yet Another Prognostic Indicator (a YAPI).  Using 24 core biopsies, the authors developed an expression profile of 92 genes that could predict the response to docetaxel with a high degree of accuracy.  If these types of studies can be validated, they will offer a very powerful addition to our clinical armamentarium. 

Click here for abstract from The Lancet

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Cancer Research – Destin Black

Nothing of interest this month

Title: Endometrial Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma With a Deceptive Pattern of Spread to the Uterine Cervix: A Manifestation of Stage IIB Endometrial Carcinoma Liable to Be Misinterpreted as an Independent Carcinoma or a Benign Lesion.

Authors:  Tambouret R, Clement PB, and RH Young.

Source:  Am J of Surg Path. 27(8):1080-88, August, 2003.

Summary: This study investigated fifteen cases of stage IIb endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma with peculiar patterns of cervical involvement. At time of diagnosis, the cases were referred in consultation because of the doubt of the nature of cervical spread and its relation to the corpus malignancy. In 11 patients, grossly the cervix was unremarkable. Fourteen cases had luminal secretions leading to a consideration of a distinct mesonephric lesion. One case was considered benign. Microscopically, the cervical and endometrial tumor components both shared the same immunoprofile and morphologic similarities. Thus, the authors reaffirm the prognostic and therapeutic importance of correctly evaluating the cervical abnormality, not misinterpreting the lesion as benign or as a separate malignant process.

Click here for Am J of Surg Path