Postoperative adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy in surgical stage I endometrial carcinoma

Article Abstract:

Cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) is the most frequent cancer of the female genital tract. Surgical treatment consists of total hysterectomy and removal of ovaries, and radiation is often prescribed as well as an adjuvant treatment. Radiation techniques vary, with it being given outside the body (external-beam) or inside the abdomen (intracavitary), either before or after surgery. Few studies are available which discuss the effectiveness of the different radiation techniques, nor has the best technique been established. The outcome following post-surgical external-beam radiation therapy of 46 patients with endometrial cancer was evaluated. This particular mode was chosen because the stage of the cancer is best determined with the help of surgical findings, that is, the extent of tumor penetration into the uterine wall and lymph nodes. The external beam delivers radiation to the whole pelvis, and thus can cover the lymph nodes and vaginal cuff, two areas to which the tumor is likely to spread. The 46 patients who received external-beam radiotherapy had a rating of tumor grade of at least 2 or had tumor penetration to the middle third of the uterine wall. Ninety percent of the patients survived five years, and 82 percent remained disease-free. Of the seven patients with recurrent cancer, three had local recurrence (in the vagina or pelvic nodes), while four had bladder, liver, or diffuse peritoneal (lining of the abdominal cavity) tumors. Acute side effects included mild diarrhea, cystitis (bladder inflammation), and fatigue, while three patients developed longer-term complications of intestinal obstruction or bleeding. The results indicate that post-surgical external-beam radiotherapy is an effective treatment for endometrial cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Surgery, Radiotherapy, Endometrial cancer

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Determination of cellular oncogene rearrangement or amplification in ovarian adenocarcinomas

Article Abstract:

Oncogenes are genes within the chromosomes that are involved in normal cell growth and differentiation. However, in cases of abnormal expression of the genes, they can cause normal cells to transform into cancerous cells. Oncogenes that transform normal cells can do so by either producing too much of the gene's products, increasing the number of copies of genes in each cell (gene amplification), or by increasing the potency of the oncogene as a result of a rearrangement in the structure of the gene. Four types of oncogenes have been isolated from a type of ovarian tumor, adenocarcinoma. To determine which mechanism is responsible for the transformation in ovarian carcinoma, amplification or oncogene rearrangement, 14 tumors were evaluated. Using genetic engineering techniques, it was discovered that neither amplification nor oncogene rearrangement were responsible for the development of any of the four oncogenes in ovarian carcinomas. It is suggested that subtle molecular changes and mutations be evaluated for their role in oncogene structure.

Research, Abnormalities, Genetic engineering, Ovarian tumors

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The differential expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene among high-risk human papillomavirus-infected glandular lesions of the uterine cervix

Article Abstract:

A genetic testing procedure called in situ hybridization appears to be a preferable way to identify a gene called HER-2/neu frequently found in cervical cancer cells. In situ hybridization and antibody testing were used to identify HER-2/neu in 15 cervical adenocarcinoma tissue samples. Two-thirds of the samples were found to contain HER-2/neu. Eight samples containing HER-2/neu were identified with in situ hybridization testing while five were identified with antibody testing. Significantly more samples infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 contained HER-2/neu than did those infected with HPV 18.

Measurement, Physiological aspects, Cervical cancer, Genetic aspects, In situ hybridization, Gene expression

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