Perrone C, et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2024 May;35:e104. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2024.35.e104

Background Many women diagnosed with gynecological cancers undergo adjuvant therapy, which may lead to transient or permanent menopause that ultimately leads to urogenital syndrome and vulvovaginal atrophy. Studies advise against the use of estrogen in women with a history of hormone-dependent cancer. One alternative is vaginal microablative fractional CO₂ laser, which promotes tissue regeneration through the production of collagen and elastic fibers. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of CO₂ laser in the treatment of urogenital syndrome—in particular, symptomatic vulvovaginal atrophy in women who have survived gynecological cancers. Methods A retrospective study was carried out, including all patients with a history of gynecological cancers and vulvovaginal atrophy who underwent CO₂ laser treatment between November 2012 and February 2018 in four Italian centers. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of each participating institution. The inclusion criteria were women aged between 18 and 75; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status <2; and history of breast, ovarian, cervical, or uterus cancer. Patients had to have vulvovaginal atrophy and at least one of the following symptoms of urogenital syndrome: vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, vaginal introitus pain, burning, or itching. Three applications were administered at baseline, 30 days, and 60 days. All patients were evaluated before the first laser session, at each session, and 4 weeks after the last session. In particular, patients were asked to indicate the intensity of symptoms before the first session and 4 weeks after the last session, using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scoring from 0 ('no discomfort') to 10 ('maximum discomfort'). Results A total of 1213 patients underwent CO₂ laser treatment and of these, 1048 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria in the analysis. Finally, a total of 165 patients were included in the study. The mean age at the time of treatment was 53 years (range 31–73). Dryness improved by 66%, dyspareunia improved by 59%, burning improved by 66%, pain at introitus improved by 54%, and itching improved by 54%. The side effects were evaluated as pain greater than VAS score 6 during and after the treatment period. No side effects were seen in any sessions. Conclusions Fractional microablative CO₂ laser therapy offers an effective strategy in the management of the symptoms of genitourinary syndrome in post-menopausal women and in survivors of gynecological cancer.

Background: Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is an early-stage cancerous lesion found in the fallopian tubes, often at the fimbrial end. It is strongly associated with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), a highly aggressive type of ovarian cancer. STIC is considered a precursor to many HGSC cases, originating in the fallopian tubes. Its development is frequently linked to mutations in the TP53 gene, leading to the formation of a p53 signature, an early abnormality that may progress to HGSC. This signature is more common in BRCA mutation carriers, explaining the higher incidence of STIC in this group. The aim of this review is to evaluate the literature on the incidence of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma in patients (both BRCA-positive and BRCA-negative) undergoing preventive salpingo-oophorectomy, analysing the available data and identifying associations between specific characteristics and the onset of STIC. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature from 2016 to 2023 was conducted using PubMed, focusing on studies analysing the incidence of STIC in BRCA-positive patients undergoing preventive salpingo-oophorectomy. Data on patient characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and incidence of STIC were extracted and analysed. Results: Nine international studies were included in the review, reporting varying incidences of STIC among patients undergoing salpingo-oophorectomy. The overall incidence of STIC in all the women included in the studies was 7.31%, while that in the BRCA-mutated women was approximately 6.08%. Notably, the presence of the TP53 signature was significantly associated with the occurrence of STIC. Conclusions: The etiopathogenesis of STIC involves complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and molecular factors. Further research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and identify additional risk factors beyond BRCA mutations. Establishing a national database of STIC cases could facilitate future research and improve patient outcomes.