Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC) is the eighth most common cancer among Saudi women of all ages. With limited national data, we aimed to evaluate the public awareness of cervical cancer, CC risk factors, HPV infection, and HPV vaccines in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This was a survey-based cross-sectional study that encompassed 564 Saudi women over a period of a month. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed through different social media platforms. Results: The collected data included sociodemographic variables and questions assessing awareness of CC, and the attitudes toward CC screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Most respondents were aware of CC (84.0%), although their primary source of information was the internet. However, only 45 females (8.0%) had a history of cervical screening. Furthermore, most females did not know that HPV was transmitted sexually (78.9%), or that it caused genital warts (81.7%) and CC (81.9%). Regarding the HPV vaccine, 100 females (17.7%) had heard about it, but only 11 (2.0%) took the vaccine, although more than half of the respondents (54.1%) were willing to take the vaccine after being informed about it. Conclusions: We noticed a remarkable lack of awareness among the respondents regarding HPV’s clinical implications; and the HPV vaccine, and its importance and availability. The main source of information for most of the Saudi women in this study was the internet, which may be an unreliable source, or provide misleading information that may delay screening or discourage vaccination. Thus, organized campaigns by the Ministry of Health or other health-advocating agencies, in addition to screening and vaccination programs, are strongly encouraged.

Uterine cancers are among the most prevalent gynecological malignancies, and endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common in this group. This study used tissue-based proteomic profiling analysis in patients with endometrial cancer and hyperplasia, and control patients. Conventional 2D gel electrophoresis, followed by a mass spectrometry approach with bioinformatics, including a network pathway analysis pipeline, was used to identify differentially expressed proteins and associated metabolic pathways between the study groups. Thirty-six patients (twelve with endometrial cancer, twelve with hyperplasia, and twelve controls) were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the participants was 46–75 years. Eighty-seven proteins were significantly differentially expressed between the study groups, of which fifty-three were significantly differentially regulated (twenty-eight upregulated and twenty-five downregulated) in the tissue samples of EC patients compared to the control (Ctrl). Furthermore, 26 proteins were significantly dysregulated (8 upregulated and 18 downregulated) in tissue samples of hyperplasia (HY) patients compared to Ctrl. Thirty-two proteins (nineteen upregulated and thirteen downregulated) including desmin, peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase A, and zinc finger protein 844 were downregulated in the EC group compared to the HY group. Additionally, fructose bisphosphate aldolase A, alpha enolase, and keratin type 1 cytoskeletal 10 were upregulated in the EC group compared to those in the HY group. The proteins identified in this study were known to regulate cellular processes (36%), followed by biological regulation (16%). Ingenuity pathway analysis found that proteins that are differentially expressed between EC and HY are linked to AKT, ACTA2, and other signaling pathways. The panels of protein markers identified in this study could be used as potential biomarkers for distinguishing between EC and HY and early diagnosis and progression of EC from hyperplasia and normal patients.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common form of gynecological cancer. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of EC. Currently, no proteomic studies have investigated the role of diabetes in endometrial cancers from clinical samples. The present study aims to elucidate the molecular link between diabetes and EC using a proteomic approach. Endometrial tissue samples were obtained from age-matched patients (EC Diabetic and EC Non-Diabetic) during surgery. Untargeted proteomic analysis of the endometrial tissues was carried out using a two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF). A total of 53 proteins were identified, with a significant difference in abundance (analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, p ≤ 0.05; fold-change ≥ 1.5) between the two groups, among which 30 were upregulated and 23 downregulated in the EC Diabetic group compared to EC Non-Diabetic. The significantly upregulated proteins included peroxiredoxin-1, vinculin, endoplasmin, annexin A5, calreticulin, and serotransferrin. The significantly downregulated proteins were myosin regulatory light polypeptide 9, Retinol dehydrogenase 12, protein WWC3, intraflagellar transport protein 88 homolog, superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn], and retinal dehydrogenase 1. The network pathway was related to connective tissue disorder, developmental disorder, and hereditary disorder, with the identified proteins centered around dysregulation of ERK1/2 and F Actin signaling pathways. Cancer-associated protein alterations such as upregulation of peroxiredoxin-1, annexin 5, and iNOS, and downregulation of RDH12, retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 1, SOD1, and MYL 9, were found in the EC tissues of the diabetic group. Differential expression of proteins linked to cancer metastasis, such as the upregulation of vinculin and endoplasmin and downregulation of WWC3 and IFT88, was seen in the patients with diabetes. Calreticulin and alpha-enolase, which might have a role in the interplay between diabetes and EC, need further investigation.

Background and Objectives: In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 9.9 million deaths from cancer, with a mortality rate of 10.65%. Early detection of cancer can decrease mortality and increase the chance of cure. In Saudi Arabia, multiple studies were performed for awareness and attitudes toward cancer, but few studies evaluated the awareness of familial and inherited cancers. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational survey of the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of Saudi women toward familial and inherited cancers. The estimated sample size was 385. Questionnaires were distributed through social media platforms from 1 January 2021 to 22 January 2021. Results: Of the 385 participants, the majority have a bachelor’s degree. More than half (68.9%) know that family history is related to cancer, and approximately 57.2% are aware of genetic testing. The most common indication of genetic testing is premarital testing (18.5%). An inverse relationship is noted between the awareness of familial and inherited cancers and age (p = 0.003, CI = 0.723–0.938). However, awareness of inherited and familial cancer is positively associated with awareness of the association of genetic mutation to cancer (p = 0.013, CI = 1.080–1.921) and knowledge about genetic testing (p > 0.000, CI = 2.487–8.426). Conclusions: Our results reveal that Saudi women, especially older adults, have suboptimal knowledge about inherited and familial cancers, and poor attitudes toward genetic screening. We recommend increasing public awareness regarding risk factors and screening for inherited and familial cancers.

Uterine cancer is the most prevalent gynecologic malignancy in women worldwide. Endometrial cancer (EC) has an 81% five-year survival rate, depending on disease stage and time of diagnosis. While endometrial cancer is largely treatable when detected early, no established screening techniques are available in clinical practice. As a result, one of the most significant issues in the medical field is the development of novel ways for early cancer identification, which could boost treatment success rates. Liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)-based metabolomics was employed to explore the metabolomic markers and pathways unique to this cancer type and link them to the benign endometrial hyperplasia that may progress to cancer in 5% to 25% of patients. The study involved 59 postmenopausal participants, 20 with EC type 1, 20 with benign hyperplasia, and 19 healthy participants. Metabolite distribution changes were analyzed, and 338 of these features were dysregulated and significant. The first two main components, PC1 and PC2, were responsible for 11.5% and 12.2% of the total metabolites, respectively. Compared with the control group (CO), EC samples had 203 differentially expressed metabolites (180 upregulated and 23 downregulated); in hyperplasia (HP), 157 metabolites were dysregulated (127 upregulated and 30 downregulated) compared to the CO group while 21 metabolites exhibited differential regulation (16 upregulated and 5 downregulated) in EC plasma samples compared to the HP group. Hyperplasia samples exhibited similar metabolic changes to those reported in cancer, except for alterations in triglyceride levels, 7a,12 b-dihydroxy-5b-Cholan-24-oic acid, and Hept-2-enedioyl carnitine levels. The metabolites N-heptanoyl glycine and -(Methylthio)-2,3-isopentyl phosphate and formimino glutamic acid can be specific markers for hyperplasia conditions and dimethyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine and 8-isoprostaglandin E2 can be specific markers for EC conditions. Metabolic activities rely on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for energy generation. The changes in metabolites identified in our study indicate that endometrial cancer cells adopt alternative strategies to increase energy production to meet the energy demand, thereby supporting proliferation.

Objective The present study aimed to explore the opinion and ethical consideration of vulvovaginal aesthetics procedures (VVAPs) among health professionals and medical students in Saudi Arabia.Methods This is a cross-sectional study performed between January 2020 and April 2020. Data was collected through electronic media, WhatsApp, and emails. The results were analyzed by applying the Students t-test, and correlations were considered significant if they presented a p-value < 0.05.Results There is significant demand to educate doctors, health professionals, medical students, and gynecologists for the VVAPs to have a solid foundation, justified indications, and knowledge about various aesthetic options. Although female doctors, medical students, young doctors, and gynecologists have more knowledge about VVAPs, all health professionals ought to be aware of recent trends in vulvovaginal aesthetics (VVA). The present analysis determined that VVA should be under the domain of gynecologists, rather than under that of plastic surgeons, general surgeons, and cosmetologists. The majority of the participants considered that vaginal rejuvenation, “G-spot” augmentation, clitoral surgery, and hymenoplasty are not justifiable on medical grounds.Conclusion The decision to opt for different techniques for vaginal tightening and revitalization should be taken very carefully, utilizing the shared decision-making approach. Ethical aspects and moral considerations are important key factors before embarking in the VVAPs purely for cosmetic reasons. Further research is required to determine the sexual, psychological, and body image outcomes for women who underwent elective VVAPs. Moreover, medical educators must consider VVAPs as part of the undergraduate and postgraduate medical curriculum.