Background/Objectives: The present study evaluates predictive implications of the pretherapeutic Fibrinogen–Albumin-Ratio Index (FARI) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 161 patients with HGSOC International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage ≥ IIb, who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Associations between the FARI and complete tumor resection status were described by receiver operating characteristics, and binary logistic regression models were fitted. Results: Higher preoperative FARI values correlated with higher ascites volumes (r = 0.371, p < 0.001), and higher CA125 levels (r = 0.271, p = 0.001). A high FARI cut at its median (≥11.06) was associated with lower rates of complete tumor resection (OR 3.13, 95% CI [1.63–6.05], p = 0.001), and retrained its predictive value in a multivariable model independent of ascites volumes, CA125 levels, FIGO stage, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Conclusions: The FARI appears to act as a surrogate for higher intra-abdominal tumor load. After clinical validation, FARI could serve as a readily available serologic biomarker to complement preoperative patient assessment, helping to identify patients who are likely to achieve complete tumor resection during primary cytoreductive surgery.
This study aimed to assess the predictive value of tumor growth rate estimates based on serial cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) levels on therapy response and survival of patients with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). In total, 301 consecutive patients with advanced HGSOC (exploratory cohort: n = 155, treated at the Medical University of Vienna; external validation cohort: n = 146, from the Ovarian Cancer Therapy–Innovative Models Prolong Survival (OCTIPS) consortium) were enrolled. Tumor growth estimates were obtained using a validated two-phase equation model involving serial CA-125 levels, and their predictive value with respect to treatment response to the next chemotherapy and the prognostic value with respect to disease-specific survival and overall survival were assessed. Tumor growth estimates were an independent predictor for response to second-line chemotherapy and an independent prognostic factor for second-line chemotherapy use in both univariate and multivariable analyses, outperforming both the predictive (second line: p = 0.003, HR 5.19 [1.73–15.58] vs. p = 0.453, HR 1.95 [0.34–11.17]) and prognostic values (second line: p = 0.042, HR 1.53 [1.02–2.31] vs. p = 0.331, HR 1.39 [0.71–2.27]) of a therapy-free interval (TFI) < 6 months. Tumor growth estimates were a predictive factor for response to third- and fourth-line chemotherapy and a prognostic factor for third- and fourth-line chemotherapy use in the univariate analysis. The CA-125-derived tumor growth rate estimate may be a quantifiable and easily assessable surrogate to TFI in treatment decision making for patients with recurrent HGSOC.
Background/Objectives: The surgeon’s subjective intraoperative evaluation is the standard of care to assess postoperative residual disease (RD) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We investigated the feasibility of ctDNA as an objective marker for postoperative RD. Methods: This prospective study included 27 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (FIGO IIIA1–IVB) who underwent primary surgery between July 2021 and July 2022. Blood samples were analyzed preoperatively and on days 2 (d2) and 10 (d10) postoperatively. Low-coverage whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to identify structural variants (SVs) at single-base pair resolution, single nucleotide variants (SNVs), and indels in tumor tissue to develop personalized, tumor-informed digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) fingerprint assays for each patient. Results: dPCR fingerprint assays were successfully developed for all patients by identifying one to eight SVs/SNVs per patient. ctDNA was detected in 96% (n = 26/27) of patients preoperatively and in 81% (n = 22/27) of patients at d10. Median ctDNA levels at d10 were significantly higher in patients with postoperative RD (median 367.38 copies (cps)/mL, 2.84% variant allele frequency; VAF) than in patients without postoperative RD (median 0.92 cps/mL, 0.017% VAF, p < 0.001). In patients with postoperative RD, ctDNA levels increased from the preoperative stage to d10 in seven out of eight patients (p = 0.016). In patients with complete tumor resection, ctDNA levels decreased from the preoperative stage to d10 in 17/19 patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A tumor-informed personalized ctDNA approach demonstrated feasibility, providing extremely high detection rates pre- and postoperatively. These results indicate that this approach could potentially be used for postoperative RD assessment in patients with primary advanced EOC.
Radical trachelectomy allows for fertility preservation in patients with early cervical cancer not qualifying as “low-risk” as defined by ConCerv. This study reports on the 10-year surgical, oncological, and obstetrical experience of patients treated by radical abdominal trachelectomy at an Austrian tertiary care center. A retrospective chart analysis and telephone survey of all patients with FIGO stage IA2-IB2 (2018) cervical cancer treated by radical abdominal trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between 2013 and 2022 were performed. Radical abdominal trachelectomy was attempted in 29 patients, of whom 3 patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Three cases, including one after neoadjuvant therapy, required conversion to radical hysterectomy due to positive margins; four cases had positive lymph nodes following surgical staging and were referred to primary chemo-radiotherapy. Twenty-two (75.9%) successful abdominal radical trachelectomies preserving fertility were performed. According to final histopathology, 79.3% of tumors would not have met the “low-risk”-criteria. At a median follow-up of 64.5 (25.5–104.0) months, no recurrence was observed. Eight (36.4%) patients attempted to conceive, with a live birth rate of 62.5%. Radical abdominal trachelectomy appears oncologically safe in early-stage cervical cancers that do not fulfill the “low-risk”-criteria. Strict preoperative selection of patients who might qualify for more conservative surgical approaches is strongly recommended.
• With less than 300 published cases intravenous leiomyomatosis is a rare medical condition. • Even though histologically benign, intravenous leiomyomatosis may be lethal due to organ failure or recurrence. • Treatment of choice is the complete surgical resection of the intravenous tumor.
In recent years, several randomized controlled trials have been published regarding cervical cancer therapy and significantly changed the treatment landscape. Recent advances have improved the treatment options and allow personalized treatment concepts with escalation of treatment in high-risk disease and de-escalation with reduction in morbidity in selected low-risk patients. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the latest landmark studies that are poised to significantly influence clinical practice. Personalized treatment concepts with careful patient selection allow de-escalation in the surgical treatment of cervical cancer. In low-risk cervical cancer patients (lesions of ≤2 cm with limited stromal invasion), simple hysterectomy (SH) was non-inferior to radical hysterectomy in terms of 3-year incidence of pelvic recurrence and was associated with a lower risk of urinary incontinence or retention and improved sexual health and quality of life. Furthermore, sentinel lymphadenectomy is constantly replacing systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with low-risk cervical cancer. In addition, further studies are necessary to clarify the role of postoperative therapy for patients with intermediate-risk cervical cancer. Starting in 2008, the EMBRACE studies assess the role of Image guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) in LACC in addition to modern external beam radiotherapy concurrent to chemotherapy. The publication of the results of the EMBRACE I prospective study established MRI guided IGABT as state-of-the-art brachytherapy for LACC. EMBRACE II and additional prospective studies emerging from this consortium will address important questions in modern radiotherapy for LACC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have been evaluated across various clinical settings and are expected to be utilized in numerous scenarios due to several positive randomized trials. Particularly, the combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and pembrolizumab, with or without bevacizumab, has been established as the new standard treatment for primary metastatic or recurrent PD-L1 positive high-risk cervical cancer. In locally advanced cervical cancer, two new treatment escalation regimens—neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant CPI therapy—have been evaluated in addition to chemoradiation. Furthermore, antibody-drug conjugates, such as tisotumab-vedotin, represent a promising future therapeutic option for recurrent cervical cancer.