Although aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) have been widely studied in cancer, no study to date has examined the roles of AKR family 1 members B1 (AKR1B1) and B10 (AKR1B10) in a large group of ovarian cancer patients. AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 play a significant role in inflammation and the metabolism of different chemotherapeutics as well as cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Due to these functions, we examined the potential of AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 as tissue biomarkers. We assessed the immunohistochemical levels of AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 in tissue paraffin sections from 99 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) and compared these levels with clinicopathological characteristics, survival, and response to chemotherapy. A higher immunohistochemical AKR1B1 expression correlated with a better overall and disease-free survival of HGSC patients whereas AKR1B10 expression did not show any significant differences. A multivariant Cox analysis demonstrated that a high AKR1B1 expression was an important prognostic factor for both overall and disease-free survival. However, AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 were not associated with different responses to chemotherapy. Our data suggest that AKR1B1 is involved in the pathogenesis of HGSC and is a potential prognostic biomarker for this cancer.

Purpose: Retained products of conception (RPOC) are a common complication after pregnancy. While hysteroscopic resection is the standard treatment when RPOC does not resolve spontaneously, highly vascular tissue can lead to severe bleeding during the procedure. This study assessed clinical outcomes, procedural safety, and reproductive performance in patients with highly vascular RPOC treated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) prior to hysteroscopy, compared to those treated with hysteroscopy alone. Methods: This retrospective study included 42 women diagnosed with RPOC at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia (2010–2020). Patients were divided into two groups: UAE followed by hysteroscopic resection (UAE + HSC, n = 21) and hysteroscopic resection alone (HSC-only, n = 21). Data on clinical outcomes, complications, and reproductive history were analyzed using Fisher’s exact and t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: Groups were similar in baseline characteristics, except for greater vascularity in the UAE + HSC group (100% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.05). Bleeding >300 mL occurred more often in the UAE + HSC group, but all cases were managed conservatively and only one patient required transfusion. No uterine perforations occurred. Residual RPOC was found in one patient per group. Rates of endometritis, menstrual changes, and pelvic pain were comparable. Among those who attempted conception, live birth and miscarriage rates did not differ significantly. Conclusions: UAE prior to hysteroscopic surgery appears to be a safe and effective option for highly vascular RPOC, especially in patients at risk of hemorrhage, with no adverse impact on fertility. Further prospective studies are recommended.