Implementing an Advanced Laparoscopic Procedure by Monitoring with a Visiting Surgeon

Study Objective: To investigate the feasibility of safely implementing a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) in established gynecologists' practices with on-site coaching and monitoring of the learning curve by an experienced visiting surgeon. Design: Multicenter prospective feasibility and implementation study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: Eleven general gynecologists in 8 hospitals (1 university hospital and 7 regional hospitals) participated. Patients: Laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed in 83 patients during the learning curve, and in 83 patients after the learning curve. Interventions: During the learning curve, an experienced visiting laparoscopist was available for coaching during each LH. A competence score was marked on an Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) form. Complications were recorded intraoperatively and postoperatively for 6 weeks after surgery in all patients. Measurements and Main Results: Nine of 11 gynecologists reached the competence score of at least 28 points during the study, from January 2005 to January 2007. A major complication occurred in 3 of 83 LH procedures (4%) performed during the learning curve, and in 5 of 83 LH procedures (6%) performed after the learning curve (p = .72). Conclusion: The concept of a visiting surgeon for on-site coaching and monitoring of established gynecologists during the learning curve of an advanced laparoscopic procedure using Objectively Structured Assessment of Technical Skills is feasible. According to the observed complication rate during and after the learning curve, on-site coaching is a useful tool when implementing a new laparoscopic technique in established gynecologists' practices. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2010) 17, 771-778 (C) 2010 AAGL. All rights reserved

Age should not be a limiting factor in laparoscopic surgery:a prospective multicenter cohort study on quality of life after laparoscopic hysterectomy

Purpose: A prospective, multicenter cohort study was performed on the implementation of laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) in the Netherlands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of LH on quality of life (QOL) with respect to age up to 6 months postoperatively. Patients and methods: Women with an indication for LH, either for benign conditions or early-stage low-risk endometrial cancer were included. QOL was measured before and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery, using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Mean QOL values were compared to an unselected, female, Dutch reference population. A longitudinal linear mixed model was applied to assess changes in QOL over time after LH and to determine if in patients >= 65 years of age QOL scores were different. Results: Data on 116 patients were available for analysis. The median age was 54 years at time of surgery (range 34-83) with an interquartile range of 43-65 years. Six months after LH, all QOL values were higher than before surgery and were equal to or higher than those of the reference population. Older women tend to score higher on QOL preoperatively, and these scores remain high postoperatively. Conclusion: After LH, QOL improves. Older women report higher QOL values preoperatively and QOL is still high 6 months after the operation. Age does not confer a negative impact on QOL following LH and should not be the reason to refrain from laparoscopic surgery

Cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for recurrent platinum- sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer (SOCceR trial):a multicenter randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND: Improvement in treatment for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer is needed. Standard therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer consists of platinum-based chemotherapy. Median overall survival is reported between 18 and 35 months. Currently, the role of surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer is not clear. In selective patients a survival benefit up to 62 months is reported for patients undergoing complete secondary cytoreductive surgery. Whether cytoreductive surgery in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer is beneficial remains questionable due to the lack of level I-II evidence. METHODS/DESIGN: Multicentre randomized controlled trial, including all nine gynecologic oncologic centres in the Netherlands and their affiliated hospitals. Eligible patients are women, with first recurrence of FIGO stage Ic-IV platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer or fallopian tube cancer, who meet the inclusion criteria. Participants are randomized between the standard treatment consisting of at least six cycles of intravenous platinum based chemotherapy and the experimental treatment which consists of secondary cytoreductive surgery followed by at least six cycles of intravenous platinum based chemotherapy. Primary outcome measure is progression free survival. In total 230 patients will be randomized. Data will be analysed according to intention to treat. DISCUSSION: Where the role of cytoreductive surgery is widely accepted in the initial treatment of ovarian cancer, its value in recurrent platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer has not been established so far. A better understanding of the benefits and patients selection criteria for secondary cytoreductive surgery has to be obtained. Therefore the 4(th) ovarian cancer consensus conference in 2010 stated that randomized controlled phase 3 trials evaluating the role of surgery in platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer are urgently needed. We present a recently started multicentre randomized controlled trial that will investigate the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy will improve progression free survival in selected patients with first recurrence of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register number: NTR3337

Folate Receptor-Beta Has Limited Value for Fluorescent Imaging in Ovarian, Breast and Colorectal Cancer

Aims Tumor-specific targeted imaging is rapidly evolving in cancer diagnosis. The folate receptor alpha (FR-alpha) has already been identified as a suitable target for cancer therapy and imaging. FR-alpha is present on similar to 40% of human cancers. FR-beta is known to be expressed on several hematologic malignancies and on activated macrophages, but little is known about FR-beta expression in solid tumors. Additional or simultaneous expression of FR-beta could help extend the indications for folate-based drugs and imaging agents. In this study, the expression pattern of FR-beta is evaluated in ovarian, breast and colorectal cancer. Methods FR-beta expression was analyzed by semi-quantitative scoring of immunohistochemical staining on tissue microarrays (TMAs) of 339 ovarian cancer patients, 418 breast cancer patients, on 20 slides of colorectal cancer samples and on 25 samples of diverticulitis. Results FR-beta expression was seen in 21% of ovarian cancer samples, 9% of breast cancer samples, and 55% of colorectal cancer samples. Expression was weak or moderate. Of the diverticulitis samples, 80% were positive for FR-beta expression in macrophages. FR-beta status neither correlated to known disease-related variables, nor showed association with overall survival and progression free survival in ovarian and breast cancer. In breast cancer, negative axillary status was significantly correlated to FR-beta expression (p=0.022). Conclusions FR-beta expression was low or absent in the majority of ovarian, breast and colorectal tumor samples. From the present study we conclude that the low FR-beta expression in ovarian and breast tumor tissue indicates limited practical use of this receptor in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic purposes. Due to weak expression, FR-beta is not regarded as a suitable target in colorectal cancer

Intraoperative Multispectral Fluorescence Imaging for the Detection of the Sentinel Lymph Node in Cervical Cancer: A Novel Concept

PURPOSE: Real-time intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging is a promising technique for lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection. The purpose of this technical feasibility pilot study was to evaluate the applicability of NIRF imaging with indocyanin green (ICG) for the detection of the SLN in cervical cancer. PROCEDURES: In ten patients with early stage cervical cancer, a mixture of patent blue and ICG was injected into the cervix uteri during surgery. Real-time color and fluorescence videos and images were acquired using a custom-made multispectral fluorescence camera system. RESULTS: Real-time fluorescence lymphatic mapping was observed in vivo in six patients; a total of nine SLNs were detected, of which one (11%) contained metastases. Ex vivo fluorescence imaging revealed the remaining fluorescent signal in 11 of 197 non-sentinel LNs (5%), of which one contained metastatic tumor tissue. None of the non-fluorescent LNs contained metastases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that lymphatic mapping and detection of the SLN in cervical cancer using intraoperative NIRF imaging is technically feasible. However, the technique needs to be refined for full applicability in cervical cancer in terms of sensitivity and specificity

Laparoscopy to predict the result of primary cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer patients (LapOvCa-trial): a multicentre randomized controlled study

Contains fulltext : 108486.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Standard treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is surgery and chemotherapy. The goal of surgery is to remove all macroscopic tumour, as the amount of residual tumour is the most important prognostic factor for survival. When removal off all tumour is considered not feasible, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in combination with interval debulking surgery (IDS) is performed. Current methods of staging are not always accurate in predicting surgical outcome, since approximately 40% of patients will have more than 1 cm residual tumour after primary debulking surgery (PDS). In this study we aim to assess whether adding laparoscopy to the diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of advanced ovarian carcinoma may prevent unsuccessful primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer. METHODS: Multicentre randomized controlled trial, including all gynaecologic oncologic centres in the Netherlands and their affiliated hospitals. Patients are eligible when they are planned for PDS after conventional staging. Participants are randomized between direct PDS or additional diagnostic laparoscopy. Depending on the result of laparoscopy patients are treated by PDS within three weeks, followed by six courses of platinum based chemotherapy or with NACT and IDS 3-4 weeks after three courses of chemotherapy, followed by another three courses of chemotherapy. Primary outcome measure is the proportion of PDS's leaving more than one centimetre tumour residual in each arm. In total 200 patients will be randomized. Data will be analysed according to intention to treat. DISCUSSION: Patients who have disease considered to be resectable to less than one centimetre should undergo PDS to improve prognosis. However, there is a need for better diagnostic procedures because the current number of debulking surgeries leaving more than one centimetre residual tumour is still high. Laparoscopy before starting treatment for ovarian cancer can be an additional diagnostic tool to predict the outcome of PDS. Despite the absence of strong evidence and despite the possible complications, laparoscopy is already implemented in many countries. We propose a randomized multicentre trial to provide evidence on the effectiveness of laparoscopy before primary surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register number NTR2644

Stopping ovarian cancer screening in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: Effects on risk management decisions & outcome of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy specimens

Objective: Ovarian cancer screening (OCS) for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers was stopped in our family cancer clinic in 2009 because of its ineffectiveness. The study objective was to investigate the effect of stopping OCS on the timing and uptake of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and on the percentage of occult cancers in the specimens. Methods: 419 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers were recruited between January 1999 and June 2013. Uptake, timing and the outcome of the RRSO specimens before stopping OCS (period I) were compared to those after stopping OCS (period II). Results: The percentage of women undergoing RRSO within the recommended age range increased from 81% to 95%. Receiving DNA test results in period II independently predicted a shorter time interval to RRSO (hazard ratio: 2.48,95% confidence interval: 1.81-3.39). The incidence of detecting occult cancers in RRSO specimens before and after stopping OCS was 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively, and was not statistically significantly different. Conclusions: The presentation of risk management options to women may influence their decision. The increased patient awareness of the ineffectiveness of OCS could have led to a higher percentage of women undergoing RRSO and doing so more often within the recommended age range. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Positron emission tomography imaging of oestrogen receptor-expression in endometrial stromal sarcoma supports oestrogen receptor-targeted therapy:Case report and review of the literature

<p>Although the majority of endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) express oestrogen receptor (ER), data on the efficacy of ER-targeted therapies are scarce. Using PubMed search engine we identified nine case reports and small series in a total of 25 patients reporting on the efficacy of palliative ER-targeted therapies. Literature supports the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors after the failure of progestins, but not of the partial ER-antagonist tamoxifen. Fulvestrant is a pure ER-antagonist with a distinct mechanism, of which efficacy has not yet been reported in ESS. We present a patient that underwent positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) of ER-expression with the tracer F-18-fluoroestradiol (FES). High levels of ER-expression provided a rationale for fulvestrant therapy. FES-PET/CT was repeated after 6 months and indicated a strong decrease in tumour FES-uptake, and 15% reduction in tumour diameters according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) criteria. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p>

Current account deficit sustainability: The case of Greece

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