Retroviral Interferon- α Gene Transfer Potentiates Paclitaxel against Ovarian Cancer Cells

Objective: To analyze the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel following introduction of the retroviral interferon- α (IFN- α) gene into epithelial ovarian cancer cells.Design: Experimental molecular study.Setting: University hospital research center. Sample: Epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines OV-2774 and SKOV3. Empty vector was used as control.Methods: The cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel on ovarian cancer cells were studied prior to and after transfection with the retrovirus-mediated inteferon- α gene. RT/PCR of the interferon gene, cell survival and cell death were analyzed to assess retroviral interferon- α gene expression after transfection.Results: Paclitaxel inhibited cell growth in a dose dependent manner with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.5 ng/ml. Retroviral inteferon- α gene transfer-transduced cells potentiated paclitaxel response against both ovarian cancer cell lines by 68%.Conclusion:  Retrovirus-mediated IFN- α gene transfer enhanced paclitaxel cytotoxicity on ovarian cancer cells. Retroviral IFN- α gene transfer in combination with paclitaxel may have significant clinical utility for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancers

The Safety and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Surgical Staging and Debulking of Apparent Advanced Stage Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancers

The authors contend that laparoscopy can be used for diagnosis, triage and debulking of select patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer

Sulforaphane Induces Cell Cycle Arrest, Migration, Invasion, and Apoptosis in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells

Objectives: Isothiocyanates (ITC) has long been shown to demonstrate chemopreventive properties. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a major ITC present in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. We reviewed the current literatures of SFN on ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Methods: Studies were conducted on the effects of SFN on the growth of the OVCAR-3, MDAH 2774 and SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Chuang et al. evaluated the effect of SFN on ovarian cancer cell cycles. Subsequently Chaudhuri et al. determined the specific pathway that was affected and Bryant et al. explored the signaling mechanisms through which SFN influences the cell growth and proliferation in ovarian cancer cell lines. Results: Chuang et al. showed a concentration dependent decrease in cell density. Analysis of cell cycle phase progression revealed a decrease in the cell populations in S and G2M phases, with an increase of G1 cell population, indicating a G1 cell cycle arrest. The degree of decrease in the replicating population was concentration and time dependent. These results clearly demonstrated an effect of SFN in inducing growth arrest and apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Chaudhuri et al. investigated the effects of sulforaphane on Akt signal transduction pathway. Both total Akt protein and active phosphorylated levels of Akt and phosphoinositide 3-kinase were significantly decreased in sulforaphane-treated ovarian cancer cell lines. Utilizing gene expression profile analysis, Bryant et al. showed SFN treatment resulted in G1 cell cycle arrest through down modulation of RB phosphorylation and by protecting the RB-E2F-1 complex. Conclusions: SFN induced growth arrest and cell death in ovarian cancer cells in G1 cell cycle arrest. The Akt pathway was identified as the possible target for SFN. SFN suppresses growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro by modulating cell cycle regulatory proteins and by enhancing apoptosis. Inhibition of retinoblastoma (RB) phosphorylation and reduction in levels of free E2F-1 appear to play an important role in ovarian cancer growth arrest, migration, and invasion

Strengthening care and research for women's cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Highlights • The burden of gynecologic cancers in low resource settings is overwhelming. • Areas with the highest needs have few human resources and limited infrastructure. • Cancer specialists can best help by leveraging ongoing work to assist local leaders

Chylous ascites following robotic lymph node dissection on a patient with metastatic cervical carcinoma

Chylous ascites is an uncommon postoperative complication of gynecological surgery. We report a case of chylous ascites following a robotic lymph node dissection for a cervical carcinoma. A 38-year-old woman with IB2 cervical adenocarcinoma with a palpable 3 cm left external iliac lymph node was taken to the operating room for robotic-assisted laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection. Patient was discharged on postoperative day 2 after an apparent uncomplicated procedure. The patient was readmitted the hospital on postoperative day 9 with abdominal distention and a CT-scan revealed free fluid in the abdomen and pelvis. A paracentesis demonstrated milky-fluid with an elevated concentration of triglycerides, confirming the diagnosis of chylous ascites. She recovered well with conservative measures. The risk of postoperative chylous ascites following lymph node dissection is still present despite the utilization of new technologies such as the da Vinci robot