Treatment Outcomes of Gemcitabine in Refractory or Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients

Chanpanitkitchot, Saranya,Tangjitgamol, Siriwan,Khunnarong, Jakkapan,Thavaramara, Thaowalai,Pataradool, Kamol,Srijaipracharoen, Sunamchok Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Background: To study the response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity profiles of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients treated with gemcitabine. Materials and Methods: Recurrent EOC patients who were treated with gemcitabine between January 2000 and December 2013 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital were identified and medical records were reviewed. Clinico-pathological features including data of gemcitabine treatment, response and toxicity were collected. Results: We identified 43 EOC patients who had gemcitabine treatment. All except one patient who did not receive any adjuvant treatment, had received platinum-based chemotherapy. Among these 42 patients, 31.0% had refractory cancer to first-line chemotherapy while 69.0% had recurrence with 48.8% being platinum-sensitive. The total cycles of gemcitabine used were 203 (median 4, range 2-9 cycles). Overall RR was 11.6%: 19% in platinum-sensitive vs 4.5% in platinum-resistant groups (p=0.158) and 42.9% in the patients having gemcitabine together with platinum vs 5.6% using gemcitabine alone (P=0.024). Median PFS was 3.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.73-4.49 months): 8.1 months (95% CI, 2.73-4.49 months) in combination regimen vs 3.2 months (95% CI, 2.01-4.42 months) in single regimen (p=0.077) and 8.1 months (95% CI, 4.73-11.48 months) with the gemcitabine combination vs 2.7 months (95% CI, 1.98-3.38 months) by single gemcitabine in platinum sensitive patients (P=0.007). Common toxicities were hematologic which were well tolerated and manageable. Conclusions: Gemcitabine has modest activity in pre-treated EOC. A combination regimen had higher activity than single agent in platinum sensitive patients with a significant improvement in RR and PFS.

Uterine Sarcoma: Clinical Presentation, Treatment and Survival Outcomes in Thailand

Potikul, Chalermrat,Tangjitgamol, Siriwan,Khunnarong, Jakkapan,Srijaipracharoen, Sunamchok,Thavaramara, Thaovalai,Pataradool, Kamol Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.4

Background: Uterine sarcoma is a group of rare gynecologic tumors with various natures, and different lines of treatment. Most have a poor treatment outcome. This study targeted clinical characteristics, treatment, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and prognostic factors in uterine sarcoma patients in one tertiary center for cancer care. Materials and Methods: Uterine sarcoma patients who were treated at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital between January 1994 and December 2014 were identified. Clinico-pathological data were analyzed. Prognostic outcomes were examined by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Results: We identified 46 uterine sarcoma patients: 25 carcinosarcoma (CS) (54.3%), 15 leiomyosarcoma (LMS) (32.6%), and 6 undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS) (13.1%) cases. Mean age was $54.0{\pm}11.9years$ (range 25-82 years). Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common presenting symptom (63.0%). Among 33 patients (71.7%) who had pre-operative tissue collected, diagnosis of malignancy was correct in 29 (87.9%). All patients received primary surgery and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were resected in 34 (73.9%). After surgery, 5 (10.9%) had gross residual tumors. Stage I disease was most commonly found (56.5%). Adjuvant treatment was given to 27 (58.7%), most commonly chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 16.0 months (range 0.8-187.4 months), recurrence was encountered in 22 patients (47.8%). Median time to recurrence was 5.8 months (range1.0-105.5 months). Distant metastasis was more common than local or locoregional failure. The 2-year PFS was 45.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.6%-59.7%) and the 2-year OS was 48.3% (95% CI, 33.3%-60.7%). Multivariable analyses found residual disease after surgery as a significant factor only for PFS. Conclusions: Uterine sarcoma is a rare tumor entity. Even with multimodalities of treatment, the prognosis is still poor. Successful cytoreductive surgery is a key factor for a good survival outcome.

Platelet to lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for epithelial ovarian cancer

Supachai Raungkaewmanee,Siriwan Tangjitgamol,Sumonmal Manusirivithaya,Sunamchok Srijaipracharoen,Thaovalai Thavaramara 대한부인종양학회 2012 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.23 No.4

Objective: To determine whether preoperative platelets to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) could predict disease stage, surgical outcome, and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: Medical records of EOC patients who had surgery between January 2004 and December 2010 were reviewed. Clinicopathological and complete blood count data were collected. The optimal predictive value of PLR to predict advanced stage, suboptimal surgery, and survival was determined and compared with those of thrombocytosis (≥400,000 cells/mm3) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥2.6. Results: A total of 166 EOC patients were included in the study. PLR of 200 yielded better predictive values than those of thrombocytosis and NLR ≥2.6. The area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of PLR to predict advanced stage were: 0.66, 59.0%, 72.7%, 65.7%, 66.7%, and 66.3%, respectively. The corresponding values to predict suboptimal surgery were: 0.70, 70.0%, 69.8%, 50.0%, 84.4%, and 69.9%. The patients who had PLR≥200 had significantly shorter progression-free and overall survivals than those with PLR<200. Stage, grade, surgical outcome, thrombocytosis, and PLR were significant prognostic factors for survivals by univariable analyses while only stage remained significant by multivariable analysis. Conclusion: PLR had potential clinical value in predicting advanced stage disease or suboptimal surgery. PLR was a better prognostic indicator for survivals of EOC patients compared to thrombocytosis or NLR>2.6. Objective: To determine whether preoperative platelets to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) could predict disease stage, surgical outcome, and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: Medical records of EOC patients who had surgery between January 2004 and December 2010 were reviewed. Clinicopathological and complete blood count data were collected. The optimal predictive value of PLR to predict advanced stage, suboptimal surgery, and survival was determined and compared with those of thrombocytosis (≥400,000 cells/mm3) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥2.6. Results: A total of 166 EOC patients were included in the study. PLR of 200 yielded better predictive values than those of thrombocytosis and NLR ≥2.6. The area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of PLR to predict advanced stage were: 0.66, 59.0%, 72.7%, 65.7%, 66.7%, and 66.3%, respectively. The corresponding values to predict suboptimal surgery were: 0.70, 70.0%, 69.8%, 50.0%, 84.4%, and 69.9%. The patients who had PLR≥200 had significantly shorter progression-free and overall survivals than those with PLR<200. Stage, grade, surgical outcome, thrombocytosis, and PLR were significant prognostic factors for survivals by univariable analyses while only stage remained significant by multivariable analysis. Conclusion: PLR had potential clinical value in predicting advanced stage disease or suboptimal surgery. PLR was a better prognostic indicator for survivals of EOC patients compared to thrombocytosis or NLR>2.6.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Bangkok Metropolitan Women towards HPV and Self-Sampled HPV Testing

Kittisiam, Thannaporn,Tangjitgamol, Siriwan,Chaowawanit, Woraphot,Khunnarong, Jakkapan,Srijaipracharoen, Sunamchok,Thavaramara, Thaowalai,Pataradool, Kamol Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.5

Background: To evaluate knowledge of Bangkok women regarding HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, and their attitudes towards testing. Materials and Methods: Thai women who had lived in Bangkok for more than 5 years, aged 25-to-65 years old, were invited to join the study. Participating women were asked to a complete self-questionnaire (Thai language), with literate assistance as needed. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts: (I) demographic data, (II) knowledge and (III) attitudes towards self-sampled HPV testing. Before proceeding to Part III of the questionnaire, a 15-minute educational video of self-sampled HPV testing was presented to all participants. Results: Among 2,810 women who answered the questionnaires, 33.7% reported that they did not know about HPV. The characteristic features of these women were older age (> 50 years), lower income (< 600 USD/month), unemployed status, and non-attendees at cervical cancer screening. Only small numbers of women (4.6%) responded that they had heard about self-sampled HPV testing. After having information, 59.6% would not use the self-sampled HPV testing as a method of cervical cancer screening (non-acceptance). Factors significantly associated with the non-acceptance were older age, lower income, having no knowledge about HPV or self-collected HPV testing, a perception that the testing was unreliable and a concern that they might not be able to perform it correctly. Conclusions: Nearly half and almost all Bangkok women did not know about HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, respectively. Approximately 60% of Bangkok women refused to do the self-sampled HPV testing. Significant negative attitudes were concerns that the testing would be unreliable and a lack of confidence to perform the procedure correctly. Education about HPV and self-sampled HPV testing, ease of the procedure, or the testing models may increase rate of acceptability or positive attitudes.

Treatment Outcomes of Paclitaxel for Refractory or Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients in Thailand

Pitakkarnkul, Supakorn,Tangjitgamol, Siriwan,Srijaipracharoen, Sunamchok,Manusirivithaya, Sumonmal,Pataradool, Kamol,Prutthiphongsit, Watchara,Khunnarong, Jakkapan,Thavaramara, Thaovalai Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.4

Background: To study the response rate, toxicity profiles, and survival of refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients treated with paclitaxel. Materials and Methods: Patients with refractory or recurrent EOC who were treated with paclitaxel between January 2002 and December 2011 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital were identified. Clinicopathological features of the patients including detailed data of paclitaxel treatment were collected. Results: During the study period, a total of 44 patients were identified, with a mean age of $52.9{\pm}8.2$ years. Some 13.6% (six patients) had refractory cancer to first-line chemotherapy while 86.4% (38 patients) had recurrent cancer. Among these, 35 (79.6%) and 9 (20.4%) patients were considered as platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant, respectively. Three patients (6.8%) received fewer than 2 cycles of paclitaxel due to loss to follow-up, leaving 41 patients evaluable for response. The overall response rate observed in all 41 patients was 41.5% (17 patients; 12 complete and five partial responses): 12.5% or 1/8 patients with refractory or platinum-resistant cancer and 48.5% or 16/33 patients with platinum-sensitive disease. Stable disease was demonstrated in 17.0% (seven patients) while progressive disease was apparent in 41.5% (17 patients). Median time to progress was 4.5 months (range, 0.67-58.6 months). Median progression-free survival was not reached while median overall survival was 16.3 months (95% confidence interval, 11.0 months -21.6 months). Common toxicities were neutropenia, neuropathy, and alopecia. Conclusions: Paclitaxel is an active agent for refractory or recurrent EOC. Neutropenia, neuropathy and alopecia are common side effects.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan Women Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening

Chaowawanit, Woraphot,Tangjitgamol, Siriwan,Kantathavorn, Nuttavut,Phoolcharoen, Natacha,Kittisiam, Thannaporn,Khunnarong, Jakkapan,Supawattanabodee, Busaba,Srijaipracharoen, Sunamchok,Thavaramara, Th Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.3

Purpose: To assess knowledge, attitudes and cervical cancer screening behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan women. Materials and Methods: Thai women, aged 25-to-65 years old, having lived in Bangkok for 5 years or more were invited to participate in the study. After signing informed consent, all women were asked to complete a self-questionnaire (Thai language) with literate assistance if needed. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts: (I) demographic data; (II) knowledge about cervical cancer screening; and (III) behavior and attitudes, towards cervical cancer screening. Adequate screening was defined as women who had ${\geq}$two cervical cancer screening tests except women aged 25-30 years who may have only one screening, and the last screen was within 5 year or had had regular screening. Results: Of 4,339 women, there were 1,857 (42.8%) with adequate screening and 2,482 (57.2%) with inadequate screening. Significant factors associated with inadequate screening included age < 45 years, pre-menopausal status, family monthly income <625 USD, no reported sexual intercourse, nulliparous, no knowledge, lack of awareness and poor attitudes. Three major reasons provided by women for inadequate screening were no symptoms (54.4%), fear of pain (33.2%), and embarrassment (34.6%). Conclusions: Personal features, knowledge, and attitudes influence screening behavior of Bangkok Metropolitan women. The three most common reasons of women for not undergoinging screening are no symptoms, fear of pain, and embarrassment. These factors should be the focus of attention to improve coverage of cervical cancer screening in Bangkok.