cefoxitin and Genital-Neoplasms--Female

RCAS1 is a receptor-binding cancer antigen which is expressed on human uterine cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (SiSo). Finding a correlation between the expression of this gene and the overall survival of patients with 14 different types of cancer points to the clinical significance of this gene. Moreover, the expression RCAS1 correlates with other clinicopathological parameters including the histological type of cancer, its differentiation, tumor size, clinical stage, the depth of invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, lymph node metastasis, and positive peritoneal cytological results. RCAS1 can induce apoptosis in peripheral lymphocytes in vitro as well as in an increased number of apoptotic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. RCAS1 is also believed to contribute to the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance. RCAS1 is secreted via ectodomain shedding, and its expression is related to changes in the characteristics of the extracellular matrix and to a reduced number of vimentin-positive tumor stromal cells, findings that suggest that RCAS1 may induce connective tissue remodeling. The concentration of RCAS1 in serum or pleural effusions has been found to be significantly higher in patients with several different types of cancer as compared to normal controls. Together, the available data shows that RCAS1 may have value as a biomarker for monitoring therapeutic efficacy. Further exploration of the biological function of RCAS1 should help in the development of new therapeutic strategies against human malignancies.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Endometrium; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Immune System; Lymphocytes; Models, Biological

In a prospectively randomized study 243 patients scheduled for gynaecologic surgery received either 2 g Cefoxitin or 1.5 g Cefuroxim at induction of anaesthesia. Both drugs were well tolerated by all study patients. Post-operative fever was seen in seven women in the Cefuroxim group (n = 121) vs. three women in the Cefoxitin group (n.s., x2-test). Wound infection occurred in two women in each group. In result Cefuroxim probably can be recommended as an alternative replacing Cefoxitin in prophylaxis, so Cefoxitin can be reserved as potent antimicrobial substance for therapy of gynaecologic infections.

Topics: Adult; Cefoxitin; Cefuroxime; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Premedication; Prospective Studies; Surgical Wound Infection

To investigate tissue expression of Sialyl Tn antigen (STN) in gynecologic tumors, and to compare with its appearance in blood circulation.. Surgical specimens were obtained from 24 patients with malignant gynecologic diseases, including 7 ovarian cancers, 13 cervical cancers, 3 endometrial cancers, and 1 vulval cancer. Control tissues were also obtained at surgery from 28 patients with benign tumors of the ovary or uterus.. Anti-STN monoclonal antibody (TKH-2) positively identified 6 (86%) of 7 ovarian cancers, 11 (85%) of 13 cervical squamous-cell carcinomas, but none of 3 endometrial cancers. None of the 28 benign tissues, including 11 ovarian benign tumors, showed positive immunostaining for STN, except 1 with an ovarian chocolate cyst which showed weak staining for STN. No expression was found in normal squamous epithelium distant from the lesion. Serum STN antigen was positive in 4 of 7 ovarian cancers (cutoff = 39 U/ml), but only in 2 of 13 cervical cancers, and none in the 3 endometrial cancers.. These findings indicate different behaviors in the appearance of STN in tumor tissue and blood circulation, and also suggest the possible applicability of STN to immunohistochemical diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinomas.

Topics: Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans