Erlidia Llamas-Clark

Genetic Characterization of Ovarian Tumor Tissues from Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in a Philippine Tertiary Hospital: A Descriptive Study

This study identified genetic variations in ovarian tumor specimens from Filipino epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients using next-generation sequencing. Genomic DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian specimens from 8 chemosensitive and 8 chemoresistant EOC patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing was done to identify mutations in hotspot regions of common oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes. The mutations were cross-referenced with dbSNP and ClinVar databases to identify previously reported alterations, and potentially damaging variants were predicted using PolyPhen-2. Our study has identified 85 unique variants, 35 in chemosensitive EOC, 22 in chemoresistant EOC, and 28 in both. Chemosensitive EOC specimens had more exonic single nucleotide variants than chemoresistant EOC specimens. Of the 50 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, KDR gene had the most frequent variations in EOC patients. Two of the unique KDR variants identified were novel mutations. Thirty-nine unique protein-modifying genetic variants were identified in all specimens, the majority of which have been previously reported in dbSNP and ClinVar. This study was the first non-BRCA genetic analysis done on ovarian cancer in Filipino patients. Next-generation sequencing was able to identify previously reported alterations with known therapeutic implications which may benefit from targeted therapy instead of standard chemotherapy regimen.

Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Perceptions, and Screening Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Survey in Rural Philippines

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the Philippines. Cervical cancer screening is an effective method to reduce incidence. However, screening utilization is limited. This study aims to assess human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer knowledge, perceptions, and screening utilization, and to investigate factors influencing screening utilization among rural women in the Philippines. This cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 338 rural women aged 20-50 years, with a child under 5 years old registered in one of four public rural health centers in Tacao Island, Masbate Province in October 2017. A questionnaire administered via face-to-face interviews elicited information about demographic characteristics, knowledge, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of HPV and cervical cancer, and cervical cancer screening utilization. Mean age of participants was 32.5 years. Only 13.9% of participants had ever had cervical cancer screening. Although most women had heard of cervical cancer screening, their knowledge about the cause, risk factors, and preventive measures of HPV and cervical cancer was limited. Older age and higher education status were significantly associated with screening utilization. However, knowledge and perceived susceptibility and severity showed no association. The main reason for having screening was due to a health professional's request or recommendation, and the reasons for not having screening were cost, not having symptoms, and fear of pain or discomfort and/or embarrassment during the procedure.  Conclusions: Health education must increase knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer and screening among women, including the nature and progression of cervical cancer, benefits of screening, screening cost, and screening procedure. Health care providers have an important role in educating and motivating women to undergo screening.