Yukio Sonoda

Evaluating the risk of diaphragmatic hernia following left diaphragm resections during cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer: a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Team Ovary study

To determine the incidence rate and risk factors associated with the development of diaphragm hernias following left diaphragm procedures at the time of ovarian cancer cytoreduction. We retrospectively reviewed data from patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma who underwent any timeframe of cytoreductive surgery (primary, interval, secondary, tertiary) at our institution from December 2010 to September 2024. Patients were included if they underwent left diaphragm peritonectomy or resection as part of their cytoreductive surgery. The diagnosis of left diaphragm hernia was made by computed tomography of the chest either as an incidental finding during follow-up surveillance or during work-up for symptomatology. We utilized statistical analysis with descriptive proportions with interquartile ranges. A total of 267 patients with ovarian cancer underwent a left diaphragm peritonectomy or resection as part of their cytoreductive surgery at our institution and were included in the study. The overall median age was 62 years (interquartile range; 52-70) and body mass index 24.9 kg/m Diaphragmatic hernias occurred most often following the setting of concurrent splenectomy; however, splenectomy was not a statistically significant risk factor. These findings provide meaningful insight into the frequency and clinical context in which this complication may arise, addressing a critical knowledge gap in the surgical management of patients with ovarian cancer who require upper abdominal and thoracic procedures.

High-Sensitivity Mutation Analysis of Cell-Free DNA for Disease Monitoring in Endometrial Cancer

Abstract Purpose: We sought to determine whether sequencing analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients with prospectively accrued endometrial cancer captures the mutational repertoire of the primary lesion and allows for disease monitoring. Experimental Design: Peripheral blood was prospectively collected from 44 newly diagnosed patients with endometrial cancer over a 24-month period (i.e., baseline, postsurgery, every 6 months after). DNA from the primary endometrial cancers was subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 468 cancer-related genes, and cfDNA to a high-depth NGS assay of 129 genes with molecular barcoding. Sequencing data were analyzed using validated bioinformatics methods. Results: cfDNA levels correlated with surgical stage in endometrial cancers, with higher levels of cfDNA being present in advanced-stage disease. Mutations in cfDNA at baseline were detected preoperatively in 8 of 36 (22%) patients with sequencing data, all of whom were diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, high tumor volume, and/or aggressive histologic type. Of the 38 somatic mutations identified in the primary tumors also present in the cfDNA assay, 35 (92%) and 38 (100%) were detected at baseline and follow-up, respectively. In 6 patients with recurrent disease, changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) fraction/variant allele fractions in cfDNA during follow-up closely mirrored disease progression and therapy response, with a lead time over clinically detected recurrence in two cases. The presence of ctDNA at baseline (P < 0.001) or postsurgery (P = 0.014) was significantly associated with reduced progression-free survival. Conclusions: cfDNA sequencing analysis in patients with endometrial cancer at diagnosis has prognostic value, and serial postsurgery cfDNA analysis enables disease and treatment response monitoring. See related commentary by Grant et al., p. 305

Germline Pathogenic Variants and Genetic Counseling by Ancestry in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Mutations in ovarian cancer risk genes are found in women of diverse ancestries, supporting genetic testing for ALL

Characteristics and survival of ovarian cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy but not undergoing interval debulking surgery

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) confers similar outcomes as primary debulking surgery and chemotherapy. Little is known about patients who receive NACT but do not undergo debulking surgery. Our aim was to characterize these patients. We prospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer treated with NACT from 7/1/15-12/1/17. Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare clinical characteristics by surgical status. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival outcomes. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to assess the relationship of covariates to outcome, and time-dependent covariates were applied to variables collected after diagnosis. Of 224 women who received NACT, 162 (72%) underwent IDS and 62 (28%) did not undergo surgery. The non-surgical group was older (p<0.001), had higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; p<0.001), lower albumin levels (p=0.007), lower Karnofsky performance scores (p<0.001), and were more likely to have dose reductions in NACT (p<0.001). Reasons for no surgery included poor response to NACT (39%), death (15%), comorbidities (24%), patient preference (16%), and loss to follow-up (6%). The no surgery group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the surgery group (hazard ratio=3.34; 95% confidence interval=1.66-6.72; p<0.001), after adjustment for age, CCI, and dose reductions. A significant proportion of women treated with NACT do not undergo IDS, and these women are older, frailer, and have worse OS. More studies are needed to find optimal therapies to maximize outcomes in this high-risk, elderly population.

Secondary Cytoreduction and Carboplatin Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: An MSK Team Ovary Phase II Study

PURPOSEThe purpose of this phase II study was to evaluate hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with carboplatin for recurrent ovarian cancer during secondary cytoreductive surgery.MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients were intraoperatively randomly assigned to carboplatin HIPEC (800 mg/m2for 90 minutes) or no HIPEC, followed by five or six cycles of postoperative IV carboplatin-based chemotherapy, respectively. Based on a binomial single-stage pick-the-winner design, an arm was considered winner if ≥ 17 of 49 patients were without disease progression at 24 months post-surgery. Secondary objectives included postoperative toxicity and HIPEC pharmacokinetics.RESULTSOf 98 patients, 49 (50%) received HIPEC. Complete gross resection was achieved in 82% of the HIPEC patients and 94% of the standard-arm patients. Bowel resection was performed in 37% of patients in the HIPEC arm compared with 65% in the standard ( P = .008). There was no perioperative mortality and no difference in use of ostomies, length of stay, or postoperative toxicity. At 24 months, eight patients (16.3%; 1-sided 90% CI, 9.7 to 100) were without progression or death in the HIPEC arm and 12 (24.5%; 1-sided 90% CI, 16.5 to 100) in the standard arm. With a medium follow-up of 39.5 months, 82 patients progressed and 37 died. The median progression-free survival in the HIPEC and standard arms were 12.3 and 15.7 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% CI, 1 to 2.37; P = .05). There was no significant difference in median overall survival (52.5 v 59.7 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.73 to 2.67; P = .31). These analyses were exploratory.CONCLUSIONHIPEC with carboplatin was well tolerated but did not result in superior clinical outcomes. This study does not support the use of HIPEC with carboplatin during secondary cytoreductive surgery for platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.

Gynecologic Survivorship Tool: Development, Implementation, and Symptom Outcomes

PURPOSE To describe the development and implementation of a new digital health clinical tool (Gynecologic Survivorship Tool [GST]) for symptom management of women surgically treated for gynecologic cancer; to assess its feasibility; and to conduct a retrospective review of the data. MATERIALS AND METHODS The GST was developed on the basis of a comprehensive review of the literature, multidisciplinary expert opinion, and feedback from women with a history of gynecologic cancer. It is composed of 17 questions addressing six main categories—gynecologic health (abnormal bleeding/pain), lymphedema, vaginal/vulvar dryness, sexual health, menopause (hot flushes/sleep difficulties), and bowel/urinary issues. An electronic version using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Engage platform was piloted in two clinics for patients with endometrial or cervical cancer. Health information was generated into clinical summaries and identified concerns for actionable response. Associations of symptom and survey time point were assessed by longitudinal models using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS From January 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020, 3,357 GST assessments were assigned to 1,405 patients, with a 71% completion rate (90% within 5 minutes). Sixty-eight percent were performed at home via a patient portal, 32% at follow-ups using a clinic iPad. The most common symptoms were bowel problems, swelling/fluid, pain during examination, vaginal or vulvar dryness, and vaginal bleeding. Implementation challenges included improving patient compliance and ensuring that reports were reviewed by all clinical teams. We developed screening e-mails detailing patients whose assessments were due, planned training sessions for multidisciplinary teams, and incorporated feedback on methods for reviewing symptoms reports. CONCLUSION The GST demonstrated feasibility, a high completion rate, and minimal time commitment. It was an effective electronic reporting mechanism for patients, enabling the medical team to develop specific strategies for alleviating bothersome symptoms during follow-up.

Fertility‐sparing and minimally invasive surgery for early‐stage cervical cancer

Assessing the Genomic Landscape of Cervical Cancers: Clinical Opportunities and Therapeutic Targets

Abstract Purpose: Tumor genomic profiling is increasingly used to guide treatment strategy in patients with cancer. We integrated tumor genomic, clinical demographic, and treatment response data to assess how prospective tumor-normal sequencing impacted treatment selection in patients with cervical cancer. Experimental Design: Cervical cancers were prospectively analyzed using the MSK-IMPACT (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets) next-generation sequencing panel. Clinical data, including histology, stage at diagnosis, treatment history, clinical trial enrollment and outcomes, date of last follow-up, and survival status were obtained from medical records. Results: A total of 177 patients with cervical cancer (squamous, 69; endocervical adenocarcinoma, 50; gastric type, 22; adenosquamous, 21; and other, 15) underwent MSK-IMPACT testing. The most prevalent genomic alterations were somatic mutations or amplifications in PIK3CA (25%), ERBB2 (12%), KMT2C (10%), and KMT2D (9%). Furthermore, 13% of patients had high tumor mutational burden (TMB &amp;gt;10 mut/Mb), 3 of which were also microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H). Thirty-seven percent of cases had at least one potentially actionable alteration designated as a level 3B mutational event according to the FDA-recognized OncoKB tumor mutation database and treatment classification system. A total of 30 patients (17%) were enrolled on a therapeutic clinical trial, including 18 (10%) who were matched with a study based on their MSK-IMPACT results. Twenty patients (11%) participated in an immune checkpoint inhibition study for metastatic disease; 2 remain progression free at &amp;gt;5 years follow-up. Conclusions: Tumor genomic profiling can facilitate the selection of targeted/immunotherapies, as well as clinical trial enrollment, for patients with cervical cancer.

Molecular Classification in Relation to Prevention of Endometrial Cancer Recurrence and Lifestyle Factors

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide with a significantly increasing incidence, especially in developed countries. One of the reasons for the increase in the incidence of this disease is the rising incidence of obesity as the biggest risk factor for the development of this disease. Other important risk factors are hypertension, diabetes mellitus and the general ageing of the population. These risk factors are not only associated with a higher risk of developing the disease, but also, for example, with post-operative complications affecting the quality of life of patients after surgery. The molecular classification of endometrial cancer, which has been introduced into clinical practice in recent years, is currently helping physicians to make treatment decisions for individual patients and predict prognosis. In this project, we would like to focus on the relationship of this molecular classification with genomic mutational signatures detected by whole-exome sequencing and their association with lifestyle risk factors for endometrial cancer (obesity - BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus), including the extent of staging lymphadenectomy. Identification and detailed analysis of dominant mutational profiles associated with a specific molecular subtype of EC and their influence on the presence of lifestyle risk factors may have a major impact on both disease development and prevention of disease recurrence. The possible relationship of the mutational profile with the extent of staging lymphadenectomy may help in deciding the extent of this surgical procedure, which subsequently affects the quality of life of patients, especially in patients with high BMI. Given the widespread prevalence of lifestyle risk factors in the developed world, a detailed understanding of the relationship between the genetic profile, its alterations and the prevalence of these risk factors, with potentially major implications for treatment success, is crutial.

Outcomes After Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery With or Without Carboplatin Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Followed by Systemic Combination Chemotherapy for Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

The purpose of this study is to see if the investigators can improve the treatment of this type of cancer. They want to find out what effects, good and/or bad, giving heated chemotherapy into the belly, known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), has on the patient and this type of cancer. The goal of HIPEC is to expose any cancer left in the abdomen after surgery to high doses of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy is heated in the hope that this will make it easier for it to get into and kill the cancer cells. The drug used for HIPEC will be carboplatin, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for use in ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.