Elevated urinary phthalate levels in endometrial cancer patients: Evidence from a comparative study.

Phthalates are common plasticizers with endocrine-disrupting properties. Although laboratory studies suggest links to estrogen-dependent cancers, their association with endometrial cancer (EC) in humans remains unclear. This study investigated urinary phthalate metabolite levels in relation to EC and explored potential lifestyle and dietary contributors to phthalate exposure.

Linking Lymphedema, Chronic Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Alzheimer Disease, and Potential Role of Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis.

Background: Lymphedema and Alzheimer disease (AD) share common mechanisms involving oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. However, the link between these 2 conditions and the impact of lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) has not been fully explored. This study aimed to evaluate their association by examining changes in AD biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers before and after LVA.

Molecular subtyping and the 2023 FIGO staging in endometrial cancer: Redefining adjuvant therapy.

The 2023 update to the FIGO staging system for endometrial cancer has introduced important changes, particularly in classifying early disease, which now more effectively aligns with histological types and molecular profiles to guide treatment strategies. In recent years, molecular classification, including the identification of POLE mutations, mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), and p53 abnormalities, has become essential in tailoring adjuvant therapies for patients with endometrial cancer. Women with new FIGO stage I non-TP53-mutated tumors, and stage I/II POLE-mutated tumors generally have excellent outcomes, and adjuvant therapy is typically not recommended.

Recent advances in cervical cancer treatment: Innovations from early-stage to advanced disease.

This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in cervical cancer treatment, highlighting significant breakthroughs in managing the disease at various stages. Traditional treatments, such as radical surgery for early-stage disease and concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) for advanced stages, have dominated clinical practice for decades. However, recent phase III studies have challenged these norms, leading to new treatment paradigms.

The significance of organophosphate flame retardants in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan, and has a poor prognosis despite treatment advances. Emerging evidence suggests environmental contaminants, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), as potential cancer contributors. This study aims to investigate the association between exposure to OPFRs and ESCC.

Prognostic nomogram for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in the era of homologous recombination testing and PARP inhibitor therapy.

Homologous recombination (HR) status plays a critical role in selecting advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients for poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. This study aimed to develop a novel nomogram to predict prognosis in these patients in the era of precision medicine. We conducted a single-institute retrospective analysis on patients diagnosed with advanced EOC between January 2021 and January 2024.

Utilization of Recipient Veins with Reflux during Supermicrosurgical Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis for Lower Limb Lymphedema.

Background: The use of recipient veins with venous reflux for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) is discouraged because it is commonly believed that this may lead to venous-lymphatic reflux (VLR). VLR is a phenomenon in which venous blood is refluxed into the lymphatic lumen after anastomosis, potentially lowering the long-term patency rate. However, this concept is yet to be validated.

Molecular Interplay Between PTEN, ARID1A, PD-L1, and MMR in Asian Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Immunotherapy Response and Patient Stratification.

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) represents a distinct histological subtype with a high prevalence in Asian populations and poor chemotherapy response. This study investigated molecular interactions between phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins in Asian patients with OCCC. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue microarrays from 69 OCCC cases.

Association between ovarian reserve and organophosphate flame retardants in women of childbearing age.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and ovarian reserve in women of childbearing age.

Materials And Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, the participants were recruited from August 2020 to October 2022 at the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center in Taiwan. The inclusion criteria were as follows: adult women of childbearing age were eligible to participate.

External validation of CEA and CA125 prediction model for lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer: A multi-institute cohort study.

BackgroundWe previously utilized pretreatment tumor markers Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125) for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to externally validate a nomogram developed in our previous single-center retrospective study.MethodsA multi-center validation study was conducted to recruit endometrioid EC patients from four branches of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2009 and 2021, with patients participating in the original research being excluded.

Would internal iliac artery occlusion cause gestational hypertension in the following pregnancy? A population-based study from 2008 to 2017.

Objective: In animal models, internal iliac artery occlusion caused gestational hypertension; however, whether this phenomena occurs in humans is still unknown.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Birth Certificate Application of Taiwan and linked to the National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database from 2008 to 2017. Women who underwent internal iliac artery occlusion before pregnant were identified according to diagnosis and procedure codes.

Impact of Lymphedema Duration on Lymphatic Vessel Quality and Outcomes After Supermicrosurgical Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis.

Background: Inferior lymphatic vessel (LV) quality was thought to be associated with prolonged lymphedema duration (LD), which can lead to unfavorable lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) outcomes. However, increasing evidence supports the use of LVA in the treatment of advanced lymphedema. Hence, this study aimed to determine the impact of LD on LV quality and outcomes after LVA in patients with secondary lower limb lymphedema.

Association between cytokines and progression-free survival in ovarian cancer following CRS/HIPEC treatment.

Background: The benefit of cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between serum cytokines, particularly monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a key inflammatory mediator, and recurrence risk in EOC patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC.

Methods: From January 2018 to January 2023, serum cytokine levels were analyzed in 34 EOC patients (17 primary, 17 recurrent) before and after CRS/HIPEC using MILLIPLEX Magnetic Bead Panels.

Bevacizumab as a mitigating factor for the impact of high systemic immune-inflammation index on chemorefractory in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Predicting chemorefractory disease in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains challenging. This study aimed to identify clinicopathological factors and hemogram data as predictive markers for chemorefractory EOC and to explore potential therapeutic approaches that may mitigate these unfavorable conditions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced EOC treated with chemotherapy.

Lifestyle factors and urine levels of organophosphorus flame retardants in endometrial cancer: insights from a case-control study.

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are commonly used in various consumer products to prevent fire hazards. However, OPFRs have been linked to several health problems, including cancer. This study aimed to investigate the association between urine levels of OPFRs and endometrial cancer (EC), and to explore the correlation between concentrations of parent OPFR compounds and their metabolites.

Effects of urinary organophosphate flame retardants in susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-age children.

Our previous studies have revealed a correlation between urinary phthalates (PAE) metabolites and parabens and PM exposure and susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-age children. Our goal was to examine the relationships between urinary organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and their metabolites and the susceptibility to ADHD in the same cohort of children. We recruited 186 school children, including 132 with ADHD and 54 normal controls, living in southern Taiwan to investigate five OPFRs (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl phosphate (TDCPP), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP)) and five OPFR metabolites (bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP), di-n-butyl phosphate (DNBP), bis(2-chloroethyl) hydrogen phosphate (BCEP), di-(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (DBEP), and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP)) in urine.

Prognostic factors of early recurrence after complete cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Although cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) offer the potential for long-term survival in peritoneal carcinomatosis, outcomes following CRS/HIPEC vary significantly.

Aim: To identify the clinical factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) after complete CRS/HIPEC in patients with colorectal/high-grade appendiceal, ovarian, and gastric cancers.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the risk of recurrence within 1 year after CRS/HIPEC and its impact on overall survival (OS) in patients recruited between 2015 and 2020.

A nomogram to predict platinum-sensitivity and survival outcome in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: This study presents the development and validation of a nomogram aimed at predicting platinum-sensitivity and survival outcomes in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Materials And Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort of women diagnosed with stage III/IV EOC between Jan 2011 and Dec 2021 treated at our institute were collected. Clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of platinum-sensitivity.

Urine Phthalate Metabolites are Elevated in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Associated with Advanced Cancer Stage and Poor Survival.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of phthalate in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: A total of 116 ESCC patients and 58 controls without any known histories of malignancies were enrolled. All eight urine phthalate metabolites were measured to assess phthalate levels.

How Progesterone Receptor Expression Impacts Platinum Sensitivity in Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: Insights from Clinical and Experimental Perspectives.

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is often considered a relatively platinum-resistant malignancy. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of progesterone receptor (PR) expression levels on platinum sensitivity and survival outcomes in people with OCCC. A retrospective analysis was conducted with 80 people with OCCC who underwent surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Association between exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in lung cancer patients.

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively distributed in our environment, prompting concerns about potential health hazards, including lung injuries resulting from OPFR exposure.

Methods: The present study recruited 125 lung cancer patients, assessing their exposure to 10 OPFR compounds through urine samples. The final analysis comprised 108 participants after excluding those lacking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and those with chronic kidney disease.

Evolving treatment paradigms for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: An update narrative review.

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) refers to disease progression within 6 months after the completion of platinum-based chemotherapy. Historically, treatment options for PROC were limited with a poor prognosis and non-platinum single agent plus bevacizumab has been the mainstay of treatment. Fortunately, there have been notable advancements in recent years, leading to an advance in treatment paradigms for this challenging disease.

Nephrotoxicity of organophosphate flame retardants in patients with chronic kidney disease: A 2-year longitudinal study.

Humans are extensively exposed to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), an emerging group of organic contaminants with potential nephrotoxicity. Nevertheless, the estimated daily intake (EDI) and prognostic impacts of OPFRs have not been assessed in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this 2-year longitudinal study of 169 patients with CKD, we calculated the EDIs of five OPFR triesters from urinary biomonitoring data of their degradation products and analyzed the effects of OPFR exposure on adverse renal outcomes and renal function deterioration.