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Seija Grénman

Publications and source records attributed to Seija Grénman.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

A randomised phase III study comparing high-dose chemotherapy to conventionally dosed chemotherapy for stage III ovarian cancer: the Finnish Ovarian Cancer (FINOVA) study.

Women with stage III ovarian cancer and with < or = 2 cm residual tumour were randomly assigned to receive either conventionally dosed chemotherapy (group A) or HDCT (group B). Patients allocated to group A received 6 cycles of paclitaxel (T) 135 mg/m2 and cisplatin (P) 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, and those allocated to HDCT received 3 TP cycles followed by peripheral blood stem cell mobilisation with cyclophosphamide (C) 3000 mg/m2 and T 175 mg/m2, and subsequently HDCT with carboplatin 1500 mg/m2, C 120 mg/kg, and mitoxantrone 75 mg/m2. The trial was closed early after 42 patients were entered due to slow accrual. The median follow-up time of patients who were alive was 81 months. The median progression-free survival time was 15.9 and 16.6 months (hazard ratio, HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.41-1.69, P = 0.61) and the median overall survival time was 43.7 and 64.3 months (HR, 0.74; 95% CI 0.34-1.61, P = 0.44) in groups A and B, respectively. Although one patient died of HDCT-related toxicity, the regimen was otherwise relatively well tolerated. We conclude that the HDCT regimen used was feasible, but did not result in significantly improved survival in this prematurely closed trial. A clinically important survival benefit cannot be excluded due to the small sample size.

Adult↗

Surgical treatment of ovarian cancer in different hospital categories--a prospective nation-wide study in Finland.

This prospective nation-wide study was performed to evaluate the effect of hospital category and subspeciality training on surgical treatment of ovarian cancer. Data were obtained from a questionnaire filled in by the operating unit, and from the surgical and histopathology reports. The survey included 307 patients. Half of them were operated in the university hospitals where gynaecologic oncologists performed 72% of the operations. This was the case in only 4% and 19% in the central and district hospitals, respectively. In university hospitals, pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 88%, and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in 73%, of the patients with stage I disease. The corresponding figures ranged from 11% to 21% in central and district hospitals. For stage III patients operated by gynaecologic oncologists, the estimated odds ratio for no macroscopic tumour was 3.0 times higher (95% CI 1.2-7.5) than for those operated by general gynaecologists. These results favour centralisation of surgical treatment of ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗

[Not Available].

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Journal Article↗

Natural history of oral papillomavirus infections in spouses: a prospective Finnish HPV Family Study.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of genital human papillomavirus infection is well known, but nearly nothing is known about the outcome of oral HPV-infection. OBJECTIVES AND STUDY DESIGN: To study natural history of oral HPV in spouses during the follow-up 331 women (mean 25.5+/-3.4 years) and 131 men (mean 28.8+/-5.0 years) were recruited from maternity unit. Scrapings from healthy oral mucosa of spouses at baseline, 2, 6, 12 and 24 months and genital samples were taken for HPV testing. HPV DNA was detected by nested PCR and confirmed by hybridization using a cocktail of 12 high-risk (HR) oligoprobes. RESULTS: The detection rate of HR HPVs varied from 15% to 27%. Baseline oral HPV status between the spouses was closely related (odds ratio 4.3; 95% confidence interval 1.6-12.0; P=0.006). Persistent oral infection in one spouse was a significant risk factor (odds ratio 10.0; 95% confidence interval 1.5-68.7; P=0.005) for oral HR HPV persistence in the other partner. Cumulative incidence of new HR HPV infections was identical in both spouses, while men seemed to clear their infection more rapidly. In univariate survival analysis, the partner's oral or genital HPV status, oral sex habits or age did not predict clearance or acquisition of oral HR HPV. CONCLUSION: Natural history of HPV infection in oral mucosa mimics that of genital HPV infection. Oral sex had no association to oral HPV infection, but a persistent oral HPV infection of the spouse increased the risk of persistent oral HPV infection 10-fold in the other spouse.

Adult↗

Identification of individual genes altered in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Chromosome rearrangements in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (SCV) have indicated common consistent regions of loss and gain. The overall aim of our research was to define and characterize individual genes that underlie the pathogenesis of SCV. Thirteen cell lines from 12 SCV patients were evaluated for loss and gain of 122 genes distributed throughout the genome. Individual genes were analyzed for genetic alterations using a novel genomewide strategy, the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay. Our candidate gene approach identified several altered loci. Most frequent was the loss of 1 copy of TMSB10, observed in 11 of 12 SCV patients, followed by loss of CTNNB1 and BCL2, which occurred in 7 of 12 patients. Frequent gains/amplifications included CCND1, observed in 8 of 12 patients, and IL12A, in 7 of the 12 patients. Loss and gain of specific genes observed in our study were generally concordant with the results of previous studies of cytogenetics and CGH utilizing the same SCV cell lines. Genetic alterations are hallmarks of tumorigenesis, and there is wide agreement that recurrent altered genomic loci contain genes important for tumor development and progression. Understanding the interplay of cancer genes and the pathways they utilize can lead to the detection of novel molecular targets in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of SCV.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Characterization of 10 vulvar carcinoma cell lines by karyotyping, comparative genomic hybridization and flow cytometry.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Ten vulvar squamous cell carcinoma cell lines established at the University of Michigan (UM-SCV-1A, -1B, -2, -3, -4, -6, -7) and at the University of Turku (UT-SCV-1, -2, -3) were characterized by G-banding karyotyping, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) flow cytometry. RESULTS: All cell lines had hyperdiploid DNA content as measured by flow cytometry. The DNA index (DI) remained relatively stable through different passages in 9 of 10 cases. DIs of UM-SCV-3 and UT-SCV-2 were near-diploid, as were the corresponding karyotypes. The 10 SCVs showed remarkable genetic similarities with respect to consistent chromosome rearrangements. Loss of 3p, noted in 8/10 SCVs, was narrowed to the smallest common region at 3p11-3p13. Loss of 8pter-p11 was observed in 10/10 cell lines. Loss of 11qter-q23 was present in UM-SCV-1 and -2, and in all four recently karyotyped SCVs. Other consistent losses include Xpter-p11 in 6/10, and 18qter-q11 in 7/10 cell lines. Common gains included gain of 8q in 8/10 and 3q in 6/10. Consistent copy number imbalances were confirmed by CGH; concerning loss of 3p, in 63%, to loss of 8p in 70%, to gain of 3q in 83%, and to gain of 8q in 75% of the cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: CGH and karyotyping showed concordance in defining copy number imbalances, thus supporting the accuracy of CGH to detect chromosome imbalances in tumors that cannot be karyotyped.

Adult↗

Response of estrogen receptor-positive intraabdominal fibromatosis to aromatase inhibitor therapy.

BACKGROUND: Intraabdominal fibromatosis is a rare tumor-like lesion of uncertain etiology. CASE: A 49-year-old woman underwent abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy in 1997 to treat uterine leiomyomata and ovarian fibromatosis. Postoperatively, she received estradiol 2 mg daily as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In 2000, laparotomy performed for a large pelvic tumor revealed inoperable intraabdominal fibromatosis. The tumor, which was positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, resolved during aromatase inhibitor therapy. The first follow-up computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed that the tumor masses were significantly reduced in size, and successive CT scans revealed stable disease. CONCLUSION: Intraabdominal fibromatosis that expresses estrogen and progesterone receptors may respond favorably to treatment with aromatase inhibitors.

Aromatase Inhibitors↗

Evidence of benefit from centralised treatment of ovarian cancer: a nationwide population-based survival analysis in Finland.

To assess the effect of different hospital types or surgical volume on the survival of ovarian cancer patients, a nationwide and population-based analysis was carried out in Finland. The study included all 3,851 ovarian cancer patients operated from 1983-94. The patients were classified according to the hospital of the first surgery. The hospitals were categorized by type (university, central or other hospital) and, separately, into quartiles by the number of operated patients (surgical volume). The patients operated at university hospitals had better survival than those operated in central hospitals, the 5-year relative survival rates (RSR) being 45% (95% CI = 42-48%) and 37% (34-40%), respectively. RSR in the 'other hospital' category was 45% (42-48%). The RSR for the patients operated in the highest volume hospitals was 47% (43-50%), and by decreasing volume (quartile) the RSR was 40% (36-43%), 40% (36-43%) and 42% (38-45%), respectively. After controlling for potential confounding by stage and age using regression models, the results remained practically the same. The results indicate that further centralizing of operative treatment of ovarian cancer may still improve survival rates on a population level in Finland.

Aged↗

Supra-additive effect with concurrent paclitaxel and cisplatin in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

The effect of concurrent paclitaxel and cisplatin was tested in vitro in 5 vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines (UM-SCV-1A, -2, -4 and -7 and UT-SCV-3). Chemosensitivity was tested using the 96-well plate clonogenic assay. Paclitaxel concentrations used varied between 0.4 and 1.6 nM, and cisplatin concentrations varied between 0.1 and 0.9 microg/ml. These drug concentrations are clinically achievable. Survival data were fitted to the LQ model, and the area under the curve (AUC) value was obtained with numerical integration. The type of interaction was determined by comparing the AUC ratio of the 2 drugs with the survival fraction (SF) of paclitaxel alone. With all cell lines tested the growth-inhibitory effect of simultaneous paclitaxel and cisplatin was at least additive. The effect of the tested combination on the UM-SCV-1A and UT-SCV-3 cell lines was clearly supra-additive with all paclitaxel concentrations tested, and the UM-SCV-4 and UM-SCV-7 cell lines exhibited a supra-additive effect with increasing paclitaxel concentrations. The degree of supra-additivity was dose-dependent in the UM-SCV-7 cell line with increasing synergy at higher paclitaxel doses. In the current study the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin had a clear additive or supra-additive cytotoxic effect on the vulvar SCC cell lines, and it has been successfully used in other gynecologic malignancies; therefore concurrent paclitaxel and cisplatin also deserves further testing in clinical settings in advanced-stage vulvar carcinoma, which has a poor prognosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Paclitaxel combined with fractionated radiation in vitro: a study with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Concurrent paclitaxel and radiation has given promising results in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. We wanted to test the efficacy of this combination for vulvar carcinoma, which currently has a poor outcome in advanced stages. The radiation sensitivity, sublethal damage repair (SLDR) capacity and effect of paclitaxel during fractionated radiation were assessed in our study on 7 vulvar inherently radioresistant squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines. The 96-well plate clonogenic assay was used. Survival data were fitted to the linear quadratic model. The area under the curve (AUC), equivalent to mean inactivation dose (D), was obtained with numerical integration. AUC ratios between single-dose radiation and fractionated radiation with or without paclitaxel were used to determine the SLDR of the cell lines and the effect of paclitaxel on it. Seven currently tested vulvar SCC cell lines were found to have a limited capacity of repairing sublethal damage (SLD). Only 3 of them presented SLDR of significance. The effect of concurrent radiation and paclitaxel was clearly additive when the radiation dose was fractionated in most of the cell lines. In addition, 2 of the cell lines having SLDR exhibited a trend toward losing the repair capacity when paclitaxel was present during the irradiation. In addition, the survival curve of the UM-SCV-1A cell line gave the impression of a true paclitaxel effect on SLDR. Paclitaxel used concurrently with fractionated radiation showed effectiveness on vulvar carcinoma. The effect was at least additive and could even be expected to abrogate the SLDR during split-dose radiation.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Metalloelastase (MMP-12) expression by tumour cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva correlates with invasiveness, while that by macrophages predicts better outcome.

Human metalloelastase (MMP-12) has been implicated in elastin degradation and macrophage migration in many pathological conditions. It also generates angiostatin, thus having a potential to prevent tumour angiogenesis. It has previously been shown that transformed epithelial cells express MMP-12 in skin cancer. The aim of this study was further to elucidate the role of metalloelastase in squamous cell cancer (SCC) progression. By in situ hybridization, expression of MMP-12 mRNA was detected in 28/33 vulvar SCC samples in CD-68-positive macrophages, while 10 samples had positive cancer cells. By immunohistochemistry, MMP-12 protein was seen in the same area as the mRNA. MMP-12 mRNA expression in tumour cells correlated with more aggressive histology (p = 0.0099). In contrast, macrophage-derived MMP-12 mRNA was more abundant in well-differentiated grade I than grade III tumours (p = 0.01). However, the level of MMP-12 mRNA, regardless of its origin, did not correlate with metastasis or patient survival. No significant correlation was found between macrophage-derived MMP-12 mRNA and a low amount of blood vessels, as quantitated after von Willebrand staining. In agreement with vulvar SCCs in vivo, MMP-12 was expressed in cultured SCC cells by northern and western blot analysis. In HaCaTs and epithelial MCF-10f cells, MMP-12 mRNA was induced by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as measured by quantitative RT-PCR (TaqMan). Two MMPs capable of generating angiostatin in vivo, matrilysin (MMP-7) and gelatinase B (MMP-9), were also examined in these tumours. MMP-7 mRNA was mainly expressed by epithelial tumour cells, particularly in less differentiated tumours. MMP-9 was usually expressed by neutrophils and macrophages; epithelial protein was predominantly found in grade II/III tumours. These results suggest a dual role for MMP-12 in tumour progression.

Adult↗