0000000000126230

AUTHOR

Barbara Costantini

Robotic Total Mesometrial Resection versus Laparoscopic Total Mesometrial Resection in Early Cervical Cancer: A Case-Control Study

Abstract Study Objective To report our experience with robotic total mesometrial resection (R-TMMR) comparing perioperative results with a series of laparoscopic total mesometrial resections (L-TMMRs). Design Multicenter retrospective case-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome (Italy) and Campobasso (Italy). Patients From July 2013 to August 2015 all cervical cancer patients with preoperative FIGO stage IA2 to IB1 were assessed at preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan and clinically confirmed by investigation under anesthesia, complying strictly with the FIGO criteria. Surgical and postsurgical data of the TMM…

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Indocyanine Green to Assess Vascularity of Ileal Conduit Anastomosis During Pelvic Exenteration for Recurrent/Persistent Gynecological Cancer: A Pilot Study

IntroductionPelvic exenteration performed for recurrent/persistent gynecological malignancies has been associated with urological short- and long-term morbidity due to altered vascularization of tissues for previous radiotherapy. The aims of the present study were to describe the use of intravenous indocyanine green (ICG) to assess vascularity of urinary diversion (UD) after pelvic exenteration for gynecologic cancers, to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this technique, and to assess the postoperative complications.MethodsProspective, observational, single-center, pilot study including consecutive patients undergoing anterior or total pelvic exenteration due to persistent/recurrent gy…

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Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Staging for Early Ovarian Cancer: A Case-Matched Control Study.

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate the feasibility, surgical outcome, and oncologic results observed after robotic staging compared with conventional laparoscopic staging for patients with early-stage ovarian cancer patients. Design A retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Patients Ninety-six patients underwent minimally invasive staging for presumed stage I ovarian cancer; 32 underwent the robotic approach (cases), and 64 underwent the laparoscopic approach (controls). Measurements and Main Results There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 approaches with regard to final Fed…

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A laparoscopic risk-adjusted model to predict major complications after primary debulking surgery in ovarian cancer: A single-institution assessment

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a simple adjusted laparoscopic score to predict major postoperative complications after primary debulking surgery (PDS) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC). Methods From January 2006 to June 2015, preoperative, intraoperative, and post-operative outcome data from patients undergoing staging laparoscopy (S-LPS) before receiving PDS (n=555) were prospectively collected in an electronic database and retrospectively analyzed. Major complications were defined as levels 3 to 5 of MSKCC classification. On the basis of a multivariate regression model, the score was developed using a random two-thirds of the population (n=370) and was validated on …

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Minimally invasive interval debulking surgery in ovarian neoplasm (MISSION trial–NCT02324595): a feasibility study

Background Laparoscopy has acquired an increasing role in the management of ovarian cancer. Laparoscopic cytoreduction could represent a new frontier for selected patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Objective We sought to assess feasibility and early complication rate of minimally invasive (MI) interval debulking surgery (IDS) in stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients after NACT. Study Design This is a phase II multicentric study in advanced EOC cases with clinical complete response after NACT, according to Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors criteria. Institutional review board approval was obtained and all patients sign…

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Influence of Intraperitoneal Dissemination Assessed by Laparoscopy on Prognosis of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: An Exploratory Analysis of a Single-Institution Experience

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative laparoscopic evaluation of the dissemination of disease may have an independent impact on survival in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC).Methods: All AEOC women were submitted to staging laparoscopy before receiving primary debulking surgery (PDS) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). All study women received a laparoscopic score (predictive index value [PIV]) and were stratified into three groups based on volume of disease: high tumor load (HTL) for PIV ≥8, intermediate tumor load (ITL) for PIV equal to 6 and 4, and low tumor load (LTL) for PIV 1 cm in 15 cases (9.1 %). When stratifying the whole population accordi…

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Laparoscopic surgical management of localized recurrent ovarian cancer: a single-institution experience

Background: Optimally, secondary cytoreduction is acknowledged as a valid option in terms of oncologic outcome for patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. In cases of localized relapse, a laparoscopic approach has been attempted at various institutions, but studies on its role for this subset of patients still are limited. This report describes the authors' experience using laparoscopic secondary cytoreduction for patients with localized recurrent ovarian cancer. The results from a retrospective analysis of a prospective case series are reported. Methods: Between October 2011 and May 2013, 29 patients with localized recurrent ovarian cancer were selected for a laparoscopi…

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Phase III randomised clinical trial comparing primary surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with high tumour load (SCORPION trial): Final analysis of peri-operative outcome.

Abstract Objective To establishing whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) is superior primary debulking surgery (PDS) in terms of clinical outcome as well as peri-operative morbidity in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC) endowed with high tumour load (HTL). Material and methods This is a single-Institution, superiority, randomised phase III trial enrolling supposed AEOC women. Patients considered pre-operatively eligible were triaged to staging laparoscopy to assess the predictive index (PI) of tumour load. All AEOC women with PI ≥ 8 or ≤ 12 (considered as HTL) were included. They were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to undergo either PDS f…

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8 A multicentric randomized trial to evaluate the role of uterine manipulator on laparoscopic/robotic hysterectomy for the treatment of low-risk endometrial cancer: the ROMANHY trial (NCT:02762214)

Background The role of the intrauterine manipulator in minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial cancer has been widely debated in terms of impact on the oncological outcomes. To date, definitive conclusions on the possible advantages and oncological safety of its use in endometrial cancer staging are still awaited. Objectives This randomized trial aimed to assess the role of the uterine manipulator in terms of oncological and perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive (laparoscopic/robotic) staging for presumed low-risk endometrial cancer. Study Design Enrolled patients were randomly allocated in two groups according to the use (Group A) or no use (Group B) of t…

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Peritoneal HPV‐DNA test in cervical cancer (PIONEER study): A proof of concept

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of peritoneal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in different clinical cervical cancer (CC) settings, and its association with potential clinical and/or histological factors. This is a single-center, prospective, observational study. Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent/persistent CC, between March 2019 and April 2020, were included. A group of patients undergoing surgery for benign gynecological conditions was included as control group. All patients underwent HPV-DNA test in the cervix and in the peritoneal cavity simultaneously at time of surgery. Two-hundred seventy-two patients had cervical and peritoneal HPV te…

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Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy After Concomitant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Phase II Study

Abstract Study Objective To assess the feasibility of total robotic radical surgery (TRRS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who receive chemoradiation therapy (CT/RT). Design A prospective (preplanned) study of a nonrandomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification level 2). Setting Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy. Patients Between September 2013 and January 2016, a total of 40 patients with LACC (Federation Internationale de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique stage IB2–III) were enrolled in the study. Interventions Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) plus pelvic and/or aortic lymphadenectomy was attempted within 6 weeks after CT/RT. The …

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Robotic Radical Hysterectomy After Concomitant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Phase II Study

Study Objective To assess the feasibility of total robotic radical surgery (TRRS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who receive chemoradiation therapy (CT/RT). Design A prospective (preplanned) study of a nonrandomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification level 2). Setting Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy. Patients Between September 2013 and January 2016, a total of 40 patients with LACC (Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique stage IB2–III) were enrolled in the study. Interventions Robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) plus pelvic and/or aortic lymphadenectomy was attempted within 6 weeks after CT/RT. The feasibili…

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Survival analyses from a randomized trial of primary debulking surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with high tumor load (SCORPION trial).

5516Background: Previous randomized multicenter trials determined that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) was non-inferior to primary debulking surgery (PDS) for both progression-free (PFS) and overal...

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Laparoscopic Splenectomy for Secondary Cytoreduction in Ovarian Cancer Patients With Localized Spleen Recurrence: Feasibility and Technique

Abstract Study Objective To investigate the feasibility of laparoscopic splenectomy in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer with isolated spleen metastasis. Design (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting Tertiary referral centre in Rome, Italy. Patients Eight women with an isolated platinum-sensitive splenic relapse of ovarian cancer. Intervention Between February 2013 and May 2015, 8 women with an isolated platinum-sensitive splenic relapse of ovarian cancer were submitted to laparoscopic splenectomy. Measurements and Main Results All patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy without conversion to an open approach. The median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 100 mL (ra…

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A Multicentric Randomized Trial to Evaluate the ROle of Uterine MANipulator on Laparoscopic/Robotic HYsterectomy for the Treatment of Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: The ROMANHY Trial

ObjectiveThis prospective randomized trial aimed to assess the impact of the uterine manipulator in terms of lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) in patients undergoing minimally invasive staging for early-stage endometrial cancer.MethodsIn this multicentric randomized trial, enrolled patients were randomly allocated in two groups according to the no use (arm A) or the use (arm B) of the uterine manipulator. Inclusion criteria were G1-G2 early-stage endometrial cancer at preoperative evaluation. The variables collected included baseline demographic characteristics, perioperative data, final pathology report, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up.ResultsIn the study, 154 patients (76 in arm A an…

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Minimally invasive secondary cytoreduction plus HIPEC for recurrent ovarian cancer: a case series.

Objective To analyze the feasibility of laparoscopic/robotic secondary cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal intra-operative chemotherapy (SCS + HIPEC) in a retrospective series of isolated platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive series of ovarian cancer patients with isolated platinum sensitive relapse. Isolated relapse was defined as the presence of a single nodule, in a single anatomic site. In all cases the presence of isolated relapse was assessed at pre-operative FDG-PET/CT scan, and confirmed with staging laparoscopy performed immediately before SCS + HIPEC. Results 84 women with platinum sensitive relapse recei…

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Hepatoceliac Lymph Node Involvement in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients: Prognostic Role and Clinical Considerations.

Background: The study aimed too investigate the rate of hepatoceliac lymph node (HCLN) involvement, as well as its association with clinicopathologic features, together with morbidity of HCLN resection and the prognostic impact of metastatic HCLN status on patients with advanced ovarian cancer (OC) undergoing cytoreductive surgery. Methods: All consecutive patients with stages 3c to 4 epithelial OC who underwent HCLN surgery from January 2010 to September 2016 were analyzed for surgical procedures, pathology, and oncologic outcomes. Results: During the study period, 85 patients underwent HCLN resection. Absence of visible tumor at the end of surgery was documented for 73 of the patients (85…

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Role of Cytoreductive surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy in western countries, primarily because over 60% of patients with ovarian cancer will experience disease recurrence. Primary cytoreductive surgery and combination chemotherapy are the cornerstones of the initial treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer. The management of recurrent ovarian cancer is less clear than that of primary disease. The management of recurrent ovarian cancer is largely based on systemic chemotherapy, with surgery being offered only in selected individuals. Despite this, the benefits of surgery has been shown in a meta-analysis by Bristow et al. where the survival is influenced by the completeness …

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Could lymphadenectomy be avoided in locally advanced cervical cancer patients administered preoperative chemoradiation? A large-scale retrospective study

Abstract Introduction To identify a subset of cervical cancer (CC) patients administered chemoradiation (CT/RT) plus radical surgery (RS), who can be spared lymphadenectomy, and complications. Patients and methods 430 Stage IB2-IIB patients without LN involvement at imaging were accrued (March 1996–December 2015) at Gynecologic Oncology Unit of the Catholic University of Rome/Campobasso. CT/RT consisted of pelvic irradiation plus cisplatin based chemotherapy. Objective response was evaluated according to RECIST criteria; radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± aortic lymphadenectomy was attempted in patients achieving response or stable disease. Surgical morbidity was classified according to the …

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Characteristics and patterns of care of endometrial cancer before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results M…

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Randomized trial of primary debulking surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (SCORPION-NCT01461850)

ObjectiveTo investigate whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery is superior to primary debulking surgery in terms of perioperative complications and progression-free survival, in advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer patients with high tumor load.MethodsPatients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer (stage IIIC-IV) underwent laparoscopy. Patients with high tumor load assessed by a standardized laparoscopic predictive index were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to undergo either primary debulking surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (arm A), or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by int…

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