OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of identifying patients with suspicious severe lesions by conization among prediagnosed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 and 2 patients in Japan. METHODS: The data in a Japanese nation-wide registry for cervical cancer (2009 and 2011) was collected to analyze the clinical efficacy of pre- and postdiagnosis for 13,215 Japanese women who underwent treatment by conization. Their preoperative and postoperative histologic findings and clinical outcomes were evaluated using standard statistical procedures including clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Almost half of 1,536 women who were treated by conization after the prediagnosis of CIN1 and 2 because the lesions showed no evidence of natural regression actually contained CIN1–2 (45.0%), CIN3 (47%), or invasive cancer (2.7%) in their cervical tissue. They underwent conization either for therapeutic (treatment) (78.5%) or diagnostic (21.5%) reasons. Invasive disease was diagnosed postoperatively more often in diagnostic cases (6.1%) than in therapeutic cases (2.8%). All the patients survived their diagnostic and therapeutic conization after approximately 30 months of follow up. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the continuous observation of the prediagnosed CIN1 and 2 cases by the combination of cytology, colposcopy and histology in Japan has worked successfully to identify severe lesions by using conization as well in the process.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Colposcopy ; Conization* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Japan* ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence has supported the concept that epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) arises from the cells of the fallopian tube or endometrium. This study investigated current practice in Japan with respect to performing opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy (OBS) during gynecological surgery for benign disease for Ovarian Cancer Prevention. METHODS: We mailed a questionnaire to 767 hospitals and clinics, comprising 628 accredited training institutions of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG), Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO), or Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy (JSGOE) and 139 private institutions with at least one JSGOE-certified licensed gynecologic laparoscopist. RESULTS: Among the 767 institutions, 444 (57.9%) provided responses, including 91 (20.6%) that were both JSGOE and JSGO accredited, 71 (16.0%) that were only JSGO accredited, 88 (19.8%) that were only JSGOE accredited, and 194 (43.7%) that were unaccredited. It was found that awareness and performance of OBS largely depended on the JSGO and/or JSGOE accreditation status. OBS was only performed at 54.0% of responding institutions and just 6.8% of the institutions were willing to participate in randomized controlled trials to validate this method for reducing the incidence of ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: The JSOG Gynecologic Tumor Committee will announce its opinion on salpingectomy for ovarian cancer prevention to all JSOG members and will develop a system for monitoring the number of OBS procedures in Japan.
Accreditation ; Endometrium ; Endoscopy ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Gynecology* ; Incidence ; Japan* ; Methods ; Obstetrics* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Postal Service ; Salpingectomy*

Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, have both high morbidity and mortality among the gynecologic malignant tumors in Japan. The present study was conducted using both the population-based cancer registry and the gynecologic cancer registry to elucidate the characteristics of gynecologic malignant tumors in Japan. Based on nationwide estimates from the population-based cancer registry in Japan, the morbidities and mortality of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers were obtained and used for analysis. Clinicopathologic factors for cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, including age, clinical stage, postsurgical stage, histological type, therapeutic strategy, and prognosis were retrieved from the gynecologic cancer registry published by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and used for analysis. The morbidities of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers were 10,908, 13,606, and 9,384 women in 2012, respectively. The prevalence of endometrial cancer has significantly and consistently been increasing and represents the most common gynecologic malignant tumor in Japan. The mortalities of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers were 2.1, 1.3, and 3.2 per 100,000 in 2012, respectively. In 2014, 52.2% of cervical cancer patients were classified as stage I, 22.5% as stage II, 10.2% as stage III, and 11.2% as stage IV. In addition, 71.9% of endometrial cancer patients were classified as stage I, 6.0% as stage II, 13.3% as stage III, and 7.5% as stage IV. Finally, 43.2% of ovarian cancer patients were classified as stage I, 9.1% as stage II, 27.6% as stage III, and 7.2% as stage IV. Twelve point five percent of ovarian cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Drug Therapy ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Japan* ; Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Registries ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO) initiated a nation-wide training system for the education and certification for gynecologic oncologists in 2005. To assess the impact of the quality of the JSGO-accredited institutions, JSGO undertook an analysis of the Uterine Cervical Cancer Registry of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) to determine the effectiveness of the JSGO-accredited institutions on the treatment and survival of women with cervical cancer. METHODS: The effectiveness of 119 JSGO-accredited institutions and 125 non-JSGO-accredited institutions on the treatment and survival of women with cervical cancer were compared by analyzing the tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of women with stage T1B–T4 cervical cancer utilizing the data in the JSOG nation-wide registry for cervical cancer (2006–2009). RESULTS: A total of 14,185 eligible women were identified: 10,920 (77.0%) cases for 119 JSGO-accredited institutions and 3,265 (23.0%) cases for 125 non-accredited institutions. A multivariate analysis showed that age, stage, histology type, and treatment pattern were independently associated with mortality. Moreover, women who received treatment at the JSGO-accredited institutions had a significantly decreased mortality risk compared to non-accredited institutions (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=0.843; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.784–0.905). Similar findings on multivariate analysis were seen among subset of women who received surgery alone (aHR=0.552; 95% CI=0.393–0.775) and among women who received radiotherapy (aHR=0.845; 95% CI=0.766–0.931). CONCLUSION: Successful implementation of gynecologic oncology accrediting institution was associated with improved survival outcome of women with cervical cancer in Japan.
Accreditation* ; Certification ; Education ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Japan* ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obstetrics ; Radiotherapy ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Objective: The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted a retrospective multi-institutional survey of patients who underwent cervical conization in Japan. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for positive surgical margins in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3) patients after therapeutic cervical conization and those for positive margins in patients who did not experience recurrence and did not undergo additional treatment. Methods: In 2009 and 2013, 14,832 patients underwent cervical conization at 205 institutions in Japan. Of these, 8856 patients who underwent therapeutic conization fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Their histologic findings and clinical outcomes were evaluated based on standard statistical procedures and clinical and demographic characteristics. Results: Negative and positive margins were observed in 7,585 and 1,271 (14.4%) patients, respectively. The predictors of positive margins were menopausal status (p<0.001), loop electrosurgical excision procedure (p<0.001), and Shimodaira-Taniguchi (S-T) conization (p<0.001). Of 1,271 patients with positive margins, 1,060 underwent no additional treatment; among those 1,060 patients, 129 (12.2%) experienced recurrence. The predictors of positive margins in patients who did not undergo additional treatment and did not experience recurrence were age, parity, gravidity, S-T conization, and laser scalpel conization. Conclusion Menopausal status and treatment procedures were associated with positive margins after therapeutic conization of CIN 3. It is important to understand the characteristics of treatment procedures and select an appropriate procedure for each case. For elderly or menopausal patients with positive margins, immediate additional treatment is recommended.

Objective: As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rages on, it is a challenging task to balance resources for treatment of COVID-19 and malignancy-based treatment. For the development of optimal strategies, assessing the conditions and constrains in treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic is pertinent. This study reported about a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Methods: We interviewed 265 designated training facilities about the state of their clinical practice from the time period between March and December 2020. We asked the facility doctors in charge to fill a web-based questionnaire. Results: A total of 232 facilities (87.5%) responded. A decrease in the number of outpatient visits was reported, and the major reason attributed was reluctance of patients to visit hospitals rather than facility restrictions. The actual number of surgeries decreased by 3.9%, compared to 2019. There was a significant difference when the variable of “Prefectures operating under special safety precautions” or not was introduced. There was no increase in the rate of advanced stages in the three cancer types studied. However, 34.1% participants perceived COVID-19 affected management and prognosis. Conclusion Refraining from visiting hospitals based on the patient's judgment may be expected to be an issue in the future. No significant decrease in surgeries was observed, and it would seem that there were few forced changes in treatment plans, but “the State of Emergency” had an impact. There was no increase in the rate of advanced cancers, but this will need to be monitored.

Objective: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging for ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers was revised in 2014. The aim of this study is to clarify whether the revised FIGO2014 staging reflects the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer by histological type in Japan. Methods: We extracted 9,747 patients who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer since 2004 until 2008 and who could be classified into appropriate stages from the Gynecologic Cancer Registry of Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. These cases were analyzed after revision to FIGO2014 based on the pTNM classification. Results: Among stage I, the 5-year overall survival rate (5y-OS) in FIGO2014 was 94.9% in stage IA, 92.3% in stage IC1, 86.1% in IC2, and 84.9% in IC3 with significant differences between stages IA and IC1 (p=0.012), IC1 and IC2 (p<0.001). There was a significant difference between stages IA and IC1 in clear cell and mucinous carcinoma but not in serous and endometrioid carcinoma. Among stage III, the 5y-OS was 75.6% in stage IIIA1, 68.9% in IIIA2, 58.6% in IIIB, and 44.4% in IIIC, with significant differences between stages IIIA2 and IIIB (p=0.009), IIIB and IIIC (p<0.001). Among stage IV, the 5y-OS was 43.1% in stage IVA *and 32.1% in IVB with a significant difference (p=0.002). Conclusion The results suggest that changes in classification for stage III and stage IV are appropriate, but the subclassification for stage IC might be too detailed. There was a discrepancy of prognosis by histological type between stage IA and IC1.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of lymphadenectomy at primary debulking surgery (PDS) on the survival of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: We searched PubMed, Ichushi, and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective cohort studies comparing survival of women with EOC undergoing lymphadenectomy at PDS with that of women without lymphadenectomy were included. We performed a meta-analysis of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events. Results: For advanced-stage EOC, 2 RCTs including 1,074 women and 7 cohort studies comprising 3,161 women were evaluated. Meta-analysis revealed that lymphadenectomy was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.70– 0.90). However, meta-analysis of 2 RCTs revealed no significant difference in OS between the lymphadenectomy and no-lymphadenectomy groups (OS: HR=1.02; 95% CI=0.85–1.22).For early-stage EOC, 1 RCT comprising 268 women and 4 cohort studies comprising 14,228 women were evaluated. Meta-analysis showed that lymphadenectomy was associated with improved OS (HR=0.75; 95% CI=0.68–0.82). A RCT of early-stage EOC reported that lymphadenectomy was not associated with improved OS (HR=0.85; 95% CI=0.49–1.47).Surgery-related deaths were similar in both groups (risk ratio [RR]=1.00; 95% CI=0.99–1.01);however, blood transfusion was required less frequently in the no-lymphadenectomy group (RR=0.74; 95% CI=0.63–0.86). Conclusions Meta-analysis of RCTs and observational studies suggest that lymphadenectomy was associated with improved OS in advanced- and early-stage EOC.However, results from RCTs demonstrate that lymphadenectomy was not associated with improved OS in advanced- and early-stage EOC.

OBJECTIVE: The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO) published the first practice guideline for endometrial cancer in 2006. The JSGO guideline evaluation committee assessed the effect of this guideline introduction on clinical practice and patient outcome using data provided by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) cancer registration system. METHODS: Data of patients with endometrial cancer registered between 2000 and 2012 were analyzed, and epidemiological and clinical trends were assessed. The influence of guideline introduction on survival was determined by analyzing data of patients registered between 2004 and 2009 using competing risk model. RESULTS: In total, 65,241 cases of endometrial cancer were registered. Total number of patients registered each year increased about 3 times in the analyzed period, and the proportion of older patients with type II endometrial cancer rapidly increased. The frequency of lymphadenectomy had decreased not only among the low-recurrence risk group but also among the intermediate- or high-recurrence risk group. Adjuvant therapy was integrated into chemotherapy (p<0.001). Overall survival did not significantly differ before and after the guideline introduction (hazard ratio [HR]=0.891; p=0.160). Additional analyses revealed patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy showed better prognosis than those receiving adjuvant radiation therapy when limited to stage I or II (HR= 0.598; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: It was suggested that guideline introduction influenced the management of endometrial cancer at several aspects. Better organized information and continuous evaluation are necessary to understand the causal relationship between the guideline and patient outcome.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drug Therapy ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Japan* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of oral administration of tegafur-uracil (UFT) at a high dose, 600 mg/day, based on the tegafur dose, against uterine cervical cancer. METHODS: This study consisted of a retrospective analysis. From April 1986 to March 1997, 309 patients with uterine cervical cancer were registered. Oral UFT was administered to 162 patients for maintenance therapy after an initial treatment (the UFT group). The other 147 patients were not treated with UFT (the control group). The survival rate was calculated for both groups and statistically analyzed using the log-rank test. Adverse events were compared between the UFT and control groups. RESULTS: In the UFT group, 103 patients (63.6%) received UFT for > or =90 days. The drug dose was 600 mg/day for 137 patients (84.6%) and 300 to 400 mg/day for the remainder. The overall survival rate was significantly higher in the UFT group than in the control group (p<0.05). The prognosis was particularly favorable in stage III cases, in cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and in cases that were treated by radiotherapy. The most frequent side effects were nausea/vomiting (12.2%), appetite loss (10.1%), and leukopenia/neutropenia (5.8%). CONCLUSION: High-dose oral UFT maintenance treatment prolonged the disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with uterine cervical cancer, particularly of those with advanced disease.
Administration, Oral ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tegafur/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Uracil/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality