OBJECTIVE: We tried to determine the relevance of thrombocytosis as a possible prognostic factor in patient with epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-three (183) patients with epithelial ovarian cancer had been surgically treated in our hospital between January 1984 and December 2001. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed of 9 clinical variables including age, FIGO stage, histologic subtype, grade, volume of residual tumor, presence of ascites, pretreatment levels of hemoglobin, platelet, and tumor marker (CA 125). The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for univariate analysis and a multiple regression analysis based on the Cox proportional hazards model was done to find the independent prognostic variables. RESULTS: Prevalence of thrombocytosis was 20.8% and significantly correlated with FIGO stage (p=0.015), tumor grade (p=0.029), presence of ascites (p=0.001) and volume of residual tumor (p=0.032). Significant difference in survival between patients with or without thrombocytosis was found (p=0.006). Multivariate analysis model was used and only volume of residual tumor (p=0.004) was significant independent prognostic variable. Thrombocytosis (p=0.041) was significant independent prognostic variable in patients with early FIGO stage of disease. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytosis is a useful prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer and significantly independent prognostic factor in patients with early FIGO stage of disease.
Ascites ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Prevalence ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Thrombocytosis*

OBJECTIVES: It is now conventional practice to use human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as the marker of tumor activity in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). The interpretation of serial serum beta-hCG regression patterns is important in monitoring the course of the disease. The purpose of this study was to establish a regression time and pattern of the serum beta-hCG in which GTD is divided into hydatidiform mole and malignant trophoblastic disease. MATERIALS & METHODS: During the period from January 1990 through December 2000, 46 patients with GTD were histopathologically diagnosed and treated at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hanyang University Hospital. For the purpose of analysis and comparison, patients were divided into 19 cases of hydatidiform mole and 27 cases of malignant trophoblastic disease which was subdivided into nonmetastatic (17) and metastatic (10). Patients were followed clinically and by weekly estimations of quantitative serum beta-hCG until negative (<3 mIU/ml). After three consecutive negative beta-hCG, serum beta-hCG were drawn monthly in all patients for one year. The level of serum beta-hCG was detected by two-site sandwich immunoassay (Chiron Diagnostics Automated Chemiluminescence System 180). The obtained data were analyzed using t test and ANOVA test by SPSS. RESULTS: The incidence of the GTD compared with delivery was one per 182.7 deliveries. The mean value of serum beta-hCG regression time in hydatidiform mole was 12.8+/-1.1 (SEM) weeks (7.0-26.0 weeks) and 17.9+/-1.4 (SEM) weeks (8.0-34.0 weeks) in malignant trophoblastic disease. The regression time was significantly shorter in hydatidiform mole than that of malignant trophoblastic disease (P<0.01). The differences of mean value of serum beta-hCG regression time between the groups with nonmetastatic (18.0 weeks) and metastatic (17.8 weeks) were not statistically significant(P =0.946). The mean values of serum beta-hCG in both hydatidiform mole and malignant trophoblastic disease declined following a log-normal distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The regression pattern of serum beta-hCG in present study was similar to that of which in Western and also similar to that of which in Korea in 1980s. The present study supports the continued use of individual patients serum beta-hCG regression curve to make treatment decision and to recognize malignant trophoblastic disease promptly.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Female ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease* ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole ; Immunoassay ; Incidence ; Korea ; Luminescence ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pathological complete remission rate (pCR), survival rate, recurrence rate, 91 patients who had clinical complete remission with epithelial ovarian cancer were studied. METHODS: From 1983 to 2002, 91 consecutive patients with epithelial ovarian cancer underwent surgical cytoreduction followed by platinum-based chemotherapy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University Hospital. At the conclusion of chemotherapy, all patients who were clinically disease free and whose CA 125 was < 35 were offered a second-look operation that obtained over 20 specimens. Of 91 patients who qualified for second-look, 57 underwent the procedure and 34 did not undergo the laparotomy. RESULTS: Among 57 patients who had been performed second-look laparotomy, 40 patients (70%) had negative pathology, 9 (16%) were microscopically positive, and 8 (14%) had gross disease. Patients with positive findings received individualized salvage therapy (14/17). FIGO stage (p<0.01), initial CA 125 level (p=0.07) and residual tumor at primary surgery (p=0.01) correlated with second-look results. Eight (20%: 8/40) of the patients with negative pathology have recurred. Five year survival rate was 95% in patients refusing second look (n=34) was similar to 77% in patients who had been performed second-look operation (n=57). Five-year and ten-year survival rates were 77% and 68% in patients who had performed second-look laparotomy. And 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 84%, 84% in 40 patients with negative pathology, however, 53%, 34% of 17 patients with positive result. Stepwise logistic regression selected two covariates significantly affecting survival: the stage and residual tumor. CONCLUSION: Using the protocol described in a population of optimally resected patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer, second-look laparotomy can impact positively on survival. Patients with residual tumor > 2 cm with advanced stage at primary surgery and negative second-look findings should be the focus of future protocols for consolidation chemotherapy.
Consolidation Chemotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Laparotomy* ; Logistic Models ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Obstetrics ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Salvage Therapy ; Survival Rate