| 1. |
- Ekwall, Eva, 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Lived experiences of women with recurring ovarian cancer
- 2014
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Ingår i: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 18:1, s. 104-109
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Women with recurring ovarian cancer are living longer, due to advances in treatment options. They are now often outpatients, experiencing rapid encounters on treatment days. Whether this shift in care meets women’s needs has been scarcely explored scientifically.Purpose of the study: This study aimed to illuminate the phenomenon of living with recurring ovarian cancer as experienced by women in that condition.Methods and sample: A descriptive phenomenological method was used. Eight open-ended interviews with four women were performed approximately three and five years after the first recurrence of ovarian cancer. During these years the women had repeated clinically and radiologically verified recurrence requiring chemotherapy.Key results:The phenomenon of living with recurring ovarian cancer meant that the women felt forced to pay attention to the failing body in order to avoid a potential breakdown. The growing limitation of their intermittent strength meant that strength had to be captured and protected. Sharing their lives with others was difficult, due to the different living conditions. The women found no space to mediate their experiences, either in close relationships or with health care professionals. But, the circumstances they lived under also generated a gratitude for the unexpected extra time.Conclusions: The findings revealed that the four women were grateful to live a while longer, but needed to share their state of being. The findings are indeed directed to health care professionals, who need to provide a more patient-centred care to meet the women’s needs.
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| 2. |
- Bohr Mordhorst, Louise, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic impact of the expression of Hedgehog proteins in cervical carcinoma FIGO stages I-IV treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy
- 2014
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Ingår i: Gynecologic Oncology. - : Academic Press. - 0090-8258 .- 1095-6859. ; 135:2, s. 305-311
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Hedgehog signaling proteins were assessed in patients with cervical carcinoma receiving chemoradiation. Associations between five Hedgehog proteins and prognosis were studied.Methods: In all, 131 cases of cervical carcinomas (FIGO stages I-IV) were immunohistochemically (IHC) analyzed for Patched (PTCH), Smoothened (SMO), and GLI1, GLI2 and GLI3 protein expression. Associations between Hedgehog protein expressions, clinicopathological factors, and clinical outcome data were examined.Results: Positive IHC staining for the five Hedgehog proteins was recorded in 8% to 37% of the tumor cells. The highest frequency was noted for SMO and the lowest for all. There was a significant association between low SMO- and GLI2-expression and KRAS-mutation. Tumors with overexpressed SMO had a higher frequency of residual tumor or local recurrences than tumors with low SMO expression. Patients with tumors expressing PTCH in more than 75% of the cells had significantly (P = 0.023) better recurrence-free survival than patients with tumors with low expression. The opposite situation was true for SMO. For GLI2, there was a statistically significant difference with regard to overall (P = 0.004) and distant (P = 0.015) relapse rate for groups with expression of GLI2 in the range of 5-25% compared to higher rates.Conclusions: A predictive and prognostic value was found for PTCH, SMO, and GLI2 with regard to residual carcinoma, local recurrences, and for GLI2 distant relapses. The Hedgehog signaling pathway also seems to play an important role in cervical carcinogenesis together with HPV16-infection and KRAS-mutation.
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| 3. |
- Bohr Mordhorst, Louise, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic impact of the expression of Wnt-signaling proteins in cervical carcinoma FIGO stage I-IV treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy
- 2016
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - Orchard Park, USA : Impact Journals LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:39, s. 63042-63053
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wnt signaling proteins were assessed in patients with primary cervical carcinomas who received chemoradiation. The associations between three Wnt signaling proteins and prognosis were assessed. Specimens from 122 patients with cervical carcinomas (FIGO stage I-IV) were immunohistochemically (IHC) analyzed for β-catenin, APC and axin protein expression. Associations between these Wnt-protein expressions, clinicopathological factors, and clinical outcome data were examined.Positive IHC staining for the β-catenin protein (cell-membranes, cytoplasm and nuclei) was recorded in 88%, 58% and 5%, respectively. There was a strong association between β-catenin staining of the cell-membranes and prediction of recurrences and prognosis (p = 0. 002). Tumors with > 5% of nuclear β-catenin staining were associated with inferior cancer-specific survival (p = 0.048) compared with no staining. The overall recurrence rate was significantly higher in the group with increased nuclear staining (67%) compared with the group with no staining (33%). Nuclear APC staining of high intensity was associated with a significantly worse cancer-specific survival and increased overall recurrence rate compared to tumors with weak staining. Distant recurrences were recorded in 29% of cases with intense staining and in 14% of cases with low staining.The Wnt signaling pathway seems to be of importance in the process of cervical oncogenesis. A predictive and prognostic value was found for β-catenin, where strong cell-membrane staining was favorable, and > 5% positive nuclear staining was associated with poorer cancer-specific survival and overall recurrence rate. Nuclear APC staining intensity was also associated with a less favorable prognosis.
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| 4. |
- Ekwall, Ewa, 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Important aspects of health care for women with gynecologic cancer
- 2003
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Ingår i: Oncology Nursing Forum. - Pittsburg : Oncology Nursing Society. - 0190-535X .- 1538-0688. ; 30:2, s. 313-319
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose/Objectives: To describe what women diagnosed with primary gynecologic cancer reported to be important during their interacion with the healthcare system. Design: Qualitative. Setting: A specialized gynecologic cancer care unit in central Sweden. Sample: 14 women diagnosed with primary gynecologic cancer were recruited. The women had been referred to the specialized care unit for radiation or cytostatic therapy. Methods: Tape-recorded interviews were transcnbed, coded, categoized, and analyzed. Main Research Variables: Primary diagnosed women with cancer and their experience with quality of care during diagnosis and treatment. Findings: Three partly overlapping categories (i.e., optima! care,good communication, and self-image and sexuality) were found to be of central importance in quality of health care. Participants stated that health care should be based on their own perceptions of the need for information and dialogue and how the disease and treatment would affect their health, self-image, and sexuality. Everyday conversations also were very important. Conclusions: Central importance in health care for the women included both rational and human aspects. The primary need of participants was available, competent, and coordinated. Implications for Nursing: Women with gynecologic cancer should be given individualized information and care to satisfy their individual needs and reinforce their self-image. Nurses have an important role in strengthening women´s feelings of hope and supporting them in maintaining as positive a self-image as possible. Information and everyday conversation are of great significance. Sexuality should be an integral part of holistic care; to this end, inclusion of each woman's sexual partner may be helpful when discussions concerning sexuality occur.
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| 5. |
- Ekwall, Eva, 1950-, et al.
(författare)
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Recurrence of ovarian cancer : living in limbo
- 2007
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Ingår i: Cancer Nursing. - Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0162-220X .- 1538-9804. ; 30:4, s. 270-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Few studies have shed light on women's life situation after being informed of having recurrent ovanan cancer, The present study aimed to elucidate women's experiences of living with this knowledge. interviews were conducted with 12 women who were undergoing or had just completed chemotherapy, 5 to 10 months after learning or the recurrence. Data were collected and analyzed based on a life world perspective using a descriptive phenomenoiogical method. The women's experiences are described via 3 key constituents: being denied one's future while simultaneously hoping to be ble to delay the cancer's advancement, feeling alienated from both oneself and one's surroundings, and being responsible. The key constituents were integrated into the structure "living in limbo." The women lived on the threshoid to the unknown. They were preparing themselves both for a continued life and for death. "Living in limbo" can be described as a phase of a health-illness transition characterized by loneliness. The vulnerable position and existential struggle of these women should be focused upon in nursing. The sensitive dialogue is essential in these cases.
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| 6. |
- Farkas, Sanja A., 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Epigenetic changes as prognostic predictors in endometrial carcinomas
- 2017
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Ingår i: Epigenetics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1559-2294 .- 1559-2308. ; 12:1, s. 19-26
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most frequent gynecological malignancies of the female. The diagnostic and prognostic markers for the high-risk subgroups with unfavorable prognosis are under intense debate worldwide, and, therefore, the aim of this study was to identify new potential DNA methylation markers for the high-risk groups. We used the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip to analyze the DNA methylation pattern and investigated its association with clinicopathological features important for defining the high-risk (FIGO-grade 3) and low-risk (FIGO-grade 1) groups of patients with endometrial cancer (n = 31 and n = 39, respectively). We identified specific DNA methylation signature in high-risk endometrial tumors, and potential molecular biomarker genes (TBX2, CHST11, and NID2) associated with unfavorable clinical predictive and prognostic factors.
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| 7. |
- Graflund, M., et al.
(författare)
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HPV-DNA, vascular space invasion, and their impact on the clinical outcome in early-stage cervical carcinomas
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. - Malden, USA : Blackwell Publishing. - 1048-891X .- 1525-1438. ; 14:5, s. 896-902
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study was designed to analyze the relationship of human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA, microvessel density, and their impact on clinical outcome in early cervical carcinoma. HPV-DNA was evaluated in 171 cases of cervical carcinoma treated from 1965 to 1990. In 110 cases, the analyses could be performed. A polymerase chain reaction technique was used on paraffin-embedded specimens obtained before the start of therapy. HPV-DNA of any type was detected in 78% (86/110) of all evaluable tumors. HPV16 was the predominant type and was detected in 56% (62/110), HPV18 in 8% (9/110), and HPV35 in 21% (23/110). Patients with tumors containing HPV16 or HPV18 were significantly (P = 0.011) younger than patients with tumors not containing either of these two subtypes. Vascular space invasion and lymph node metastases were observed more frequently in tumors expressing HPV16 and HPV18 (P = 0.002, P = 0.047) than in tumors negative for these HPV strains. Tumors containing HPV16 and HPV18 were significantly (P = 0.012) larger and more frequently (P = 0.005) associated with higher FIGO stages. The cancer-specific survival rate was lower for patients with HPV16- and HPV18-positive tumors, but the difference was not statistically significant. The microvessel density was a non-significant prognostic factor. The overall 5-year survival rate of the complete series was 91%. It was concluded that HPV-DNA was a prognostic factor in early-stage cervical cancer and was associated with the age of the patient, vascular space invasion, lymph node metastases, tumor size, and FIGO stage.
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| 8. |
- Graflund, Marianne, et al.
(författare)
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Immunohistochemical expression of p53, bcl-2, and p21WAF1/CIP1 in early cervical carcinoma : Correlation with clinical outcome
- 2002
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Ingår i: International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. - Malden, USA : BMJ. - 1048-891X .- 1525-1438. ; 12:3, s. 290-298
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this study was to assess the value of p53, bcl-2, and p21WAF1/CIP1 immunoreactivity as predictors of pelvic lymph node metastases (LNM), recurrences, and death due to the disease in early stage (FIGO I-II) cervical carcinomas. FIGO stage, type of histopathology, and tumor grade were also evaluated in this series of patients treated by radical hysterectomy (Wertheim-Meigs) between 1965 and 1990. A total of 172 patients were included. A tumor was regarded as positive when more than 30% of the neoplastic cells exhibited immunoreactivity. Positive immunostaining was found in 8.9% for p53, in 43.5% for bcl-2, and in 25.0% for p21WAF1/CIP1. None of them was able to predict LNM or clinical outcome. Presence of LNM, tumor recurrence, and death from disease were significantly associated with the FIGO stage (P = 0.014, P = 0.009, and P = 0.001, respectively). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 91.6% and the overall survival rate was 90.5%. It was concluded that immunohistochemically detected p53, bcl-2, and p21WAF1/CIP1 appeared to be of no predictive value with regard to LNM, tumor recurrences, or long-term survival in early cervical carcinomas.
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| 9. |
- Graflund, Marianne, et al.
(författare)
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MIB-1, p53, bcl-2, and WAF-1 expression in pelvic lymph nodes and primary tumors in early stage cervical carcinomas : correlation with clinical outcome
- 2002
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Ingår i: International Journal of Oncology. - Athens, Greece : Spandidos Publications. - 1019-6439 .- 1791-2423. ; 20:5, s. 1041-1047
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A complete series of 40 cervical carcinomas with pelvic lymph node metastases were analysed immunohistochemically for prognostic markers. The aims of this study were to examine whether the detection of MIB-1, p53, bcl-2, and WAF-1 could be used as a prognostic marker for tumor recurrence and survival rate. During the period of observation (mean 222, range 72-360 months) 22 (55%) recurrences were encountered and 20 patients died of the disease. There were 35 squamous cell carcinomas (87.5%), 2 adenosquamous carcinomas (5.0%), and 3 pure adenocarcinomas (7.5%). One tumor (2.5%) was well differentiated, 12 tumors (30%) were moderately differentiated, and 27 tumors (67.5%) were poorly differentiated. The primary tumor grade (P=0.037) and radicality of the surgical margins (P=0.021) were significant prognostic factors with regard to tumor recurrence. The site and number of lymph nodes with metastases had no prognostic value. P53, bcl-2, and WAF-1 were not predictive factors for recurrences or the cancer-specific survival rate. The concordant expression of WAF-1 in the primary tumor and in lymph node metastases was lower than for p53 and bcl-2. The proliferative activity (MIB-1) seemed to be lower in tumor cells metastasized to the pelvic lymph nodes than in cells of the primary tumor. Expression of MIB-1 in lymph nodes was predictive of disease-free survival in both univariate and multivariate proportional hazard Cox analyses.
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| 10. |
- Graflund, M., et al.
(författare)
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Relation between HPV-DNA and expression of p53, bcl-2, p21WAF-1, MIB-1, HER-2/neu and DNA ploidy in early cervical carcinoma : correlation with clinical outcome
- 2004
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Ingår i: Oncology Reports. - Athens, Greece : Spandidos Publications. - 1021-335X .- 1791-2431. ; 12:1, s. 169-176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relation between the expression of p53, bcl-2, p21WAF1, MIB-1, HER-2/neu, DNA ploidy and HPV16 or 18 infections with clinical parameters. HPV-DNA was evaluated in 171 early cervical carcinomas treated from 1965 to 1990 and detected by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) on paraffin specimens obtained before therapy was started. HPV-DNA of any type was detected in 78% (86/110) of all tumors, HPV16 was the predominant type and was seen in 56% (62/110), HPV18 in 8% (9/110) and HPV35 in 21% (23/110). Patients with HPV16 or 18 were significantly (P=0.011) younger than patients with tumors not containing these two HPV subtypes. Lymph node metastases were seen more frequently (P=0.047) in tumors expressing HPV16 or 18. Tumor size was associated with the HPV-type. The frequency of DNA aneuploidy was lower in high-risk HPV tumors than in tumors with other HPV subtypes (P=0.014). MIB-1 expression was highly significantly (P=0.00007) associated with presence of HPV16 or 18. The cancer-specific survival rate was lower for patients with HPV16 and 18 positive tumors, but the difference was not statistically significant. The overall 5-year survival rate of the complete series was 91%. In conclusion, the HPV DNA subtype was a prognostic factor in early stage cervical cancer and it was associated with age, positive lymph nodes, tumor size, DNA ploidy and the proliferation marker MIB-1.
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