The CDKN2 gene encodes a cell cycle regulatory protein and is located on chromosome 9p21, a region deleted in a wide variety of primary tumours. While mutations in the CDKN2 gene itself are frequently observed in tumour cell lines, they are less common in primary tumours. We have investigated the role of the CDKN2 gene in ovarian cancer by analysis for allelic loss of 9p21 and single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of exons 1 and 2 of CDKN2 in 67 primary ovarian tumours. Loss of heterozygosity on 9p21 was frequently observed (24/50 informative tumours) and was common in early-stage tumours, suggesting that it is an early event in ovarian tumorigenesis. Homozygous deletion of the CDKN2 gene was detected in only 1 tumour. No somatic or germline mutations were observed in CDKN2, though a codon 140 polymorphism was detected in 2 cases. This suggests that CDKN2 is not involved in ovarian tumorigenesis and that another gene(s) may be the target of the frequent 9p allelic losses observed.

Objective To examine morbidity and survival among women treated by pelvic exenteration for gynaecological malignancy.Design Retrospective review by analysis of case records.Setting Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.Subjects Eighty-three consecutive patients referred from within the UK from 1974 to 1992 for initial treatment of advanced gynaecological malignancy or management of recurrent disease following unsuccessful initial therapy.Results Overall five year actuarial survival was 41 %, falling to 36 % at 10 years. Serious morbidity was low, and there were only three peri-operative deaths.Conclusions For patients with limited options for treatment of advanced primary or recurrent cancer, exenteration offers a reasonable prospect of survival with good quality of life.

SummarySummaryWith the introduction of large loop diathermy excision of the transformation zone in our department, we undertook a prospective study to assess the short term morbidity related to the procedure. Two thousand and eight loop diathermies were performed between 1988 and 1992 and 1696 women (84·5 per cent) returned the relevant ‘symptom’ chart at their subsequent visit. Discharge and bleeding were noted by 72 per cent of women lasting for a median duration of 12 and 7 days respectively. Discomfort or pain was noted in 41·1 per cent with a median duration of 3 days. Antibiotics were prescribed in 13·9 per cent of cases and in these women the duration of bleeding and discomfort was significantly prolonged (P < < 0·01) as was the incidence of bleeding (P< 0·01). The next menstrual period was delayed or early in 30 per cent, heavier in 39 per cent, lighter in 8 per cent and missed in 2 per cent.

Background. Thrombocytosis (a platelet count >400 X 10(9)/l) is found frequently in association with malignant disease and recently has been suggested to be a poor prognostic indicator in patients with cervical cancer. The authors decided to see if these findings could be verified.Methods. The pretreatment platelet counts of 643 women treated for cervical cancer between 1983 and 1992 were reviewed and correlated to each patient's age, stage of disease, histologic type, node status (when available), and outcome. Differences between groups were analyzed using the chi(2) test, and survival was compared using the log rank test on Kaplan-Meier life tables.Results. The 9-year survival rate for patients with thrombocytosis was 57.1%, which was significantly worse than the 76.5% for those with normal platelet counts (P < 0.01). When adjusted for stage of disease, however, thrombocytosis failed to have a significant effect on patient survival. There was also no relation between thrombocytosis and the incidence of positive lymph nodes.Conclusion. Thrombocytosis was not found to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with carcinoma of the cervix in this series of 643 patients.