title: Detection of residual subclinical ovarian carcinoma after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to test the hypothesis that the presence of telomerase activity in peritoneal washings of patients treated for ovarian carcinoma is a sensitive and specific indicator of the presence of residual disease. We hypothesized that this test, if added to second-look procedure protocols, could help determine whether residual disease is present or not in patients who have completed their adjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritoneal washings were obtained from 100 consecutive patients undergoing a second-look procedure after treatment for ovarian carcinoma (cases) and from 100 patients undergoing surgery for benign gynecological conditions (controls). The washings were assayed for telomerase activity using the telomerase repeat amplification protocol. The results were compared to the histological and cytological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among our 100 cases, 82 (82%) had either positive second-look procedures or expressed telomerase in their peritoneal washings. Fifty-three (53%) had positive second-look procedures, whereas 66 (66%) tested positive for telomerase. Twenty-nine of the 47 patients (62%) with negative second-look procedures tested positive for telomerase. Of the 53 patients with positive second-look procedures, 37 (70%) tested positive for telomerase. None of the 100 controls (0%) expressed telomerase in their peritoneal washings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telomerase activity in peritoneal washings of patients treated for ovarian carcinoma and undergoing a second-look procedure may provide a means of increasing the sensitivity of such procedures for the detection of residual disease while maintaining a high level of specificity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Mory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nouriani
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahador
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Berek
authors.forename: Joan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Cliby
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Priore
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Bridgette D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gershenson
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lentz
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Penson
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Lynda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Mimi C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zempolich
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase