Vulva cancer

Team members: Tropé, Knopp, Nesland, Holm, Abeler, Wang

Molecular mechanisms in development and progression of vulvar cancers.

Vulvar carcinomas accounts for approximately 3-5% of all gynaecological cancers. The most important prognostic factors are tumor size and surgical node status. Radical surgery, which has been the standard treatment approach, is often accompanied by considerable morbidity. In an attempt to decrease the incidence of complications a change to more individualized treatment procedures has been reported. To reduce the over- as well as under-treatment of the patients, new tumor markers that could predict clinical outcome would be of considerable value to design individualized treatment procedures.The aim of the present project is to identify genes and gene products which may be involved in the development and metastasis of vulvar cancers. Furthermore, we will search for prognostic markers which may help the clinician to tailoring the treatment.The following genes and gene products will be studied:

• Cell cycle markers
• Apoptotic markers
• Metastatic markers
  
• Materials

Ongoing clinical studies

1. Sentinal node study in order to find optimal non-mutilating treatment.
2. Prognostic factors in genotypes and gene expression profiles, cell cycle proteins and apoptosis
   (Doctoral thesis work for Dr. Knopp - Molecular mechanisms and metastasis in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma patients)
3. NSGO-CC-0301: VulvaA phase II study of management of the patients with locally advanced (FIGO III & IVa or stage II unfavorably located lesion) or relapsed vulvar carcinoma.
   A non-randomized, open, multi-centre, phase II study to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy and concomitant cisplatin in patients with locally advanced or relapsed vulvar cancer.
4. Molekylære mekanismer ved utvikling og progresjon av vulvacancer