Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the uterine cervix without prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure is rare, and its etiology is unclear. We present a case of cervical CCC presenting as a submucosal tumor, which strongly suggests an association between cervical endometriosis and cervical CCC. A 56-year-old postmenopausal Japanese woman visited a gynecologic clinic with a complaint of watery vaginal discharge. A few atypical cells suggesting adenocarcinoma were detected in a cervical cytologic specimen. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic lesion with a solid component at the uterine cervix. Under a tentative diagnosis of cervical cancer, surgery was performed. Although a freshly resected specimen initially showed no tumorous lesion in the cervical mucosa, cutting of the mucosa revealed a solid tumor with a final diagnosis of CCC. The findings of aggregation of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and ectopic endometrium adjacent to the tumor strongly suggest that this tumor arose from cervical endometriosis.

Background: Uterine cervical cancer is the fourth most common female cancer in the world. In Japan, we have an apparently low rate of joining cervical cancer screening programs compared with Western countries. Furthermore, the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer among the younger generation has been increasing. Object: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and cytology in Japan. Methods: Collaborating with Saga City government, we initiated a cervical cancer screening system consisting of HPV testing and baseline cervical cytology from April 2011 as a social experiment. A total of 17,284 participants have been screened with this new combination system. Results: After HPV testing with cytology-based cervical cancer screening, the number of screenings done in women aged under 40 years has significantly increased. In addition, the number of women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 has increased (25 of 14,025 vs. 146 of 23,049 under 50 years: p < 0.001). Conclusion: These data suggested that the introduction of HPV testing with cytology-based cervical cancer screening as an adjunct to conventional cytology resulted in better efficiency and more accurate screening among the Japanese population.

The 2010 WHO Global Burden of Disease Study estimated that 120 million couples experience infertility worldwide. 1 In 2011, approximately 2 million assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles were performed, resulting in an estimated 500 000 newborns according to the latest report of the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART). The cumulative live birth rate per ART cycle increased from 25.2% in 2006

Aim: To identify potential biomarkers for tumor progression and patient outcomes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: We examined the expressions of CK7 and CK17 as potential markers of the squamo-columnar junction, and podoplanin as a basal cell marker using surgical and biopsy samples of patients in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 30), operable invasive carcinoma (OP group, n = 53) and inoperable invasive carcinoma before radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (RC group, n = 76). Results: The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in invasive carcinoma were significantly lower than those in grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.001, P < 0.0001). The positive rates of CK7 and podoplanin in the RC group were significantly lower than those in the OP group (P < 0.0001, P = 0.04), while CK17 expression showed significantly higher positivity in the RC group than in the OP group (P < 0.0001). Negative CK7 expression showed a potential impact on overall survival in early-stage patients. In the RC group, the prevalence of cases with post-therapeutic residual carcinoma cells was higher in the CK7-negative group than in the positive group (P = 0.003). We found that decreased expression of CK7 could be a prognostic factor in early-stage cervical cancer patients. Conclusion: This result may provide strategies and suggestions for new treatment options and follow-up practices in managing patients with cervical cancer.

Chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery was effective for patients with bulky squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Further investigation to select suitable patients for this multimodal treatment will be required.