[Risk factors and clinical characteristic patients with vulvar cancer]

Vulvar cancer is very rare, accounting for about 3-5% female tract malignancies. Venereal diseases and cigarette smoking have been associated with vulvar cancer. Recently p53 gene mutation and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections have been considered etiologic factors.

The main aim of this study was the clinical analysis of patients with vulvar cancer treated in II Gynaecology Department of Medical University in Wroclaw.

We analyzed 25 women with vulvar cancer treated in our center. We focused on: choise of treatment, postoperative complications, p53 gene mutation, survival and recurrence of the disease. p53 gene mutations were detected using immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal Novocastra antibody (DO1).

The youngest patient was 49 years old and the oldest 79 (median 70), 5 patients were younger than 60 (24%). 72% patients had overweight and 24% obese. The most often histopathological type was keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. In 68% of cases vulvar cancer was detected in II, III or IVa stage according to FIGO classifications. In 24 patients we detected p53 gene mutation. 4 patients died because of cancer recurrence, 1 because of from radiotherapy complications.

Obesity coexists with vulvar cancer. p53 gene mutation can be etiologic factor in vulvar cancer development. Metastases in inguinal nodes are an important prognostic factor in vulvar cancer.