Akhil Kapoor

617PDA PHASE III TRIAL COMPARING FOLFIRINOX VERSUS GEMCITABINE FOR METASTATIC PANCREATIC CANCER

compared with 7.4 months in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio for death, 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41 to 0.68; P < 0.001). Median progression-free survival was 5.6 months in the FOLFIRINOX group and 3.1 months in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio for disease progression, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.49; P < 0.001). The objective response rate was 29.6% in the FOLFIRINOX group versus 8.3% in the gemcitabine group (P < 0.001). More adverse events were noted in the FOLFIRINOX group; 4.8% of patients in this group had febrile neutropenia. At 6 months, 29% of the patients in the FOLFIRINOX group had a definitive degradation of the quality of life versus 59% in the gemcitabine group (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.68; P < 0.001). Conclusions: As compared with gemcitabine, FOLFIRINOX was associated with a survival benefit at the cost of increased toxicity. Thus, FOLFIRINOX is an option for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer having good performance status.

Five year retrospective survival analysis of triple negative breast cancer in North-West India

BACKGROUND In our institute, about 10% of total cancer is female breast cancer. This analysis was performed to check triple negativity among these patients with their survival strength up to 5 years in relation to different age groups, stage and chemotherapy protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS 208 immunohistochemistry proved triple negative breast cancer patients registered and treated until 2008 were retrospectively selected for the study. Overall survival up to 5 years was observed on the basis of stage, different age groups and chemotherapy regimens. All patients had undergone surgery, conventional external beam radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The majority of patients (41%) were in the age group 21-30 years. Stage IV was seen in 18% of the patients at diagnosis and mainly in 21-40 years age group. Only 3% of females were >70 years age and were of Stage I and II. Overall 5 year survival in Stage I in Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin/Epirubicin, 5-Flurouracil group was 37.5% as compared with Docetaxel/Paclitaxel, Epirubicin group 93% (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Triple negativity in North-West India is about 11.8%. We observed it in younger patients mainly with highly aggressive behaviors. Taxane based chemotherapy gives better result as compared with anthracycline based regimens in all stages.

EGFR mutation in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: does it carry the same connotation as in adenocarcinomas?

Background EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have greatly improved the outcomes of EGFR mutation-positive adenocarcinomas of the lung. In contrast, the significance of EGFR mutation in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung has been debated. Methods All patients with metastatic SCC who underwent EGFR mutation testing at our center from 2010 to 2015 were included for analysis. EGFR kinase domain mutations were tested using Taqman-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Response assessment was done using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. Kaplan–Meier method was used for calculating progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results EGFR mutation was detected in 29 out of 639 patients with SCC. Furthermore, 19 out of the 29 patients received TKIs at some point during their treatment. TKI therapy led to a partial response in 5 out of 19 patients and stable disease in 4 out of 19 patients. The median PFS of patients treated with TKIs was 5.0 months. The median OS of the whole EGFR-positive SCC cohort was 6.6 months. On univariate analysis, patients having received TKI therapy was the only factor associated with a significantly better OS of 13.48 months versus 2.58 months (P=0.000). On multivariate analysis, patients receiving TKI therapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–Performance Scale (ECOG-PS) score <2, EGFR exon 19 mutation and nonsmoking status were associated with significantly better OS. Conclusion EGFR mutation in SCC of the lung predicts a better outcome if the patient is given TKI, but it may be inferior to the outcomes seen in EGFR-positive adenocarcinomas treated with TKI.

Cancer related fatigue: A ubiquitous problem yet so under reported, under recognized and under treated

Background: Cancer related fatigue (CRF) is a problem that is highly under reported, under recognized and thus, under treated. About 80% of patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy experience CRF, making it the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy fatigue (FACIT-F) version-4 is a 13 item questionnaire that has been used to measure the level of fatigue of cancer patients during their daily activities over the past 7 days. Materials and Methods: 92 patients of age 18 years and above attending the oncology Out Patient Department (OPD) of a regional cancer center were recruited in this study and were given FACIT-F questionnaire. The relevant sociodemographic parameters were obtained from the medical records of the patients. The internal consistency of the 13 items was measured using the Cronbach′s alpha. Results: The Cronbach alpha coefficient for FACIT-F scale in our study was found to be 0.74. Kendall′s coefficient of concordance was estimated to be 0.080. The correlation between Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and mean score of FACIT-F was studied, Pearson correlation coefficient was estimated to be 0.271 (P = 0.009). Conclusions: FACIT-F is a brief, simple, easy to administer and patient friendly tool to measure the fatigue in last 7 days. CRF should be given adequate attention from the beginning of the treatment to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

Scattered radiation to gonads: role of testicular shielding for para-aortic and homolateral illiac nodal radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND Scattered radiation to organs at risk deserves great attention during radiotherapy especially when the concern is about fertility. Minimizing the delivery of scattered radiation to the gonads while treating abdominal nodes or pelvic fields in male patients requires adequate shielding of the testes to preserve testicular functions. We constructed a testicular shield with cerrobend for the purpose of treatment of seminoma of testis stage I and IIA disease. MATERIALS & METHODS An outer shell of coconut of required dimensions was taken as a base over which cerrobend was poured to obtain two semi-spherical half testicular shields. Five patients of seminoma early stage (stage I and IIA) were treated with this testicular shield. RESULTS The estimated total dose received by the testis by scatter radiation after completion of the treatment was 0.115Gy (0.28%) of total mid-plane dose of 40Gy delivered by inverted Y field. At a distance of 8cm from the inferior field border the 2cm thick cerrobend testicular shield provided a shielding factor of 3.2/0.3=10.33. CONCLUSIONS With proper testicular shielding, doses as low as 0.28% of the prescribed dose can be achieved. This low dose is believed to maintain the fertility of the patient.

Comparative analysis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in head and neck cancer and carcinoma cervix during concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Background: Cisplatin is widely used as radio sensitizer in head and neck cancer (HNC) and carcinoma cervix (CaCx). This study aims to see comparative nephrotoxicity of cisplatin in HNC and in CaCx without obstructive uropathy treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients of HNC and 50 patients of CaCx stage II/III without obstructive uropathy were included in this study. Cisplatin 50 mg intravenous weekly was given before EBRT with adequate hydration and premedication in both groups. Before chemotherapy; blood urea, serum creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured. GFR was measured using 99mTc diethylene triamine pentacaetic acid (DTPA) renogram study. Results: At the end of 4th week, blood urea level 41-45 mg% was in 40 and 4% in HNC and CaCx, respectively (P = 0.018). At the end of 3rd and 4th week, blood urea level >45 mg% was 10 and 6% in HNC cases, respectively. At the end of 4th week, serum creatinine level 1.1-1.5 mg% was 50 and 8% in HNC and CaCx, respectively (P = 0.047). Serum creatinine level >1.5 mg% was 6, 8, and 22% in HNC at the end of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week, respectively. GFR <80 ml/min at the end of 4th week was 14% in HNC and only 2% in CaCx. GFR <100ml/min was significant at the end of 4th week (P = 0.04). Univariate analysis showed significant relation between reduced oral fluid intake and reduced GFR (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In HNC, during concurrent chemoradiation, as the 3rd-4th week is reached, oral mucosal reactions increase and affect oral intake which further add to the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In CaCx without obstructive uropathy, renal function impairment is less severe as oral intake of water and liquid is not much impaired.

Allele Frequency of ABO Blood Group Antigen and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer

Background. ABO blood group and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus have been reported by many studies, but there is no discipline that had provided association with the genotype and gene frequency by population statics. Methods. We conducted a case-control study on 480 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and 480 noncancer patients. ABO blood group was determined by presence of antigen with the help of monoclonal antibody. Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by statistical methods, and gene frequencies were calculated by Hardy-Weinberg model. Results. We observed significant associations between ABO genotype and squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus. OR (95% CIs) was 1.69 (1.31–2.19) for presence of B antigen allele relative to its absence (P < 0.0001); in female subgroup OR (95% CIs) observed at 1.84 (1.27–2.65) was statistically significant (P = 0.001). SCC of esophagus shows significant difference in comparison to general population; blood group B is found to be higher in incidence (P = 0.0001). Increased risk of cancer was observed with absence of Rh antigen (P = 0.0001). Relatively increased gene frequency of q[B] allele is observed more significantly in female cancer patients (P = 0.003). Conclusion. Statistically significant association between squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and ABO and Rh genotype is identified by this study. Sex and anatomical site of cancer also present with statistically significant relative association. However, larger randomised trials are required to establish the hypothesis.

Isolated clival metastasis as the cause of abducens nerve palsy in a patient of breast carcinoma: A rare case report

Metastatic lesions to the clivus have been reported in various cancers including lung cancer, prostate carcinoma, skin melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. There have been only a few reports of breast cancer presenting with isolated clival metastasis. We report a case of 35-year-old lady, who was known case of breast carcinoma presented with diplopia as the only sign of clival metastasis. The etiology was established by magnetic resonance imaging which showed an enhancing lesion in the clivus. The diagnosis of clival metastasis from breast cancer was confirmed by transsphenoidal biopsy.

A case of CD68 negative histiocytic sarcoma of axilla masquerading as metastatic breast cancer.

Histiocytic sarcoma is a malignant proliferation of cells showing morphological and immunophenotypic features of mature tissue histiocytes. Most of the cases in the literature have reported CD68 positivity. We report a case of histiocytic sarcoma whose presentation mimicked a metastatic breast cancer. A 40-year-female patient presented with a 13 × 11 cm left axillary mass in close proximity to the left breast. Tru-cut biopsy from the lesion suggested the diagnosis of a lymphoid neoplasm. Complete excision of the axillary mass was done. On simple microscopy, numerous mature small lymphocytes were seen dispersed in the follicles. Immunohistochemistry revealed CD31- and CD163-positive cells, which stained negative for CD68, CD1a, cytokeratin and S100; thus, confirming the diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma.

Management of uveal tract melanoma: A comprehensive review.

Uveal tract melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, accounting for about 5-10% of all the melanomas. Since there are no lymphatic vessels in the eye, uveal melanoma can only spread hematogenously leading to liver metastasis. A wide variety of treatment modalities are available for its management, leading to dilemma in selecting the appropriate therapy. This article reviews the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available and thus, can help to individualize the treatment plan for each patient.