Anas Gamal

Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Low Survival of Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy in Kenya.

Background In contrast to the developed nations, invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is the most common womens malignancy in Kenya and many other locations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, studies on survival from this disease in this area of the world are severely restricted by lack of patient follow-up. We now report a prospective cohort study of ICC in Kenyan women analysing factors affecting tumour response and overall survival in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods and Findings Between 2008 and 2010, 355 patients with histologically confirmed ICC were recruited at the Departments of Gynaecology and Radiotherapy at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Structured questionnaires were completed recording socio-demographics, tumour response and overall survival following treatment with combinations of external beam radiation (EBRT), brachytherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 355 patients, 42% (146) were lost to follow-up while 18% (64) died during the two year period. 80.5% of patients presented with advanced stage IIB disease or above, with only 6.7% of patients receiving optimal combined EBRT, brachytherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Kaplan Meier survival curves projected two year survival at <20%. Conclusion Cervical cancer is preventable yet poverty, poor education, lack of cancer awareness coupled with an absence of regular screening programs, late patient presentation, sub-optimal diagnosis and treatments are major factors contributing to the alarmingly low survival rate of cervical cancer patients in Kenya. It is concluded that simple cost-effective changes in clinical practice could be introduced which would have a marked impact on patient survival in this setting.

The effect of luteal phase support protocol on cycle outcome and luteal phase hormone profile in long agonist protocol intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of luteal phase support protocol on cycle outcome and luteal phase hormone profile, in long agonist protocol intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. DESIGN Prospective randomized trial. SETTING Private infertility center. PATIENT(S) Two hundred seventy-four women undergoing first ICSI cycles were randomized after ovum pickup into three groups of luteal support. INTERVENTION(S) Group I received IM P (P(4)) only, group II received P(4) + oral E(2) valerate, group III received P(4) + hCG. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Pregnancy rate (PR), implantation rate, rates of multiple pregnancy and miscarriage, and midluteal serum E(2) and P(4), and midluteal E(2):P(4) ratio. RESULT(S) The PR and implantation rates were significantly higher in group II compared to group I and the miscarriage rate was significantly lower in group II compared with group I. Midluteal E(2) was significantly higher in group II compared with group I. The decline in E(2) after ovum pickup was lowest in group II, highest in group I. The midluteal E(2):P(4) ratio was significantly higher in group II compared with groups I and III. CONCLUSION(S) The E(2) luteal phase supplementation in long GnRH-agonist (GnRH-a) protocol ICSI cycles resulted in better cycle outcome and better luteal phase hormone profile.

Adjuvant Pelvic Radiotherapy vs. Sequential Chemoradiotherapy for High-Risk Stage I-II Endometrial Carcinoma

Objective To explore if the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin to radiotherapy confers an advantage for overall survival (OAS), and progression free survival (PFS); to assess the incidence of relapses over standard pelvic radiotherapy; and to evaluate the related toxicity in high-risk stage I-II endometrial carcinoma Methods Medical records were reviewed to identify high-risk stage I-II endometrial carcinoma cases treated in the Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine department between 2002 and 2008 with adjuvant radiotherapy alone (arm I) (57 patients) or with sequential carboplatin (AUC5-6) and paclitaxel (135−175 mg/m2) with radiotherapy (arm II) (51 patients). Radiotherapy was performed through the four-field box technique at doses of 45−50 Gy (1.8 Gy/day × 5 days/week). Results The toxicity was manageable and predominantly hematologic with a grade 3 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 9.8% and 6% of the patients in arm I and arm II, respectively, without febrile neutropenia. All patients experienced hair loss. Chemoradiotherapy arm was associated with a lower incidence rate of relapse (9.8% vs. 22.7%). After a median follow-up period of 48 months, the 5-year OAS and PFS rates for chemoradiotherapy-treated patients were significantly more favorable than those who did not receive chemotherapy (P=0.02 and 0.03, respectively). In arm I, the OAS and PFS rates were 73.7% and 66.7% compared with those in arm II, whose rates were 90.2% and 84.3%. Conclusions Adjuvant chemoradiation with paclitaxel and carboplatin improved the survival rates and decreased the recurrence rates in patients with high-risk stage I-II endometrial carcinoma. Chemotherapy was associated with an acceptable rate of toxicity. However, a prospective study with a larger number of patients is needed to define a standard adjuvant treatment for high-risk stage I-II endometrial carcinoma.

The Impact of Obesity on Performing Lymphadenectomy and Its Outcome in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Background: This study discusses the effect of obesity on the number of lymph nodes harvested during systematic LND and the LND-related complications in ovarian cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled women with ovarian cancer who were consecutively subjected to open surgical resection that included systematic LND (pelvic and para-aortic) in the Oncology Center in Mansoura University (OCMU) during the period between January 2012 and June 2017. Patients were categorized according to the recommendations of World Health Organization by their BMI as non-obese (BMI 30.0 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Results: Seventy-seven women with ovarian cancer were enrolled in the study according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. 43 females (55.8%) were grouped as obese and 34 (44.2%) as non-obese. Lymph nodes retrieved in total and in different stations separately (pelvic and para-aortic) were all similar among patients in both groups. LND-related intraoperative complications were observed in 8 patients (18.6%) in the obese group and 3 patients in the non-obese group (8.8%) (P = 0.347). Hospital stay was the same in the two groups with a median of 4 days (IQR 3 - 5). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (30.2%) in the obese group and only in one patient (3%) in the non-obese group (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Obese ovarian cancer patients may safely undergo comprehensive staging involving extensive lymph node dissection in open surgeries without significant increase in the rates of intraoperative complications. Whereas, postoperative complications (wound infection and thromboembolic events) tend to occur at higher rates with obese patients. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered and approved at faculty of Medicine Mansoura University, Egypt with IRB approval number R.18.02.46.