Journal of cancer & allied specialties最新文献

Introduction: To report response rates, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with different available chemotherapeutic regimens over 10 years.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective observational study. All patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2008 to December 2017 were studied. Data were collected from the hospital information system. The characteristics and outcomes of all the patients were analysed. PFS and OS were also estimated. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test were applied, and SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis.

Results: Eighty-seven subjects with a median age of 56 years (range 21-76) were included. Sixty-two (71%) subjects were male. The most common tumour location was the head of the pancreas in 46 (53%) of all the subjects. Sixty-three (72%) subjects had elevated carbohydrate antigen-19.9 values. About 47 (54%) subjects had locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and 40 (46%) subjects had MPC. Chemotherapy regimens used were FOLFIRINOX in 23 (26%), gemcitabine (GEM) based in 66 (65%) and capecitabine (CAP) based in 8 (9%) of the subjects. One (1%) subject had a complete response, 12 (14%) had a partial response, 10 (11%) had stable disease and 59 (68%) of the subjects had progressive disease. The objective response rate (ORR) was 15% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 26%. In MPC, the ORR was 10%, DCR was 18% and tumour progression was seen in 72% of the patients, while in LAPC, the ORR was 19.1, DCR 34% and tumour progression was documented in 64% of the patients, respectively. The FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy regimen had better ORR, DCR and lesser number of progressions as compared to GEM- and CAP-based chemotherapy regimens. The median PFS of the whole group was 32 weeks, and the median OS was 54 weeks. The PFS was significantly higher for LAPC (39 weeks) as compared to the MPC group (25 weeks) (P = 0.028). There was no statistically significant difference between the OS of these two groups (P = 0.451). In addition, PFS was significantly higher with FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy as compared to the other chemotherapy regimens. Regarding OS, there was no statistically significant difference among all chemotherapy regimen groups (P = 0.267).

Conclusion: Based on our results, FOLFIRINOX remained the most effective chemotherapy regimen despite the dose modifications and toxicities in all groups, indicating that modified FOLFIRINOX could be considered as a first-line regimen in Southeast Asian population.

Multiple myeloma is a haematologic malignancy characterised by the proliferation of plasma cells and typically presents with lesions in bone, known as plasmacytomas. Through haematogenous spread, extramedullary plasmacytomas can develop in soft tissue in any location of the body. This case report describes a patient with multiple myeloma who presented with an extramedullary plasmacytoma on his maxillary gingiva and provides an updated review on the classification and characterisation of extramedullary plasmacytomas of the oral cavity. A 53-year-old male with a known diagnosis of multiple myeloma was referred to our clinic for evaluation of a gingival nodule, which was tender to palpation and had been present for a month. Clinical examination revealed a 1.5 cm violaceous, red nodule of the maxillary buccal attached gingiva, which did not blanch on palpation. He had a similar 1 cm, smooth, red nodule of his cutaneous skin on his left arm. Radiographic examination was within normal limits without evidence of dental or bony pathology. An incisional biopsy revealed the diagnosis of plasmacytoma, indicating relapse and progression of the patient's multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma can present in the oral cavity either as intrabony plasmacytomas, paraskeletal plasmacytomas or extramedullary plasmacytomas in the soft tissue. Extramedullary disease representative of haematogenous spread is concerning for high-risk disease with a poor risk prognosis.

Introduction: Prolactinomas are the most common pituitary adenomas. Medical therapy with dopamine agonists (DAs) is the mainstay of treatment and rarely requires surgical manipulation. Patients may rarely present with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea after starting therapy with DA in case of massive or invasive prolactinomas.

Case description: We present a case of a 29-year-old lady with invasive prolactinoma who presented with CSF rhinorrhoea after a month of starting bromocriptine therapy with the development of meningitis and warranting early surgical repair.

Practical implications: Patients with macroprolactinoma should be closely monitored initially after starting on DA to avoid life-threatening complications.

Introduction: Acromegaly is caused due to the unregulated and sustained overproduction of growth hormone (GH). The majority of the cases are caused by autonomous secretion of GH from anterior pituitary tumours. Nonetheless, in <1% of the cases, the cause of autonomous secretion is secondary to ectopic GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) production. Bronchial carcinoids are the most common cause of ectopic GHRH production.

Case description: A 32-year-old female presented to the clinic with a history of cough, haemoptysis and undocumented weight loss for 4 years. Initial workup showed a large right main stem endobronchial mass. Transbronchial biopsy of the mass revealed a Grade I neuroendocrine tumour (NET). During NET workup, a large sellar mass was incidentally found on cross-sectional imaging. The hormonal profile revealed markedly elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and mildly raised prolactin. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain study revealed pituitary macroadenoma measuring 2 cm × 1.2 cm × 1.5 cm. The patient underwent bronchial carcinoid tumour resection, which led to normalisation of serum IGF-1 and GH response to an oral glucose tolerance test. Subsequent MRI brain revealed complete resolution of previously noted sellar mass.

Practical implications: This case highlights the importance of differentiating acromegaly secondary to pituitary adenoma and ectopic acromegaly. This case emphasises the importance of keeping rare entities in the differential while assessing patients with pituitary macroadenoma.

Introduction: The cancer patients are at a high risk of developing perioperative complications. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a non-invasive, perioperative risk stratification tool that predicts perioperative morbidity and mortality. Prior literature has concluded that CPET has a valuable role in predicting post-operative complications in major surgical procedures. However, the data on the effectiveness of CPET in evaluating the perioperative risk in cancer-specific populations are limited. This study assessed the usefulness of CPET in perioperative risk stratification of patients with thoracoabdominal cancer who underwent elective major thoracoabdominal surgeries.

Materials and methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on cancer patients that underwent pre-operative CPET at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from September 2017 to September 2019. All adult male and female patients with a significant medical history for cancer of the thoracoabdominal region who underwent CPET before a major thoracoabdominal surgery were included in the study.

Results: A total of 32 patients were included in the present investigation. The mean age of the sample was 62.75 ± 10.18 years, and the majority of the participants were female. Following surgery, 53% of the participants had post-operative complications in terms of morbidity and mortality. Fifteen participants had an anaerobic threshold (AT) of ≥11.0 ml/ kg/min. Among these, 12 participants had an uneventful surgery. On the contrary, among 17 participants that were considered to have a high risk (<11.0 ml/kg/min) for surgery, 14 subjects (82%) had at least one complication (including mortality). The sensitivity and specificity of CPET to anticipate complications during oncological surgery were calculated to be 82% and 80%, respectively. The mean AT of participants with uneventful surgery was calculated to be 11.83 ± 1.01 ml/kg/min. This was statistically greater than the AT of subjects that had morbidity (9.86 ± 1.20 ml/kg/min) or mortality (8.95 ± 0.35 ml/kg/min) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: CPET, when using AT alone as an indicator, can provide a good-excellent prediction of perioperative outcome among oncology patients undergoing major thoracoabdominal surgical procedures.

Introduction: Extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (ESMC) is rare, aggressive, and high grade malignant tumors originating from soft tissues. It carries a poor prognosis with a tendency for local recurrence and distant metastasis, necessitating long-term follow-up. The most common sites for metastasis are the lungs, bones, and lymph nodes. Meanwhile, pancreatic metastases are extremely rare.

Case description: A 35-year-old female presented with a history of wide local excision for the left upper limb mass; histopathology showed ESMC. She was on surveillance with a computed tomography scan of the thorax and magnetic resonance imaging of the left upper limb at 3-months intervals until she developed vertebral and pancreatic lesions after 6 months post-surgery. No pulmonary metastases were noted. Considering the unusual site for metastasis and to exclude the possibility of any second malignancy, bone biopsy, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed that confirmed metastases. Later she developed osseous metastases in the pelvis and femora.

Practical implication: Pancreatic metastasis from ESMC is extremely rare. In case of new visceral or osseous lesions in a patient with a past medical history of ESMC, the possibility of metastatic disease should be considered. A biopsy can be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Background: Long-term survivors of childhood malignancies are at increased risk of experiencing treatment-related morbidities. Survival into late adulthood in these children provides ample time for the acquisition of long-term sequelae. This study aimed to determine the late adverse effects among long-term survivors of childhood cancer from a low-income country perspective.

Materials and methods: Data were retrospectively collected from review of charts of patients aged under 18 years at the time of their primary diagnosis between 1 January, 1995, and 31 December, 2008, and who survived for at least 5 years after completion of their treatment. Analysed data included demographics, cancer type, treatment modality, types of chemotherapy agents administered and specific late morbidities including frequency of azoospermia, oligospermia, endocrine abnormalities, hearing and pulmonary function impairment and cardiac dysfunction among the long-term survivors of cancer.

Results: The total number of patients was 300 with a mean age of 18 ± 2 years. The male to female ratio was 2.7:1. Median follow-up duration was 18 years (range: 5-25 years). Seventy-seven percent of patients were from Punjab, 20% were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 3% were from other provinces. Fifty percent had a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, 17% had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 13% had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 10% had germ cell tumours and 10% had other tumours. Fifty-seven percent received chemotherapy, 23% had chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 15% had chemotherapy and surgery, 3% had chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy and 2% had only surgery. Notable long-term documented sequelae were; azoospermia/oligospermia in 64%, endocrine abnormalities in 25% with hypothyroidism in 13.5% and follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone abnormalities in 11.5%, ototoxicity in 6.5%, impaired pulmonary function tests in 4.6%, cardiotoxicity in 2.4% and second malignancies (acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome) in 1%.

Conclusion: Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of adverse treatment-related sequelae and a long-term follow-up plan should be in place in centres where they receive treatment for their primary disease.

Introduction: Head-and-neck sarcomas result in high mortality rates. A lot of new cases of sarcomas are diagnosed every year constituting about 1 % of all head-and-neck malignancies. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) are high-grade soft-tissue malignant tumours which occur primarily in limbs and retroperitoneal cavities. These tumours can often metastasize to the central nervous system. However, in rare instances, soft-tissue sarcomas may develop as a primary lesion within the intracranial compartments.

Case description: A young male presented to the clinic with occipital headache and blurring of vision. Initial workup included brain contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The CECT suggested that there was an extra-axial mass present which was pressing against the adjacent left frontal lobe. Overlying frontal bone of the left side showed remodelling effect and associated mild periosteal reaction. MRI scan showed intracranial extra-axial lobulated mass with T1 intermediate to low-signal intensity and intermediate to high signals on T2 sequences. Heterogeneous enhancement on post-contrast sequences was also seen. The lesion had a broad-based attachment with dura mater and was closely applied to the orbital roof without orbital invasion. Staging positron emission tomography-CT scan showed a solitary site of disease in an intracranial location. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology following excision of mass as UPS. Post-surgery MRI brain showed satisfactory post-operative appearance without any residual disease. The patient remained asymptomatic for 2 years and 6 months following the resection of the tumour.

Practical implications: Most of the extra-axial intracranial soft-tissue tumours arise from the meninges with meningiomas making the substantial bulk; however, possibility of other relatively rare tumours of meningeal origin must not be ignored. Intracranial soft-tissue sarcomas mostly arise from meninges thus require a good understanding of clinical presentation as well as acquaintance with morphological features on radiological imaging to differentiate from other tumours. These can be treated with excision and radiotherapy along with sequential follow-ups to look for recurrence. Tissue sampling is mandatory followed by complete staging scan in case of sarcomas to rule out possible primary or secondary disease.

Introduction: A portion of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC)- associated pain may not experience relief in symptoms with non-invasive modalities. A nerve block is a procedure in which a local anaesthetic agent is injected along the nerve track to preferentially block sensory transmission. The literature on the effectiveness of nerve blocks in the management of HNC-related pain is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nerve blocks in the management of breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal or cervical neuropathic pain disorders.

Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a nerve block or infiltration procedure in the regions of head and neck for the management of breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal or cervical neuropathic pain disorders in the Orofacial Pain Medicine Clinic, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, between November 2018 and November 2019 was completed. Information regarding demographics, diagnosis and pain characteristics was extracted and reviewed. The Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for analysis between independent and dependent variables.

Results: A total of 27 participants were included in the investigation, of which 66.7% were male. The average pre-procedure pain score was 6.85±2.54. Following intervention, 81.5% of the participants experienced >75% relief in pain for longer than 48 hours. The mean immediate post-procedure pain score was 0.26±1.02 and the average duration of relief was 6.10±6.50 weeks. The significant effect of nerve blocks was found to be statistically associated with the concurrent use of amitriptyline (P = 0.017).

Conclusion: Nerve blocks, as an adjunctive therapy to pharmacologic treatment, can provide significant relief to patients with breakthrough HNC-associated trigeminal and cervical neuropathic pain disorders. However, the duration of relief experienced by the participants is inconsistent. The beneficial effect of nerve blocks appears to be more common in patients that were concurrently using amitriptyline.