International Journal of Cancer Management
Volume:13 Issue: 10, Oct 2020

 Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women. In line with the survival improvement of patients with cancer, the issue of treatment-induced toxicities becomes more important.

 This study aimed at evaluating acute radiation-induced cardiac damage.

 Between 2016 and 2019, women with histologically-confirmed early-stage left-sided breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) without prior chemotherapy, who were candidates for adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy, entered the study. The radiation-induced cardiotoxicity was assessed, using a rise in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hscTnI) over the radiotherapy. Likewise, the association between the percentage of heart receiving at least 25Gy (V25Gy) and the rise in hscTnI was evaluated as the secondary endpoint.

 A total of 22 women were included in this study. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) hscTnI for the whole study population was 12 ± 2 ng/L before and 15 ± 2 ng/L after radiotherapy. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) V25Gy was 8.05% (6.95% - 8.95%). The difference between hscTnI levels before and after radiotherapy was significant (P = 0.001). There was no correlation between V25Gy and the rise in hscTnI (P = 0.18).

 hscTnI is a sensitive marker to detect early radiation-induced cardiotoxicity. There is no association between V25Gy and the rise in hscTnI over radiotherapy.

 Children who have cancer suffer from a wide range of symptoms and side-effects of disease and treatment, and such conditions have harmful effects on the quality of life of a child and family. So, the families of such children turn to complementary and alternative medicine treatments for children with cancer.

 Therefore, this study aimed at determining the mothers’ attitudes toward the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer.

 This cross-sectional research was conducted from January 2018 to January 2019 in the oncology section of Yazd Shahid Sadooghi Hospital in a nonrandom and convenience sampling method on 150 mothers of children with cancer. The instruments of data collection include demographic information questionnaires and a 6-part questionnaire to evaluate mothers’ performance. To investigate the face and content validity of the questionnaire, the opinions of 10 experts were considered, and to investigate the reliability of the questionnaire, the test-retest method was used, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was reportedly 0.80. After completing the questionnaires, the collected data were analyzed, using SPSS 23 by utilizing descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation (SD), frequency, and percent.

 Overall, 83.34% of mothers mentioned praying as a way of complementary and alternative medicine, 67.34% used complementary and alternative medicine to increase child recovery chance, 74% reported general child recovery, 20% reported the occurrence of side-effects following the use of complementary and alternative medicine, 67.33% introduced their friends as their information source, 33.6% avoided informing the physician regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine, and 76% maintained that due to the objection of physicians, they avoided informing him/her.

 The use of complementary and alternative medicine is common among mothers but due to the occurrence of side-effects, using invalid information sources and hiding it from a physician, the oncologists must provide a suitable opportunity for asking and answering to guide mothers for correct performance in the use of complementary and alternative medicine.
 

 The impact of socioeconomic status on cancer survival has already been proven. Early diagnosis of cancer is one of the main reason of this improved survival among high socioeconomic status (SES) people. High SES people are more likely to take part in cancer screening programs for several reason and it seems that diagnosis of cancer is earlier among these people. Despite growing evidence on inequal in cancer survival, diagnosis, and treatment over the past decades there is a lack of evidence on volume and direction of socioeconomic inequality regarding early diagnosis of cancer in Iran.

 To assess socioeconomic inequality in colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis time in Qazvin city, Iran during 2014 - 2016.

 A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) at the Vellayat hospital of the Qazvin city. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach was used to combine household assets as a proxy of SES. Cancer staging information was extracted from the patient's medical records and then a pathology specialist performed cancer staging. Descriptive statistics and a multiple logistic regression model were used to illustrate an association between CRC late diagnosis and socioeconomic status adjusted for age, sex, and residence of the area. We applied the standardized Concentration Index as a measure of socioeconomic inequality in CRC late diagnosis.

 The overall percentage of late CRC diagnosis was 40.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 33.8, 47.5), which was slightly higher among women (47.1%, 95% CI 36.8, 57.6) than men (35.4%, 95% CI, 27.0, 44.7). Logistic regression results spotted an association between SES and the late diagnosis of CRC. In Iranian women, CRC tended to be diagnosed at more advanced stages among the third (Odds Ratio (OR) = 7.68), forth (Low) (OR = 17.86) and fifth (Lowest) (OR = 25.60) SES quintiles, while in men it was only significant for the fifth quintiles (OR = 4.17). Furthermore, the concentration index implied that late CRC diagnosis is concentrated among deprived subgroups in Qazvin city, and it was statistically significant (Overall concentration index = -0.33, 95% CI -0.38, -0.28). It was estimated at -0.35 and -0.29 in Iranian women and men, respectively.

 According to this survey, CRC tends to be diagnosed at more advanced stages among low socioeconomic status groups, and the observed discrimination is more severe in Iranian women.
 

 A correlation is suggested between oral lichen planus (OLP) and the human papillomavirus (HPV) with possible malignant transformation potential in OLP.

 The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of HPV-16 and HPV-18 as the most recognized oncogenic subtypes and relatively recently introduced subtype HPV33 in OLP samples.

 This retrospective study was carried out on 32 OLP samples (consisting of 12 reticular and 20 erosive forms) and 20 healthy oral mucosa samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was undertaken to identify HPV Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Subsequently, the samples positive for HPV DNA underwent PCR analysis again with the specific primers. The data were analyzed statistically by Fisher’s exact test regarding the significance level of lower than 0.05.

 Eight out of 32 OLP samples (25%) and none of the 20 normal mucosa samples (0%) exhibited HPV DNA. The presence of HPV in the OLP group was significantly higher than that in the normal mucosa (P = 0.014). Also, all the samples that exhibited HPV DNA were registered as the erosive form. Besides, one sample (3.12%) exhibited the 873-bp band, which was attributed to HPV-18, and 7 samples (21.87%) exhibited the 300-bp band, which was attributed to HPV-33.

 Based on the recent findings in the current study of the Iranian population, the presence of high-risk HPV subtypes, whether primarily or as a secondary infection, can suggest the malignant transformation potential for the studied OLP samples. The exclusive presence of these subtypes in the erosive type of this lesion and the noticeable presence of HPV-33 might reflect this issue’s importance. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the possibility of a higher proliferation rate of HPV in erosive lichen planus and identify its possible malignant transformation mechanism.

 Among non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common.

 We endeavored to assess the recurrence rate of BCC after surgery and compare tumors recurrence based on different aspects.

 This was a retrospective and observational study which was analyzed medical records of 154 patients who had Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) from March 2013 to February 2017 in two clinical centers. For finding if the clinical characteristics of the patients have related to tumoral recurrence, we gathered them, including gender and age of the patient, tumor size, site, and its histological type plus the existence of ulcer in malignancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 statistical software. Statistical difference between proportions was determined by χ2 analysis.

 The majority of patients (74%) were female (57%) older than 60 years old. Most tumors, based on the histopathological diagnosis, were Infiltrating (43.5%) and nodular and infiltrating (40.3%), respectively. The mean tumor size was 1.81 cm and most of them (74%) were larger than 1 cm. The tumor site was mostly in the nasal (56.5%) followed by the cheek (11%). Most patients (96.8%) had one lesion. The recurrence rate was 1.9%. The mean interval between surgeries to recurrence was 13 months. There was no significant difference between recurrence rate and age, sex, tumor type in terms of clinical diagnosis, tumor location, tumor size, number of lesions, and type of tumor (P < 0.05).

 the rate of recurrence of BCC in patients treated with MMS is low (1.9%). We recommend the utilization of the MMS technique for the treatment of BCC.

One of the most common gastrointestinal surgeries is cholecystectomy. Gallstones are the major causes of cholecystectomy and induce various histopathologic changes. Gallbladder carcinoma is rare with poor prognosis. Metaplasic changes in gallbladder epithelium are considered precancerous lesions.

This study aimed at revealing the spectrum of histopathological patterns of gallbladder diseases in cholecystectomy specimens.

A total of 1004 gallbladder H & E stained slides of cholecystectomy specimens over one year were studied. Histopathological evaluation was done by 6 pathologists in terms of variables.

In our study, the male: female ratio was 1:2.1. The age of patients varied from 17 to 96 years with a mean age of 49.1 years. The mean age of patients with gallstones was 47.52 years and was more common in women. Cholesterol, pigmented, and mixed stones were reported in 58.36%, 39.03%, and 2.6% of gallstones, respectively. The most common histological morphology was chronic calculous cholecystitis (61.18%). The incidence of metaplasia and invasive carcinoma was 19.55% and 0.2%, respectively.

In this study, histopathological analysis of gallbladder diseases in the cholecystectomy specimens revealed that chronic calculous cholecystitis was the most common histologic finding. Gallstones were found more commonly in women and cholesterol stone was the predominant type. Pyloric metaplasia was the most frequent type of metaplasia. The rate of invasive carcinoma is compatible with those reported in the literature. Routine histopathological analysis of the cholecystectomy specimens will help to detect incidental carcinoma and precursors of malignancy.

 Zoledronic acid (ZA) is widely used in the management of cancer-related bone events. It, however, might be associated with serious adverse effects.

 To evaluate ZA adverse effects and changes in biochemical parameters related to ZA toxicities among patients with cancer.

 Ninety-eight oncology patients, who were prescribed ZA intravenous (IV) infusion, were interviewed to assess whether they experienced ZA related symptoms, including acute events and serious adverse effects. ZA’s effects on the serum levels of different biochemical parameters were retrospectively assessed by checking patients’ electronic medical records.

 The most commonly reported adverse effects were: myalgia (48%), bone pain (36.7%), influenza-like symptoms (34.7%), headache (31.6%), and pyrexia (22.45%) with decreasing frequency of such adverse effects upon repeated infusions. Serious side effects including jaw osteonecrosis, cardiac, and renal problems were not reported. A small, but statistically significant reduction in serum calcium, creatinine, and total protein levels was observed upon comparing levels before and after the first IV infusion of ZA (P ≤ 0.031). No significant change was recorded with other serum electrolytes including phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium as well as urea levels (P ≥ 0.271). No significant difference was determined in terms of final serum levels of all parameters in comparison to pre-treatment (P ≥ 0.059), except for potassium, where a significant reduction was observed (P = 0.003). Notably, the mean values of all parameters were within the normal range.

 ZA acute events resolved with symptomatic treatment and reduced with repeated IV infusions. ZA appears as a safe treatment modality for skeletal-related events among patients with cancer and the reported adverse effects should not affect patients’ compliance.

 Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Colorectal cancer most commonly metastasizes to the liver and lung. Metastasis to the breast from extramammary tumors are uncommon and metastatic colon carcinoma (MCC) to the breast is extremely rare.

 We reported a 43-year-old woman with breast metastasis with colon origin. The patient presented with breast mass with mucinous adenocarcinoma.

 Metastasis to the breast from the colonic origin is possible. However, its occurrence is rare when mucinous adenocarcinoma of the breast mass is reported, and GI origin must be considered.