International Journal of Cancer Management
Volume:15 Issue: 2, Feb 2022

The accurate retrieval of cancer data in health information systems depends on the correct coding and classification of data. Thus, it is essential to provide continuous training for clinical coders and ensure the effectiveness of this training to achieve high-quality data.

The present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the training workshop on ICD-10 cancer coding guidelines for clinical coders.

The present study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of coding guidelines training regarding the second chapter of ICD-10 (2016 ed.). Forty-five clinical coders have participated in the study. A researcher-made questionnaire was provided for guidelines data gathering, with the scoring system of Likert (0 to 5 points) at the reaction level, and by and pre-and post-test questionnaires at the learning level. The descriptive statistics were applied on the reaction level and the paired sample t-test was performed on the reaction level data.

The results of descriptive statistics revealed that the learners had 84.4% of the average satisfaction with the training courses The paired-samples test indicated that, at the learning level, a significant difference (P = 0.000) existed between the mean pre-and post-test scores.

Based on Kirkpatrick’s model, the training program resulted in satisfaction and improved the clinical coders skills regarding cancer coding. It is recommended that health information managers hold effective training courses to enhance the coders’ knowledge and skills.

The rate of lymph node metastasis in patients with invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) could be considered a critical prognostic factor whose measurement may enhance therapeutic outcomes in these patients.

The current study aims at determining the rate of lymph node involvement in IMPC patients and comparing it with that of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS) patients.

In this case-control study, a total of 124 participated, including 61 patients with IMPC and 63 patients with IDC-NOS. The rate of lymph node metastasis and its possible connection with the patient's age, tumor size, grade and focality, lymphovascular invasion, and proportion of micropapillary component were determined in patients with IMPC and compared to that of IDC-NOS patients.

Lymph node involvement was detected in 80.3% of patients with IMPC, which is significantly higher compared to patients with IDC-NOS. No significant correlation was found between lymph node metastasis and the patients’ age, tumor size, and focality in both IMPC and IDC-NOS groups. Furthermore, no significant relationship was observed between lymph node metastasis and tumor grade in IMPC, while metastasis to lymph nodes was directly correlated with higher tumor grades of NOS type. Moreover, in both types of cancer, lymph node metastasis was significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion. In patients with IMPC, no statistically significant relevance was observed between lymph node metastasis and the percentage of micropapillary components.

According to the results of this study, patients with IMPC had a significantly higher rate of lymph node involvement compared to IDC-NOS. Hence, the rate of lymph node involvement could be used as a prognostic factor in these patients.

Changes in the course of diseases, their treatment, and care provision result in the need for a specific type of care known as palliative care. Medical staff’s knowledge and awareness of palliative care is important in this regard.

This study aims to examine the caregivers’ knowledge and awareness of palliative care and to determine the related predictors.

In this cross-sectional study, 277 subjects were selected from among the caregivers working in the selected teaching hospitals in Iran through non-randomized sampling method. The subjects were asked to fill the online questionnaire which consisted of 3 sections including demographic data, knowledge, and attitude toward palliative care. Descriptive, inferential statistics, correlation and regression analyses were performed.

The mean scores of care providers’ attitude and knowledge were 140.90 ± 11.56 and 19.36 ± 2.73 respectively. There was a significant relationships between some variables such as working place, education level, age, palliative care-related working experience, and the necessity to pass training courses and the mean scores of attitude and knowledge.

Since palliative care providers’ level of knowledge and attitude were reported to be moderate, training courses at different levels in the form of clinical courses should be offered with the aim of improving care providers’ skills and scientific abilities. It is essential to include the related topics in the curricula of academic programs.

The combination of sonodynamic and photodynamic therapy (SPDT) may be a new hopeful non-invasive method for cancer treatment, which incorporates a combination of low-intensity ultrasound, laser radiation, and a sensitizer agent.

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of hematoporphyrin (HP)-mediated SPDT (dual-frequency ultrasound and laser radiation) in the management of mice breast adenocarcinoma.

One hundred and thirty-two female mice with implanted tumors were divided into 22 groups, including sham, laser, 4 groups of dual-frequency ultrasound/laser radiation, 8 groups of HP-mediated SPDT (2.5 and 5 mg/kg), and 8 groups of HP encapsulated in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HP-MSNs)-mediated SPDT. The sensitizer was administered by intraperitoneal injection and after a 24-hour delay, tumor grafted mice were treated with a combination of dual-frequency ultrasound and laser light. The tumor growth factors were used to assess the treatment outcome.

The results indicated that HP or HP-MSNs-mediated SPDT had a delaying tumor growth effect. In the groups treated with dual-frequency ultrasound and laser radiation, the maximum tumor growth inhibition (TGI) ratio was 47.5%, while the maximum TGI ratio in the SPDT groups was 61.6%. The time of T2 and T5 in the case of HP-MSNs-mediated SPDT groups was increased compared with sham and that of HP-mediated SPDT groups (P < 0.05). The inhibition ratio on tumor growth increased in all SPDT groups at 12 days after the treatment. Analysis of experimental data demonstrates that this increase was not declined and persisted over 30 days of treatment. The results indicated that SPDT is effective in relative tumor volume when compared with the sham group (339.1 ± 161 and 1510.8 ± 160, respectively). HP or HP-MSNs-mediated SPDT groups had Grade I (low), while others had Grade III (high) malignancy in the histological study of mice breast adenocarcinoma.

The results revealed that when sensitized by dual-frequency SPDT, hematoporphyrin (with and without MSNs), has a promising effect at delaying tumor growth on mice breast cancer. Therefore, it can be appreciated that careful selection of the sensitizer with SPDT will play an eminent role in the success of cancer therapies.

It is increasingly evident that interactions between leukemic cells and their niches can have profound effects on clinical outcomes and have been contributed to the failure in treatment and drug shortage in the eradication of minimal residual disease, at least in part, through moving the cells from proliferative state to quiescent state.

We, therefore, investigated the effects of different bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on the induction of quiescence and tested the advantage of pan-HDAC inhibitor panobinostat in the induction of apoptosis and targeting the quiescence cells of APL-derived (NB4) and CML-derived (K562) cell lines.

We firstly evaluated the effect of BMSCs including mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), osteoblast, and macrophage on the induction of NB4 and K562 cells quiescence in co-culture models. Next, the alterations in mRNA expression of quiescence-related genes and leukemia-driver oncogenes were evaluated in different models. Finally, the anti-leukemic effects of panobinostat were evaluated, using MTT assay and evaluation of apoptosis and G0 population.

Upon 10 days of co-culture with stromal cells, we found that leukemic cells significantly accumulated in the G0 phase. The co-cultured cells also depictured an overall overexpression of most quiescence promoter genes. The oncogenes were underexpressed in the majority of co-cultured models. The results also showed that although panobinostat could induce apoptosis in co-cultured cells, its effect on the reduction of the G0 population was more striking.

These data propose that leukemia cells' quiescence state induced by stromal cells is reversible by HDAC inhibition and panobinostat could be a potentiate drug for eradication of treatment-resistance quiescence leukemic cells.

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a rare tumor with mesodermal origin. There are more than 100 different types of histology in sarcoma, which present different clinical behaviors. Liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma are among the most common pathologies

The patient was a 46-year-old man with 2 masses. The pathology of chest-wall mass (250 × 187 mm) was compatible with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). Arm mass (42 × 29 mm) pathology was suggestive of low-grade epithelioid leiomyosarcoma with smooth muscle differentiation. He received two cycles of mesna and doxorubicin and ifosfamide (MAI) regimen chemotherapy due to large and multiple masses, but the tumor size did not change. After consultation with an orthopedic oncosurgeon, wide masses resection was done. Adjuvant chemotherapy with an MAI regimen was continued for a total of 6 courses and radiation with a 60 Gy total dose to the posterior aspect of the chest wall. No recurrence or complications was observed after 4 months of follow-up.

Multiple STS is rare; nevertheless, its probability, either synchronous or metachronous, should be considered during patient examine and follow-up. In the case of a secondary lesion, different histology is probable, and the patient should be biopsied and imaged.