فهرست مطالب
Middle East Journal of Cancer
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Apr 2010
- تاریخ انتشار: 1389/04/01
- تعداد عناوین: 8
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Page 65IntroductionThe proto-oncogene HER2 plays a key role in the control ofcellular proliferation. Its overexpression has been reported to be associated with apoor prognosis in cancer, particularly in breast cancer.Materials And MethodsIn the present study, serum HER2 levels wereinvestigated in patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. Serum HER2levels were detected by an ELISAcommercial kit in 51 patients and 33 healthyindividuals.ResultsThe mean serum HER2 level was found to be significantly higher inpatients than healthy controls (P=0.005). In 29% of patients, serum HER2 levels werehigher than the cut-off value. HER2 serum level was not associated with tumor stageat diagnosis.ConclusionElevation of HER2 in a high proportion of patients with epithelialovarian cancer further strengthens the importance of this molecule in the pathogenesisof ovarian cancer.
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Page 69IntroductionMucositis is a disturbing side effect of radiotherapy treatment forhead and neck cancer. To date, no effective modality for its prophylaxis and treatmenthas been found. We performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of oral zincsulphate in delaying the onset of oral and pharyngeal mucositis and decreasing theirseverity.Materials And MethodsA total of 58 patients who were treated for head andneck squamous cell carcinoma with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy wererandomly assigned to receive oral zinc sulphate (220 mg) or an oral placebo 3 timesa day during their radiotherapy course. Total radiation dose was 6000 cGy to 7000cGy by conventional radiotherapy. Seventy nine percent of the patients also receivedconcurrent chemotherapy. Oral and pharyngeal mucositis were scored according toan RTOG protocol.ResultsTime to onset of mucositis did not vary between the two groups.However, oral mucositis scores were less severe in the zinc group in weeks 4 to 6.The difference was statistically significant and the Pvalues for weeks 4, 5 and 6 were0.02, 0.007, and 0.012, respectively. Treatment interruptions in both groups were thesame (four cases each) and all were due to dysphagia (pharyngeal mucositis).ConclusionOur results suggest that zinc is effective in reducing the severity oforal mucositis but not pharyngeal mucositis. Treatment interruptions were morefrequently caused by pharyngeal mucositis which presented as dysphagia, rather thanoral pain that was a manifestation of oral mucositis
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Page 77IntroductionGalectin-3, a member of the family of Beta-galactoside-bindinganimal lectins, has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis.Materials And MethodsUsing an ELISAkit, we assessed the circulating levelsof galectin-3 in sera from 40 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and from43 healthy controls.ResultsSerum galectin-3 levels in OSCC patients were significantly higher(5.1±2.5 ng/ml) when compared with healthy controls (2.6±3.07 ng/ml, P<0.0005).There was no apparent correlation between serum galectin-3 concentration andclinico_pathological features such as stage, tumor size, nodal status, distant metastasisand histological grade.ConclusionThis result suggests that, in addition to other tests, measurement ofserum galectin-3 concentrations can be utilized as an adjuvant test for establishinga diagnosis of OSCC.
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Page 83BackgroundMeningiomas are common benign tumors of the central nervoussystem. Patients with meningiomas achieve postoperative optimal functional recovery,but there is a probability of tumor recurrence months or years after surgical resection.This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of recurrent meningioma and thecorrelation between tumor recurrence and certain factors.Materials And MethodsWe performed a retrospective descriptive-analytical studyof patients with meningiomas who underwent surgical treatment in hospitals affiliatedwith Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during a 20-year period (1988 to 2008).Factors including sex, age, bone changes, peritumoral edema, histological subtypes,tumor size, shape, location and resection degree, and recurrence time were evaluatedin each patient.ResultsThe recurrence rate of intracranial meningioma in a total of 644 patientsincluded in the study was 10%. Statistical analysis of data showed a correlation betweenedema, bone changes, tumor size and shape, and histological subtypes. No relationshipwas found between age, sex and tumor location. This study has shown a statisticalcorrelation between radiotherapy and a reduced probability of tumor recurrence or growthafter surgical resection.ConclusionAlthough the majority of meningiomas are benign, they can havemalignant presentations. Recurrence occurs after a shorter period of time in patientswith malignant and atypical meningiomas than in patients with benign meningiomas.Edema, bone changes, large size, special tumor shape and malignant histologicalsubtypes are important prognostic factors that predict the probability of tumorrecurrence or growth. Findings show a statistical correlation between the degree oftumor resection and its recurrence. This study recommends a more complete tumorresection along with adjuvant therapy and closer follow-up to decrease the risk oftumor recurrence.
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Page 89ObjectiveTo ascertain cancer patient's views regarding disclosure of diagnosisin the Pakistani population, anxiety levels after disclosure of the diagnosis, interestin knowing all the treatment options and desire to inform their families. Patients andMethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 147 cancer patients fromdifferent hospitals in Pakistan were asked questions to determine their opinionsregarding whether the diagnosis of cancer should be disclosed to patients and theirrelatives or not. Anxiety after diagnosis disclosure and who should disclose thisinformation were also asked. Patients were also asked about their views regardingwhether their families should be informed about the cancer diagnosis withoutpatient's prior consent.ResultsA total of 147 cancer patients completed the questionnaire. Of these, 112(76.2%) wanted to know about their cancer diagnosis while only 28 (19.0%) patientsrefused. Anxiety levels were increased in 59 (40.1%) patients, remained the same in61 (41.5%) and decreased in 27 (18.4%). One hundred and twenty three patients(83.7%), wanted to know the diagnosis from their physicians. Eighty-four (57.1%)patients were interested in all treatment options, while 102 (69.4%) patients wantedto be actively involved in decision making about their treatment. Only 37 (25.2%)patients answered affirmatively to the question which asked if their families wereinformed about the patient's disease without patient's prior knowledge, while 82(55.8%) disagreed.ConclusionThe majority of cancer patients wanted disclosure of their diseaseby their doctor. The results of this study provide important implications for Pakistanidoctors concerning the practice of diagnostic cancer disclosure to the patients.
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Page 95This report describes the case of a 56 year-old man with a history of diplopia. His brain imaging showed multiple lesions with a metastatic appearance, however all investigations to determine the primary source of malignancy were negative. The patient underwent a brain biopsy, which was positive for anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare tumor that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of secondary brain tumors.
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Page 99Herein, we report the clinical, pathologic and photographic findings of a 16 year-old girl who presented with gradual enlargement of a vascularized, hemorrhagic peripapillary mass that eventually led to vitreous hemorrhage and rubeosis iridis. Histopathological findings after enucleation were positive for retinoblastoma. The patient did not have any metastasis during her 20 months of follow up.