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Challenges and Prospects for Providing Radiotherapy Services in Nepal
Saloni Chawla,
Subhash Thakur
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
17-20
Received:
14 March 2022
Accepted:
30 March 2022
Published:
9 April 2022
Abstract: In Nepal, the incidence of cancer in both males and females increased drastically in the last decade and is predicted to increase as well in the near future. The increase in Cancer burden could be a serious concern due to an underdeveloped national cancer control program. Around 50–60% of cancer patients require radiotherapy at some point during their illness which establishes it as an integral component of comprehensive cancer care. The current status of radiation facilities in the country is so scarce that it will be impossible to address the issue with available resources. It is high time for the authority to formulate a national cancer control program including the development of radiotherapy equipment and human resources. This article discusses the number of radiotherapy facilities, available equipment, and trained manpower in Nepal. Whether the available facilities are as per standard recommendation and will those be enough to handle the increasing load of cancer patients requiring radiotherapy in the future has been emphasized. Along with those challenges, the opportunities for developing radiotherapy facilities in Low Middle-Income countries like Nepal have been stressed out.
Abstract: In Nepal, the incidence of cancer in both males and females increased drastically in the last decade and is predicted to increase as well in the near future. The increase in Cancer burden could be a serious concern due to an underdeveloped national cancer control program. Around 50–60% of cancer patients require radiotherapy at some point during th...
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Evaluating the Clinical Value of PVT1 Associated Genes in Predicting Prognosis and Guiding Treatment of Gastric Cancer Patients
Peizhun Du,
Cheng’en Hu,
Pengcheng Liu,
Xuan Wang,
Nikita Patel,
Yi Liu,
Guangjian Huang
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
21-28
Received:
11 March 2022
Accepted:
6 April 2022
Published:
28 April 2022
Abstract: Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently occurring malignant tumors in the world with poor prognosis in digestive tract. LncRNA PVT1 is a potential oncogene, which is crucial for the occurrence and development of GC. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of PVT1 associated genes in GC. Methods: PVT1 associated gene (PAG) expression was evaluated on cBioPortal. The gene expression data of PAGs and its corresponding clinical characteristics were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the prognostic value of PAG in GC. Risk score model was built by lasso COX regression analysis and its prognostic efficacy was evaluated by the Receiver-operator Characteristic (ROC) curve. Cox regression analyses were conducted to investigate risk factors related to GC patient prognosis. Results: There were 10 postively and 5 negatively associated genes that showed a significant difference between normal and GC tissue. Based on the 8 gene signature, the GC patients could be classified into high- or low-risk subgroups with different OS (P<0.001). Cox regression analyses indicated that the PAG risk model score was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Further analysis showed that adding chemotherapy drugs can not prolong the survival of high-risk GC patients. For low-risk patients, chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy is recommended. Even if distant metastasis has occurred, low-risk patients are worthy of active treatment, because their prognosis is often better. Conclusion: PAGs are potential biomarkers to predict the prognosis of GC patients and may assist oncologists to formulate individualized treatment plans for this patient population.
Abstract: Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently occurring malignant tumors in the world with poor prognosis in digestive tract. LncRNA PVT1 is a potential oncogene, which is crucial for the occurrence and development of GC. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of PVT1 associated genes in GC. Methods: PVT1 a...
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COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Cancer Patients: A Single Center Experience
Assia Bensalem,
Abdellaziz Ammari,
Chouaib Hellal,
Sihem Bensalem,
Kamel Bouzid,
Nour El Houda Kellab,
Houda Meguellati,
Amina Boudraa,
Asma Seghiri,
Ouided Messalbi,
Meryem Barani,
Nour El Houda Sloula,
Samia Kouartel,
Asma Bououdina,
Amira Sadou,
Tarek Bendjeddou,
Hiba Rais,
Nour El Islam Mecheri,
Nadjet Lachter,
Meryem Boudjerda
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
29-34
Received:
7 January 2022
Accepted:
25 April 2022
Published:
10 May 2022
Abstract: Introduction: During the COVID pandemic and in front of the anguish of patients with cancer in a totally gloomy atmosphere, in front of their worries and the confusion of some patients but also of some colleagues not specialists in oncology, the medical oncology department of the Hospital Establishment DIDOUCHE Mourad, Constantine, launched a vaccination campaign for eligible patients, during the vaccination campaign initiated by the Ministry of Health. Materials and Methods: Faced with the risk of contracting the severe form of COVID-19 in patients with cancer, immunocompromised by the disease, by the treatments received or to be received but also living in an environment not spared by the COVID-19 infection, the team of the medical oncology department thought of this type of patients and developed a well-established vaccination protocol for patients with cancer. This vaccination protocol respected all barrier measures while taking certain precautions to eliminate patients who would be carriers of an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection or whose symptoms would be like oncology emergencies. Results: Without any obligation and after informed and approved consent by the patient, the vaccination lasted five days and saw significant patient adherence. Out of 379 patients who came to the department during these five days, 201 patients agreed to be vaccinated, representing a percentage of 53.03% and only 180 patients (47.49%) were vaccinated (due to lack of sufficient quantity of vaccines at our level during these five days and the high adherence of patients)), against 8.97% of refusal (34 patients). The remaining patients (37.9%) had either absolute or non-absolute contraindications to vaccination or had contracted a recent COVID infection; delaying the vaccination to 3 months. Only one side effect (0.55%) was noted; that of hypoglycemia in a patient who presented on an empty stomach to the ward All these patients (100%) agreed to be vaccinated in the oncology department and refused to join the vaccination site opened within the establishment because of a relationship of trust - security established between patients-attending physicians Conclusion: Medical work department and preventive epidemiology services should continue to vaccinate health personnel and the population; eligible respectively but the category of eligible patients (which is no longer an eligible person but an eligible patient); and especially patients with chronic diseases should be cared for in treatment’s centers according to patients' choices.
Abstract: Introduction: During the COVID pandemic and in front of the anguish of patients with cancer in a totally gloomy atmosphere, in front of their worries and the confusion of some patients but also of some colleagues not specialists in oncology, the medical oncology department of the Hospital Establishment DIDOUCHE Mourad, Constantine, launched a vacci...
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Anti-EGFR–Based Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Data from the National Oncology Institute of Panama
Kayra Sánchez-Muñoz,
José Pinto-Llerena
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
35-40
Received:
31 March 2022
Accepted:
25 April 2022
Published:
12 May 2022
Abstract: Treatments directed against EGFR, such as anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab) and anti-EGFR cetuximab or panitumumab, improve clinical outcomes in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival when combined with first-line chemotherapy treatments for metastatic colon cancer. Aims. To determine the epidemiological, clinical, and survival-related variables associated with the treatment of KRAS wild-type metastatic colon cancer with anti-EGFR agents in our institution. Patients & methods. We performed a retrospective review of the electronic files of patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colon cancer treated with cetuximab between 2014 and 2019. Results. 169 patients diagnosed with metastatic Colorectal Cancer RAS WT receiving anti-EGFR treatment. The median age was 65 years, with 54% male. 91% with ECOG 0 – 1. KRAS test was performed to 100% of patients. 70% had a tumor on the left side of the colon. Objective response was 4.8%. The median PFS was 3 months and median OS was 5 months. Only the use of combined schemes such as FOLFIRI with cetuximab and exposure to cetuximab in some lines of treatment were shown to be significant prognostic factors for PFS, compared with those who did not receive it. Rash G1-2 was the most common adverse event. Conclusions. the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of our patients are like the world literature, however, the PFS and OS reached are lower than expected as well as adverse events registered. Most of the patients received anti-EGFR treatment in second line. These results allowed us to propose anti-EGFR treatment in colorectal cancer from the front line at the National Oncology Institute.
Abstract: Treatments directed against EGFR, such as anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab) and anti-EGFR cetuximab or panitumumab, improve clinical outcomes in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival when combined with first-line chemotherapy treatments for metastatic colon cancer. Aims. To determine the epidemiological, clinical, and surv...
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Effect of Predictive Nursing Intervention on the Gastrointestinal Side Effects of I-131 Re-treatment in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC)
Miaoli Zhou,
Yanlan Liu,
Qingran Lin,
Jinmei Xiong,
Bin Guo,
Hao Xu
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
41-44
Received:
4 May 2022
Accepted:
23 May 2022
Published:
16 June 2022
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of predictive nursing intervention on the gastrointestinal side effects of I-131 re-treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: From January 2017 to August 2018, we invited patient with DTC who received I-131 re-treatment to enroll in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to control or predictive nursing intervention groups using a random number table. The primary outcomes were the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and degree of patient satisfaction with respect to nursing. Patients in the intervention group received predictive nursing intervention, and patients in the control group received common nursing intervention. Result: A total of 69 patients were enrolled in the study. In patient characteristic, the gender, age and disease status were no significantly different for the participants in two groups. In addition, intervention group participants had less gastrointestinal side effect events, including nausea, vomiting and anorexia (10 vs 3, 8 vs 1, 12 vs 2). In nursing satisfaction assessment, intervention group participants provided better outcome in nursing satisfaction assessment compared with control group, that they provided most very satisfied assessment to predictive nursing intervention. Conclusion: Predictive nursing helped decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and improved patient satisfaction with nursing. Predictive nursing may be effective in DTC patients receiving I-131 re-treatment.
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of predictive nursing intervention on the gastrointestinal side effects of I-131 re-treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: From January 2017 to August 2018, we invited patient with DTC who received I-131 re-treatment to enroll in this study. The participant...
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Frequency and Risk Factors of Association of Breast Cancer and Diabetes Type 2 in Constantine, the Eastern City of Algeria
Sihem Bensalem,
Assia Bensalem,
Abdellaziz Ammari,
Zaim Younsi,
Aicha Djemaa
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
46-52
Received:
13 May 2022
Accepted:
13 June 2022
Published:
27 June 2022
Abstract: Background: Breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); two worrying public health problems of our century and frequently in our country, have many risk factors in common as well as pathophysiological links. The main objective of the present study is to estimate the frequency of the T2DM-breast cancer association in women in the city of Constantine, while looking for risk factors for breast cancer in this population. Patients and methods: A prospective multicenter descriptive study was conducted from January 1, 2019 until December 31, 2020, in women with T2DM associated with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The patients had answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical and laboratory examination. Results: 901 women with breast cancer were seen during the study period, 152 of whom were type 2 diabetics (17%). Their average age was 64 ± 10 years. The age of discovery of T2DM and breast cancer were 53 ± 9.75 years and 62 ± 10 years, respectively. As for the mean duration of diabetes, it was 11 ± 8 years. Insulin was taken over an average of nine years with a calculated average dose of 93 u/d. For the cancer stage, the majority were in stages IIIA (41.5%) and IIIB (32.3%). The common risk factors for T2DM and breast cancer found were sedentary lifestyle (78% of patients), overweight or obesity (81.5%), abdominal obesity (86.5%), low HDLc (70%), hypertriglyceridemia (72.5%). Diabetic imbalance was found in 61.4% of patients. In addition, overweight and obesity were correlated with cancer severity (OR: 1.237; p = 0,0001) as well as abdominal obesity (OR: 1.162; p = 0,0001). Conclusion: The noted frequency of the association of type 2 diabetes and breast cancer requires a targeted cancer screening strategy as well as joint management of risk factors, the only guarantee of a better prognosis for this cancer.
Abstract: Background: Breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); two worrying public health problems of our century and frequently in our country, have many risk factors in common as well as pathophysiological links. The main objective of the present study is to estimate the frequency of the T2DM-breast cancer association in women in the city of Cons...
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