Navigating the Cancer Journey: Experiences and Perspectives of Young Adult Patients in Tunisia.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of young adult cancer patients within the Tunisian context. A total of 104 patients between the ages of 20 and 40, undergoing treatment for various types and stages of cancer, participated in a questionnaire-based survey. The survey encompassed topics related to the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of cancer, coping mechanisms, relationships, sexuality, and future aspirations.

Uncovering the clinical relevance of unclassified variants in DNA repair genes: a focus on negative Tunisian cancer families.

Recent advances in sequencing technologies have significantly increased our capability to acquire large amounts of genetic data. However, the clinical relevance of the generated data continues to be challenging particularly with the identification of Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUSs) whose pathogenicity remains unclear. In the current report, we aim to evaluate the clinical relevance and the pathogenicity of VUSs in DNA repair genes among Tunisian breast cancer families.

Docetaxel monotherapy induces necrotic acute pancreatitis.

Introduction: Drug-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) is uncommon and represents 0.1 to 2% of all AP cases. Chemotherapy-induced AP is very rare.

Identification of Eleven Novel Mutations in Tunisia: Impact on the Clinical Management of Related Cancers.

Background: Breast cancer is the world's most common cancer among women. It is becoming an increasingly urgent problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where a large fraction of women is diagnosed with advanced-stage disease and have no access to treatment or basic palliative care. About 5-10% of all breast cancers can be attributed to hereditary genetic components and up to 25% of familial cases are due to mutations in /2 genes.

Identification of Double Heterozygous Breast Cancer Cases Using Whole Exome Sequencing: Phenotypic Expression and Impact on Personalized Oncology.

and are the most commonly mutated breast cancer susceptibility genes that convey a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Most or mutation carriers have inherited a single heterozygous mutation. In recent years, very rare cases with biallelic or trans double heterozygous mutations on and or have been identified and seem to be associated with distinctive phenotypes.

Amenorrhea and elevated βhuman chorionic gonadotropin of unknown origin: An unexpected location of choriocarcinoma.

Choriocarcinoma is a rare malignancy originating from trophoblastic cells that is known to arise from the placenta. In this report, we describe the case of a 28-year-old female who consulted for amenorrhea and elevated βhCG mimicking a pregnancy of an unknown location, which ultimately turned out to be primary choriocarcinoma of the lung.

Reproductive Risk Factors of Inflammatory Breast Cancer according to Luminal, HER2-Overexpressing, and Triple-Negative Subtypes: A Case Comparison Study.

Objective: We evaluated the risk factors of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) compared to non-IBC and according to histological subtype.

Methods: Cases of IBC (n = 160) and controls of non-IBC (n = 580) were collected from the cohort of breast cancer patients treated in two oncology centers matched based on age at cohort entry. Data about breast cancer risk factors were collected.

Ongoing formative assessment in the training of post graduate students.

Introduction: There is growing evidence that formative assessment is valuable tool in enhancing learning. Integrating formative assessment into post graduate students can be challenging.

Aim: Authors aimed in this study to describe an ongoing formative assessment activity in post graduates.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer: A Tunisian single-center experience.

Introduction: We aimed to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and to identify their side effects, when used in cancer patients. We also assessed the communication of the patients and families with the oncologist about this issue.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 120 adult patients treated for cancer in our medical oncology department between January and April 2019, using an anonymous questionnaire to assess complementary and alternative medicine use.

Family specific genetic predisposition to breast cancer: results from Tunisian whole exome sequenced breast cancer cases.

Background: A family history of breast cancer has long been thought to indicate the presence of inherited genetic events that predispose to this disease. In North Africa, many specific epidemio-genetic characteristics have been observed in breast cancer families when compared to Western populations. Despite these specificities, the majority of breast cancer genetics studies performed in North Africa remain restricted to the investigation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Tumor location impact in stage II and III colon cancer: epidemiological and outcome evaluation.

Background: We aimed to describe clinico-pathological characteristics and differences between right-sided (RCC) and left-sided colon cancer (LCC) in Tunisian population. We also analyzed outcome to determine whether location is of prognostic significance.

Methods: Clinico-pathological characteristics and Kaplan Meier survival were compared between two groups of LCC [150] and RCC [53] patients with stage II and III adenocarcinoma treated with curative intent between 2003-2014.

Brain metastases epidemiology in a Tunisian population: trends and outcome.

Aim: We reported anatomo-clinical features of brain metastases (BMs) collected in a Tunisian medical oncology department.

Patients & Methods: We retrospectively identified all cases of BM within a cohort of 7055 patients, treated for a histologically confirmed nonhematological cancer between 2000 and 2016. Data about age, sex and primary tumor were collected.

Targeted Therapies in HER2-Overexpressing Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is amplified in 25-30% of breast cancers and is associated with aggressive disease and poorer survival. Multiple anti-HER2 targeted therapies have dramatically changed management and outcome of this subgroup, both in adjuvant and metastatic settings. Despite the improvement of survival thanks to trastuzumab, unclear mechanisms of resistance occur, which has led to the development of new anti-HER2 therapies such as lapatinib, pertuzumab, and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1).

[Primary small intestinal lymphoma: epidemiological, histological and therapeutic transition in Tunisia].

Introduction: Primary small intestinal lymphoma (PSIL) is the second Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the digestive tract (after gastric NHL).

Purpose: To evaluate during the past 28 years the epidemiological, anatomoclinical and therapeutic changes of PSIL in Tunisia through an acquired experience of more than a quarter of a century.

Methods: Our retrospective study included patients with histologically confirmed small intestinal lymphoma from 1981 to 2008 in Tunisia at Salah Azaiz Institute.