Proteomic profiling of cancer of the gingivo-buccal complex: Identification of new differentially expressed markers.

Tobacco-related oral cancer is the most common cancer among Indian males, gingivo-buccal complex (GBC) being the most affected subsite due to the habit of chewing tobacco. Proteins from the lysates of microdissected normal and transformed epithelium from clinically well-characterized tissue samples of the GBC were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to identify differentially expressed proteins. Eleven protein spots showed differential expression, which could withstand the stringency of statistical evaluation.

Prospective assessment of patterns of failure after high-precision definitive (chemo)radiation in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To prospectively analyze patterns of failure in patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive high-precision radiotherapy with a focus on location of failure relative to target volume coverage.

Methods And Materials: Sixty patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy were included. Locoregional failure volume was defined on the planning data set at relapse, and dose received was analyzed by use of dose-volume histograms.

Diagnostic performance of response assessment FDG-PET/CT in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with high-precision definitive (chemo)radiation.

Purpose: To prospectively assess diagnostic performance of response assessment fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in patients with HNSCC treated with high-precision definitive (chemo)radiation.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients treated on a prospective clinical trial having post-treatment response assessment FDG-PET/CT scans were included. Clinico-pathologic findings and follow-up information was considered as reference standard.

Radical radiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin in loco-regionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a single-institution experience.

Background: The dominant pattern of failure for squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck remains loco-regional, although distant metastases are now being increasingly documented. Radical radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy is contemporary standard of care in the non-surgical management of these loco-regionally advanced cancers, based on large randomized controlled trials utilizing high-dose cisplatin (80-100 mg/m2) cycled every three-weekly during definitive radiotherapy. Although efficacious, this is associated with high acute morbidity necessitating intensive supportive care with attendant resource implications.

Do all patients of breast carcinoma need 3-dimensional CT-based planning? A dosimetric study comparing different breast sizes.

Evaluation of dose distribution in a single plane (i.e., 2-dimensional [2D] planning) is simple and less resource-intensive than CT-based 3-dimensional radiotherapy (3DCRT) planning or intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Prognostic factors in oropharyngeal cancer--analysis of 627 cases receiving definitive radiotherapy.

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to analyze the results of conventional radical radiotherapy in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer and to identify pre-treatment and treatment-related prognostic factors for outcome.

Material And Methods: The records of 627 patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radical radiotherapy with conventional techniques were analyzed.

Results: The median age was 56 years.

HPV screening for cervical cancer in rural India.

Background: In October 1999, we began to measure the effect of a single round of screening by testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), cytologic testing, or visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) on the incidence of cervical cancer and the associated rates of death in the Osmanabad district in India.

Methods: In this cluster-randomized trial, 52 clusters of villages, with a total of 131,746 healthy women between the ages of 30 and 59 years, were randomly assigned to four groups of 13 clusters each. The groups were randomly assigned to undergo screening by HPV testing (34,126 women), cytologic testing (32,058), or VIA (34,074) or to receive standard care (31,488, control group).

Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy for carcinomas of the oro-pharynx, hypo-pharynx and larynx: a treatment planning comparison with fixed field IMRT.

Purpose: A planning study was performed to evaluate the performance of volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy on head and neck cancer patients. Conventional fixed field IMRT was used as a benchmark.

Methods And Materials: CT datasets of 29 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oro-pharynx, hypo-pharynx and larynx were included.

Prevalence of tobacco use and tobacco-dependent cancers in males in the Rural Cancer Registry population at Barshi, India.

Background: In the Rural Cancer Registry at Barshi (western Maharashtra, India), it has been found that the incidence of cancer is relatively low.

Aim: To explain the low incidence of tobacco related cancers in males on the basis of prevalence of their tobacco habits.

Setting And Design: Simple random sample of villages from Barshi Rural Cancer Registry.

Ifosfamide-based chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer: evaluation of its role as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The use of Ifosfamide-based chemotherapy in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), in neoadjuvant settings [NACT] has not been sufficiently evaluated. We present here a retrospective analysis of 78 patients of untreated, locoregionally advanced NPC patients who received Ifosfamide-Cisplatin-based NACT at our institute from 1997 to 2004. Definitive treatment comprised radical radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using weekly Cisplatin.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx: single-institution outcome analysis of a large cohort of patients treated with primary non-surgical approaches.

Introduction: Hypopharyngeal cancers have extensive submucosal spread, high risk of nodal involvement and relatively high propensity of distant metastases. Contemporary paradigms for hypopharyngeal cancers aim to maximize loco-regional control while attempting to preserve laryngo-pharyngeal form and function.

Aims: To retrospectively review outcome of large cohort of patients with hypopharyngeal cancers treated with curative intent radiotherapy with or without systemic chemotherapy in an academic tertiary referral centre.

Factors affecting the quality of voice in the early glottic cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Aims: To prospectively analyze the objective voice quality before and after radiotherapy (RT) for early glottic cancer and to evaluate the role of different factors that may affect it.

Methods: Patients with T1-T2N0M0 glottic cancer underwent voice quality assessment before treatment and after radical RT. Post-RT voice quality was compared to the voice at diagnosis and the voice of healthy individuals used as controls.

A treatment planning study comparing volumetric arc modulation with RapidArc and fixed field IMRT for cervix uteri radiotherapy.

Purpose: A treatment planning study was performed to evaluate the performance of the novel volumetric modulated single arc radiotherapy on cervix uteri cancer patients. Conventional fixed field IMRT was used as benchmark.

Methods And Materials: CT datasets of eight patients were included in the study.

Estimation of survival rates of breast cancer patients--a hospital-based study from Mumbai.

Purpose: To estimate the survival rates of breast cancer patients with reference to various factors like age, literacy status, residential status, T-stage and treatment. This is because there are very few studies reported from Indian subcontinent.

Methods: Survival rates were obtained by using the actuarial method and loss-adjusted survival rate method (LAR) for the above factors and the rates were compared.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children: comparison of conventional and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in reducing the acute toxicities associated with conventional RT (CRT) in children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: A total of 36 children with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated at the Tata Memorial Hospital between June 2003 and December 2006, were included in this study. Of the 36 patients, 28 were boys and 8 were girls, with a median age of 14 years; 4 (11%) had Stage II and 10 (28%) Stage III disease at presentation.

Estimation of risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis in adolescents with nasopharyngeal cancer treated using sliding window IMRT.

Purpose: To estimate the risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis based on whole-body dose measurement on adolescent patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods And Materials: Ten adolescent patients with nasopharyngeal cancer were planed and treated to a dose of 70.2 Gy using sliding window IMRT.

Assessment of three-dimensional set-up errors in conventional head and neck radiotherapy using electronic portal imaging device.

Background: Set-up errors are an inherent part of radiation treatment process. Coverage of target volume is a direct function of set-up margins, which should be optimized to prevent inadvertent irradiation of adjacent normal tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) set-up errors and propose optimum margins for target volume coverage in head and neck radiotherapy.

Prognostic factors in node negative premenopausal women treated with breast conserving therapy without adjuvant systemic therapy.

Purpose: To study the prognostic factors in node negative premenopausal women treated with breast conserving therapy (BCT) without any adjuvant systemic therapy.

Methods: Of the 1022 women treated with BCT at Tata Memorial Hospital, there was a cohort of 175 women who were premenopausal, node negative and had not received any adjuvant systemic therapy. BCT consisted of wide excision, complete axillary clearance, whole breast radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions) with 6 MV photons plus tumour bed boost either with brachytherapy or electrons.

Age related macular degeneration: a study of patients managed with radiotherapy.

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the west. Radiotherapy affects the evolution of exudative macular degeneration directly by its effect on the endothelium and inflammation modulation. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the improvement in visual acuity and healing of sub retinal neovascular membrane (SRNV) following fractionated radiotherapy.

Vanishing bone disease involving the pelvis.

Vanishing bone disease is a rare condition characterized by progressive osteolysis of the bony structures by vascular tissue and their replacement by fibrous, vascular connective tissue. A 38-year-old lady who had a previous history of angioma of the left iliac bone presented with vague symptoms of a limping gait and pain during walking since 2 years duration. The radiologic findings were suggestive of degenerative changes.

Monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of uterine cervix.

Background: Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer are often severely distressed with incessant vaginal bleeding, offensive discharge and pelvic pain and are in some instances are beyond curative potential. At our institution we routinely use monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy for these patients.

Methods And Material: One hundred patients treated between 2000 & 2004 were included in this analysis.

Radiation therapy planning of a breast cancer patient with in situ pacemaker--challenges and lessons.

A postmenopausal lady with an in situ pacemaker developed a lump in the left breast and was diagnosed to have breast cancer. The patient underwent breast conservative surgery and was planned for post operative radiotherapy. The location of the tumor relative to the pacemaker provided a unique challenge in planning radiotherapy and the patient had an uneventful post radiotherapy course.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the tonsil: is a higher radiotherapy dose required?

Background: The purpose was to evaluate the prognostic factors and treatment outcome of Indian patients with primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the tonsil treated at a single institution.

Methods: In all, 121 patients with DLBCL of the tonsil, treated at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, from January 1990 to December 2002, were included. The median age was 45 years and the majority of patients (68%) were males.