The Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Heavily Pretreated HER2+ and HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Trastuzumab Deruxtecan at a Single Centre.

Background: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (TDXd) is an antibody-drug conjugate that has demonstrated impressive activity in randomized controlled clinical trials in the context of patients with HER2-amplified and HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. We aimed to review the activity and adverse event profile of TDXd in heavily pretreated breast cancer patients in real practice.

Methods: We describe a single-center retrospective case series of metastatic breast cancer patients who were treated with TDXd.

A phase 2, single-arm trial evaluating 131 I-PSMA-1095 targeted radioligand therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains uniformly lethal. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in prostate cancer. 131 I-PSMA-1095 (also known as 131 I-MIP-1095) is a PSMA-targeted radioligand which selectively delivers therapeutic radiation to cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.

Clinical variables associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor outcomes in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are indicated for metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC), but predictive and prognostic factors are lacking. We investigated clinical variables associated with ICI outcomes.

Methods: We performed a multicentre retrospective cohort study of 135 patients who received ICI for mUC, 2016-2021, at three Canadian centres.

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.

Association between epidemiological and clinico-pathological features of breast cancer with prognosis, family history, Ki-67 proliferation index and survival in Tunisian breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer has different epidemio-clinical characteristics in Middle East and North-African populations compared to those reported in the Western countries. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological and clinico-pathological features of breast cancer in Tunisia and to determine prognostic factors with special interest to family history, Ki-67 proliferation index and comorbidity. We retrospectively reviewed epidemiological and clinico-pathological data from patients' medical records, treated in the Medical Oncology Department at Abderrahmane Mami Hospital, in the period 2011-2015.

Translation and Validation of the Comprehensive Score of Financial Toxicity for Cancer Patients Into Arabic.

We aimed to translate the Comprehensive Score of Financial Toxicity (COST) questionnaire into Arabic and to evaluate its reliability and validity. We applied the four-step translation method and conducted a pilot validation study over 179 medical oncology patients. Reliability was tested using the Cronbach alpha coefficient and test-retest stability.

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.

National approaches to managing cancer care: responses of countries in the MENA region to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents serious challenges to cancer care because of the associated risks from the infection itself and the disruption of care delivery. Therefore, many professional societies have published recommendations to help manage patients with cancer during the current pandemic. The objective of our study is to assess the national responses of Middle East North Africa (MENA) countries in terms of publishing relevant guidelines and analyse various components of these guidelines.

Germline copy number variations in BRCA1/2 negative families: Role in the molecular etiology of hereditary breast cancer in Tunisia.

Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of all breast cancer cases. So far, known genetic risk factors account for only 50% of the breast cancer genetic component and almost a quarter of hereditary cases are carriers of pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/2 genes. Hence, the genetic basis for a significant fraction of familial cases remains unsolved.

Assessing the financial toxicity in Tunisian cancer patients using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST).

Background: Cancer care-related out-of-pocket expenses and financial toxicity (FT) are a rising burden for patients. We aimed to evaluate patient-reported FT and to identify relevant correlates within a Tunisian population.

Methods: We conducted a survey using the 11-item Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) that could range from 0 = high to 44 = low.

Identification of Novel and Mutations Associated With Breast Cancer Predisposition in Tunisian Patients.

Background: Deleterious mutations on genes are known to confer high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The identification of these mutations not only helped in selecting high risk individuals that need appropriate prevention approaches but also led to the development of the PARP-inhibitors targeted therapy. This study aims to assess the prevalence of the most frequent mutation in Tunisia, c.

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.

Correction to: Aromatase inhibitor-induced carpal tunnel syndrome: prevalence in daily practice.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The given name and family name were swapped.

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.

First site of recurrence after breast cancer adjuvant treatment in the era of multimodality therapy: which imaging for which patient during follow-up?

Purpose: We evaluated the relation between first site of recurrence of early breast cancer and disease profile at presentation and reported survival results, suggesting a personalized diagnostic imaging guidance during follow up.

Methods: Among 1400 early breast cancer treated from 2000 to 2010, 324 relapses were divided into 4 groups according to first site: A-locoregional, B-bone, C-Brain and D-visceral. We analyzed redictive factors of each group compared to a control group of 100 non relapsing patients and the remaining groups matched.

Aggressive primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a case report and literature review.

A new case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is reported to have occurred to a 67-year-old patient who consulted for right-sided chest pain. The work-up showed multiple right pulmonary lesions associated with bilateral moderate pleural effusion and left-sided pleural thickening and three hypodense nodules in the right lobe of the liver, peritoneal thickening, ascites, and multiple vertebral lytic lesions. The diagnosis of an epithelioid hemangioendothelioma was concluded through a histological examination of a computed tomography scan guided biopsy of the liver.

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).

Aromatase inhibitor-induced carpal tunnel syndrome: prevalence in daily practice.

Introduction: We aim to evaluate prevalence and characteristics of CTS in routine daily practice over a 5-year period, with a review of the literature.

Methods: Patients treated with endocrine therapy (441) were retrospectively analyzed looking for CTS cases in aromatase inhibitors (219, 49.6%) and in tamoxifen (222, 50.