Real-World Challenges of Managing Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Developing Country.

Purpose: To highlight challenges and cancer care disparities in patients of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma management in resource-constrained settings.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 738 patients from 12 public and private sector hematology-oncology centers across Pakistan. Patients were divided into limited-resource and enhanced-resource settings as per national diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) guidelines.

Breast Cancer Management Consensus By The Society of Surgeons and Surgical Oncology Society of Pakistan.

The Society of Surgeons of Pakistan and The Society of Surgical Oncology of Pakistan with factions from various major centres comprising of surgical oncology, medical and radiation oncology collaborated to reach consensus on breast cancer management guidelines and a framework of "good practice" minimum standards of care. The aim of the task force was to enhance treatment standards, which have a direct correlation with improving patient mortality and morbidity and long-term survival whilst taking into consideration economic limitations of access to leading centers of excellence as well as minimum expertise required in health care. These multidisciplinary guidelines, whilst not exhaustive, aim to provide an algorithm of care for breast cancer patients at tertiary care centres and district level hospitals to provide most appropriate treatment.

Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Breast Cancer: Initial Experience of a Multidisciplinary Team.

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women; it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the United States with a lifetime risk of dying of about 3.4%. Regional lymph node involvement is quite early in breast carcinoma and axillary lymph node metastasis is an important predictor of recurrence and survival, particularly in invasive ductal histology of breast carcinoma.

Diagnosis and Management of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Society of Medical Oncology, Pakistan Society of Hematology, and Pakistan Society of Clinical Oncology Joint Clinical Practice Guideline.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the commonest non-Hodgkin lymphoma encountered by hematopathologists and oncologists. Management guidelines for DLBCL are developed and published by countries with high income and do not cater for practical challenges faced in resource-constrained settings. This report by a multidisciplinary panel of experts from Pakistan is on behalf of three major national cancer societies: Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan, Pakistan Society of Hematology, and Pakistan Society of Clinical Oncology.

Clinical Practice Guidelines For The Management Of Colorectal Cancer, A Consensus Statement By The Society Of Surgeons® And Surgical Oncology Society Of Pakistan®.

A joint effort by the Society of Surgeons Pakistan and Society of Surgical Oncology Pakistan, these guidelines provide a framework for the practicing surgeons involved in care and management of patients with colorectal cancer. The guidelines take into account the issues related to our local circumstances and provide a minimum standard of care that must be given to these patients. The Guideline Committee had members from all disciplines, including surgery, surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology.

THE Role of Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen in recurrence of resectable colorectal carcinoma.

In colorectal carcinoma, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a recommended marker for surveillance after curative resection. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of preoperative CEA with recurrence of colorectal carcinoma in our population. The study included 55 patients with all operable stages of colorectal adenocarcinoma treated during the 2012-2014 period, evaluated retrospectively and followed-up for recurrence for 2 years.

Acute Side Effects with High Dose Rate Computed Tomography-guided Three-dimensional Brachytherapy in Carcinoma Cervix.

Objectives: To determine the frequency and grades of acute side effects with three-dimensional brachytherapy in carcinoma cervix using RTOG/EORTC acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, Pakistan from July 2016 to September 2017.

Cancer Epidemiology in Lahore, Pakistan - 2010-2015.

Objective: To study the cancer incidence rates in Lahore, which has an estimated annual population count of 10.3 million.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Smokeless tobacco use and risk of oral cavity cancer.

Background/aim/aim: Smokeless tobacco has been associated with oral cavity cancer for several decades. The incidence of oral cavity cancer is higher in some parts of the world especially South and South-East Asia including Pakistan. The aim of current study was to evaluate the risk of oral cavity cancer among smokeless tobacco users in our country.

Sonographically guided metalic clip placement for tumour localization in early breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To determine the outcome of sonographically-guided indigenous low-cost metallic clip placement for tumour localisation in patients of early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. .

Methods: The prospective analytical study was conducted at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Lahore, Pakistan, from May 2016 to December 2017, and comprised biopsy-proven breast cancer cases.

Epidemiology and Treatment Outcomes of Sinonasal Tumors: A Single Institute's Experience in Pakistan.

Objective: To find the epidemiology and risk factors of sinonasal tumors and treatment outcomes in squamous cell carcinoma.

Study Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL), Lahore, from May 2016 to March 2017.

Disease Characteristics and Treatment Outcome of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors Treated with Platinum-Based Regimens.

Objective: To determine the disease characteristics of testicular germ cell tumor, biochemical/radiological response to chemotherapy and common toxicity profile.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, from January 2010 to December 2013.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Concurrent Chemoradiation in Inoperable Oral Carcinoma in Pakistani Population.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity in terms of local control and toxicity.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, from January 2008 to December 2013.

Genetic variants in FGFR2 and TNRC9 genes are associated with breast cancer risk in Pakistani women.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) lead to genetic differences in breast cancer (BC) susceptibility among women from different ethnicities. The present study aimed at investigating the involvement of SNPs of three genes, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), trinucleotide-repeat-containing 9 (TNRC9) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1), as risk factors for the development of BC. A case‑control study (90‑100 cases; 90‑100 controls) was performed to evaluate five genetic variants of three genes, including FGFR2 (SNPs: rs1219648, rs2981582), TNRC9 (SNPs: rs8051542, rs3803662) and MAP3K1 (SNP: rs889312) as BC risk factors in Pakistani women.

Unusual Presentation of Bone Metastasis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mimicking as Breast Lump.

A 55-year female presented with left breast lump. Her sonomammography was unremarkable. Core biopsy showed it to be metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Magnetic Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Doxorubicine Loaded Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Anticancer Drug Delivery Applications.

The current study emphasizes the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and impact of hydrophilic polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coating concentration as well as anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) loading on saturation magnetization for target drug delivery applications. Iron oxide nanoparticles particles were synthesized by a reformed version of the co-precipitation method. The coating of polyvinyl alcohol along with doxorubicin loading was carried out by the physical immobilization method.

In vivo evaluation of the biodistribution of intravenously administered naked and functionalised silver nanoparticles in rabbit.

Water-based suspension of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and dextran coated AgNPs (dextran-AgNPs) are fabricated and characterised for intravenous administration. A simple method for radiolabelling of nanoparticles with (99m)Tc was used. Labelling efficiency for AgNPs and dextran-AgNPs was found to be more than 80 and 88%, respectively.

Trends and Analysis of Cancer Incidence for Common Male and Female Cancers in the Population of Punjab Province of Pakistan during 1984 to 2014.

Background: The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Cancer Registry (PAECCR) program has made availability of a common cancer incidence database possible in Pakistan. The cancer incidence data from nuclear medicine and oncology institutes were gathered and presented.

Materials And Methods: The cancer incidence data for the last 30 years (1984-2014) are included to describe a data set of male and female patients.

Preparation of (99m)Tc-labelled methotraxate by a direct labeling technique as a potential diagnostic agent for breast cancer and preliminary clinical results.

Methotrexate (MTX) is being used in clinical oncology for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. The aim of the present study was to label directly MTX with (99m)Tc by using Sn/pyrophosphate as reducing agent and to use this labeled compound as a potential anticancer radiopharmaceutical for breast cancer imaging. We studied the labeling efficiency of the (99m)Tc-MTX compound by paper chromatography and instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) in acetone and saline and found it to be more than 95%.

Evaluation of paclitaxel and carboplatin versus combination chemotherapy with fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as a neoadjuvant therapy in patients with inoperable breast cancer.

Objective: To compare the results of patients with locally advanced breast cancer receiving two different regimens Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide (FAC) and Paclitaxel and Carboplatin.

Study Design: Comparative study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The Oncology Department, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, from March 2007 to September 2008.

Intracranial haemangiopericytoma: a very rare entity having a high malignant/metastatic potential.

Intracranial haemangiopericytomas are very rare tumours. Their radiological appearance resembles that of meningioma. Recommended treatment is total surgical excision, if possible, followed by radiotherapy.

Cervical cancer: outcome of treatment and causes of failure.

Objective: To summarize the data and look into the various treatments offered to cervical cancer patients at Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL) to highlight the most likely causes of treatment failure.

Methods: In this retrospective study, case files of all patients presenting with invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix during 1993-2002 were studied in respect to personal profile, disease related risk factors, pathological characteristics, treatment administered and outcome in the form of tumour response and survival.

Results: Early age at marriage, multiple marriages of self or spouse, multiparty, prolonged use of contraceptives and smoking were some of the risk factors for cervical cancer in this group of patients.