Comparison of paclitaxel-cetuximab chemotherapy versus metronomic chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate and celecoxib as palliative chemotherapy in head and neck cancers.

Background: The present match pair analysis was planned to compare the efficacy of cetuximab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy versus metronomic therapy.

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients with metastatic/recurrent head and neck squamous cell cancer treated with weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) and cetuximab were matched with sixty patients treated with oral metronomic chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate and celecoxib. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between the cohorts were compared using log-rank test.

Overall treatment duration with multimodality treatment approach and outcome results in oral cavity carcinoma: A study from an institute from central India.

Objective Of The Study: To see the different age groups, gender, sites, disease stage, treatment outcome of various oral cavity sites carcinoma by combined modalities and the overall treatment duration.

Materials And Methods: A total of 212 oral cavity carcinoma patients (169 males and 43 females) with complete records (from September 2009 to December 2012) were analyzed for age, sex, histopathology, associated medical illnesses, various subsites with disease stage, various treatment modalities with the duration and follow-up records for disease control as well as disease failure at local, nodal, local + nodal, and distant metastasis.

Results: The most common site in oral cavity cancer was buccal mucosa 81 (38.

What is it really? Anti-G or Anti-D plus Anti-C: Clinical Significance in Antenatal Mothers.

G antigen of Rh blood group system is present either along with D and/or C positive red cells. Hence, [serologically anti-G presents with the similar picture as that of multiple antibodies (anti-D + anti-C). Differentiating them is important as anti-D + anti-C causes severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn than anti-G.

Clinico-pathological Study of Limb Salvage Surgery for Osteosarcoma: Experience in a Rural Cancer Center.

Although recent multimodality therapeutic protocols have led to improved survival in osteosarcoma (OS), the outcome still remains dismal. Ongoing international multicentric trials on OS aim to randomize patients for optimum management, based on histological response to NACT. The pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the most important factor predicting prognosis.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in exclusive smokers, chewers, and those with no habits.

Background: Tobacco consumption is the major risk factor for developing head and neck squamous cell cancer (SCC). The site of development of HNSCC may depend on the way the tobacco is consumed. While laryngeal cancers are more common among smokers, oral cancers are more common among tobacco chewers.

A tertiary care experience with paclitaxel and cetuximab as palliative chemotherapy in platinum sensitive and nonsensitive in head and neck cancers.

Background: The combination of paclitaxel and cetuximab (PaCe) has led to an encouraging response rate in Phase 2 setting with limited toxicity. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of this regimen in our setting in platinum sensitive and nonsensitive patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer patients treated with weekly PaCe as palliative chemotherapy between May 2010 and August 2014.

Factors associated with survival and lost to follow-up of cervical cancer patients in a tertiary cancer centre in rural Kerala.

Cancer cervix is the second common cause of cancer death in India. It is the most curable form of any human cancer if detected at the precancerous stage. Although several factors determine the survival of the disease, the clinical stage at presentation is the single most important predictor of long-term survival.

An audit of cytoreductive surgeries in ovarian cancer from a rural based cancer center.

Background And Objective: Ovarian cancers are frequently seen at an advanced stage in our center. This audit was planned to see the morbidity and efficacy of different types of cytoreductive surgeries (radical vs. ultra-radical) done in such patients.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mutation in neoadjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck cancers: Myth or reality?

Purpose: The docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and cisplatin (TPF) regimen in India is associated with high percentages of Grade 3-4 toxicity. This analysis was planned to evaluate the incidence of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) mutation in patients with severe gastrointestinal toxicity, to assess whether the mutation could be predicted by a set of clinical criteria and whether it has any impact on postneoadjuvant chemotherapy response.

Methods: All consecutive patients who received TPF regimen in head and neck cancers between January 2015 and April 2015 were selected.

Next generation metronomic chemotherapy-report from the Fifth Biennial International Metronomic and Anti-angiogenic Therapy Meeting, 6-8 May 2016, Mumbai.

The 5 Biennial Metronomic and Anti-angiogenic Therapy Meeting was held on 6 - 8 May in the Indian city of Mumbai. The meeting brought together a wide range of clinicians and researchers interested in metronomic chemotherapy, anti-angiogenics, drug repurposing and combinations thereof. Clinical experiences, including many from India, were reported and discussed in three symposia covering breast cancer, head and neck cancers and paediatrics.

A cross-sectional observation study regarding patients and their physician willingness to wait for driver mutation report in nonsmall-cell lung cancer.

Background: Palliative chemotherapy +/- targeted therapy in accordance with mutation profile is the norm in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this audit was to determine the proportion of patients and physicians, who are unwilling to wait for the mutation report and the reasons thereof.

Materials And Methods: All newly diagnosed NSCLC patients, post biopsy, seen at our center between November 2014 and January 2015 were included.

Does the use of induction chemotherapy in oral cavity cancer compromise subsequent loco-regional treatment delivery: Results from a matched pair analysis.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being increasingly used in patients with unresectable oral cavity cancers to make them resectable. However, its impact on locoregional treatment delivery in such setting remains poorly studied.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on delivery of further locoregional treatment.

Retrospective audit of clinico-pathologic features and treatment outcomes in a cohort of elderly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients in a tertiary cancer center.

Introduction: There is limited data from India regarding elderly non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) patients. Hence, this audit was planned to study the clinic-pathological features and treatment outcomes in elderly NHL patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all NHL patients above age of 59 years treated at the author's institute, between December 2010 and December 2013 was done.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced and Borderline Resectable Nonsquamous Sinonasal Tumors (Esthesioneuroblastoma and Sinonasal Tumor with Neuroendocrine Differentiation).

Introduction: Sinonasal tumors are chemotherapy responsive which frequently present in advanced stages making NACT a promising option for improving resection and local control in borderline resectable and locally advanced tumours. Here we reviewed the results of 25 such cases treated with NACT.

Materials And Methods: Sinonasal tumor patients treated with NACT were selected for this analysis.

Head and neck cancer in geriatric patients: Analysis of the pattern of care given at a tertiary cancer care center.

Background And Aim: The percentage of elderly people with head and neck cancers (HNC) is on the rise. This makes HNC in this group of patients an important issue for healthcare providers. The present study was planned to analyze the patterns of care given to the geriatric patients and to identify the factors influencing the decision making process.

Immunological interactions in radiotherapy-opening a new window of opportunity.

After a span of significant developments & advances we have reached a plateau in all the oncological disciplines in last decade. Escalation of dose of radiotherapy (RT) became possible with emergence of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Different radiosensitizing agents starting from conventional cytotoxic drugs to hypoxic radiosensitizers have been tried to increase the effect of RT.

Metronomic chemotherapy in platinum-insensitive failures and/or early failures postmultimodality management in oral cancers.

Purpose: Oral cancer patients with platinum-resistant disease and or early failures have limited treatment options. This analysis was planned to study the efficacy of metronomic chemotherapy in this group of patients.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of oral cancer patients who had squamous cell carcinoma and had an early failure and/or platinum-insensitive failure.

Compliance With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in T4 Oral Cancers: Place, Person, Socioeconomic Status, or Assistance.

Purpose: Approximately 15% to 20% of our patients with head and neck cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) discontinue therapy because of various nonmedical reasons. We sought to analyze the factors associated with treatment default and noncompliance among these patients.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with T4 oral cancer treated with NACT between January 2011 and December 2012.

Impact of thrombosis on standard treatment in solid tumors.

Introduction: Malignancy leading to a hypercoagulable state is a well established concept. The reported frequency of venous thrombotic events in cancer patients is 5-8%. There is limited data on the influence of thrombosis on treatment decisions in solid tumors.

A randomized double-blind, multiple-arm trial comparing the efficacy of submucosal injections of hyaluronidase, dexamethasone, and combination of dexamethasone and hyaluronidase in the management of oral submucous fibrosis.

Objective: Numerous treatment modalities for oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) have been advocated over the years. However, its medical treatment is not yet fully standardized. This randomized double-blind trial assessed and compared the effects of two commonly used drugs, independently and in combination.

Survey of the State of Implementation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Safety Standards for Chemotherapy Administration in India.

Purpose: The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society have proposed a set of standards for safe chemotherapy administration. The state of implementation of these standards in oncologic practices in India is not understood properly.

Methods: An anonymized survey was designed that consisted of items from all 37 standards that were described in the 2013 update of the standards.